CNN gets special access to cover The Hajj…
CNN’s Umm Zainab writes about CNN covering The Hajj…(via Newslab)
Christmas came today: but not for everyone on the team. The unlucky, grounded crew members were left in a pique as Adil, grinning like a Cheshire cat, left the hotel with our driver in the early hours this morning.
The destination: an airfield in the Mina Valley, some twenty minutes drive out of Makkah. The story: an exclusive ride over the holy sites in one of the Saudi Air Force’s choppers.
Though there are hundreds of journalists in the kingdom to cover The Hajj, the aerial view of the pilgrims on the move was a complete CNN exclusive.
This is really no big surprise, since CNN is Islam’s #1 cheerleader and apologist in the Western World.
Comment by spiffo — December 29, 2006 @ 12:00 pm
Spiffo, heaven forbid we learn about another culture other than our own.. Since its so much easier to go by Bush’ infamous, “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” However, what if a person/country/state isn’t with terrorists OR our foreign policy? I guess Bush forgot to include that important variable.
Comment by Terance — December 29, 2006 @ 12:24 pm
Spiffo - do you have a problem with an international news organization covering a religious event that draws millions from a religion whose adherents number over a billion?
Perhaps they shouldn’t cover the Pope’s Easter address? Or perhaps they should act like more parochial, jingoistic news organizations that prefer to treat anything outside the borders of the US as the Great Other, and possibly evil?
FWIW, the Post had a photo essay of the Hajj that was rather stunning. Not something I’d be interested in taking part in - the possibility of being trampled to death is too great, and I don’t adhere to that particular faith. But it’s certainly more news-worthy than, say, the latest developments in the ‘Duke Lacrosse Rape Case’.
Comment by Arthur — December 29, 2006 @ 12:34 pm
Its not just CNN covering the hajj that is of concern. Its there continued fawning over anything Islamic. There are reasons they and others get labeled around the net as Al CNN, Al Reuters and Al AP. Imagine the outrage at Fallwell or Robertson or Schafley if they made the comments that are routinely made at Mosques in the US and in public by Islamic leaders about women, gays, etc. But if it gets coverage at all it is as an asterisk moment. Or its labeled as “part of their culture” and since they have fallen under the spell of multi-culti then it must be so. They are under the false impression that all cultures are equal.
That is where some issues arise with these orgs.
Comment by Bill — December 29, 2006 @ 2:38 pm
“There are reasons they and others get labeled around the net as Al CNN, Al Reuters and Al AP.”
Yeah, at LGF or Malkins…
“They are under the false impression that all cultures are equal.”
Whereas we, of course, understand that it’s our duty to impose our culture on the rest of the world, willing or no.
Comment by Arthur — December 29, 2006 @ 3:18 pm
Terance, you sound like my neighbor, who recently told me that President Bush wants to round up all the illegals and deport them. The President never said “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” You even put it in quotes! This is almost as bad as MSNBC quoting TVNewser quoting MSNBC.
I agree with Bill that CNN sometimes plays Islam apologist, and I agree that Christians are disproportionately trampled on, and Islam apologized for in our news media; but I also agree with everything Arthur says in #3. This is a story that needs to be covered; and even if CNN shows bias, I don’t think Americans are so easily brainwashed.
The news media has leaned left as long as I can remember, but America has voted for more Republican Presidents in that same time period. And the Republican Presidents have been more conservative than the Democratic ones have been liberal.
Conclusion: Because we live in a free society, Americans are able to make up their own minds regarding issues, no matter how the issues are covered. And if there’s spin - and yes, there’s always spin, no matter how hard the media tries - we can sort through it and think for ourselves. If CNN is the only news net given access, more power to CNN. We do need to hear this story; and yes, it’s more news-worthy than the latest developments in the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case.
Comment by erljr — December 29, 2006 @ 4:45 pm
Erljr, I heard Bush say this with my own ears. And here is the link:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html
I’m curious as to what you think he meant by this statement.
Comment by Terance — December 29, 2006 @ 5:10 pm
This is a important news event and is covered by international channels… I saw reports on BBC World also. U need to understand, not all the people is terrorist, not all the people is christian and not all the CNN or BBC’s audience is in USA.
Comment by Rodrigo — December 29, 2006 @ 5:29 pm
Terance seeks to spin you all. He takes the President’s quote from the speech of September 20, 2001; and spins it way out of context. Here is the full paragraph:
“Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes. Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. (Applause.) From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime.”
Terance says: “However, what if a person/country/state isn’t with terrorists OR our foreign policy? I guess Bush forgot to include that important variable.
But the President did address that question. He was specifically refering to “nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism.” Most Americans still agree that nations providing safe haven to terrorists are NOT our friends.
Note that this is also the speech that contained the President’s most famous words: “We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.”
For more context, go to Terance’s link. It’s a long speech. I’m sure Terance and other spin-merchants can find a good 100 sentences there to take out of context.
Good try T.
Comment by erljr — December 29, 2006 @ 6:12 pm
Sorry, Erljr. I didn’t intentionally mean to spin. I will give up on this discussion!
Comment by Terance — December 29, 2006 @ 6:21 pm
ALso, wasn’t CNN the network that helped jihadis air their snuff films?
Comment by eddiebear — December 29, 2006 @ 7:02 pm