A sister friend of mine in Saudi emailed me and mentioned the horrific media images that they were seeing over there.
Why are we not seeing them here? What do we see here in America?
We see CNN's Anderson Cooper and others standing on a hillside over Gaza ... telling us that they cannot show us what is going on within the Gaza Strip. They say that the Israelis will not permit international media to go inside the Gaza Strip. The reason, they say, is because the international media shows bias.
Do you believe it?
Jamal Dajani has written this article at the Huffington Post. According to Dajani's article, there are numerous Arab media organizations reporting from inside the Gaza Strip. He writes:
"There are more than a dozen television stations that still operate out of Gaza. For the past several years, Arab satellite networks have dispatched news reports out of Gaza almost on a daily basis. Leading Arab satellite networks all have offices and reporters in Gaza, such as, Al Jazeera (Arabic and English), Al Arabiya TV, Dubai TV, Nile TV, Abu Dhabi TV, to name a few. Then there is Hamas' Al Aqsa TV and independently owned Ramattan News Service. They have been beaming images of starving children living in desperate conditions during the Israeli siege on Gaza to millions in the Arab world and beyond. Despite these abundant news sources, CNN and other U.S. networks have elected to cover Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith for days on end. Let's face the facts. Images of starving children do not sell advertisements. Trash does. Now, many of those children are dead!"
Why doesn't CNN and the non-Arab "international" media partner with any of these Arab organizations mentioned in Dajani's article? If they really wanted to bring us the truth, wouldn't they attempt to coordinate coverage with the Arab media?
What do you think?
Does it reinforce the so-called "conspiracy" theory that the Zionists control the media in America?
18 comments:
I do see some urgency created by thousands of missiles being fired into Israel. A military response seems the only immediate possibility.
Ham handed targeting, lack of publicly stated justification for some actions, the appearance of collective punishment, and the biblically inspired settlements in occupied territory clearly exacerbate fanatism, as is argued here.
But according to leaders of Hamas, the ones sending missiles, the most basic of underlying causes are the existence of Israel and the insistence by Jews of continuing to breathe.
Hello Burr Deming:
Welcome to my blog!
Did you mean to leave a link with "as is argued here?"
Asaalamu Alaikum!
Thanks for stopping by :)
When it comes to the news I stick with BBC and Al Jazeera English because they tend to be the most unbiased. But I agree American Media is far too censored.
Hope all is well
Masaalam
Assalamu alaikum,
Its sad that we basicaly have to search all over the internet to get the REAL news. The 'western' news organizations that give some semblance of real news on the Palestinian crisis do so with very careful speech.It's as if they are scared to be seen to be taking sides, when the only side that should be taken is the side of what is right.
SalaamSis
I do believe the AMeican News outlet....is greatly censored and controlled. Controlled by whom? That I do not know. I usually get my news on the net. I am so tired of the conspiracy theories though...
Nairiyah
It is on purpose that they're not showing those images. CNN could get every image they want when they want it, even if their justification is that they can't get inside Gaza, we all know that they can buy those images from another network. They chose to be silent just like everybody else.
Safiyyah, your comparison between the Shoah and the situation in Gaza is obscene. You should be ashamed. Israel is fighting against a terrorist organization dedicated to destroying it and murdering Jews. Hamas has fired over 4000 rockets on Israeli homes and schools, killing tens of people and maiming hundreds. It must be stopped.
You can see my views on the conflict at:
http://www.masada1234.blogspot.com
Greetings of Peace Bar Kochba:
Ah, how I have missed you!
The problem is that it is ALL obsence and we should ALL be ashamed. My point, BK, is why not let the international media in? Why not let them report what is going on there?
Then again, I agree with others here: the American media especially could get coverage from the established credible Arab media. There is a conspiracy that the Jews in America control the media. Not letting reports in reinforces this conspiracy. Unless the truth is that they really do not chose to go in.
Angry Muslimah!!!!!!!!!!Talking about "missing in action" ... I love and miss you, you brat :)
@ In Summary: I'm glad I found your blog!
@Jamaican Hijabi: Yes, it is real sad. There is equal danger in getting mis-information on the net.
@Hijabee: I agree that the silence is purposeful. Just like in Darfur.
It's mostly self-censorship because of a prevalent fear of saying something "wrong". Can't posibly risk being labelled an "anti-semite" or "terrorist-lover" right?! Everything one gets from the mainstream media (esp on controversial topics) in the America has to have been vetted by someone first.
There is a far more range of differing views and opinions in the Jewish media than in the American media!
Safiyyah, in 2006, the Israeli government allowed foreign journalists into Lebanon and they severely limited the capabilities of the Israeli army to act. Israeli intelligence decided that it would be detrimental to accomplishing the mission.
I am not ashamed. I am extremely proud that Jews are taking the fight to the enemy and fighting those who wish to wipe us out. I pray everyday for the IDF and the citizens of the State of Israel. G-d will give strength to His Nation, G-d will bless His people with peace.
Salam sister Safiyya. I enjoy reading your blog and I am especially impressed by your efforts to always respond so calmly to comments.I am from North Africa and to get a balanced view of the war I also read online Israeli newspapers. If Bar Kochba would read Ha'aretz, and others he would find evidence of Israeli military intelligence covering up the fact that Palestinian leaders do want peace,but telling the politicians the opposite. Even Hamas leaders have spoken to European delegations of their recognition of Israel's right to exist. If its aim is to murder Jews then how come Israel aided in its establishment? Driven by Biblical prophecies and texts, the Zionists are just as bad as any other extremist organisation in the world.
Umm Salwan
Anonymous, not being familiar with Israeli news, you would not know that Haaretz is no longer considered one of the mainstream Israeli news sources. It is in the camp of the post-Zionist Far Left. Try jpost.com or ynetnews.com for an Israeli view.
Here are some highlights of the "peaceful" and "moderate" Hamas charter:
"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." (The Martyr, Imam Hassan al-Banna, of blessed memory).
"The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up. "
"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."
The most peaceful of course is:
"The Day of Judgement will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Muslims, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharkad tree, would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews." (related by al-Bukhari and Muslim).
When Hamas repudiates these, maybe we'll talk.
Dear Dear Safiyyah,
Tomorrow I'm going to read through your entire blog at work. I just started at the beginning and I was moved dear girl. Really moved. What a sweet answer to prayer for you. I cried as I read about how relieved you were that there was no original sin in Islam. I cried harder upon seeing that you never removed your hijab after September 11. I am praying today for you and your dad. I love that you married a kind and decent Muslim man. Oh the ways that God weaves us together in His Spirit, His Most Perfect Plan. I can't wait to read the rest sweet Safiyyah.
Greetings Lisa:
Wow, are there any openings at your job, lol? Blogging at work! What a dream. I barely have time to go to the bathroom at my job. Usually somebody is yelling to me through the door, lol.
Thanks for the comments. Hope you enjoy!
Assalamu alaikum sister Safiyyah,
There is a video entitled 'Peace, Propoganda and the promised Land' it speaks especially about the media involvement in painting a lop-sided picture of events regarding the Israel/Palestine Issues. You can view it here
http://www.stumbleupon.com/toolbar/#topic=Politics&url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.rys2sense.com%252Fhub%252Fget%252Fvid%252Fid%252F3.htm
or you can click the link from the post about it on my blog. I suggest that you all download it and pass it on to others, who knows maybe the link wont be available for much longer.
Dear Safiyyah,
I kept reading and reading and became more and more mesmerized. With every post, the tears became bigger. I was especially in awe of your feelings about hijab. And the fact that you became a Muslim Chaplain, I'd be interested to hear more. It must have been hard wearing hijab at a state prison job, I couldn't wear it at Dell. And your husband and his story of Hajj. Again, I'd love to hear much more about him. I'm sorry about your MS, I had no idea dear Safiyyah. So sad that you didn't get to say goodbye to your father. I loved the poem to your aunt. I really enjoyed the comments about men in line ahead of women at Iftar. So true!
Oh Safiyyah, I feel so blessed that you've allowed me to witness your journey. I can completely see why you became a Muslim and stayed with it in those days before 9-11 when everything felt like pure joy. I love the name you picked for yourself and the deep, deep thought you have put into this journey.
You are one of the three dearest converts I've ever had the pleasure to know. Love you dear.
Post a Comment