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News and Observer advertisement features DVD on radical islam
Newspaper subscribers around the country are receiving a free DVD with their newspaper called Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West. The News and Observer is among the papers that agreed to distribute the DVD as an advertisement. The local Muslim American Society speaks out against the videos and, of course, online commenters have their say.
11 Responses to “News and Observer advertisement features DVD on radical islam”
1
Ginny
September 14th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I thought it was interesting that the only media that showed up at the news conference was Time Warner News 14 Carolina. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but Sundays are traditionally slow news days, so I would have thought more media would have attended.
2
kevin
September 14th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Hiding behind Free speech when talking about advertizement is a bit much. When a store reserves the right to refuse service to anyone, or a bar can reservice the right to refuse service, the paper can refuse the money to include advertizement. By carrying the item in the _newspaper_ some will feel that it’s more legit than it is.
3
Michael Kimsal
September 15th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Any way to get the DVD if we weren’t subscribers to the paper?
4
M.K
September 15th, 2008 at 9:30 am
That DVD is nothing but hate speech, out and out racism. They can say that it received awards, etc., but when the awards come from folks with the same agenda, they are meaningless. The DVD was mostly sent out in swing states. It is a right-wing political advertisement.
5
Ginny Skalski
September 15th, 2008 at 9:54 am
@Michael You can see the DVD here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8662467646661149069&hl=en
6
Matt Frye
September 15th, 2008 at 11:34 am
The fact that you’re covering the DVD means it’s working.
7
Ginny Skalski
September 15th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
@Matt Frye It’s working how? Depending on your answer, I’m not sure I agree with your statement.
8
@kflanagan
September 15th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
It’s working because more want to watch it. Usually I am in favor of information being out for all to see, but when a group of people game the system I’m not in favor of that. First the people hide behind a foundation, then they get it inserted in newspapers so as to appear legit. If they were big enough to say what they think for the world to judge and stand behind it I’d be better with putting it out there for people to judge for themselves.
9
Ginny Skalski
September 15th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
@kflanagan You make excellent points. I was just curious whether @Matt Frye was suggesting it was working simply because the media and bloggers are covering the story, thus amping up the attention the DVD gets. Because I think if anything, stories like the one the N&O published explaining why the DVD was in the paper and the video I produced at least help make it more clear that there is an agenda behind the distribution. Otherwise, there would be less context for folks who unfold their paper and have the DVD plop in their lap.
Without the N&O article (assuming folks read it), it could more easily be perceived that the newspaper itself was distributing the DVD (although, I am unclear on what kind of packaging the DVD was placed in, which depending on how it was packaged could have helped make it clear it was an advertisement).
I think it’s incredibly telling that the editors chose to refer all questions about the DVD to the advertising department instead of to the editors. They’re clearly trying to separate the news department from the advertising department. Normally with a controversial story, you’d expect a newspaper to suggest that folks comment on the editorial page or online.
10
Jennifer
September 15th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I think because of the controversy they should allow readers to comment on the editorial page or online. Obviously this has become a local story — one which they covered on the front page. Why not invite discussion? I disagree with the editors’ decision and agree that having it in the paper does lend more weight to this ad, especially given its unique format. Newspapers can decide not to accept someone’s business, but I guess in these tough times ethics may take a back seat.
11
keith
September 19th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I am concerned that even though this dvd was used on a political front, it was very compelling to watch. Were the people in the dvd actors that were paid to talk about killing anyone who isn’t muslim? It appears to me, this is real. It is not only in this video. There are REAL people in this and other countries whose hatred for anyone other than their own Muslim beliefs, is a real threat to those who are just trying to get along with everyone. I don’t believe that this depicts the Muslim religion as a whole, but I do believe it to be a threat.
This is not the only footage I have seen with children being taught to hate and kill. That alone is sickening as I try to raise my young children to love ALL people.
So, whether you think it is “right wing” BS or not. The fact remains, the Jihad is not a made up Republican political ploy. And I personally fear that ignoring the facts (which may or may not be evident to us) will not solve the problem, it will only endanger more non-muslims.
I don’t have the answers, but I do have an opinion. I am allowed to have an opinion because I live in a free country. If you try to have an opinion in some of these Muslim nations you could be killed.
This is not a result of us being in Iraq either, it may be fueling the fire, but this hatred has been going on for centuries and will continue long after we are all gone.
I don’t hear anyone complaining about how the media has clearly taken sides in this upcoming election and the only time foul is called is when someone thinks the right is trying to get an edge.
As a voter who has yet to decide who I will be casting my vote for, I try to take all the information in, and will decide according to what I believe (which sometimes there isn’t much information in the media you can believe).
By the way, as I watched the DVD which came in my newspaper, I wasn’t really concerned with why or how it got into my newspaper, I was shocked at the content I was watching, the pure hatred. It felt as though it was aimed directly at me, as I am a Christian American. And, that being said, I don’t hate anyone. But I feel I would defend myself and protect my family from this type of propaganda should I need to.
Also, I don’t remember it saying that ALL Muslim’s were extremists. So I say, why should the ones get upset that aren’t extremists?