Here we go again. When a journalist, or anyone today, for that matter decides to tell it like it is regarding an action by Islamists or jihadists the upset begins to boil. Not allowed, they scream and silence any more talk by the tired method of name-calling and empty accusations. This time, it is this writers overseers who are calling her out for her alleged "racist" statements.
Melanie Phillips is in hot water for calling a spade a spade. Using words like savage, atrocity and moral depravity have so upset the sensibilities of local Muslims that one would think she killed a baby or drowned a kitten. The continuing demonization of anyone who dares speak of Islam or Muslims in less than glowing terms increases the publics inability to tell the difference between right and wrong, which is exactly where Muslims want them to be.
From the Guardian.co.uk March 18 by John Plunkett
PCC investigates Melanie Phillips' Spectator blog
A Melanie Phillips blogpost on the Spectator website which referred to the "moral depravity" of Arab "savages" is being investigated by the Press Complaints Commission.
"The moral depravity of the Arabs is finding a grotesque echo in the moral bankruptcy and worse of the British and American 'liberal' media," wrote Phillips.
"Overwhelmingly, the media have either ignored or downplayed the atrocity – or worse, effectively blamed the victims for bringing it on themselves, describing them as 'hard-line settlers' or extremists.
"To the New York Times, it's not the Arab massacre of a Jewish family which has jeopardised 'peace prospects' – because the Israelis will quite rightly never trust any agreement with such savages – but instead Israeli policy on building more homes, on land to which it is legally and morally entitled, which is responsible instead for making peace elusive. Twisted, and sick."
Inayat Bunglawala, chair of Muslims4UK, said: "Her words went far beyond just denouncing the killings. It was a far more generalised racist outburst against Arabs as a whole.
"If you insert the word 'Jew' or 'Jewish' where she has referred to Arabs then I am sure she would have no doubt that those words would be antisemitic. Just as she abhors antisemitism it is important that she maintains the same vigorous anti-racist stance against Arabs. It is just unacceptable to use that kind of language."
Savage, morally depraved, an atrocity. These are seen as "racist" language by Muslims. And of course when you attach the word racist to your accusations, the narrative shuts down and you have instant censorship, Islamic style.
Read it all
Melanie Phillips is in hot water for calling a spade a spade. Using words like savage, atrocity and moral depravity have so upset the sensibilities of local Muslims that one would think she killed a baby or drowned a kitten. The continuing demonization of anyone who dares speak of Islam or Muslims in less than glowing terms increases the publics inability to tell the difference between right and wrong, which is exactly where Muslims want them to be.
From the Guardian.co.uk March 18 by John Plunkett
PCC investigates Melanie Phillips' Spectator blog
A Melanie Phillips blogpost on the Spectator website which referred to the "moral depravity" of Arab "savages" is being investigated by the Press Complaints Commission.
The online comment piece, headlined "Armchair barbarism", focused on media coverage of the murder of five members of a Jewish family in the West Bank settlement of Itamar by Palestinian militants earlier this month.
"The moral depravity of the Arabs is finding a grotesque echo in the moral bankruptcy and worse of the British and American 'liberal' media," wrote Phillips.
"Overwhelmingly, the media have either ignored or downplayed the atrocity – or worse, effectively blamed the victims for bringing it on themselves, describing them as 'hard-line settlers' or extremists.
"To the New York Times, it's not the Arab massacre of a Jewish family which has jeopardised 'peace prospects' – because the Israelis will quite rightly never trust any agreement with such savages – but instead Israeli policy on building more homes, on land to which it is legally and morally entitled, which is responsible instead for making peace elusive. Twisted, and sick."
The column, which also referred to coverage of the murders by CNN, the BBC and the Guardian – part of the group that publishes MediaGuardian.co.uk – prompted two complaints to the press watchdog, one of them from Engage, a group promoting Muslim engagement in British society.
Inayat Bunglawala, chair of Muslims4UK, said: "Her words went far beyond just denouncing the killings. It was a far more generalised racist outburst against Arabs as a whole.
"If you insert the word 'Jew' or 'Jewish' where she has referred to Arabs then I am sure she would have no doubt that those words would be antisemitic. Just as she abhors antisemitism it is important that she maintains the same vigorous anti-racist stance against Arabs. It is just unacceptable to use that kind of language."
Savage, morally depraved, an atrocity. These are seen as "racist" language by Muslims. And of course when you attach the word racist to your accusations, the narrative shuts down and you have instant censorship, Islamic style.
Read it all
3 comments:
Unfortunate choice of words.
She should have said "savagery of the Palestinian Arabs".
It amazes me that the people who so vigorously cry "racism" are the very same folks who are responsible for the anti-Semitic detritus that is shown every day on television throughout the Middle East! See: http://vimeo.com/16779150.
"Savage:, "barbaric",these terms are extraordinarily mild considering the atrocities that are committed everyday throughout the world under the banner of Islam. How exactly should one describe the beheading of a man by a 10 year old boy under the encouragement of his father and little friends (see: http://www.ajuaa.com/lookme/play.php?vid=153
Is there a "PC" word we should use to describe this horror? If Hitler were beheading, slaughtering, maiming, burning and murdering human beings today instead of 70 years ago, would folks object to using the words "barbaric" or "savage" in order not to offend Germans? Melanie Phillips was correct in her assessment of the violence inherent in Islam, and the use of these words is not racist nor are her words unfortunate. She is describing horrific acts and murderous rage. We should not tailor our speech in order not to offend the aggressors; we need to speak plainly and clearly when describing hatred, intolerance, and murderous ideologies. Screaming Islamaphobia is a tactic used to silence free speech and discourage investigation. We are not buying it any longer.
WHY are we attacking the CHOICE OF WORDS and NOT the horrendous acts?
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