Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan If the media wouldn't have latched onto this it would have happened and NOBODY would have known or cared.<< Very true. With 24 hours of news to fill, nothing better to fill it with than something guaranteed to cause controversy. It's a simple "for or against" issue, and broadcast media in particular loves these sorts of choose-a-side stories. It's good for business. Meanwhile, this backwoods bunch of no-names got exactly what they've always dreamed of -- worldwide attention. This is the sort of tempest in a tea party -- er, tea pot, that people love to get worked up about. because it's simple, clear, and easy to address. Unlike more complex matters like how to reignite the economy's engine or get out of the wars overseas.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Once upon a time, exposing people like this in the media might have changed some minds, but today, with our media so polarized, people only tune into the media sources they want to hear. People who support this type of thing won't be listening to the negative news reports against it anyway.<< I agree with that as well, plpeters. This story of local yokels is junk food for the mind.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt They obviously are doing this BECAUSE they want the attention - so having our 24-hour news media constantly focus on this is just what these groups want. It's free publicity for them. Publicity? Really? While in some weird twisted way I can see why those kooks down in Gainsville might relish in the fact that they have the spotlight, this is hardly the kind of attention that any sane person would be seeking. I think the fact that their plans have resulted in an inter-faith coalition discussing the growing anti-Islamic mood in the country is a good thing. That might not have happened if Pastor Jones and his congregation weren't making headlines.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Unlike more complex matters like how to reignite the economy's engine or get out of the wars overseas." I don't disagree with this, but don't you think that the growing anti-Islamic mood is something that ought to be discussed?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 In other words, while I have no doubt these idiots hate Islam, I think this little stunt is more about mammon than about God. And other people may have to deal with the consequences.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster wahooskipper: "Extreme Muslims have been burning American flags and pictures of our leaders for years now and there isn't a spate of attacks on Muslims in this country." Apples and oranges. Americans burn flags in protest all the time so it's no longer very provocative. At any given time a large segment of the country dislikes their president so burning their picture isn't all that provocative either. I think a big bible bonfire would get more press. And a bigger reaction. "Why should we expect that buring the Koran here would lead to attacks on our servicemen and women over there?" It may not happen. But when a belief system allows for righteous killing in the name of God, it's not out of the question to anticipate a violent reaction. "Chew on that. Frankly, I think it is a stupid stunt by ignorant people fueled by a media that is just insane for ratings. This is Gainesville, Florida. If the media wouldn't have latched onto this it would have happened and NOBODY would have known or cared." I wholeheartedly agree. While I think these people should be exposed and condemned for their actions I think it would be better for all if no one outside Gainesville ever heard of it.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<but don't you think that the growing anti-Islamic mood is something that ought to be discussed>> Probably, but then again, how much of an Anti-Islamic mood would there be if the media hadn't made such a fuss about the "Ground Zero Mosque"? Imagine if we hadn't had 24-hour a day coverage about the pros-and-cons of building this thing -- would there really be this much Anti-Islamic sentiment?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt >>Probably, but then again, how much of an Anti-Islamic mood would there be if the media hadn't made such a fuss about the "Ground Zero Mosque"?<< So then it's not the Qur'an burning on 9/11, it's the "mosque" in lower Manhattan? To me it's all the same and these bigots and their hate crimes should be brought to light. Moreover, the media attention has caused many people to examine their own prejudices and attitudes toward Muslims.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Moreover, the media attention has caused many people to examine their own prejudices and attitudes toward Muslims.<< I'll agree that on the Quran burning issue, it's nice to see that people of every faith and political stripe are pretty much in agreement that this is a boneheaded stunt. In a time when every issue seems to be hotly debated, at least a wide majority of people lined up on the side of sanity on this one. But still, is it necessary to cover a church with 50 members and giving them worldwide publicity, round the clock? I'd say it's out of all proportion.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I'll concede that the media coverage is out of proportion, but when is politicized news ever reported in proportion? Wahooskipper suggested that this is nothing more than a publicity stunt that should have never been a story in the first place. I disagree.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan At its core, this is a publicity stunt. This is a puny little group that wanted to make a splash. Now, I don't for a minute think that they don't believe the Muslims are evil and that they see themselves as important warriors for Christ. But they're doing this to draw a reaction and an audience, and they have succeeded in that because broadcast media has zero sense of appropriate proportion. This should have been one of those little eye-rolling "can ya believe it folks?" throwaways at the end of a local news report. And that's about it. Instead, world leaders are weighing in on it, everyone's talking about it as if it is a matter of grave importance. Way to enable a bunch of publicity-seeking screwballs. Rejects from the cast of Hee Haw have effectively used the media to capture the spotlight.
Originally Posted By barboy2 ///Burning Korans could, per Gen. Petraeus, put our troops in Afghanistan at risk of retaliation. In other words, people could die if this stupid stunt goes forward. If the cultural center gets built at the site proposed, certain people get their sensibilities offended. That's pretty different./// And people could die from that Islamic center going up too. Either event could trigger some violent reprisals. Unless you're Sylvia Brown or James Van Praagh I don't see how you can safely assume that one event---Islamic Center vs. book burning--- is any more(or less) likely to stir freaks into committing violent statements than the other. Your bias is as transparent as some of Dale Bozzio's(Missing Persons 80's rock band) getups.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Rejects from the cast of Hee Haw have effectively used the media to capture the spotlight." LOL.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<This should have been one of those little eye-rolling "can ya believe it folks?" throwaways at the end of a local news report.>> Exactly! It's absolutley insane that the actions of some local, crack pot church in Gainesville (a city I'm embarassed to say I went to college in) is drawing the eyes of the world. Would anyone outside of Florida even have heard of these people if the media hadn't latched onto this story and made it a matter of grave importance? Yes, these people are nuts, and should be exposed for the hateful bunch of crack pots that they are - but the media should have some responsibility for not blowing a story like this out of proportion. World leaders should not even know that Gainesville exists - much less commenting on the actions of some tiny church that happens to exist there.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Would it be different if the crack pots were demonstrating the same way on 9/11 in New York City? Don't think it couldn't happen. What does the location of Qur'an burning as an act of protest against Islam by a Christian group have to do with this?
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<What does the location of Qur'an burning as an act of protest against Islam by a Christian group have to do with this?>> Well, you're talking about a group of what, 50 people, in some small city in Florida? But the way the media is going on about this, you'd think that it was all of America involved in this stupid act. There should be some perspective here - and I think that is being lost in this overload of media coverage.
Originally Posted By dshyates Well, I found out today that I am going to be one of those media types there broadcasting this thing all around the world via CNN. And I can tell you how thrilled I am that I will be standing about 30 feet from this guys as he pulls his little publicity stunt.
Originally Posted By dshyates "So, are you planning to offer an opinion on the matter on the air!? " Fortunately, I will just be shooting video and operating a satellite truck. No opinion necessary.
