Muslims’ point of view was ignored and deliberately vilified during the discussion on last night’s Hannity & Colmes (a U.S. political debate TV program on the Fox News Channel) about the controversy over the Pope’s anti-Islamic remarks, according to the New Hounds.
Shutting out Muslim perspective was apparently planned because the program, which features conservative host Sean Hannity and the liberal Alan Colmes, interviewed Tony Blankley, author of “The West’s Last Chance: Will We Win The Clash Of Civilizations?”, a book that claims that Islam poses a threat “higher than that of the Nazis’ during World War II”, according to Wikipedia.
Other guests were Raymond Arroyo, news director for the Catholic television network EWTN and conservative FOX News contributor Father Jonathan Morris.
The cliché “Clash of Civilizations?” appeared on screen during most of the discussion. The program also included some images showing angry Muslims protesting against the Pope’s remarks. Moreover, Alan Colmes didn’t even attempt to explain to viewers why Muslims are upset with the Pope. He only said that the Pope has been misunderstood.
This certainly gave Blankley, Hannity and Morris the opportunity to attack Muslims and Islam.
According to the New Hounds, Hannity & Colmes’ approach suggests that Fox News allowed the lack of balance and enabled the guests to express their anti-Islamic sentiments.
If this is true, they must have welcomed the final part of the program in which Hannity asked Father Morris: “We are at war with those people that use religion as a means of justifying their violence. Are we talking about the same people here, Father, that are looking for any instance to sort of radicalize more people? That’s my interpretation of this. Yours?”
Father Morris, who is also a member of a wealthy, ultra-secret religious order, said: “I think you’re on to something there, Sean… The institutions of the Muslim faith that are coming out of the Middle East and saying ‘we condemn the pope’ but never daring, never daring to step in and say ‘but we are also going to answer the central thesis of this pope and that is religion and violence don’t mix.’ And that’s the problem. It’s coming from the institutions.”
Hannity then turned to Blankley, asking: “You warned that the problem of Islamic fascism may be far worse than people are willing to admit. Do you see that in this instance?”
Blankey replied: “Yes, of course. We’re seeing it all the time that it’s not just a tiny fraction. We don’t know what percentage of the fifth of mankind, the over billion human souls that are Islam, but it’s not a fraction. It’s a substantial piece. These passions touch more than just the killers. They touch an awful lot of grassroots Muslims in the same way that it touches the killers out there. So that is the broader population is a supportive base for the killers.”
The program ended with this hostile and offensive comment. And the viewers didn’t understand why Muslims were angered by the Pope’s remarks or why they didn’t welcome his apology.
“Old cliché”
Over a billion Muslims all over the world have been hurt by the recent remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI, who quoted a text in which the Byzantine emperor referred to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) as being 'only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'
The Pope has stopped short of apologizing to the Muslim world for his radical comments. He regretted the way Muslims reacted but not the fact that he made offensive remarks against Islam and Muslims. That’s why his apology wasn’t welcomed by Muslims.
Many Muslim leaders said that the Pope’s remarks weren’t conducive to interfaith dialogue and the respect of other religions, arguing that he should recognize Muslims’ condemnation of violence in the name of their noble religion.
"To claim that Islam had spread by the sword is a hoary old cliché," said the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Dr Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi.
“The Islamic history is hard evidence that Islam has not spread by the sword,” he added.
Islam, the fastest growing religion in the world today, has been embraced by billions throughout history because of its tolerant nature and peaceful essence. Allah (SWT) ordered his followers in the Qur’an to fight those who attack them, but not to transgress, and to remain fair even during the battle. “Fight against those who fight against you in the way of God, but do not transgress, for God does not love transgressors.” (Qur’an 2.190)
The word “Islam” itself, which means “surrender or submit” to Allah (SWT) in Arabic, is originally derived from the word “Selm”, or peace. Therefore, it’s no wonder that the traditional Islamic greeting is "As-Salamu 'alaikum," or "peace be with you."
Moreover, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the peace maker of his time. He endured torture, hunger and the killing of his loved ones by his enemies, but remained a merciful, tolerant person. In his 23 years of struggle for peace and justice, the total number of people who lost their lives from all sides was less than 2,000 in wars that were imposed on him and the Muslim community, according to soundvision.com.
Shutting out Muslim perspective was apparently planned because the program, which features conservative host Sean Hannity and the liberal Alan Colmes, interviewed Tony Blankley, author of “The West’s Last Chance: Will We Win The Clash Of Civilizations?”, a book that claims that Islam poses a threat “higher than that of the Nazis’ during World War II”, according to Wikipedia.
Other guests were Raymond Arroyo, news director for the Catholic television network EWTN and conservative FOX News contributor Father Jonathan Morris.
The cliché “Clash of Civilizations?” appeared on screen during most of the discussion. The program also included some images showing angry Muslims protesting against the Pope’s remarks. Moreover, Alan Colmes didn’t even attempt to explain to viewers why Muslims are upset with the Pope. He only said that the Pope has been misunderstood.
This certainly gave Blankley, Hannity and Morris the opportunity to attack Muslims and Islam.
According to the New Hounds, Hannity & Colmes’ approach suggests that Fox News allowed the lack of balance and enabled the guests to express their anti-Islamic sentiments.
If this is true, they must have welcomed the final part of the program in which Hannity asked Father Morris: “We are at war with those people that use religion as a means of justifying their violence. Are we talking about the same people here, Father, that are looking for any instance to sort of radicalize more people? That’s my interpretation of this. Yours?”
Father Morris, who is also a member of a wealthy, ultra-secret religious order, said: “I think you’re on to something there, Sean… The institutions of the Muslim faith that are coming out of the Middle East and saying ‘we condemn the pope’ but never daring, never daring to step in and say ‘but we are also going to answer the central thesis of this pope and that is religion and violence don’t mix.’ And that’s the problem. It’s coming from the institutions.”
Hannity then turned to Blankley, asking: “You warned that the problem of Islamic fascism may be far worse than people are willing to admit. Do you see that in this instance?”
Blankey replied: “Yes, of course. We’re seeing it all the time that it’s not just a tiny fraction. We don’t know what percentage of the fifth of mankind, the over billion human souls that are Islam, but it’s not a fraction. It’s a substantial piece. These passions touch more than just the killers. They touch an awful lot of grassroots Muslims in the same way that it touches the killers out there. So that is the broader population is a supportive base for the killers.”
The program ended with this hostile and offensive comment. And the viewers didn’t understand why Muslims were angered by the Pope’s remarks or why they didn’t welcome his apology.
“Old cliché”
Over a billion Muslims all over the world have been hurt by the recent remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI, who quoted a text in which the Byzantine emperor referred to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) as being 'only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'
The Pope has stopped short of apologizing to the Muslim world for his radical comments. He regretted the way Muslims reacted but not the fact that he made offensive remarks against Islam and Muslims. That’s why his apology wasn’t welcomed by Muslims.
Many Muslim leaders said that the Pope’s remarks weren’t conducive to interfaith dialogue and the respect of other religions, arguing that he should recognize Muslims’ condemnation of violence in the name of their noble religion.
"To claim that Islam had spread by the sword is a hoary old cliché," said the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Dr Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi.
“The Islamic history is hard evidence that Islam has not spread by the sword,” he added.
Islam, the fastest growing religion in the world today, has been embraced by billions throughout history because of its tolerant nature and peaceful essence. Allah (SWT) ordered his followers in the Qur’an to fight those who attack them, but not to transgress, and to remain fair even during the battle. “Fight against those who fight against you in the way of God, but do not transgress, for God does not love transgressors.” (Qur’an 2.190)
The word “Islam” itself, which means “surrender or submit” to Allah (SWT) in Arabic, is originally derived from the word “Selm”, or peace. Therefore, it’s no wonder that the traditional Islamic greeting is "As-Salamu 'alaikum," or "peace be with you."
Moreover, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the peace maker of his time. He endured torture, hunger and the killing of his loved ones by his enemies, but remained a merciful, tolerant person. In his 23 years of struggle for peace and justice, the total number of people who lost their lives from all sides was less than 2,000 in wars that were imposed on him and the Muslim community, according to soundvision.com.
