There's been a huge debate within the newspaper world -- and beyond -- about a fiery DVD targeting Islamic extremism called "Obsession" that over the last couple of weeks has been packaged in newspaper ads and distributed to hundreds of thousands of readers, especially in swing states. (The Philadelphia Inquirer was one of those papers.) Proponents say its an honest portrayal of anti-American jihadism, while critics said the video would stir up hatred toward decent God-fearing Muslims, not just those involved in or supporting terrorism. Some wonder if it's all just a big ploy to help John McCain and the GOP, who want to focus the campaign on the threat of Islamic extremists. Here's a review from the Orlando Sentinel, for example:
It's a complicated mess, but if you invoke Neville Chamberlain's "appeasement" of Hitler (not sure what anybody could have done, other than force a confrontation years before Germany or the Depression ridden, war-weary West were really "ready" for WWII ) often enough, show enough snippets of Michael Moore (yeah, I want HIM making Middle East policy about as much as the accident prone GOP) and reduce things to "the culture of hatred," you can certainly stir folks up. I stopped counting the historic Mein Kampf/Hitler comparisons at about the 50 minute mark.
This inflammatory video -- funded by a new and, I think it's fair to say, shadowy group called the Clarion Fund -- "Obsession" is the kind of controversial thing that newspapers tend to stay away from, but only a couple have turned the insert down so far. Understandably, without hard proof that the documentary contains major factual errors, many are concerned about the First Amendment issues and, let's be candid, given the battered state of the newspaper economy, some publishers NEED the money.
There's no more key battleground state in America than Ohio -- and sure enough thousands were delivered there on Monday in a number of newspapers, including the Dayton Daily News, which is in a hotly contested corner of the Buckeye State.
Four days later, this happened as Muslims in Dayton attempted to worship:
DAYTON — Baboucarr Njie was preparing for his prayer session Friday night, Sept. 26, when he heard children in the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton coughing. Soon, Njie himself was overcome with fits of coughing and, like the rest of those in the building, headed for the doors.
"I would stay outside for a minute, then go back in, there were a lot of kids," Njie said. "My throat is still itchy, I need to get some milk."
Njie was one of several affected when a suspected chemical irritant was sprayed into the mosque at 26 Josie St., bringing Dayton police, fire and hazardous material personnel to the building at 9:48 p.m.
Someone "sprayed an irritant into the mosque," Dayton fire District Chief Vince Wiley said, noting that fire investigators believe it was a hand-held spray can.
Many in Dayton are wondering if the mass distribution of "Obsession" has anything to do with this. It's unclear whether or not this was in the works before or after the attack on the mosque, but religious leaders were meeting in Dayton yesterday to talk about the DVD:
The Rev. Gary Percesepe, executive director of Greater Dayton Christian Connections, characterized the DVD as "fanning the flames of fear and prejudice against Muslims, with the potential to inspire hate crimes."
It should be noted that right now, until the police make more progress in investigating this, that the link is circumstantial based on the timing -- and sadly there've been many anti-Islamic hate crimes in this country before "Obsession" was so widely released. That said, I think that while the case is under investigation, any newspapers that were planning to distribute the DVD but haven't done so yet should call a time out, and wait until we know more about what happened in Dayton.
Is distributing "Obsession" a matter of pure free speech? Or is it yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre?
People need to make that call before someone gets killed.
Comment removed.
CP=6. Amazing that this was written, let alone at 1252am.— shoeshineboy
Last week a news anchor in Maine who happens to resemble Sarah Palin has been receiving hate mail and nasty phone calls. Could it be the liberal press' constant negative attacks, not only on Palin's record, but on her intelligence, looks, and family that lead to the harassment of that news anchor? I think the media's role should be examined here, along with an examination of the extent of misogynistic attitudes in the media. This is a political hate crime fueled by the media. We need to get this kind of thing under control before innocent people get hurt. Now, I wonder what Will "free speech for me but not for you" Bunch's reaction to the above would be if it appeared in print.— jmc- Anyone who distributes a film that is, specifically, intended to offend mainstream Muslims and incite hatred against them, is scum, but within their rights. And Islamophobic scum don't need a movie to incite their hatred. Scum, like Jimmy Madson above, (who thinks that Muslim kids getting sprayed with an irritant funny), don't need to watch a film to hate. It's in their blood. Of course, no doubt, Jimmy is a loyal Republican voter.— Talking point sleuth
- Comment removed.
- Its funny Will, I bet you think movies like "Lions For Lambs" and "Stop Loss" are deep feeling movies that describe serious issues of our time, while a movie like Obsession is irresposible and dangerous.— shock89
- Comment removed.
- My question for the Orland Sentinel: "How many Jews and others died because the West wasn't 'ready' for Hitler?" And how dare you, Mr Bunch, speak about hate? One of the biggest apologists around, you vilify those who raise legitimate questions about Mislim extremism here in the U.S.— Paul B
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Another example how dangerous a threat militant Christianists are to the fabric of this country. We should have learned our lesson when the terrorist Timothy McVeigh murdered all those people in Oklahoma. Mr. Bunch, thank you for bringing this incident to light, hopefully it will wake people up the terrible evil in our midst.— ElBlot
- LJL do you actually knopw anyone on the "Christian right" personally?— sleepy
- "Tell you what; when you ........ blah, blah, blah..... I'll consider taking you seriously." How many times does batboy post on Will's blog daily? Strange, isn't it? Day after day, post after post, batboy comments on Will's blog, yet he doesn't take Will seriously. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME?— Talking point sleuth
- Yesterday morning I heard from a woman who was at the mosque when this happened. She was taking care of the babies, toddlers, and young children while other adults prayed. The spray was sent through the window of the room where the children were. Do you think this behavior should be tolerated? 'Obsession' is a dangerous film and the distribution practices were highly questionable. You know this was done for political reasons, and those behind it don't care about children being harmed. This goes far beyond free speech. I'm a white American Muslim who converted when I was in my 20s. Like most Muslims throughout the world, my primary goal is to raise my children. You may see me in the supermarket or the mall, but you will think I'm strange because of my scarf. But I'm as much an American as you are.— LKJ
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
PLEASE COMMENT WITH PASSION...
...but not with racial slurs, potentially libelous allegations, obscenities or other juvenile noise. Such comments will, at our discretion, be deleted in their entirety, and repeat offenders will be blocked from commenting. ALSO: Any commenter advocating killing any government official will be immediately banned.
Thanks.
- Atrios
- Kiko's House
- Suburban Guerilla
- Booman Tribune
- All-Spin Zone
- Philly (Dragonballyee)
- Afro-Netizen
- Rowhouse Logic
- MyDD
- Bad Attitudes
- Billmon
- iFlipFlop
- CorrenteWire
- upyernoz
- Tattered Coat
- Fables of the Reconstruction
- Slacktivist
- Citizen Mom
- The Next Mayor
- Philly Future
- Philadelphia Will Do
- Philebrity
- Young Philly Politics
- Phillyblog
- Welcome to Phillyville
- Phawker
- A List of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago
- Keystone Blog
- Philadelphia - America's Hometown
- BlankBaby
- Above Average Jane
- Phillyist
- Metroblogging Philadelphia
- The Clog
- Josh Marshall
- Daily Kos
- Juan Cole
- Oliver Willis
- Andy Borowitz
- War and Piece
- Wonkette
- BuzzFlash
- Raw Story
- Cursor
- Crooks and Liars
- Swing State Project
- Kevin Drum
- Talk Left
- AmericaBlog
- Hullabaloo
- Mad Kane
- Think Progress
- Jesus' General
- The Carpetbagger Report
- Majikthise
- Echidne of the Snakes
- David Sirota
- Glenn Greenwald
- TBogg
- Fire Dog Lake
- Taylor Marsh
- Matthew Yglesias
- Jon Swift
- Drudge Report
- Beer Leaguer
- The 700 Level
- Dick Polman
- Balls, Sticks and Stuff
- Shallow Center
- Philling Station
- Phillies Nation
- A Citizen's Blog
- The Good Phight
- Romenesko
- Editor and Publisher
- Pressthink
- Buzzmachine
- The Inksniffer
- Media Bloodhound
- Eat the Press
- Mickey Kaus
- Media (Huffington Post)
- Blinq
- The Corner
- Instapundit
- Andrew Sullivan
- Free Republic
- James Taranto
- Blonde Sagacity
- ScrappleFace
- Blogorrhea
- February
- January
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- January 2008
- News | Sports | Business | What's Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs
