Funniest Bad Fox News Interview Ever [W:353] (1 Viewer)

[mak2]

Or can only white conservatives really define racism?

Things similar to that interview question, but you won't see on Fox News:

Can a man really write women's history or gender history?

Can a white person write African American history?

 

[Fiddytree]

You're right: Fox probably wouldn't ask those questions because they don't support their Muslim/Left bashing discourse. Of course if you're implying that asking such questions generally is remotely comparable to spending ten minutes implying that a specific well-known scholar has an insurmountable religious bias, you're somewhat mistaken.

The former, but if it gets harped on enough in a similar style, yes, those questions also become pretty annoying.

 

[Aderleth]

The former, but if it gets harped on enough in a similar style, yes, those questions also become pretty annoying.

Fair enough. A lot of this sort of thing depends on context. It's perfectly legitimate to ask the question, can a Muslim right about Christian history? Or, can a white dude write about the black history? Of course in my opinion, the answer to both such questions is obviously yes. Having said that, the details can get tricky.

For example, if a white guy were to attempt to write about the experience of being black, or a Muslim were to write about the experience of Christian faith, you'd have a whole different argument. I still think such things are possible, but it'd probably be a good idea to also get some opinions that come from the groups themselves (which is generally where leftist conversations about getting more minority/female voices in academic discourse are coming from).

 

[Northern Light]

Things similar to that interview question, but you won't see on Fox News:

Can a man really write women's history or gender history?

Can a white person write African American history?

Yes to the above, and there are scholars who meet those descriptions. I've met male PhDs in queer/feminist studies, and a CHINESE professor whose specialty was in African-American history.

Can a male doctor become a gynecologist? Can a female doctor become a urologist? Can a woman become a fire fighter?

Honestly... when does this stupidity end? The fact that a person's scholarly qualifications can just be brushed aside, not to mention their very voice, all because of incidental details about their life, shows that America has a long way to go.

Fox is a piece of ****, race baiting, hateful network and it's busy making money by stoking the very fires that America has been working to put out for over 50 years now.

 

[Fiddytree]

Fair enough. A lot of this sort of thing depends on context. It's perfectly legitimate to ask the question, can a Muslim right about Christian history? Or, can a white dude write about the black history? Of course in my opinion, the answer to both such questions is obviously yes. Having said that, the details can get tricky.

For example, if a white guy were to attempt to write about the experience of being black, or a Muslim were to write about the experience of Christian faith, you'd have a whole different argument. I still think such things are possible, but it'd probably be a good idea to also get some opinions that come from the groups themselves (which is generally where leftist conversations about getting more minority/female voices in academic discourse are coming from).

It would require people to discuss the text and the historiography, both of which you will not get in public mediums. However, public mediums seem to think they are being "deep thinkers" if they ask a bland question like that without getting into the author's arguments, footnotes, and what other scholars argue. As such, asking those sort of disqualifying questions without examining why their perspective is limited or obscures points, is just being an asshole to the scholar.

 

[Aderleth]

It would require people to discuss the text and the historiography, both of which you will not get in public mediums. However, public mediums seem to think they are being "deep thinkers" if they ask a bland question like that without getting into the author's arguments, footnotes, and what other scholars argue.

This is true. Although obviously in this particular case, the interviewer was engaging in a pretty blatant attack against what she believed to be an anti-christian muslim. That's a whole different ball of wax.

 

[Fiddytree]

Funniest Bad Fox News Interview Ever

This is true. Although obviously in this particular case, the interviewer was engaging in a pretty blatant attack against what she believed to be an anti-christian muslim. That's a whole different ball of wax.

Oh i agree. It's got a different sort of baggage attached to it ("argued hateful minority in the U.S. has audacity to write about *our* lord and savior!"), but it is in general a disrespectful thing to do with any scholar who does not personally belongs the group they are studying. Those arguments can get heated without Fox News or anyone else, but public media flat out sucks at having in depth examinations of the quality of scholarly work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[What if...?]

You seem to be the one with your knickers in a twist.
I, having dipped my toe in the world of academia, would also have been curious as to why a Muslim would write a book about Jesus. Aslan's reply of "I'm a scholar; I've a PhD in Religions," would have caused me to raise an eyebrow because it's not an satisfactory answer since he said he was Christian and converted by to his faith of Islam. The space between the conversion, for me, is a curious one.

Jesus is "part" of Islam. Quoted in the Quran.

Son of the God of Abraham, according to the christians.

A prophet according to the Musilms.

The entire premise that a muslim would have no "right" to write about Jesus is PHENOMENALLY stupid. He's in their book.

 

[Aderleth]

Funniest Bad Fox News Interview Ever

Jesus is "part" of Islam. Quoted in the Quran.

Son of the God of Abraham, according to the christians.

A prophet according to the Musilms.

The entire premise that a muslim would have no "right" to write about Jesus is PHENOMENALLY stupid. He's in their book.

Also, Aslan's book isn't really about religion as such, it's about Jesus as an historical person.

 

[polisciguy]

I just kind of look over the mainstream media these days.

 

[What if...?]

You have a campaign of calumny against the interviewer without any real facts. You've taken what someone else deemed as an embarrassing interview and spread it atop a cracker hoping others will nosh from it.
You seem to be naïve about the game of selling books.
Perception isn't reality.

Boy, you're not very good at this.

In the world of selling, perception is EVERYTHING.

 

[sangha]

Things similar to that interview question, but you won't see on Fox News:

Can a man really write women's history or gender history?

Can a white person write African American history?

Why would anyone who is alive today be interested in stuff that happened long before they were born?

 

[What if...?]

It's getting pretty funny at this point.

Its like this video I saw once where a reporter refused to understand that her question was stupid and kept doubling down....

 

[Objective Voice]

I was listening to the Michael Smerchonich show on XM Radio (channel 124 if you're interested) during the evening drive home and heard him talking about this story. The exerpts he used from the interview made it clear what Lauren Green's agenda was: to generate anger particularly among the Christian Fox News viewers, i.e., "How dare this Muslim write a book about our Christian deity!"

The more I listened to snippets Smerchonich played of the interview, the more embarrassed I became for Ms. Geen and supportive of Reza Aslan. I might just buy a copy of his book just because...

 

[Objective Voice]

Things similar to that interview question, but you won't see on Fox News:

Can a man really write women's history or gender history?

Can a white person write African American history?

Not sure about the first, but the second has already happened 1000 times over. Most of the books written on American Black History prior to Roots were written by a White person.

 

[Crosscheck]

What I really admire about the author is how cool he remains with all her asinine questions.
He calmly has a rebuttal for every question she has of his right to write this book.

Myself, my neck veins would be sticking out and I would probably ask her what grade did she successfully complete. I envy guys like him that can keep it together like that.

Kind of like those guys who just before a fight can stand there smiling.

 

[sangha]

What I really admire about the author is how cool he remains with all her asinine questions.
He calmly has a rebuttal for every question she has of his right to write this book.

Myself, my neck veins would be sticking out and I would probably ask her what grade did she successfully complete. I envy guys like him that can keep it together like that.

When she kept asking him why a muslim would be interested in Jesus, I was hoping he would say "For the same reason you're interested when someone jangles keys in front of your face - it stimulates the mind

 

[Slyfox696]

If I was the interviewer, I would be incensed with the lack of preparation by the producers provided to her. It was clear that NO ONE had any idea what the book was about and just wanted to argue religion. The sad part is how many simpletons have probably watched it and now dislike Aslan because of her lies and stupid questions.

I might just buy a copy of his book just because...

I considered it as well, but I'm not exactly sure what point that would prove. I'm not really supporting Aslan as much as repulsed at the interview. The way to show my disgust with the interview would be to not watch Fox News, but I was smart enough to do that years ago...

When she kept asking him why a muslim would be interested in Jesus

I was hoping he'd respond by asking why Fox News is so interested in talking about liberal Democrats.

 

[Juiposa]

I don't normally jump on the "look how awful Fox is" bandwagon, just because a) it's like kicking a half dead rabid puppy and b) anyone who can't admit how spectacularly awful Fox News is is probably far too ideological to merit conversation.

But...

In this particular case, the interview in question is so hilariously bad, I think it warrants some attention. So what follows is Reza Aslan calmly explaining who he is and what he does for a living to a disbelieving Fox reporter who was looking forward to some Muslim bashing. Enjoy:

Is This The Most Embarrassing Interview Fox News Has Ever Done

This is one of those video wherein I am almost too embarrassed to watch it.

 

[Fiddytree]

Why would anyone who is alive today be interested in stuff that happened long before they were born?

You're asking a guy who spends much of his day doing just that. Personally, not only do I do it for its own sake, but I also gain a better understanding of the past, and it (to whatever extent possible) informs me with the present. Most people read about it for the stories, which is great, but that's not what I do. I try to make it make sense for people and then mold it into a narrative.

 

[ForcedAppeal]

You're asking a guy who spends much of his day doing just that. Personally, not only do I do it for its own sake, but I also gain a better understanding of the past, and it (to whatever extent possible) informs me with the present. Most people read about it for the stories, which is great, but that's not what I do. I try to make it make sense for people and then mold it into a narrative.

You are aware Sangha's post was sarcasm? (more like a sarcastic addendum to your list)

(hope i'm not speaking out of turn)

 

[Fiddytree]

You are aware Sangha's post was sarcasm?

(hope i'm not speaking out of turn)

Nah, you're not.

Perhaps it was. Usually he asks questions and means it. Whatever works, though.

 

[sangha]

You're asking a guy who spends much of his day doing just that. Personally, not only do I do it for its own sake, but I also gain a better understanding of the past, and it (to whatever extent possible) informs me with the present. Most people read about it for the stories, which is great, but that's not what I do. I try to make it make sense for people and then mold it into a narrative.

Yes, I posted it knowing about your interest in history. I was being facetious.

But I'll note that your response applies to a muslim who is interested in Jesus.

 

[DiAnna]

You have a campaign of calumny against the interviewer without any real facts. You've taken what someone else deemed as an embarrassing interview and spread it atop a cracker hoping others will nosh from it...

Once again you are making a non sequitur interjection.

...
I'm not a fan of Fox News but I understand the interviewer's dismay at his supercilious attitude.

Stop! Now step slowly away from the Thesaurus.... :lol:

 

[nota bene]

I posted this earlier in the Polls forum, but if you were impressed with Aslan's interview, you will be interested in this: Reza Aslan Misrepresents His Scholarly Credentials » First Thoughts | A First Things Blog