NBC Attempts to Manufacture Some anti-Muslim News (1 Viewer)

[oldreliable67]

Dateline NBC apparently is soliciting 'Muslim-looking males' to go out and find some anti-Muslim, anti-Arab sentiments that can be televised. Check out the following e-mail:

Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:05:54 -0800 (PST)
From: Subject: Looking for Muslim Males to participate in NBC Dateline Segment

[Forwarded]

Salam,

I hope everyone is doing well.

I have been talking with a producer of the NBC Dateline show and he is in the process of filming a piece on anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination in the USA. They are looking for some Muslim male candidates for their show who would be willing to go to non-Muslim gatherings and see if they attract any
discriminatory comments or actions while being filmed.

They recently taped two turbaned Sikh men attending a football game in Arizona to see how people would treat them. They set them up with hidden microphones and cameras, etc.

They want to do the same thing 2 or 3 other times (in various parts of the USA) with one or two Muslim men in each setting. They are looking for men who actually "look Muslim". They want a guy with no foreign accent whatsoever, a good thick beard, an outgoing personality, and someone willing to wear a kufi/skullcap during the filming.

They also want someone who is fairly well accomplished and has contributed to American society at large in some meaningful way.

That said, I'm urgently looking for someone who can be filmed this April 1st weekend at a Nascar event (and other smaller events) in Virginia. NBC is willing to fly in someone and cover their weekend expenses. The filming would take place all day on Saturday and Sunday.

We already have a hijabi sister who will be filmed there but a Muslim is also needed to join her. I also need candidates for the other filming segments which will take place in the following weeks.

A few weeks later, NBC will fly all the filmed participants to New York City to interview them as a group about their experience and thoughts on discrimination they've faced in America, especially in light of the times we live in (war on terror, 9-11, etc.). The show, if approved by NBC (highly likely), is expected to air sometime this summer.

What I need from interested candidates is an email with an attached clear photograph, a resume, and contact information. I also need basic information such as age, ethnic background, accomplishments, etc.

The sooner I can get this the better and please don't make emails too long. I will then submit a group of candidates to NBC so they can choose the people for the show.

Please forward this to all Muslim lists you can. Because of the upcoming filming in Virginia, this is pretty time-sensitive. My contact information is below.

Salam,

Tarek El-Messidi

NBC has confirmed that they are working on the project:

Subject: RE: WESTWOOD ONE INTERVIEW REQUEST
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2006 16:26:08 -0400
From: Tartikoff, Jenny (NBC Universal)

We're going to pass on your request. For your background information, please note that:

"Dateline" is looking into this story. We were intrigued by the results of a recent Washington Post/ABC News poll and other articles regarding increasing anti-Muslim sentiments in the United States. It's very early on in our newsgathering process, but be assured we will be visiting a number of locations across the country and are confident that our reporting team is pursuing this story in a fair manner. We did not write or authorize Tarek El-Messidi's email.

Thanks,
Jenny

Source.

NASCAR, thanks in part to the bloggers who became aware of the NBC effort, contacted NBC. AP described NASCAR's reaction this way:

NASCAR said it was "outrageous" that "Dateline NBC" targeted one of its race tracks last weekend for a possible segment on anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States.

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NASCAR said NBC confirmed it was sending Muslim-looking men to a race, along with a camera crew to film fans' reactions. The NBC crew was "apparently on site in Martinsville, Va., walked around and no one bothered them," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Wednesday.

"It is outrageous that a news organization of NBC's stature would stoop to the level of going out to create news instead of reporting news," Poston said.

"Any legitimate journalist in America should be embarrassed by this stunt. The obvious intent by NBC was to evoke reaction, and we are confident our fans won't take the bait," he said.

Source.

As danarhea is fond of describing them, the 'mediawhores' are at it again: if there is no news out there, then go out and make it up - better yet, bait some poor unsuspecting soul in helping you make it up.

 

[Calm2Chaos]

They probably ran out of soldier bashing and bush hating video. Throw enough **** against a wall something will stick.

I say we send a few americans into muslim countries and see if there treated differently, or even better. See if there beheaded, stripped, dragged around the streets naked while beating the body with shoes and then hung from a bridge and burned. Kind of puts name caling in perspective in my opinion...

 

[shuamort]

Mod note

Moved over to Bias in the Media

/Mod Note

 

[oldreliable67]

shuamort,

Thanks for moving. Had intended the thread to be in the 'Media Bias' forum, but guess I wasn't paying attention - danged work must have distracted me!

 

[cnredd]

You know what would be cool but would never happen?...

"Here at our affiliate, we wanted to see, for ourselves, the blatant discrimation that has plagued our country...

We sent an undercover reporter to the event in hopes that he would attract the disgusting racists that cover our nation. He purposely pretended to speak hardly any English and we gave him his own attire which was purely ethnic...

Surprisingly, nothing happened...

The people at the event were very courteous towards him, and upon arrival, asked him if he would like them to make a plate of food for him from their buffet...He thanked them very much and says he can't wait until the next time the event is held...

It seems that this story is the exact OPPOSITE of what we were trying to portray...we THOUGHT there would be discrimination...

We found out that idea was greatly overblown..."

That'll even happen...:roll:

 

[Simon W. Moon]

Aren't undercover stories fairly common in investigative journalism?

 

[cnredd]

Aren't undercover stories fairly common in investigative journalism?

Common?...Yes...

Legit and justified?...Hardly...

 

[Simon W. Moon]

Common?...Yes...
Legit and justified?...Hardly...

So the various under cover reports on meatpacking, corrupt auto-repair folks, etc - all injustified?

 

[cnredd]

So the various under cover reports on meatpacking, corrupt auto-repair folks, etc - all injustified?

If I implied EVERYONE, I didn't mean to...

Here's the difference between "legit" and "not legit"...

Legit - going undercover to SEE what happens...

Not Legit - going undercover to MAKE things happen...

And once again...I don't imply every single one...I'm hoping you get the point here...

 

[Simon W. Moon]

Not Legit - going undercover to MAKE things happen...

What exactly were the producer going to "make happen"? Afaict, they were just going to get some folks to go to a NASCAR race.
Was NBC going to instruct their participants to somehow "make" anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination happen?

 

[Deegan]

What exactly were the producer going to "make happen"? Afaict, they were just going to get some folks to go to a NASCAR race.
Was NBC going to instruct their participants to somehow "make" anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination happen?

Well I think sending men in turbins and heavy beards will indeed get a reaction, especially at a Nascar race. The point is, I don't think Muslims go to the races very damn often, if ever at all, so why conduct this experiment there, it's just asking for trouble. I wonder why they are trying to create problems, where there are none?

Oh for some real fun, they could give them suitcases, and make them look real nervous, maybe even shout a few Allah Ackbars or something, wouldn't that be cute?:roll:

 

[Simon W. Moon]

Well I think sending men in turbins and heavy beards will indeed get a reaction, especially at a Nascar race. The point is, I don't think Muslims go to the races very damn often, if ever at all, so why conduct this experiment there, it's just asking for trouble.

So, the presupposition is that anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination exists at NASCAR and thus sending these folks there would "make it happen"?

 

[Deegan]

So, the presupposition is that anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination exists at NASCAR and thus sending these folks there would "make it happen"?

Yes, of course, these people still fly the rebel flag there!:shock:

These are also people who are still very nervous around Muslims because of 9/11, and while I can't blame them, they may wonder what a couple of Muslims are doing at a race. It's much like sending you, Simon, in to a mosque in Saudi Arabia, and watching to see what reaction that brings!:shock:

 

[Alias]

Anyone notice the name of the guy who wrote the memo? That's all I needed to know. Then they wonder why their ratings keep going down.

 

[Simon W. Moon]

Yes, of course, these people still fly the rebel flag there!:shock:

These are also people who are still very nervous around Muslims because of 9/11, and while I can't blame them, they may wonder what a couple of Muslims are doing at a race. It's much like sending you, Simon, in to a mosque in Saudi Arabia, and watching to see what reaction that brings!:shock:

So, if an auto-repair shop is known to be crooked, sending an undercover reporter in "makes" the crookedness happen?

What makes the distinction between "going undercover to SEE what happens" and making something happen?

Afaict, they're just going in to "see what happens." Where should they go to observe anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination somehwere other than where it exists?

 

[Simon W. Moon]

Anyone notice the name of the guy who wrote the memo? That's all I needed to know. Then they wonder why their ratings keep going down.

Could you be more explicit in your implication? I don't follow.

 

[Deegan]

So, if an auto-repair shop is known to be crooked, sending an undercover reporter in "makes" the crookedness happen?

What makes the distinction between "going undercover to SEE what happens" and making something happen?

Afaict, they're just going in to "see what happens." Where should they go to observe anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination somehwere other than where it exists?

That comparison is illogical, as we have well documented instances of crooked acts going on in auto shops. This is an attempt to produce a situation that has not already become a problem, as the examples you have stated. I know I am not wanted in certain areas in the south side of Chicago, and this is like sending me to the next rap concert there, dressed in my suit and tie. Why do it? Will it really change anything? Will this just fan the flames of hatred? These are the questions you have to ask yourself, I have, and I can find no logical reason for such a stunt.

If they were going to go somewhere, go where Muslims in fact are present, subways, train stations, even malls or grocery stores, but Nascar, that's just too easy, and lazy journalism if you ask me.

 

[Simon W. Moon]

That comparison is illogical, as we have well documented instances of crooked acts going on in auto shops.

Though you suppose that anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination exists at NASCAR.
Is the lack of documents what makes the difference?

 

[Alias]

Could you be more explicit in your implication? I don't follow.

I thought I was being direct. Look at the name of the guy who wrote the memo. That says it all.

 

[Captain America]

This will be much like an outdoor fishing and hunting film. They have to hunt and fish for weeks just to make a thirty-minute film.

Then it will be broadcast in places, including the middle east, to make it look like it took them only a half hour to come up with so much discrimination.

Ca-ca de toro.

This kinda sucks. I wonder what their agenda really is?

In these times, many Americans, still in shock over 9/11, Bin Laden, Taliban, etc., do tend to view Muslims much like Pit-Bull's. They know that many are nice and well behaved. They also know that there are enough Pit-Bulls out there that would maul you or your child to pieces, in a heartbeat.

Self-preservation dictates that we error on the side of caution.

 

[Simon W. Moon]

I thought I was being direct. Look at the name of the guy who wrote the memo. That says it all.

I have looked at. It says the guy's name.

I don't see whatever connection you're implying. If you don't want to be more clear, I guess that's your business. But if you do want to explain, it'd be appreciated.

 

[faminedynasty]

The point is, I don't think Muslims go to the races very damn often, if ever at all, so why conduct this experiment there, it's just asking for trouble.

So, it would seem that there are significant portions of our society where any muslim who so much as shows his face is "asking for trouble"? God forbid, what if a muslim citizen of the United States seeks to exercise his basic freedoms by going to a race? If that is all it takes to be "asking for trouble" then this experiment is desperately needed to let sensible Americans know just how ignorant and biggoted much of our society is. But that's only if your assumption is correct.

 

[Deegan]

So, it would seem that there are significant portions of our society where any muslim who so much as shows his face is "asking for trouble"? God forbid, what if a muslim citizen of the United States seeks to exercise his basic freedoms by going to a race? If that is all it takes to be "asking for trouble" then this experiment is desperately needed to let sensible Americans know just how ignorant and biggoted much of our society is. But that's only if your assumption is correct.

It's just not worth the time, you are not going to change the fans of Nascar because NBC did a little experiment, just as you won't change the hatred taught in Mosques in Saudi Arabia. If they want to do a tit for tat, then by all means, go for it, but to show one side, and pick the most likely place for racism, it's just counter productive. I don't believe "most of society" are "biggoted and ignorant" at all, quite the contrary. I believe most would have no problem with this, even at a Nascar race, but it's like comparing a KKK rally, to a meeting of the ACLU, as the best place to find racists.

If Muslims start to flock to Nascar, and they have problems, then let's investigate, until then, why fan the flames, and create problems where there are none?

 

[Simon W. Moon]

This kinda sucks. I wonder what their agenda really is?

What rules out their stated agenda of doing a news story re anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination?

 

[Deegan]

What rules out their stated agenda of doing a news story re anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination?

The more important question is, where is the examples of blatent racism, that has made an investigation like this necessary?

Again, why create problems, where they don't already exist?