Lights, camera, exploitation

WORLD on the web ^ | Oct. 19, 2002 issue | Marvin Olasky

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Lights, camera, exploitation

MEDIA | Falwell says he "should have known" 60 Minutes' segment on Christians and Israel would be a hatchet job, but that is no excuse for shoddy, bigoted journalism | by Marvin Olasky

Last week yielded more anti-Christian hysteria on some of the nation's editorial pages. The Washington Post was shocked, shocked, that Jerry Falwell, on the Oct. 6 CBS show 60 Minutes, called Muhammad "a terrorist."

News flash: For centuries Christian ministers have strongly opposed Islam. Jonathan Edwards, often called America's leading thinker, attacked Muhammad's "pretences to intercourse with heaven, and his success in rapine, murder, and violence." Ah, but Edwards wrote that 250 years ago; haven't we learned since then? Maybe. Ibn Warraq's recent scholarly book The Quest for the Historical Muhammad shows how little we still know. The Gospels were written down while eyewitnesses to Christ's time on earth were still alive. The Quran wasn't written down until generations after Muhammad's death, and many hadith (semi-canonical stories of Muhammad's life) are still in dispute.

Since orthodox Muslims view Muhammad as sinless, many Muslim newspapers attacked Mr. Falwell's undiplomatic remarks. Yet, calling Muhammad a terrorist or a non-terrorist takes us equally beyond historical data into opinion. In this country we vibrantly debate Christ and His legacy; can we not do the same with Muhammad? Because so many Muslim countries suppress freedom of speech and freedom of religion, must the United States also? Jerry Falwell spoke bluntly, but he is a plain-spoken Baptist preacher, not a diplomat. With him, what you see is what you get.

My impression of 60 Minutes, and Bob Simon in particular, is different. From what I've seen close-up, Mr. Simon is a bigot. Here's a personal note: Because of political activities and my colorful growing-up period, a lot of TV networks have done profiles of me. NBC, CNN, and the CBS Evening News were all fair; not positive, but fair, and that was fine. 60 Minutes was a hatchet job. Mr. Simon sneered his way through four hours of interviews, and the producer did not keep his promise not to run a scavenger hunt for exploitable side comments. The piece was so loaded that the week after it was televised Dan Rather, to avert a potential libel suit, read a semi-apology concerning one outrageous distortion.

Columnist Jonah Goldberg described well this month's distortion: "60 Minutes, because of its ongoing mission to show Christian conservatives as the downfall of human civilization, portrayed evangelical supporters of Israel as caricatures, incapable of multidimensional thought." The program segment was about Christians and Israel, not Islam, but Mr. Simon in passing asked Jerry Falwell if he thought Muhammad approved of violence, and Mr. Falwell fell into the trap. CBS then promoted 60 Minutes with the "terrorist" soundbite, in full knowledge that it was incidental to the thrust of the piece. The evident goal: Hype the program, build the audience, and never mind the lack of context.

Mr. Falwell told WORLD on Oct. 9, "I should have known" that CBS would use his answer "to stir up conflict and animosity." He reported that Mr. Simon had called him back once the uproar began, fishing for more, and that he had complained about CBS extracting from 1 1/2 hours of interview tape that divisive side remark. "I believe you exploited me and took advantage of me as a person," he told Mr. Simon, who quickly got off the phone.

- with reporting by Edward E. Plowman

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Sorry, but, Jerry Falwell should have known better. Falwell is a seasoned veteran of the media wars. It should have been obvious to him that 60 Minutes would run with a sound byte like that.

For that matter, on the old "all PR is good PR" theory, how do we know that on some level Falwell isn't pleasd by the notoriety. This puts on the map as the toughest anti-Muslim minister in America, staking out a position that millions will presumably approve to, guaranteeing him lots of publicity, etc.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

A number of typos crept into my post. Let me restate it:

Sorry, but, Jerry Falwell should have known better. Falwell is a seasoned veteran of the media wars. It should have been obvious to him that 60 Minutes would run with a sound byte like that.

For that matter, on the old "all PR is good PR" theory, how do we know that on some level Falwell isn't pleased by the notoriety? This puts him on the map as the toughest anti-Muslim minister in America, staking out a position that millions will presumably approve of, guaranteeing him lots of publicity, etc.

[Abcdefg]

Billy Graham's boy ain't far behind Fallwell. From what little I know, they are both right about Islam.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I really don't know much about Islam, so it's hard for me to say. But I can respect people who don't try to paper over the differences between religions.

Of course we should be tolerant of others. But that doesn't mean that people have to hold hands, sing Kumbaya and say that "all paths lead to the Lord," if they don't believe it.

[RAT Patrol]

It can't be a great big shocker to the world that a Christian minister isn't impressed with the credentials of Mohammad. Let's talk about what Muslims think about Jews and Christians. I mean, who is killing who here?

[breakem]

Falwell has become a cartoon. He constantly makes statements and then apologizes about them. Why people keep giving him money to continue his idiocy is beyond me.

[hosepipe]

"Sorry, but, Jerry Falwell should have known better. Falwell is a seasoned veteran of the media wars. It should have been obvious to him that 60 Minutes would run with a sound byte like that. "

I should say so.... 60 minutes is an execellent excuse to pander with PC comments instead of speaking the truth. Falwell should know better and manipulated the press instead of being candid. Chooseing, 60 minutes, known for "hatchet jobs", was an obvious attempt for sympathy from those that love this country. The blatant(by Falwell) attempt to use 60 minutes outrageous anti-American bent and subsequent yellow journalism as a dark background to a truthful statement was, well, BEAUTIFUL..

Sorry, you did'nt appreciate the mechanical precision of it. Maybe he gives lessons on handling the media on the side. Call, maybe theres a spot still open..

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Your comment is a little too complicated for me to understand. But if you're saying that Falwell knew what he was doing, then I would agree, as you'll from my posts. I was reacting to the article, which was complaining that Falwell was some kind of naive innocent who got bushwhacked by 60 Minutes. I don't believe that.

[Abcdefg]

One can not be a Christian and believe that "all paths lead to heaven".

[WOSG]

Falwell admits as much, but the underhanded behavior is not by him and wa-a-a-y old these days.. most media outlets are running live interviews and talk shows. Why does 60 minutes have to selectively edit interviews to exhibit their bias???

[WOSG]

I really don't know much about Islam, so it's hard for me to say.

Falweel used charged words, but essentially reflected historical truths, most of which Islamicists would acknowledge too. to wit, Muhammed was a warlord and political leader who had other killed and enslaved as part of his raids on caravans and 'non-believer' tribes in Medina and Mecca. in some instances those killed or enslaved were innocent non-combatants and women and children. Muhammed married a 9-year-old and Christian slave, among his 9 wives. In other cases, Muhammed ordered people killed for speaking out against him. This will also claiming that the angel Gabriel spoke to him in dreams and told him the will of God.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks for the interesting information.

[Madame de Winter]

I'm sick and tired of this man talking for Christians. This man has been on countless news programs and still he says these kind of things. For almost 20 years he has been on TV and I'm sure he knows what he is saying in front of a camera. It is disingenuous of him to say he made a slip and the media took advantage of him. He was playing to his core constituency. I am afraid this man is selling religion much in the way Simon the Wizard did in the Book of Acts. I thinks this has less to do with God and Faith than his own bloated ego.

end of rant

[RAT Patrol]

I don't care whether you like Falwell or not, but he has just as much right to give his opinion as anyone else. He is not impressed with Mohammad. So what? Are you? If you were directly asked what you thought of Mohammad what would you say? Ask any Muslim what they think of Christians and Jews. Freedom of religion means freedom to disagree. I just don't get what the great big deal is.

[Madame de Winter]

With great exposure comes great responsibilty. It's not like me or you having a discussion about the same subject, (I doubt it that would ever be on on the nightly news), but this man has pushed himself the forefront of religious politics and dares to speak in my name as a Christian.

Since he is in the public eye and since he is on global news networks, he can't say he misspoke or was taken out of context.

Christ will come as a thief in the night and no one, NO ONE can rush him.

So just what is Jerry doing in your opinion?

[RAT Patrol]

Well, in my opinion Jerry is just being true to his beliefs. While he should have foreseen the set-up (yes I think it was a set-up) I do not think it is unreasonable or unchristian for him to see Mohammad as a terrorist. I do not understand why there isn't at least equal outrage at the Iranian cleric who has now called for the death of Falwell, Robertson, and Franklin Graham. Why isn't 60 minutes asking all Muslim clerics everywhere to denounce this guy for soliciting murder? Maybe because this is really about the liberal media's hatred of Christians and not about ANYTHING else.

Look what happened on 9/11. Tell me how many Muslims denounced it and how many celebrated? Falwell believes Mohammad was a terrorist. He is hardly the first person to say it. It isn't like he has called for the murder of Muslims--or even said they should in any way have their freedom of religion or speech restricted. He simply answered the question he was asked. This is still a free country; isn't it?

This hoopla is right up there with something like: ATTENTION - THE POPE IS NOT A BAPTIST. Aren't you outraged?

[Madame de Winter]

Yes he is a free person who has portrayed himself as the leader and voice of a great congregation. Was he set up? Does he believe what he said? How could he be set up to say something he doesn't believe in? I think the guy is too political to belive he did not mean what he said.
Why he said it I don't know but can only guess.

Now Jerry was right in saying Christ preached love. Howerver, it is all the folks after Christ that preached war, hatred and exterminition in His name. Or shall we forget 2000 years of history?

Christ said, "love your enemy as it will be as heaping coals of fire upon his head." He never mentioned throwing heaping coals upon the head of your enemy. That is an aberration of scripture. Or do you disagree?

[John Locke]

The Quran wasn't written down until generations after Muhammad's death

Mohammed died in 632 AD. The complete Koran was collected, codified and published by the Caliph Othman between 650 and 655 AD. Barely one generation.

[RAT Patrol]

I don't see the coals. Loving your enemy doesn't mean lying just to make them "feel good." Jerry was asked "Was Mohammad a terrorist?" (I didn't watch 60 minutes so I am relying on what I have heard.) The facts are not in Mohammad's favor no matter how much it hurts.

I am not saying Muslim's don't have a right to dislike what Jerry said. (I don't like most of what they say.) However, they do not have a right to call for his murder.

If appeasement and making others "feel good" were all Christianity was about then Christ was a fool to give up his life as payment for sin. He should have just said what they wanted to hear. All he had to say was "I am not 'King of the Jews" and he would have been off the hook.

It would have probably been wiser of Jerry to just not answer the question. But I don't really see why he shouldn't tell the truth when asked.

You don't see 60 minutes outraged when plays are made portraying Christ as a homosexual. Where is their outrage when the Virgin Mary is put on display in a Museum--using tax dollars--with elephant dung and porno picks all over her; or when the cross of Christ is displayed in a jar of urine. That, they say, is free speech. But they miss no opportunity to claim that Christians are not entitled to free speech; not entitled to an opinion; not entitled to participate in politics.

I am sorry but I disagree.