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TOO FINE FOR PBS(Refuses to air documentary on radical Islam)
NEW YORK POST ^ | May 13, 2007 | ROGER L. SIMON

Posted on 05/13/2007 5:12:36 PM PDT by kellynla

I HAVE to admit the first thing that attracted me to Martyn Burke's "Islam vs. Islamists" was that PBS had suppressed it. As is now well known, the network rejected Burke's documentary - produced with Frank Gaffney and Alex Alexiev for the network's "American Crossroads" series - on the film's completion. PBS's initial explanation was that the film was not good enough, aesthetically.

Well, yes, I thought, that could be. Most things aren't. As a filmmaker, I know that well. Only one of the films I have written - "Enemies, A Love Story" - can I even watch today. Most PBS documentaries I find so stultifying I'd rather read the phone book.

So I assumed the criticism of Burke's film was valid. Still, I was curious. I had not been entirely satisfied with previous documentaries I had seen on related subjects - "Islam: What the West Needs To Know" and "Obsession" - because, like Al Gore's global-warming film, they were made in the old-fashioned, didactic style of the conventional documentary that always teeters on the edge of propaganda or special pleading. I assumed "Islam vs. Islamists" would be like that.

Boy, was I wrong. Burke's doc is a riveting and creatively made film about the most important subject of our time: What to do about radical Islam?

It confronts this dilemma in a sly, novelistic manner, inter-weaving the stories of good, moderate Muslims with the imams and supposedly "true Muslims" who, not surprisingly, accuse the moderate Muslims of not being Muslims at all.

Soon enough we learn these imams are apologists for terrorism and for the worst kind of medieval religious sadism. (One of them enthusiastically endorses the stoning to death of adulterers by holding up a Koran. "I didn't make this up," he says proudly. "It is written here.")

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: censorship; muslims; pbs; terrorism
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Who says Communism is dead.

"Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P.J.O'Rourke

1 posted on 05/13/2007 5:12:38 PM PDT by kellynla
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To: kellynla

a very good read. thank you for posting it.


2 posted on 05/13/2007 5:24:02 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (Thank you St. Jude.)
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To: jan in Colorado

Obsession reference ping


3 posted on 05/13/2007 5:28:04 PM PDT by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
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To: kellynla

What has this post to do with communism?


4 posted on 05/13/2007 5:28:59 PM PDT by Misterioso
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To: Misterioso
"What has this post to do with communism?"

PBS is operating here in the manner of similar institutions in the former Soviet Union and in modern Iran - financing artists and then withholding distribution of their work when it is not deemed ideologically "correct." It's a form of thought-control, and it's unconscionable.
5 posted on 05/13/2007 5:35:12 PM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla
Being a history buff I thought I would check out a PBS series about the Spanish inquisition they had on a while back...

In the background history they described Spain under Muslim rule as a free, open society where Muslims, Jews and Christians lived in worshiped side by side in complete harmony... Then those EVIL Christians seized control...

That was about 10 minutes into the episode which was as much revisionist history as I could stand to watch before I switched back to Fox news...

6 posted on 05/13/2007 5:36:11 PM PDT by apillar
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To: Misterioso
What has this post to do with communism?

Read the whole article. You'll see how it ties in.

7 posted on 05/13/2007 5:37:25 PM PDT by joshhiggins (O you who believe! do not take the MUSLIMS for friends)
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To: apillar

PBS is nothing more than anti-American, anti-Western civilization and anti-Judeo-Christian Liberalism funded by American taxpayers.

Like P.J.O’Rourke says
“Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink.”


8 posted on 05/13/2007 5:41:13 PM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla

When should we expect to see this documentary on our local taxpayer funded PBS station?


9 posted on 05/13/2007 5:57:52 PM PDT by The_Media_never_lie
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To: All

Frank Gaffney, who co-produced this documentary addresses the issue in this column.

PBS at a Crossroads

Frank J. Gaffney Jr.
http://author.nationalreview.com/latest/?q=MjQyNw==


10 posted on 05/13/2007 6:05:32 PM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla
Questions...

Since PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) is mostly funded
by PTS (Public Tax Scratch) to whom do we the public go to
to right this wrong of blatant censorship?

Are the directors of PBS free to censor at will?

Are our Republican Senators and Representatives cowards?

Will this outrageous trespass on our rights go unanswered?

So goes the Republic?

11 posted on 05/13/2007 6:43:39 PM PDT by the final gentleman
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To: kellynla

This is truly outrageous. The truth is being withheld.


12 posted on 05/13/2007 6:49:04 PM PDT by The_Media_never_lie
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To: the final gentleman

This is nothing compared to the communist/liberal anti-America, anti-Judeo-Christian indoctrination that our children have been exposed to in our American colleges & universities for over forty friggin’ years...
all paid for by...you guessed it; the American taxpayers.

Lenin must laughing his arse off!


13 posted on 05/13/2007 7:07:54 PM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla

So, if it is similar to Iran, why not compare it Islamism?


14 posted on 05/13/2007 7:08:50 PM PDT by Misterioso
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To: The_Media_never_lie

“The truth is being withheld.”

What would that truth be?


15 posted on 05/13/2007 7:25:26 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: kellynla

What do you suppose reaction would be if the film were shown?


16 posted on 05/13/2007 7:26:37 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: kellynla

Do you remember the reaction of the PBS elites when Bush tried to reign in their bias by appointing a conservative as presidient of the CPB board of directors? (Not sure of the official title - may be El Supremo Deluxo for all I know.)

How they howled about censorship, ‘chilling effect’, etc. You know the drill. They managed to get rid of the guy and prevent any funding cuts or oversight by adults.

Now that the rats control the funding, they have gone on a leftyfest binge. They know no one will pull the plug. They laugh at accusations of bias.


17 posted on 05/13/2007 7:39:56 PM PDT by telebob
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Funny, they have no problem showing a documentary on the (Catholic) Inquisition.

Bias is as Bias does.


18 posted on 05/13/2007 7:44:58 PM PDT by wodinoneeye
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To: the invisib1e hand

Gafney should go to Fox news and put it into action. My guess is that it would draw very very well.


19 posted on 05/13/2007 9:05:40 PM PDT by phillyfanatic
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To: kellynla

Bookmark


20 posted on 05/13/2007 9:59:28 PM PDT by 4woodenboats (Bush owns the war on terror, but the Dems/Media want to own another 'Nam style loss)
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