Posted on 08/29/2006 5:57:41 PM PDT by Alouette
The forced conversion of two television journalists to Islam is nothing new – except for the use of videotape and the celebrity value in play. The jihad of today is actually very old, and embedded in the very foundations of Islam.
Fox News journalists Steve Centanni and his accompanying cameraman Olaf Wiig were released on Sunday, August 27, 2006, following almost two weeks of captivity. While both men appeared to be in good physical health, the prognosis for their psychological state, and future journalistic contributions, is less sanguine. As depicted in this disturbing video, Centanni and Wiig were forced to convert to Islam, and recite an anti-Western diatribe, complemented by treacly Islamic apologetics.
During the brief press conference held almost immediately after their release , both men preferred to focus on the plight of the kind and benevolent denizens of Gaza. Momentarily acknowledging the coercive nature of their “conversion,” Centanni admitted off camera, “We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint.” But he felt compelled to add this bizarre disclaimer,
“Don’t get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it,”
before concluding candidly
“…it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns, and we didn’t know what the hell was going on.”
Centanni expressed his primary concern to the reporters gathered at the Gaza City Beach Hotel press conference as follows.
“I hope that this never scares a single journalist away from coming to Gaza to cover the story because the Palestinian people are very beautiful and kind-hearted…The world needs to know more about them. Don’t be discouraged.”
Wiig reiterated these sentiments.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
I think these two were pretty useless before their forced conversion.
What do you mean by "useless?" They were reporters doing the job that reporters have done for many years--covering a war.
I think they finally realized who's the enemy in real time. Don't you just want to run to your local mosque and join up at gunpoint? Sounds like real fun!
That is a pretty nasty thing to say....why did you feel it was necessary to say that??
Because I feel its true.
***“Don’t get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it,” **
***“I hope that this never scares a single journalist away from coming to Gaza to cover the story because the Palestinian people are very beautiful and kind-hearted…***
Quotes like these from men who have just been wrongly imprisoned for two weeks speak for themselves.
Readmy post 7
I suspect that people who have just been kidnapped and had their lives threatened might say a lot of strange things. I won't trash their character based on the lines you quoted.
I didnt ask you to. I dont mind doing it though.
If someone held me captive for two weeks I would be calling them a pack of sons of beaches and calling their forced conversion of myself the Gotdam joke that it is.
But I realise these two in their jobs may have to face these same asswipes again so they toady along to get along.
Bostom is not giving enough credit to Centanni and Wiig.
He should remember that, when they made their favorable statements, Centanni and Wiig were still in Palestinian custody!
Sure, it was a press conference, not a dungeon. And, sure, they were surrounded by Palestinian "officials". But some of these "officials" were their captors. And, so long as they were in Palestinian custody, they were under compulsion.
Bostom's larger point is well-taken -- that Islam prospers on forced conversions. But he didn't need to denigrate Centanni and Wiig in order to make that point.
There is nothing of interest to cover in Gaza. It's a Hamas terrorist dominated kleptocracy, with one official forced religion, no economy and incredible corruption. There is no story there worth telling at the moment, unless you are a left wing peacenik, looking to get some phony propaganda about big bad Israel. Perhaps you are working for a "fair and balanced" agency, which would therefore have felt compelled to give Hitler equal time in 1944.
As a news reporter, I say go contrive "fairness and balance" at your own risk. We shouldn't prohibit journalists from going there. There is just nothing to gain, for the audience or for them.
it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns
And so you have it folks. Exactly how it is going to be done on a grand scale, starting with France, the rest of Europe, England and then the U.S.
Quotes like these from men who have just been wrongly imprisoned for two weeks speak for themselves.
I agree with you. One thing that is for sure - neither of them was a committed Christian. it is a pretty good bet that both of them were 100% secular and 'worshipped' at the alter of MSM.
Oh for goodness sakes, they were still IN Gaza when they said that.
Covering a war and being part of it are two different things. When you take an active part in propaganda efforts by lying to make the agressor seem the vicim you are not a reporter, you are a soldier.
These guys were actively working for people that have declared war on the United States and have carried out many attacks. They were and are traitors, They are not reporters, they are writers.
****Oh for goodness sakes, they were still IN Gaza when they said that.****
In that case I assume we can expect them to retract all their statements on their return, and the first trip they make wil be to their original religious institution and get down on their knees and thank the real God that they got out alive and beg forgiveness for the bklasphemy forced upon them.
LOL, I'll be waiting to see that.
Re. your post 12. Fortunately, you don't get to decide what is and what is not newsworthy. There are reporters in places all over the world and your insinuations about these reporters are based on nothing but your own bias.
Please describe the "lies" you believe these reporters were telling. And be sure to distinguish "lying" from "reporting the statements" of people you disagree with.
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