Lando 
Posted on 04/07/2005 5:53:21 AM PDT by bloggodocio
AP , CAIRO, EGYPT Thursday, Apr 07, 2005
Arab television stations have launched a media blitz for the death of Pope Paul John II, giving Mideast viewers hours of live broadcasts from the Vatican and programs on the pontiff's life -- coverage rarely seen even for the region's autocrats.
The lavish airtime made the Arab world a participant in the giant outpouring of grief that took place in Rome and was aired heavily on pan-Arab stations like Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, which have been increasing their coverage of major events outside the Arab world.
But it also generated a backlash. Islamic fundamentalists in particular criticized the parade of Muslim leaders on TV praising the head of a faith that they consider an enemy of Islam.
"How can the death of a non-Muslim be a loss to the Muslim world?" said Gamal Sultan, an Egyptian Islamic activist and editor of Al-Manar, a journal that serves as a mouthpiece of Islamic fundamentalists.
The pope had a mixed legacy among Arabs, particularly the region's Muslim majority. He was widely respected for criticizing the US invasion of Iraq and for calling for a just peace between Palestinians and Israelis, meeting several times with the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
He was also the first pope to visit a mosque -- the revered Omayyad Mosque in Damascus during a 2001 trip to Syria -- and he promoted Muslim-Christian dialogue.
On Arab television stations, numerous Muslim clerics went on the air to praise John Paul.
"His death is a great loss not only to the Catholic church but to the Islamic world," Sheik Mohammed Seyed Tantawi, the leader of Cairo's Al-Azhar, one of the world's top Islamic institutions, said in a statement read over the Egyptian state-run television.
In Web sites known as clearing houses for Islamic militant materials, criticism was even harsher.
"How is it that these [Muslim] clerics of the royal courts heap praise on an infidel and an enemy of Islam," wrote a participant on one of Web forum.
Demon talking points it would seem.
I wonder if they could clone Pope Urban II? Just because of his demonstrated ability in dealing with Muslims.
Deus volt!!!!
Welcome to FR.
January 17 1781? Cowpens?
You know your American History!!
Is that Kenton as in Simon Kenton?
Yup. I'm a reenactor of the 18th century. Welcome to the board!
Thanks for the welcome.
Nice catch on the Pope Urban II/"Deus Volt" thing, BTW. Guess I'm not the only one around here with obscure interests!
Lando
There seems to be a lot of good coming from Pope John Paul II in death.
Boy that's just so touching, I'm getting all weepy-eyed. Such charming, lovely people.
Actually, it was one of his associates - Banastre Tarleton whose command was nearly wiped out by Daniel Morgan, local southern militia and Continentals. Tarleton himself was nearly killed or captured in a dramatic saber duel on horseback with William Washington, a relative of General George Washington.
Yup. Actually, it was Cornwallis' subordinate officer, Col. Banastre Tarleton.
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