The PBS folk are being good little Dhimmies
LIBERTAS: it appears that a minor media firestorm is erupting over PBS censorship of the new TV documentary Islam vs. The Islamists - a film executive produced by Frank Gaffney, who heads the Center for Security Policy, and a show that was originally intended to be broadcast as part of PBS' "America at a Crossroads" series. At present, PBS is refusing to air Frank's film without significant editorial changes. [Read the Washington Times article on the controversy.]
I wanted to mention that I have a copy of Islam vs. Islamists from Frank, and had the chance to watch it last week. Let me briefly state that the show is exceptionally informative and sobering, and it's absurd that PBS would put up any roadblocks whatsoever to airing it. The film is professional, polished, and completely lacking in any sort of policy-oriented proselytizing. What the film depicts - the dangers associated with Muslim moderates raising their voices in public (whether in the US or Europe) - goes a long way toward explaining why radical Muslims appear to dominate media discourse over the War on Terror. The public should certainly have the opportunity to see this film, and PBS is engaging in what can only be described as political censorship by refusing to air it.
libertyfilmfestival.com
PBS shelves film on moderate Muslims
By Jennifer Harper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
April 11, 2007
A 52-minute documentary film exploring the struggles of moderate American Muslims at the hands of their radical brethren has also become a showcase for the struggles between right and left in the news media.
The producers of "Islam vs. Islamists" say their taxpayer-funded film has been shelved by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in "an ideological vendetta," and because the production team includes conservative columnist Frank Gaffney Jr., founder of the Center for Security Policy.
"This is a well-documented, textbook case of the abuse of taxpayer funding by elements in the public broadcasting system to advocate their agenda and ensure that people who have different agenda don't get on the air," Mr. Gaffney said yesterday. "The public ought to be allowed to see a film which PBS doesn't want them to see."
His partner Martyn Burke also accused CPB and PBS of stifling the film "on political grounds."
CPB says the film simply needs work but stands a chance to be aired eventually as a "stand-alone" program in the future. " 'Islam vs. Islamists' has not been canceled. It is a work in progress," said CPB spokesman Michael Levy.
"I am incredulous that PBS would invest so much of our tax money into contracting professionals for a documentary on a subject -- the struggle for the soul of Islam -- which is one of the most vital debates of the 21st century and then censor its release," said Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, chairman of the Arizona-based American Islamic Forum for Democracy who is featured in the documentary.
"Until mainstream media and mainstream America understands the need to help this debate and expose the plight of moderates who push back against the Islamists within the Muslim community, we will continue to lose ground against militant Islamism," Dr. Jasser said. "The censorship of this documentary tells us a great deal about the level to which our government is facilitating the ideology of Islamism which runs directly counter to our foundations of Americanism."
Originally, the film was intended to be shown on "America at a Crossroads," a six-night series which begins Sunday. The series comprises 11 independently produced films depicting the political and cultural complexities of a post-September 11 nation. Mr. Gaffney and partners Mr. Burke and Alex Alexiev received $675,000 in funding last year, ultimately producing an unvarnished look at Islamic fundamentalist threats and intimidation of some Muslims.
Their work did not go over well with Leo Eaton, the series producer, or Jeff Bieber, executive producer at WETA, where the series originated. Mr. Gaffney received a series of critical "notes" between November and February which said, among other things, that the film would "demonize Islam" and promote public fear of Islamic organizations.
The critique, Mr. Gaffney said in a March 6 rebuttal, "is itself 'a point of view' ... an apologia for Islamist extremism."
Mr. Gaffney continued, "This documentary has been the subject of an ideological vendetta." He later accused CPB and PBS of suppressing the content and message of the film and ignoring the public interest.
Officials counter that there simply wasn't room
washtimes.com |
