I was just listening to the BBC on the radio, and they had a special on the end of the Hajj and Mecca. In their intro to which, they said, Mecca has been the center of the Hajj for 1400 years. But how was it founded? Pass from the Brit newreader to a cultivated Arab voice, who explains, Mecca was founded by the prophet Ibrahim and his son Ishmael, who build the Qabba, the oldest center of human worship of Allah.
This is presented as news, as fact. No "Muslims believe that..." Just the facts, ma'am.
So I have two questions.
First, when did the news directors of the BBC convert to Islam? I know why Muslims believe that Mecca is 4000 years old, but I also know that archaeologists don't believe it. Why aren't we hearing from archaeologists? From the "BBC news" (I think I will begin putting scare quotes around the term, just as they do around "terrorists"), I expect facts, not dogma.
Second, has anyone ever heard them refer to Christian or Jewish beliefs with half such reverence? Every time they refer to the fact that both Blair and Bush are believing Christians, they imply it's cause to worry over their sanity. I have never, ever heard them refer to any bit of the Old Testament as fact, or even to mention beliefs where they are relevant, e.g. that the Jewish settlers in Hebron and Kiryat Arba are attached to those places because the Sarah is buried in Kiryat Arba, Abraham is buried in Hebron, and King David's home turf was in Hebron. No, the Jewish settlers are attached to those places because they are nutjobs, according to the Beeb.
But Islamic beliefs, that's completely different.
Am I just imagining this? or have you heard it too? |
