Reason # 1001 Why We Like Phil Mushnick

Sunday's TV Column:

TV reporters coddle Muslim-Americans

OVER the last five years, you’ve likely seen similar interviews conducted by TV newspersons countless times. Roughly, they go like this:

Muslim-Americans are seen and heard to complain about their loss of personal freedoms while traveling by air from, to and within the U.S. These complaints include everything from being singled out for security inspections to being detained for interrogation. But then the piece ends. And it’s left for viewers to consider whether the U.S. government is doing Muslims dirt.

But, in five years of watching such interviews, we’ve yet to hear any of the reporters or correspondents ask logical, follow-up questions of Muslim-Americans:

For example: “Given that the radical Muslim world now represents a genuine, daily threat to the lives of all Americans, what would you, a Muslim-American, do as it relates to airport security?”

And/or: “As a Muslim-American mother traveling with your children, would you be pleased if security were reduced on behalf of the sensitivities of Muslims? Don’t you prefer that the airplane you’re boarding with your loved ones be as safe as possible from attack?”

Again, after many such interviews, we have yet to hear such questions asked: Yes, it’s a genuine shame that you us have to undergo such rigorous measures at airports, since 9/11, but what, sir or madam, would you do? Should we make it as easy or more difficult for Islamic extremists to again commit mass murder?

Last week, on Sept. 10th, “CBS Sunday Morning’s” news program devoted its entire 90 minutes to the fifth anniversary of 9/11. In one segment, Muslim-Americans discussed their sense of reduced personal freedom.

One gentleman, an Islamic community leader from New Jersey, compared 9/11 to the Oklahoma City bombing. He said that while Muslim-Americans are being targeted since 9/11, Timothy McVeigh was a Christian, thus, he asked, why haven’t Christian-Americans been targeted as security risks?

The man’s question was left to dangle, as if it were rhetorical, as if it made sense.

But where was the voice to say: “Wait a minute, brother, the Christian world, with only a microscopic exception, deplores McVeigh and his action. The Muslim world, to an enormous extent, not only excuses terrorism against Americans, it supports it, blesses the murderers and eagerly awaits the next attack.”

Where is the voice to ask: “Why are you blaming America for trying to better protect its citizens? Where is your anger with the terrorists and their supporters, numbering tens of millions?”

Next on CBS, a Muslim-American woman complained of being detained, with her four children at Kennedy Airport upon their arrival from Jordan. She, too, was left for viewers to consider as victim of an American system that she claims now discriminates against Muslims.

But correspondent Elizabeth Kaledin was not heard to ask logical follow-ups: Given what the radical Islamic world has promised, delivered and no doubt will again deliver, shouldn’t all mothers and children be as safe as possible? If a security lapse cost the lives of your children wouldn’t you instead complain that security didn’t do enough?

Finally, a Muslim-American, 40 years a U.S. citizen, was heard to complain that since 9/11, he feels less like a citizen because his air travel has included rigid security inspections. Again, it seemed as if we were to feel sympathy for the man.

But no one, on CBS, was heard to tell that man that since 9/11 air travel has radically changed for all of us.

And, above and beyond all else, no one on CBS was heard to tell any of the three plaintiffs that had such rigid security measures been in place on Sept. 11, 2001, the mass murder committed that morning likely wouldn’t have occurred.

There’s one other recidivist point that arises in such interviews with Muslim-Americans since 9/11. We’re reminded that innocent Muslims died in the terror attacks, too.

Exactly.

 

Phil wets the bed.
Hundreds cheer.

 

I think your Bow Tie is a little too tight. My Love to Louis

 

What's a Muslim-American?

 

An American citizen of Muslim descent. No?

 

A - someone with 2 camels in their yard

B- a berka for every outfit.

C - convert from other religion because they hate their parents or white people or both

 

You mean

You mean in the same way that Mr. Mushnick refers to "Christian-American" and "Jewish-American" and "Catholic-American"?

 

So do you want him to call them Muslims (which could give the impression they're not US citizens), or Americans (which might bury the point of the story)?

 

According to Mushnick, Muslims also pause at home plate to watch their home runs which become singles off the wall, they chalk up unimpressive saves, they watch pro wrestling, they put up graphics which cover the screen, etc., etc.

 

I do not think the point of the story is what Maiden Aunt Phil thinks the point of the story is.
(Hint: Thank your government for detaining you without cause is a hard case to make.)

UPDATE -- suburbanite - and Muslim-Americans are people who don't think the misunderstood Marv Albert deserved another chance.

 

you forgot "they hang up on callers"

 

We're not tossing away toothpaste at the airport because of the christian faith .