Muslim jeopardy
Popular morning host Dave Ryan at Minneapolis radio station KDWB took a satirical whack at the jihadist mania that has America in its sights. Ryan postulated a "Muslim Jeopardy" game show that was, as they say in show business, inspired by a true story (or two). The folks at CAIR have successfully extracted the usual apology on behalf of the religion of perpetual outrage. The AP reports:
The skit on KDWB-FM included an announcer using a fake South Asian accent introducing contest categories such as "infamous infidels" and "potent portables," according to the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, which said it had received complaints about the skit.I'm sure that many more listeners found Ryan's skit funny than found it offensive, but Clear Channel isn't under oath. It's protecting its business. I regret that Clear Channel caved so fast and so hard. On its site CAIR proudly announces:The skit also included a threat to behead a female host when she got an answer wrong, CAIR said.
On Monday, the station's Web site contained a short apology: "KDWB does not condone making light of Islam and Muslims. We regret that listeners found the 'Muslim Jeopardy' comedy skit of one of our on-air hosts to be insensitive."
"Given the existing prejudice against and stereotyping of Islam and Muslims, we believe Islamophobic rhetoric can and does have a negative impact on the lives of ordinary American Muslims.CAIR is of course immune to the irony of its victory over "Muslim Jeopardy." With its apparent desire to control the "images of Islam and Muslims in the news and entertainment industries," CAIR presents us with its own extremely unfunny version of Muslim jeopardy."CAIR issues an annual report on the status of American Muslim civil rights outlining hundreds of incidents involving anti-Muslim discrimination, harassment and even physical violence. Just this past week, there was a sniper attack on a mosque in Florida. In August, a Minneapolis mosque was targeted by arsonists.
"It is our belief, based on years of experience, that many of these incidents result from the images of Islam and Muslims put forward in the news and entertainment industries.
"We have no desire to inhibit free speech or freedom of expression. However, it is our duty to defend both America's traditions of ethnic and religious tolerance and the safety of the American Muslim community."
The letter asked KDWB to investigate the matter and to take "appropriate action" based on the results of the investigation.
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[In addition to posting the apology, t]he station has also agreed to work with CAIR and the Minnesota Muslim community to offer public service announcements that would promote interfaith understanding.
"We thank KDWB for responding positively to the Muslim community's concerns," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "Freedom of expression and respect for the religious sensitivities of others need not be mutually exclusive concepts."
