Tennessee TV News Station Runs Hysterical Piece Painting Muslim Community as Terrorists

Hello Spencer,
It seems from your piece about the Islamic compound news report from Tennessee that you need to get some more perspective. I reviewed the report you linked and was ready to be outraged, but the report actually attempted to disprove any negative speculation about the compound and its inhabitants. Maybe you need a brief vacation to to get back to your usually spot-on analysis.

By the way, I knew Nick Beres very well at the University of Oregon…we were good friends and even vacationed together in Palm Springs. From the Nick I knew in college, your disparaging remarks about him are unfounded…and after seeing the video, I know they are now. Take that vacation soon.

Jonathan,

Thanks for the comment. I can see where you're coming from, but the framing of this entire piece is journalistically irresponsible. If you're going to debunk something, you have to challenge its framing. I can't think of a reason to have the “expert” that Beres quoted speculating about the compound, nor for the presentation of the women as “running away.”

I respect you standing up for your friend.

Spencer

Your friendship with Beres seems to have compromised your objectivity—-I'm with Ackerman on this one

The “expert” he interviewed, Vijay Kumar, is actually a Republican congressional candidate in Tennessee. Just sayin'. http://kumarforcongress.com/

For the record, they weren't described as “running away,” they were described as “running,” and they were mentioned as one in a series of observations about harmless, everyday things people were doing.

Some of the piece is definitely inflammatory – images of real terrorists, the word-choice of “secret” community – but the second half of the video seems like a move to dispel rumors.

I watched this report live in Nashville. There were numerous ads during the Super Bowl about the special report, all implying that the community was in fact a terrorist training operation.

However, here's the worst part.

The first part of the report, which aired immediately after Undercover Boss following the Super Bowl on CBS, featured no original reporting. It prominently featured a partisan, far right Christian video making absurd claims about Islamville and did nothing to dispute those claims. They also interviewed a Southern Baptist pastor who had shown the video to his church and who agreed with all its allegations without any evidence. Again, in no way were his assertions challenged, they were simply reported without comment. The only interview of a Muslim was with a Muslim student from Nashville who had no direct connection nor any direct knowledge of Islamville.

The report ended with “Does Islamville have connections to terrorism? Find out tomorrow night,” in the second part of the report. Since this was the eve of the Super Bowl, I imagine that a considerable number of viewers did not return for the second night, leaving them with the strongly implied notion that Islamville did support terrorism. Mr. Evans, I don't care how well you know the reporter who did this story, it was the most disgraceful and disgusting display of so-called “journalism” I have ever seen in my life. Al-Jazeera has shown more objectivity in its coverage of Israel than he showed in his reporting on this story. Terrible and he should either a) be ashamed, or b) go to work for Fox News, where this style of “reporting” will fit right in. He is responsible for whatever vandalism or violence is committed against the people of Islamville as a result of his story.

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wasnt what the guy said “running” not “running away?”

I was prepared to be outraged, but didn't see anything worthy of outrage. They left me with the sense that absolutely nothing goes on here but a group of folks praying and living their lives.

The first half aired on CBS following the Super Bowl, during which it was heavily advertised. The second half aired on Monday night. Which do you think more people watched?

I, too, expected this report to be much more hostile to the Islamville community and much more inflammatory. I didn't think it was so terrible. I think you're looking so hard for trouble that you're seeing it even though there's very, very little — or even none — there.

By the way, unlike Mr. Evans, I don't know the reporter. I also have no personal connections to this report, this community, or the surrounding area. After watching it, my honest impression was that the reporter seemed to be trying to make it clear that this community is not doing anything anti-American or nefarious. Reasonable people may disagree, but that's how I see it.

I wasn't aware of the Sunday segment; was just referring to first half of video posted above.

[...] fear-mongering piece on WTVF-TV speculating with zero evidence that a Muslim community in Tennessee is a possible terrorist training operation. The local sheriff told him nothing is going on. And Beres got a tour of the place in which he [...]

[...] fear-mongering piece on WTVF-TV speculating with zero evidence that a Muslim community in Tennessee is a possible terrorist training operation. The local sheriff told him nothing is going on. And Beres got a tour of the place in which he [...]

I watched the teaser for this piece. Right off, you could tell it was nothing but fear mongering. They should stop this nonsense. I won't be surprised if something tragic comes out of this.
News Channel 5, as they are referred to, has always been the rag-mag of local news. I wonder if they'll take responsibility if/when more tragedy comes from their greed for ratings?

Vijay Kumar? An expert? On what? He's a cable guy!

Swear to God.

“Is Wendy Testaburger using school funds to buy drugs? I don't know — I'm just asking questions here. Somebody has to.”

- Eric Cartman, “South Park”

It's someone doing a report on your wife, and repeatedly saying, “Is she a slut? We could found no evidence of that. Despite fears that she acts like a dog in heat, and is humping every man in town, our investigation turned up nothing that would indicate she is a total whore. Again, there is no proof her sluttiness.”

I wondered about that, too. Did he mean to indicate they were jogging, running in fear, what??

Sounds like he's an expert on being a working guy like most of us. All right, Vijay! Did you bother to find out anything about his background and experience with Islam, though, hamletta? Were you living in Iran during the 1979 Islamic revolution? Did you know that Vijay was? What are you an expert on–demeaning people?

No, Vijay, I was living in Maryland during the Iranian Revolution, but I don't see what it has to do with a bunch of Muslims living in the country.

Your “feelings” are not data, and Nick Beres was incredibly irresponsible in presenting them as valid commentary.

[...] Tennessee TV News Station Runs Hysterical Piece Painting Muslim … [...]

[...] [...]

[...] Tennessee TV News Station Runs Hysterical Piece Painting Muslim … [...]

[...] Tennessee TV News Station Runs Hysterical Piece Painting Muslim Community as Terrorists — Stay classy, conservative America. And pray to your god that your beliefs never get on the public shit list, because you’ve got some deep, bad karma coming. [...]

My name ain't Vijay, hambone, and I didn't mention any “feelings.” Yes, Nick Beres is a mainstream media jerk (but I repeat myself) and his alleged “reporting” was incredibly irresponsible—including his intentional hatchet job on Mr. Kumar. Meanwhile, Islam has all but eliminated every other religion in twenty-seven countries around the globe, and is in the process of doing the same thing in twenty-five other nations—and your big issue is what a guy does for an honest living to support his family. I think you should apply for a job with Nick Beres. You're definitely qualified.

I saw the story. What's the big deal? The story said the community was just ordinary peaceful people. I'd worry more about the very real world wide threat to freedom that Muslim sharia law poses, not to mention the irrational and barbaric violence that seems to be a feature of it's world view.

[...] Tennessee TV News Station Runs Hysterical Piece Painting Muslim … [...]

[...] Tennessee TV News Station Runs Hysterical Piece Painting Muslim … [...]

If you accuse someone of terrorism, they will obviously deny it.

If you accuse someone of doing it with pigs, they will deny it.

So the tactic these people use is to accuse somebody of something so instead of being able to deal with others constructively, they will have to deny all the silly accusations being thrown at them.

If you accuse someone of terrorism, they will obviously deny it.

If you accuse someone of doing it with pigs, they will deny it.

So the tactic these people use is to accuse somebody of something so instead of being able to deal with others constructively, they will have to deny all the silly accusations being thrown at them.

[...] Tennessee TV New Station Runs Hysterical Piece Painting Muslim Community as Terrorists, The Washington Independent: http://washingtonindependent.com/76497/tennessee-tv-news-station-runs-hysterical-piece-painting-musl…. [...]

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I saw the story. What's the big deal? The story said the community was just ordinary peaceful people. I'd worry more about the very real world wide threat to freedom that Muslim sharia law poses, not to mention the irrational and barbaric violence that seems to be a feature of it's world view.

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