Monday, January 14, 2002
By Barbara Simpson© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com
Maybe I missed it. Did you see it? You know what I'm talking about – the in-depth, extensive, complete, thorough (Am I repeating myself? Good!) examination of Christmas in the media in December.
Remember Christmas? It's that holiday that some people celebrate around the end of December. It has something to do with a newborn baby, a star and some people on camels.
It happened a long time ago. But you know how it is with history … there's just so much to remember. I guess they just forgot.
I didn't see coverage of midnight mass – or an explanation of the mystery of the mass – or the virgin birth, or the impact of Jesus on the world and civilization, or the Bible, or the apostles, or the wise men and the star of Bethlehem, or even the symbolism of the cross.
There wasn't even much about Christmas trees or Santa Claus, or candles, or advent wreaths or the legend of the candy cane.
Come to think of it, there wasn't much heard of Christmas carols, either. Oh, I forgot … that's old. Who remembers? Who cares? Only Christians. And who cares about them anyway?
This is today! The new millennium! The 21st century! Christianity is old hat. The new, in religion is Islam.
So instead of even being balanced or fair – some might say "unbiased" – the media chose to barely tip their hat to Christmas and bow low and kiss the skirts of Islam.
If it weren't so obvious, it would be ludicrous. Actually, it is ludicrous. And moreover, it's offensive – not only to Christians, who are literally being marginalized – but to any thoughtful person, regardless of religious belief. In fact, you can add Judaism to the list of the ignored as well as any other traditional form of worship of the Western world.
If a space alien looked at a wide variety of media in this country during December, he would have thought the God of the day was a fellow named Mohammed.
Newspapers were – and continue to be – filled with extensive takes on all aspects of Islam, except for those pesky details of its history that deal with violence. When the history of Christianity isn't ignored, the focus is on its negative aspects.
I'm about sick of it. Informing us of that religion and its way of life, in light of the terrorist threat from Islamic fundamentalists, is one thing. Shoving the story down our throats to the point of indoctrination is another. Some might call it brainwashing. I do.
Courtesy of my handy, dandy Webster's dictionary:
- Indoctrination: to instruct in doctrines, theories, beliefs, etc.
Brainwash: to indoctrinate so thoroughly as to effect a radical change of beliefs.
It appears that the mantra of multiculturalism that infects newsrooms is showing itself in this clear effort to make Americans regard Islam as warm and fuzzy with absolutely no relationship to violence and repression.
Even Oprah joined the parade with her program about Islam and female guests only too willing to tell the audience that Islam has never had any negative influence on women's lives. What about Islamic women who have their genitals mutilated, their lives thoroughly restricted and their education eliminated – all in the name of Islam?
Oh.
As for indoctrination, the stench not only permeates the media, but it's in the schools as well. As a talk-show host, I often hear from parents about the restrictions on Christians. No more Christmas or Easter vacation – it's winter or spring break. No more Christmas concert – it's a holiday show with no carols. No more Santa, no more nativity scenes, no more crosses. Never mind the Ten Commandments and don't even mention a Christian club.
But Islam? Well, that's different. Clubs are fine. New York allows a prayer room in the schools! California requires the study of Islam in an intensive, 3-week course in elementary grades. The children study Islam's history (with no mention of wars and anti-Christian cruelties) and they have to memorize the names of 10 prophets, the Five Pillars of Faith plus more than 50 Islamic terms, phrases and proverbs. They also dress in robes, choose an Islamic name, and play jihad games. (Jihad games?!?)
These are the same schools that do not allow the posting of the Ten Commandments or allow the name of Jesus or other biblical figures to be mentioned, in or out of class.
I see a trend I don't like. There's a concerted effort to soften our view of Islam and it's more than just welcoming foreigners to our country. It seems the ultimate goal is to soften our anger against the terrorists who committed murderous mayhem on Sept. 11 in the name of Islam.
We've been advised that to ignore history is to repeat it. Been there, done that – look only at the U.S. Embassy bombings, the USS Cole, and Sept. 11. Let's hope we're not naïve enough to repeat it, again.
The next time might be our last chance and, ultimately, we might find out how it would be to live under that warm and fuzzy philosophy right here on our own turf.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Barbara Simpson, "The Babe in the Bunker" as she's known to her KSFO 560 radio talk-show audience in San Francisco, has a 20-year radio, television and newspaper career in the Bay Area and Los Angeles and currently co-edits SpinCritic.com, a news and opinion site.
