So this happened. Steven Emerson, a person who has written books on terrorism and has his research firm (investing terrorism, of course) said that Birmingham is not just no-go zone but a no-go city. Here's the Guardian story on it and the video:
He later apologised and said he'd made a mistake but let's think a bit about this:
1. This is someone who made this claim in a well-known and very widely-watched TV network. The apology, most likely, won't be seen by many. So, for Fox News viewers, this was fact--that Birmingham has no non-Muslims (leaving aside the question of how we've equated "having Muslims" with "undesirable").
2. Yeah, he said that. This is someone who has talked to US government officials, etc. How can such a level of ignorance proliferate? Well, it's what *seems* right--Europeans have "Muslim problems" (a term used by more than one of my students in the past year or so). So, hey, might as well say it. 24-hr news = minimal fact-checking, maximum opinions and speculation.
3. Events like that in Paris actually benefit not just the perpetrators but also the media. How? Well, it's obvious--the perpetrators realize they can get heaps of publicity. The media also realizes the same. Terrorism sells.
Going back to Emerson for a bit, he also said that there are parts of London where Muslims run about making sure everyone's dressed properly Muslim-like. He didn't apologise for saying this.
If there's a tiny beam of light in all this, the hashtag #Foxnewsfacts on Twitter was hilarious. However, the point remains that this shouldn't have had to happen. And, again, my point no. 1 above.
He later apologised and said he'd made a mistake but let's think a bit about this:
1. This is someone who made this claim in a well-known and very widely-watched TV network. The apology, most likely, won't be seen by many. So, for Fox News viewers, this was fact--that Birmingham has no non-Muslims (leaving aside the question of how we've equated "having Muslims" with "undesirable").
2. Yeah, he said that. This is someone who has talked to US government officials, etc. How can such a level of ignorance proliferate? Well, it's what *seems* right--Europeans have "Muslim problems" (a term used by more than one of my students in the past year or so). So, hey, might as well say it. 24-hr news = minimal fact-checking, maximum opinions and speculation.
3. Events like that in Paris actually benefit not just the perpetrators but also the media. How? Well, it's obvious--the perpetrators realize they can get heaps of publicity. The media also realizes the same. Terrorism sells.
Going back to Emerson for a bit, he also said that there are parts of London where Muslims run about making sure everyone's dressed properly Muslim-like. He didn't apologise for saying this.
If there's a tiny beam of light in all this, the hashtag #Foxnewsfacts on Twitter was hilarious. However, the point remains that this shouldn't have had to happen. And, again, my point no. 1 above.
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