Media Bias And Muslims

One thing that I have been noticing is that in basic issues the media (be they from US, UK, Oz, Qatar, Israel, Egypt, etc.; ie worldwide) generally reports similar stories from centralized sources.  They all may have their particular agendas or bias in the story selection process or on OPed pieces but the basic stories generally are the same.

For example, the Mumbai attacks.  OPed aside, every major news source reported the same or similar stories on the topic.  OPed pieces especially in the Hindu papers were the portions that showed any bias.  Yet OPed is really not news, but opinion just as it is called “OP”ed.  This article (post) is an example of OPed.

The reason I bring this up is because it is common in the Muslim community upon hearing of a crime of terrorism involving Muslims to immediately react and call it lies and biased reporting, etc.  Just like in the Mumbai attacks.  This was the first reaction from many hardline Muslim activists, yet we find out that initial reporting (as reported by Indian media as well as every other source worldwide) was accurate.  It was Muslims.

Sure, reporting is not always accurate, but only in minor details usually.  Reporters are human and subject to the same vices and faults as anyone else.  Even through those vices and faults, the basic event remains in tact.

The world is no longer the compartmentalized place that people perceive it to be. There are no true nation states when it comes to what goes on in the world.  There is no “what goes on in my house is my business” anymore.  We are all in the same house and what goes on is everyone’s business now.  People may have their slant on the events, but the events are there for everyone to see.

Time to be honest with ourselves, Muslims, and clean our own house before someone we don’t wish decides to do it for us.  Time to stop burying our heads in the sand in love for our lives amusements while ignoring the real problems that exist in our communities, fearing the extremist gangster thugs and standing up for what is right.

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