Omitted from news stories about Farrakhan's speech this weekend

**dookie joe** · February-20-17, 04:01 PM

I just read both News and Freep stories about Farrakhan's speech this weekend. Somehow, both papers managed to omit his incredibly racist opening remarks, in which he rails against white people, who he says were "unfortunately" created 6000 years ago.

The media is giving ammunition to their critics by downplaying this kind of thing. They're not always bad, but in cases like this, they do seem to skew things. And now is the time when the media needs to call out bigotry wherever they see it. No matter who is doing it.

Here's Farrakhan's shocking opening remarks, which somehow was deemed not newsworthy:

“Unfortunately, 6000 years ago, a new people came onto our planet by Allah’s permission, and they were given power and dominion over … every creeping thing that crawls upon the earth. But because they would be mischief makers, and cause the shedding of blood, the angels themselves were a little disturbed with Allah, and questioned him according to the Holy Koran, and asked him: “You’re going to place a ruler in the earth? What kind of ruler will he be, except that which creates mischief and causes the shedding of blood?” But Allah said to the angels, “I know what you know not,” and so the world of the Caucasian came into being. For 6000 years the people of the earth have suffered under a mischief-making rule. Bloodshed and war, hatred and strife, all because a man with a new color, or the lack thereof, thought that he was better than all of those who inhabited the earth before he was even a thought. But I’m here to announce today the end of his world, and the beginning of a brand new reality.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQSX3e3cr4c

**Former_Detroiter** · February-20-17, 04:14 PM

Don't blame the media. The news means just that; new information. Neither Farrakhan or anything coming out of his mouth is new.

**dookie joe** · February-20-17, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Former_Detroiter

Don't blame the media. The news means just that new information. Neither Farrakhan or anything coming out of his mouth is new.

Bullcrap. Under this logic, you're saying if David Duke comes to Detroit and spews racism, it's ok for the media to omit the racist stuff because everyone already knows Duke is racist?

**Bham1982** · February-20-17, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by dookie joe

Bullcrap. Under this logic, you're saying if David Duke comes to Detroit and spews racism, it's ok for the media to omit the racist stuff because everyone already knows Duke is racist?

Everyone knows that Farrakhan is a bigot and there has been plenty of coverage of his racist statements.

My sense is that this thread isn't about Farrakhan but you trying to A. Spin some "the media lies" fake news trash and B. Justify white racism by pointing out a black bigot. The media is basically the only institution protecting us from fascism right now.

**dookie joe** · February-20-17, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

Everyone knows that Farrakhan is a bigot and there has been plenty of coverage of his racist statements.

My sense is that this thread isn't about Farrakhan but you trying to A. Spin some "the media lies" fake news trash and B. Justify white racism by pointing out a black bigot. The media is basically the only institution protecting us from fascism right now.

No, this thread is about the media and Farrakhan's open bigotry in the very first words of his speech not warranting a mention. By your logic, the next time Donald Trump tells a lie, the media should not report it, since it's already been well-reported.

**Bham1982** · February-20-17, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by dookie joe

No, this thread is about the media. By your logic, the next time Donald Trump tells a lie, the media should not report it, since it's already been well-reported.

If you followed actual, legitimate media sources [[and it's clear you don't) you would be well-informed of Farrakhan. Both Detroit papers covered his visit, and both referred to his racist statements.

The problem isn't the media; it's that too many Americans are either dumb and/or ignorant and refuse to accept reality. This is how we have a international disaster in the White House.

**swan** · February-20-17, 05:43 PM

"Everyone knows that Farrakhan is a bigot and there has been plenty of coverage of his racist statements."

Since we know he is a bigot and we all know he makes racist statements, why report anything about his speech? And since they both chose to report about his speech, why not report it all?

**Bham1982** · February-20-17, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by swan

"Everyone knows that Farrakhan is a bigot and there has been plenty of coverage of his racist statements."

Since we know he is a bigot and we all know he makes racist statements, why report anything about his speech? And since they both chose to report about his speech, why not report it all?

Both local papers reported on his speech, and reported on his hateful statements. Sorry if they weren't adequately sensationalist. No one has posted anything from his speech that is particularly racist, or remotely analogous from what we get from the White House, or David Duke, but I guess we'll have to take your word for it.

If you personally have some problem with this reporting, and feel horribly oppressed as a American white male, I suppose you can tune into the KKK News or Breitbart Weekly and can have your worldview valdiated.

**Former_Detroiter** · February-20-17, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by dookie joe

Bullcrap. Under this logic, you're saying if David Duke comes to Detroit and spews racism, it's ok for the media to omit the racist stuff because everyone already knows Duke is racist?

Where exactly did I say anything about David Duke and why are you assuming everyone knows who he is...

**southen** · February-20-17, 05:17 PM

Comparing the remarks of the leader of the free world to Farrakhan is silly. For reference though, here is what the Freep wrote regarding a visit by Milo...

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...tate/95089626/

Seems like they omitted a lot of his hate too doesn't it? Calm down. A sensational clown came to town and spewed some crap. It happens and the news doesn't have to print it word for word.

**dookie joe** · February-20-17, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by southen

Comparing the remarks of the leader of the free world to Farrakhan is silly. For reference though, here is what the Freep wrote regarding a visit by Milo...

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...tate/95089626/

Seems like they omitted a lot of his hate too doesn't it? Calm down. A sensational clown came to town and spewed some crap. It happens and the news doesn't have to print it word for word.

Um, yeah, that link proved my point. Here's the first paragraph:

"Avowed anti-feminist and internet provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos will speak at Michigan State University today as part of his nationwide college tour...."

If the Freep/News stories had led with "avowed anti-white Nation of Islam leader..." I wouldn't have as much of a problem with their accounts.

But they don't. The Freep led with:

"Speaking to thousands gathered in Detroit on Sunday, Minister Louis Farrakhan said African-Americans shouldn’t place their faith in Democrats or Republicans, criticizing both parties for neglecting the black community."

We don't get a mention of his racism until way down in the story, and at that it's tempered by "some think he's racist." I didn't see a similar treatment of Milo, which would be "described by some as anti-feminist..."

The News led with:

"Detroit — Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan offered two observations Sunday to the U.S. president: Be careful about sending the National Guard to Chicago and be wary of following the lead of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s president, in wading into the Middle East talks...."

Again, the racism stuff is touched on briefly, way down in the story.

Your link proves my point. This Milo clown's transgressions are in the very first paragraph, even though, as you try to point out, everyone knows he's a clown.

You have no argument. Whenever someone comes to town and spews hatred against any race, that should be the highlight of the story. No matter what the race of the person spewing the hatred. You're saying otherwise?

**Bham1982** · February-20-17, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by dookie joe

Um, yeah, that link proved my point. Here's the first paragraph:

My take: you're desperately hunting for some nugget to delegitimize the regular media, so you can feel comfortable relying on hate-media and can rationalize your support for the Trumpenfuhrer.

Milo is much more blatantly racist than Farrakahan, much more of a current news topic, and in cahoots with the bigots controlling the White House. His entire message is outrageous racism. Farrakhan is a relic of the Black Power, separatist era, and his racism is peripheral to the overall message.

And I see no major difference between the news coverage of the two. Both articles pretty clearly demonstrate that these are controversial, hateful characters peddling in bigotry.

**Hermod** · February-20-17, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by dookie joe

I just read both News and Freep stories about Farrakhan's speech this weekend. Somehow, both papers managed to omit his incredibly racist opening remarks, in which he blames all the bloodshed in the history of mankind on...white people, who were "unfortunately" created 6000 years ago. Don't believe me? Look it up.

No wonder nobody trusts the media. Here's his opening remarks.

“Unfortunately, 6000 years ago, a new people came onto our planet by Allah’s permission, and they were given power and dominion over … every creeping thing that crawls upon the earth. But because they would be mischief makers, and cause the shedding of blood, the angels themselves were a little disturbed with Allah, and questioned him according to the Holy Koran, and asked him: “You’re going to place a ruler in the earth? What kind of ruler will he be, except that which creates mischief and causes the shedding of blood?” But Allah said to the angels, “I know what you know not,” and so the world of the Caucasian came into being. For 6000 years the people of the earth have suffered under a mischief-making rule. Bloodshed and war, hatred and strife, all because a man with a new color, or the lack thereof, thought that he was better than all of those who inhabited the earth before he was even a thought. But I’m here to announce today the end of his world, and the beginning of a brand new reality.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQSX3e3cr4c

Old Louie must have slept through World History class in high school. For all but the last five hundred years, the Europeans were bottled up in a tiny and unprofitable corner of the world constantly being subject to slave raids from Africa and Asia. It was only with the discovery of long distance sea navigation and ship building that Europeans became a real force in the world. Up until 1500 or so, more slaves went from Europe to Africa than went from Africa to Europe. A lot of the towns on the Mediterranean coastline were virtually depopulated both from the raids and from people moving inland because of the threat of the slave raids from Africa.

**Bham1982** · February-20-17, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by Hermod

Old Louie must have slept through World History class in high school. For all but the last five hundred years, the Europeans were bottled up in a tiny and unprofitable corner of the world constantly being subject to slave raids from Africa and Asia. It was only with the discovery of long distance sea navigation and ship building that Europeans became a real force in the world. Up until 1500 or so, more slaves went from Europe to Africa than went from Africa to Europe. A lot of the towns on the Mediterranean coastline were virtually depopulated both from the raids and from people moving inland because of the threat of the slave raids from Africa.

Now THIS is some revisionist history. Apparently this explains all the blonde Germans in the Congo; they were apparently brought as slaves prior to 1500, duh.

**JBMcB** · February-20-17, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

Now THIS is some revisionist history. Apparently this explains all the blonde Germans in the Congo; they were apparently brought as slaves prior to 1500, duh.

Uh, what?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_slave_trade

There was just a great episode of Rick Steve's Europe on WTVS a couple weeks ago covering the French Rivera and Monaco. Every town on the coast had a fortress for the citizens to retreat to when the Barbary pirates would attack.

**Hermod** · February-21-17, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

Now THIS is some revisionist history. Apparently this explains all the blonde Germans in the Congo; they were apparently brought as slaves prior to 1500, duh.

I never said the Europeans didn't colonize much of the world in the last 500 years. I was disputing Farrakan's silly claim that Europeans have been terrorizing the world for 6,000 years. Reading [[carefully) is your friend!

**dookie joe** · February-20-17, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by swan

"Everyone knows that Farrakhan is a bigot and there has been plenty of coverage of his racist statements."

Since we know he is a bigot and we all know he makes racist statements, why report anything about his speech? And since they both chose to report about his speech, why not report it all?

Yeah, these guys are going through all sorts of conniptions in order to advance their crazy worldview. I don't get it. Either you're against bigotry and think it should be called out, or you don't. It's not ok to gloss over it because it contradicts a certain agenda.

**dookie joe** · February-20-17, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

If you were paying attention in civics class - you'll recall that hate speech is still protected speech in the US. By the Supreme Court - that's what makes America different from most countries.

We don't ban people we don't agree with - otherwise who determines what is "hate" speech?

Some universities and colleges have started to ban select speakers because they don't believe in a free exchange of ideas and actually turn into censorship wind tunnels.

Like Voltaire said - I may not agree with any of your views - but I will defend to my death your right to say them.

Regardless of how vile, fake, insensitive, oppressive or derogatory they may be.

Learn to think on your own. Stop letting other people telling you who should and shouldn't speak. If people come to hear him speak and not you - work on your delivery.

I agree with everything you said here. However, whoever said anything about banning anybody? I don't recall that even coming up in this discussion, so why are you saying people shouldn't be banned for hate speech? I'm just saying if a bigot comes to town saying bigoted things, the news media should inform people of that.

**southen** · February-20-17, 06:56 PM

I am white. Stop whining. A small gathering of people don't like white people. Oh gosh. Brush it off and keep in mind that as a white male in this country you have every advantage someone could ask for as well as a history of keeping women and minorities from enjoying the same advantages. I look forward to your war on Christmas post...

**dookie joe** · February-20-17, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by southen

I am white. Stop whining. A small gathering of people don't like white people. Oh gosh. Brush it off and keep in mind that as a white male in this country you have every advantage someone could ask for as well as a history of keeping women and minorities from enjoying the same advantages. I look forward to your war on Christmas post...

I have a history of keeping women and minorities from enjoying advantages? Actually, I don't. And I can't speak for anyone in the past. And I don't think there's a war on Christmas. And I'm not a conservative. And I'm not a Republican.

But, hey, nice job deflecting.

I don't like Trump, but if people like you insist on painting everyone who disagrees as a bigot/sexist, whatever, it's gonna be a long 8 years for you.

To boil down your argument: The media is supposed to shine a light on bigotry and hatred whenever it can...depending on who's spewing the bigotry and hatred. You're selective in when you want the media to do its job as public watchdog. Gotcha.

**Zacha341** · February-20-17, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by southen

...as a white male in this country you have every advantage someone could ask for as well as a history of keeping women and minorities from enjoying the same advantages.

I hear what you are saying, but white men don't particularly have a corner on the oppression of women. Think parts of Africa, Asia and in larger part much of the Middle East, current and ongoing.

**Richard** · February-20-17, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

I hear what you are saying, but white men don't particularly have a corner on the oppression of women. Think parts of Africa, Asia and in larger part much of the Middle East, current and ongoing.

em

On a side note,I find it a bit amusing that people blast Trump about Russia but yet say nothing about the countries you mentioned which are in a far worse category,but justify it because it allows them to fill their cars with cheap gas and cheap products and trinkets in their homes.Oppose slavery but yet support it.

**Hypestyles** · February-20-17, 08:47 PM

If the NOI wants to attract more, and evangelize:The NOI should encourage members to run for office as independents.Broaden membership to other ethnics.They should update their music selections at mosques to "Islamic gospel".Go beyond urban centers to suburbs & smaller town backdrops. Set up international locales abroad.Rev. Farrakhan is well into his 80s now. Longevity has its place, but he won't be around forever. Whenever he eventually passes, I wonder if there will be infighting?Will they move back toward the Sunni format, as happened when Elijah Muhammad's son Wallace took over in the mid 70s after his father's death. Farrakhan's group is technically a "reboot" begun in the late 1970s after separating from Wallace's re-organization of the NOI into a 'mainstream Islam' congregation.

**Bigdd** · February-20-17, 09:05 PM

Wow,.. that's almost 1/10th as bad as Al Sharpton,.. hyper racicts hate monger, and tax cheat.

Seen here in this video encouraging people to kill cops and inferring that he has already done so.

https://youtu.be/XpZ0RwtvZmk

**dookie joe** · February-21-17, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Lowell

Thank you. Exactly the point. I may not like what someone spouts but allowing the government to silence that person ultimately allows it to silence all of us. That said I am enjoying this discussion as it make us examine our values.

I'm still not understanding why this is even being discussed. Of course people shouldn't be stopped from spewing hatred. Who said otherwise? I just said, if it's crucial to democracy that journalists be fair and shine a light on hatred and bigotry, then if a hate monger in the very first sentence says an entire race of people is inherently evil, the stories should reflect that. Arguing free speech in this discussion would be akin to arguing whether helmet laws should be changed. Nobody that I'm aware of has even raised the issue of censorship. Unless it's the media's self-censorship when it comes to Farrakhan.