It used to be, growing up in Dayton, OH, that every once in awhile I'd see the station manager of one of the local affiliates do an editorial. Then for a long time, I didn't see any. I don't know whether it went out of vogue and then came back in, or whether I was in the wrong market or not really paying attention. Either way, I don't remember them ever being this bad.
You'll see a slew of videos on there, but watch the spectacle I witnessed yesterday entitled "Dec. 19 Hot Button Editorial: Religious Hate." There is also a text version, but it doesn't quite capture the Captain Kirk style inflections and general dorkiness of this particular station manager's delivery.
Follow me down the rabbit hole.
You can find the transcript here.
I was appalled last week at the so-call "scientific" conference on the Holocaust, hosted by the president of Iran. This is a man who has called for the destruction of Israel. This is the man who said Israel should be "wiped off the map." His meeting last week was a pathetic attempt to re-write history.
Okay, I'm on board so far. But his speech devolves rather quickly after his opening paragraph.
He was joined by other holocaust deniers, racists -- and even David Duke -- a former leader of the Ku-Klux-Klan. The conference, which drew worldwide ridicule, might be laughable were it not so serious in nature. Iran's president wants to destroy Israel and countries like the United States who support Israel.
Hmmm. I'm not sure if that's accurate. Did he call for the destruction of the United States? If so, does David Duke support that? Wouldn't that mean a one way ticket to Gitmo?
In a post 9/11 world we cannot sit by idle and let this madman spew hatred toward Jews, Americans and other Western countries. Christians, Jews and especially moderate Muslims need to speak out against this hatred. I invite members of the Louisville Muslim community to come forward and denounce such actions. We need to know where you’re at. Please help us, and I will give you this platform right here to let your views be known.
There's that fucking post 9/11 thing again, but more disturbingly is this douchebag's Fox News-esque insistance that moderate Muslims have a special duty speak out against violence. They don't. I think we can just assume that all reasonable people agree that violence is bad and we don't need confirmation from every single Muslim, just because he's a Muslim.
Even more chilling, although probably unintentional, is the statement "We need to know where you're at?" Seriously? Do we need to register Muslims like pedophiles? Or, do we just need them to stand up and swear on the Bible that they're against violence?
I invite moderate Muslims who live in America to stand up and be counted. There are over six million Muslims who live in this country. We need to hear from you. We need to hear that what’s going on right now is not right -- the hatred, the killings, the bombings -- directed toward this country and others. Please let us know where you stand.
I'm perplexed. Does he need confirmation that the hatred, the killings and the bombings are not right? Is he unsure and looking for others to confirm his view that killing is wrong? Or, does he seek out moderate Muslims to make sure they know it's wrong?
To me, that's just fucked in the head thinking. He gives Christians and Jews a pass because he assumes they agree with him. So, why don't American Muslims get that same consideration? They have no special duty to speak out against extremist violence. Like many of us, I assume they're just trying to live their lives as best as they can.
I've got a better idea, Mr. Steve Langford, Station Manager and Dork in residence at WAVE3 in Louisville, KY. Why don't you stand up and be counted by telling us that not all Muslims are suspect?
hink