Let's start this one off with the final message: Everyone, calm down please.
I'm just as appalled as the next person after receiving a copy of the "Obsession" DVD in my State's Paper (The Oregonian) in today's Sunday edition.
The Editorial Board distributed it despite a formal request made by Portland Mayor, Tom Potter, and a "coalition of community activists". Their rationale for the film's distribution was also offered by the Editorial Board in an article released in the same edition of the paper.
Despite my disgust, having not viewed the DVD (and with no intention of doing so), I can agree in most respects to the paper's reasoning to go ahead with the distribution of the DVD as a paid ad (i.e.: 1st Amendment).
On the other hand, I can also hold the editorial staff in contempt for permitting the distribution of a DVD (a precedent is now made for this form of advertisement exploitation, mind you) in the paper.
After everything that the voters of my State and our Nation have been subjected to during this election cycle, I'm satiated and suspect many more are as well.
A Sunday article in Editor & Publisher quoted one of my undergrad Professors (who I remember as being very critical of far left and right opinion) as they were seeking his opinion after he viewed the documentary.
Masoud Kheirabadi, a Portland State University professor who teaches about Islam, viewed "Obsession" at The Oregonian's request, and concluded, "It is a bad piece of propaganda."
I'm sure no one will be surprised at the summary Professor Kheirabadi offered, but his point is clear.
It's propaganda, and over-reaction is precisely what it's intended to inspire.
Maybe I'm just trying to get over my initial shock, but I think all of us are trying to do so. That means we should calm down, follow the funding and remain rational.
We're better than this.
What little I have figured out to help those who are likely to write larger diaries later is that this group, The Clarion Fund, is partnered with the Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) and they are the real pushers of this tripe.
In the meantime, I've taken it upon myself to treat this obvious scare tactic with the disrespect it deserves.
Let's find out the facts and discuss them in our usual, stellar, calm and mindful style, Fellow Kossacks.