My Letter To The Editor

This is what I received in my newspaper on Sunday. A free DVD of Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West. You can watch the trailer below.

I was very confused at first as to why this DVD was being mass distributed in Columbus, and after watching the movie I only became outraged and sadden at the obvious propaganda campaign going on here.

These videos are funded by Clarion Fund, conveniently a private 501 3c so they don’t have to release where their funds come from. although I thought it was illegal to use your 501 3c to politically persuade people, hence the separation of church and state.

I am not critical of their first amendment right to free speech, they can make what ever kind of movie they want. They can even put it on the Internet for free. What troubles me is when the “free” and “honest” press start delivering right wing DVD’s less then two months before the election. And what bothers me the most is that these DVD’s where only sent out in “Swing States”, states that could decide the election, like Ohio and North Carolina. States that John McCain has to win in order to become President. A blog here has comments from all over the country of places that have received this DVD, and yes there are people who are happy these are going out.

And who do you think benefits from this war-mongering scare tactic. An antiwar Democrat or a preemptive war Republican. Not accusing the McCain camp of having anything to do with this, Just logically saying any mention of radical Islams would favor McCain. They even link to such websites as Radical Islam.org.

I was so worked up by this stunt, that I wrote a letter to the editor of the Columbus Dispatch, I doubt very highly that they will publish it, but I just couldn’t let it go with out voicing my concern. This is the extend letter below, I had to cut it down in order to actually send it.

To whom it may concern,

I have never in my life complained about the newspaper, it’s not in my personality. But with this weeks newspaper there was an insert of a free DVD, entitled Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West. I am sure you are well away of this.

Let me start by expressing the sickening feeling I had in my stomach when I saw the paid advertisement of such a obvious propaganda campaign. These movies weren’t only paid for by the Clairon Fund, of which there is very little information about where they receive their funds, and who sits on their board of directors, assuming they have one. But to find out these movies were only sent to “Swing States” is very disturbing indeed. I wonder if it is legal for them to use their tax exempt status to try to persuade voters in Ohio.

At this point in the election year, with McCain trailing slightly in the polls, any mention of Islamic terrorist favors the preemptive war policy of the  Republicans. I am not a Democratic either, so this is not “party bashing”. I find my self disappointed in the Columbus Dispatch for accepting this advertisement.

But I had to explain to my 7 year old this morning why he couldn’t watch the “army” movie that was in the paper. I think this is setting a dangerous president, that hurts the creditably of free and honest news.

I am certain that the dispatch will claim the first amendment for their reason of accepting this advertisement. I am NOT against the idea of somebody making a movie like this, I am not even against the idea of putting this movie on the Internet for free. I clearly understand the bounds of the first amendment. But that line becomes blurred when  these movies are mass distributed by the press, in what seems to be an effort to effect the out come of the up coming election.

I am sure that was not the Dispatches motivate, but imagine what your subscribers are thinking.

I have no doubt that radical Islam is a threat, but lets not over hype the potential danger. This feels a lot like yelling fire in a movie theater. You still have a better chance of being hit by lighting twice in the same day, then being a victim of a terrorist attack.

I am also troubled that  movie does not address what makes this very small percentage of Muslims radical and anti-American. And the agenda is backed by cutting and pasting select movie clips that only validated their view.

The modern-day Islamic movement originated in 1977 when the CIA began funding the rebel organization that was trying to destabilize the communist government that ruled Afghanistan.
United States Agency for International Development paid $51 million to have Islamic text books printed that stressed the importance of Jihad, and killing Infidels.This can be backed up by “Teaching ABCs and Jihad” that appeared in the April 1-7, 2002 issue of The Washington Post National Weekly Edition.

I am shocked about the decision to accept the advertisement, and can only hope it was weighed over greatly about the consequences it could have.

Maybe it’s just me, and I shouldn’t care. I should just let apathy take over and enjoy my ipod.