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Joel Mowbray tells the shameful story in "CAIR 1, Free Speech 0" in
FrontPage this morning. I hope you will let WMAL know -- calmly and politely -- what you think about this.
After a three-week suspension, mid-morning host Michael Graham was fired over the weekend for his comment on July 21 that “Islam has, sadly, become a terrorist organization.” According to formal statement issued by the host last night, Disney-owned WMAL terminated him for the original remarks and his refusal to apologize for them....Here are Graham’s remarks, with full context:
“Because of the mix of Islamic theology that—rightly or wrongly—is interpreted to promote violence, added to an organizational structure that allows violent radicals to operate openly in Islam’s name with impunity, Islam has, sadly, become a terrorist organization. It pains me to say it. But the good news is it doesn’t have to stay this way, if the vast majority of Muslims who don’t support terror will step forward and re-claim their religion.”
Plenty of people can—and do—take issue with the framing of the religion itself as a “terrorist organization.” But his surrounding comments have more than a ring of truth. Islamic theology is used to promote violence. And in many parts of the world, radicals have taken control of Islam—and the moderates have been effectively silenced.
And Graham’s desire that moderates re-claim control of Islam is shared by many, though likely not by CAIR or groups of its ilk.
CAIR was founded in 1994 by two former high-ranking officials with the Islamic Association of Palestine, a rabidly anti-Semitic organization known as Hamas’ biggest political booster in the United States.
Since 9/11, CAIR officials have been careful to avoid the appearance that they support Islamic terrorism. But not before 9/11. In November 1999, CAIR President Omar Ahmad addressed a youth session at the IAP annual convention in Chicago, where he praised suicide bombers who “kill themselves for Islam”: “Fighting for freedom, fighting for Islam – that is not suicide. They kill themselves for Islam.” (Transcript provided by the Investigative Project.)
Though CAIR’s mission is not to serve as an overt Hamas partisan, the organization has refused to specifically condemn the terrorist organization. Ditto for Hezbollah, which is responsible for murdering more Americans than any other terrorist group besides al Qaeda. And CAIR refused to condemn bin Laden or al Qaeda by name until three months after 9/11.
The Washington Post in November 2001 asked a CAIR spokesman to condemn Hamas or Islamic Jihad. He refused, explaining, “It’s not our job to go around denouncing.” Asked a similar question about Hamas and Hezbollah by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in February 2002, Hooper called such queries a “game” and added, “We’re not in the business of condemning.”
Of course, CAIR is very much “in the business of condemning.” The group gleefully slams critics of radical Islam, television shows, and talk radio hosts. But when it comes to Islamic terrorist organizations or prominent Muslims who endorse terrorism or embrace radical Islam, CAIR’s silence is deafening.
To provide cover—and further perpetuate the myth that CAIR and other American Muslim organizations are genuinely “moderate”—various fundamentalist Muslim leaders recently issued a fatwa against “extremism” and “terrorism.” It was classic CAIR obfuscation: it condemned terms that were intentionally not defined. Not coincidentally, no terrorist organizations were named. Sadly, many media outlets were snookered.
WMAL now appears to be the most recent media outlet duped by CAIR. The station, for its part, refused comment last week before Graham had been fired. No one at WMAL could be reached for comment over the weekend.
The station’s defense would likely be that it gave the host an out by allowing him to apologize. But as Graham notes, “WMAL wouldn’t be asking for apology without CAIR’s pressure. And if I apologize, then I’m admitting that I’m a bigot and wrong. I am neither.”
Now that CAIR can claim success in ousting Graham, it’s only a matter of time before the group launches its next smear campaign. There’s no telling who would be CAIR’s next target, though it is clear who it would not be.
Posted by Robert at August 22, 2005 5:23 AM
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“Islam has, sadly, become a terrorist organization.”
Wrong. Islam always is and was a terrorist organization.
"it doesn’t have to stay this way, if the vast majority of Muslims who don’t support terror will step forward and re-claim their religion.”
The vast majority supports terror, as is written in the Koran. There is nothing to be 'reclaimed' -
Qur’an 2:216 “Jihad (holy fighting in Allah’s Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims), though you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and like a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you know not.”
Qur’an 4:95 “Not equal are those believers who sit at home and receive no injurious hurt, and those who strive hard, fighting Jihad in Allah’s Cause with their wealth and bodies to those who sit (at home). Unto each has Allah promised good, but He prefers Jihadists who strive hard and fight above those who sit home. He has distinguished his fighters with a huge reward.”
Noble Qur’an 2:190 Footnote: “Jihad is holy fighting in Allah’s Cause with full force of numbers and weaponry. It is given the utmost importance in Islam and is one of its pillars. By Jihad Islam is established, Allah’s Word is made superior (which means only Allah has the right to be worshiped), and Islam is propagated. By abandoning Jihad Islam is destroyed and Muslims fall into an inferior position; their honor is lost, their lands are stolen, their rule and authority vanish. Jihad is an obligatory duty in Islam on every Muslim. He who tries to escape from this duty, or does not fulfill this duty, dies as a hypocrite.”
Muslim:C40B20N4676 “Jihad Is Compulsory.”
Bukhari:V4B52N48 “The people said, ‘Allah’s Apostle! Acquaint the people with the good news.’ He said, ‘Paradise has one hundred grades which Allah has reserved for the Mujahidin who fight in His Cause.’”
Bukhari:V4B52N66 “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Anyone whose feet get covered with dust in Allah’s Cause will not be touched by the Hell Fire.’”
Bukhari:V4B51N73 “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Know that Paradise is under the shade of swords.’”
Michael Graham:
" But the good news is it doesn’t have to stay this way, if the vast majority of Muslims who don’t support terror will step forward and re-claim their religion.”
Nonsense. Nothing to be ' re-claimed'. It is not about 'peaceful Muslims who had their religion hijacked'- Jihad is mandatory, it is their religious duty. Its not about 'interpretation',- it's about killing infidels and Jews, until 'Allah' reigns supreme...
Get real and do what you have to do before THEY do it to you...
Posted by: Terminator![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 22, 2005 5:51 AM
It always starts out this way. When muslims first come into a country, either illegally or by immigration, they rely on our kindness and good nature, for tolerance. As their numbers increase some muslims start up the Jihad. The moderate muslims plead for tolerance. We, in our ignorance or good nature, heed their pleas and fight on their behalf. The muslims increase in numbers, some now citizens, and consequently the jihad picks up, as they are quite confident that they cannot be deported. All the while we are accused of islamophobia or worse.
Once a near majority is achieved by muslims, then the natives who are a minority by now, start to face real persecution. Many leave the country that has been their native land.
This has been the case all over, where muslims have become a majority due to huge demographic growth, fuelled by immigration and a very high birth rate. Kashmir, Bosnia, Kosovo, Turkey, parts of the West Bank of "Palestine" - Christians are being driven out, etc etc. This is the case in parts of Indonesia such as the Moluccas and Sulawesi. Nigeria is now in the last phase. I can think of no exceptions.
I have two great fears.
1. Demographics and our democratic way of life, will lead to the subjugation of Western civilisation, with all that entails for all non-muslims.
2. We will react violently in the event of a massive terrorist outrage, and start a process of mass deportations. This will start a civil war and the winner will take all. I'm fairly sure that we will in an outright confrontation. However, while this goes on here in the West, Christians in muslim countries will be massacred outright in revenge.
I really feel sad, that it has come to this. After thousands of years of conflict, we in the West had begun to enjoy the tolerant civilisation that we have brought about. Now all this is in peril, as the forces of the state, and the retrograde nature of islam, step by tiny step, start to extinguish freedoms we have taken for granted.
To act on this danger, we have embarked on military campaigns abroad, but the real threat exists within the West itself. The rising Muslim population, both from immigration and high demographic growth rate, poses a threat far greater then any number of future 9/11s. The jubilation and glee among Muslims, even within the West itself, in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, should concentrate our minds. Any prudent policy dictates that we protect our own house first, rather then costly and ineffective foreign adventures.
This threat I believe is so great, that despite our abhorrence of the idea, we should stop all immigration of Muslims, both primary and secondary. Instead of the bogus Muslim asylum seekers from Muslim countries, we should offer hope, help and asylum to the terribly subjugated, intimidated and spiritually broken Christians in Islamic countries. These people need our assistance more then any. For reasons of cultural affinity, they will readily integrate and assimilate in the West. They and their descendents are unlikely to pose an existential threat, now or in the future, to the culture and the freedoms we take so much for granted.
Some papers in Britain, such as The Daily Express and the Daily Mail, are now demanding the removal of illegal immigrants and bogus asylum seekers - who are in the main muslim. Some of the London bombers were asylum seekers, soaking Britain for £15,000 a year on benefits alone.
It is sad that it has come to this. But if actions are not taken soon, then civil wars, the very worst type of war, are a distinct possibility, and then we all will be losers, winners and losers alike.
Posted by: DP111 at August 22, 2005 6:45 AM
More effective than a simple statement to the station, WMAL, would be a statement as well to Disney, that owns WMAL, that makes clear you will not be visiting Disneyworld, not be attending Disney movies, not buying Disney products, and will do everything you can to persuade others to boycott Disney as well. Every little bit helps. That friendly fellow you know who had been planning to take his family to Disneyland or Disneyworld -- well, see if you can persuade him not to. The days of Fess Parker raccoon-cap innocence are long gone.
Posted by: Hugh at August 22, 2005 6:57 AM
Here is the url for contacting WMAL:
http://www.wmal.com/contactus.asp
Here is the Disney Board of directors, but I don't see an easy way to email on this site:
http://corporate.disney.go.com/corporate/board_of_directors.html
Here is a mailing address:
The Walt Disney Company 500 S. Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521
at August 22, 2005 8:52 AM
I have already sent this email of protest to 630 WMAL:
Sir:
I have read today with dismay, shock, and horror, that your radio station has sacked Michael Graham for telling the truth about Islam and terror.
For me, as a resident of the UK, the US has always been a beacon of liberty and free speech. With this catastrophic decision, a nail has been driven into the coffin of free speech in your country. Your station has made a grave mistake to cave in to the pressure put on it by the Council on American Islamic Relations. Free speech is free speech: it is indivisible. There is no such thing as partial free speech. One either has it or one doesn't. I fear that America is well on its way to losing it!
The concepts of multiculturalism and political correctness are running amok in the free world. This decision by your radio station underscores this fact.
The fact remains, whether your radio station wishes to acknowledge it or not, that almost everywhere in the world where acts of terrorism are committed, you will find Islam lurking in the background somewhere.
What you and I call terrorism, Muslims call jihad. Jihad has been, is, and will always be used as a tool to subdue the world, and to force the infidels - the Kufar - to submit to the will of Allah. This is what is going on in the world. Michael Graham was merely stating the truth - a truth that all intelligent people (should) know.
It is my greatest wish that this man be re-instated. For his own sake, for the sake of the reputation of 630 WMAL, and for the sake of free speech in your country. Please reverse this decision, before it will come back to haunt you!
Sincerely,
at August 22, 2005 9:15 AM
"The Washington Post in November 2001 asked a CAIR spokesman to condemn Hamas or Islamic Jihad. He refused, explaining, 'It’s not our job to go around denouncing.' Asked a similar question about Hamas and Hezbollah by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in February 2002, Hooper called such queries a “game” and added, 'We’re not in the business of condemning.'"
Not themselves, of course, but others, with great impunity.
Posted by: waterdragon52 at August 22, 2005 9:27 AM
The Mouse strikes again. Ten years ago pioneer talk show host Bob Grant was fired by Disney under very similar circumstances (although not involving Islam). Nothing changes.
Posted by: RBLA at August 22, 2005 9:43 AM
Islam has, sadly, become a terrorist organization [Michael Graham]
Sorry Michael but you are wrong. According to the Quran itself, Islam has always been a terrorist organization:
We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve... [Quran 3:151]Posted by: DrMack
at August 22, 2005 9:54 AM
I e-mailed the station.
Their reply:
Thank you for your email. I had not heard of Michael's decision until he posted his comments on line.
As is usually the case ther is much more to this than you have read. We had given Michael the opportunit to return to the air.
Unfortunately he did not respond and instead has decided to miscast the facts. In addition our discussions with Michael were made independently without discussion or influence by ANY third party.
I am sorry that Michael has decided to go in this direction and I do appreciate you taking the time to write.
at August 22, 2005 10:14 AM
If Spencer decides to close comments, here's one option for keeping in touch:
SusanB and I have compiled a list of JW/DWers who wish to make their e-mail addresses available for contact with other JW/DWers. This is how it works: if someone wishes to have interpersonal contact with another member (exchange personal e-mails), they contact SusanB who will then request authorization from the other party for his/her e-mail address to be shared on a one-time basis, only with the individual requesting contact. No e-mail addresses will be given out without authorization of the parties involved. Sometimes individuals prefer to network offsite and this provides an opportunity to correspond privately and perhaps in greater depth than would be appropriate posted at JW/DW. Also, this may be our only recourse should we lose the ability to network here.
If you would like to be included in our database, please e-mail SusanB at susan_b356@yahoo.com. Please don't forget to include your JW/DW screenname so that we know who you are.
Also, Susan will soon be enabling comments again at co-jet, an independent spin-off of JW.
Right now the site is updated on a weekly basis but soon it will be updated daily and at some point commenting will be back online.
CGW
at August 22, 2005 10:45 AM
Rebecca-
Much obliged for the links/addresses to register outrage at Disney's dhimmitude.
Don't they understand that "Mickey Mouse" is an "infidel icon" and will be destroyed, ala the Bamiyan Budhhas under the Taliban, once the Disney Corp. fulfills its lickspittle assistance of Sharia Law's infiltration of the land?
And, by then, as haram Porky Pig (who will surely go even before Mickey) put it:
"Th-Th-That's All Folks!"
Posted by: BigSleep at August 22, 2005 10:55 AM
WMAL replied:"....our discussions with Michael were made independently without any discussions or influence by ANY third party." Well, my Mama didn't raise no stupid children. CAIR is always the third party in the background and out front when something like this happens, despite their lack of credibility and the records of arrests and convictions of some of their head honchos. Hopefully, Mr. Graham will quickly move on to a radio job where he can continue to speak out on Islamism.
Posted by: maryrose at August 22, 2005 11:23 AM
BigSleep:
Porky was a Warner Bros. character, not Disney's.
Posted by: waterdragon52 at August 22, 2005 12:20 PM
Do any of you expect any of the big talk show hosts to talk of this? I think at the least it should be the topic of their day since it deals with the war we're win and free speech, which is their bread and butter. I see that Rush hasn't mentioned it yet in his first half hour, and I have a strong feeling that he won't, along with the other alleged non-PC hosts. Savage being the contrarion may talk of it since he knows that the rest of the hosts haven't. We'll see.
Posted by: PIGMAN at August 22, 2005 12:31 PM
St James, I emailed Michael about the reply you got from the station and he has now posted this on his website:
"MICHAEL, ARE YOU *SURE* YOU'VE BEEN FIRED? I've had several people tell me that ABC Radio says I'm not really fired, that I have "chosen" not to go back to work. I don't know what to say to that except that I received a hand-delivered letter very late Friday announcing that I was "terminated immediately." If there is some other definition of that other than "you're fired," I am not familiar with it."
Someone's lying and I bet it isn't Michael.
We need to email the station and CC Disney over this.
Posted by: marc at August 22, 2005 12:41 PM
My response from WMAL. Any secretary knows what this means
I am out of the office without access to email until the end of August. If your message is urgently related to the operations of 630 WMAL, please contact General Manager Chris Berry. Otherwise, I suggest you re-send it to me after Labor Day. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
at August 22, 2005 1:01 PM
I sent this in to WMAL at:
http://www.wmal.com/contactus.asp
Firing Michael Graham over comment on Islam
--------------------------------------------------------------
Mr Graham made a statement of fact about Islam. What he said was true and is supportable by both documentary evidence (Islam teaches, from the Quran, to bring all humanity into submission to Islam; to give all non-muslims three choices-- convert, pay a tax of submission, or be killed; and to treat all non-muslim lands as "Dar-el-Harb", "the House of War"), and physical evidence (Islamic terrorism agaist non-muslims all over the world now).
In capitulating to C.A.I.R, you have submitted yourselves to the muslims. They have a term for people like you, they call you "dhimmis", people whom they subjugate. Now when they are not in a position of power, you get to play the role of "useful idoit" to help them manouvre into positions of power. Once they are in power, you get the three choices.
Islam is a threat to every civilized society on the planet. They are not shy about proclaiming their intentions; if only we listen. It does not look like you are listening. In fact, you are shutting down a voice that has the courage to speak up and warn society about this threat, a threat to you too, and yours -- your family, your children. By supporting C.A.I.R you are helping to undermine our free democratic society with their agenda, which is no less than to replace our free society with a totalitarian Islamic mullatocracy.
In the words of Omar Ahmad, the chairman of C.A.I.R "Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faiths, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth."
This is not the time to play political correctness. At best it is stupid, at worst, suicidal.
Posted by: skidd at August 22, 2005 1:43 PM
It's a sad day that an American institution like Disney will side "against free speech" and with CAIR!
Oh yea I had to do a blog entry for this one.
Posted by: Jack at August 22, 2005 1:56 PM
First, I'd like to know WHEN EXACTLY Islam BECAME a terrorist organization. Insofar as I can discern Islam has ALWAYS been a terrorist organization and was founded by a terrorist. Slaughtering 800 Jews in a single night (which Mahomet is credited with having done by historical accounts) for no other reason than they were Jews --and should have converted to Mohametism-- can only be construed as an act of terrorism.
What exactly are we to make of such verse as "and when the sacred months have passed slay the infidels everywhere..." ????? But-- there it is in the Qur'an....
Need I remind the American public that at least 95% of them qualify as 'infidels' (to be picked off by 'terrorist' Muslims)? The Qur'an can thus be rightly seen as terrorism manual!!
Feeling 'terrorized' yet? But, more importantly, WHO IS GOING TO TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT ISLAMIC IDEOLOGY DENIES THEM ANY RIGHT TO EXIST????? And when??? AND WITHOUT FEAR OF RETRIBUTION??? NEVER???
What will it take to make the point to the Americam people that Islam is designed to kill non-Muslims? Call this 'peace',"terrorism", or whatever you will, Islam means to kill you.
Sure, go ahead and fire me for saying this. But will firing someone and repressing their first amendment rights stop the global carnage? Ousamah bin Laden, the most popular Muslim in the Muslim nations, has called for the destruction of America and the killing of Americans and infidels. Did anyone in mainstream America attempt to take his job away from HIM????? NO???? Gee, that's funny.....
Nonie Darwish in a recent interview commented that "there is planty in the Qur'an" that supports terrorism. And this from an Arab woman (someone who would know). She receives no punitive action from US institutions for saying so (nor should she).
Yet an American man loses his job for speaking this identical truth! I'll bet Disney would have fired Mickey Mouse rather than face down CAIR...
Such cowardice is unamerican.
Posted by: pythagoras at August 22, 2005 3:02 PM
Radio equalizer has a post with the following added info:
Previous Radio Equalizer coverage on the issue is found here. Michelle Malkin's recent piece can be found here.Posted by: miiraAt this moment, he's still listed as a host on the WMAL site. Ads specific to Graham's show are still shown.
Because WMAL is an American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) shop, Graham has a number of potential grievance options. Usually, terminations for cause can be the trickiest for broadcasters, because they are easier for the union to fight than if he were let go for performance (ratings, revenue) reasons.
Also stunning: WMAL Program Director Randall Bloomquist, a longtime industry veteran, hasn't been seen at the ABC building in a week and isn't returning messages or emails.
Has he also been fired? He wasn't scheduled to be away for the week. Speculation is running high tonight that Bloomquist, Graham's direct supervisor, is the second casualty of the CAIR campaign.
at August 22, 2005 4:19 PM
RebeccaJW:
Here's an email address for the Disney management people. It's labeled "For Press Issues" so may not be exactly on target, but it's in their corporate management section:
TWDC.CorpCommunications@disney.com
And here's the page where I found it, in the sidebar:
http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/corporate/2005/2005_0313_iger_ceo.html
We might address correspondence to the new C.E.O. (I copied this paragraph directly from their site):
"ROBERT A. IGER NAMED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
BURBANK, Calif., March, 13, 2005 - The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) Board of Directors announced today that Robert A. Iger has been unanimously elected Chief Executive Officer effective September 30, 2005. He will succeed Michael D. Eisner, current CEO, who announced his intention to retire in a letter to the Board last year dated September 9, and will step down as CEO on September 30, 2005."
at August 23, 2005 1:51 AM
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