Saturday, November 24, 2007

Muslims under siege by radio talk show haters Savage, Boortz, Hannity

CAIR: HATEFUL HOST ATTACKS ISLAM ON US RADIO - TOP
Al-Arabiya, 11/22/07


Major U.S. corporations and civil organizations are launching a campaign to boycott channels that broadcast shows of controversial radio anchor Michael Savage after his hateful remarks about Islam.

Giant companies like JCPenny department stores, Office Max stationary supplies and IT company Citrix Systems have pulled all their commercials from the show hosted by Savage, America in Arabic News Agency reported…

The show, called 'The Savage Nation,' airs on more than 350 radio stations across the U.S. to an estimated 8 million listeners a week, but now major advertisers are moving to distance themselves from the hate-filled host.

"We want to make clear that the opinions expressed on the Michael Savage program—or any other program we advertise in—do not in any way represent the views of Citrix Systems or Citrix Online," Bernardo de Albergaria, vice president and general manager of Citrix Systems said.

Using the slogan "Hate Hurts America," a coalition of religious and civic organizations has launched a campaign against Savage and other shows that promote hate, by putting pressure on advertisers to drop their spots.

The coalition includes the California Council of Churches, LA Jews for Peace, and The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Earlier this year, another U.S. radio host likened Muslims who fast during Ramadan to cockroaches.

"…Muslims don't eat during the day during Ramadan. They fast during the day and eat at night. Sort of like cockroaches," talk show radio host Neal Boortz said on his hit show of the same name.

SEE ALSO:

ACTION: ASK AT&T TO DROP ADS FROM ‘SAVAGE NATION’ - TOP


IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. Hostile comments can and will be used by Savage to further defame Islam and Muslims.)

1. CONTACT AT&T, today's featured "Savage Nation" advertiser. (Other advertisers will be featured in the future.)

As part of the ongoing campaign to ask companies that advertise on "The Savage Nation" to stop buying air time on that program, today's featured company is AT&T. Please contact company officials to express your concerns about their support of such a hate-filled program.

CONTACT:

Randall L. Stephenson
Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, AT&T
175 E. Houston
San Antonio, TX 78205
Tel: (210) 821-4105
Fax: (210) 351-2071

E-Mail: randall.stephenson@att.com, forrest.miller@att.com, karen.jennings@att.com, richard.dietz@att.com, walt.sharp@att.com, wes.warnock@att.com, mjthornburg@YELLOWPAGES.COM, drucilla.cessac@att.com, elva.gonzalez@att.com

COPY TO: info@cair.com

2. Because "The Savage Nation" is a syndicated program, many of the advertisers vary from station to station. FIND OUT which station carries Michael Savage's program in your area, LISTEN to the program and write down the contact information for both local and national advertisers.

CONTACT those advertisers to POLITELY inform them that you and your friends and family will not purchase their products or services as long as they continue to subsidize a hate-filled program.

For a listing of radio stations that air Michael Savage's program, click here.

3. CONTACT Talk Radio Network, Michael Savage's syndicator, to express your concerns about his hate-filled attacks on Muslims, Islam and the Quran.

Mr. Mark Masters
Chief Executive Officer
Talk Radio Network
P.O. Box 3755
Central Point OR 97502
Phone: 541-664-8827 or 541-474-2297
Fax: 541-664-6250 or 866-876-5075

E-Mail: mmasters@talkradionetwork.com, eterry@talkradionetwork.com, gregdoyle@talkradionetwork.com, info@talkradionetwork.com, affiliates@talkradionetwork.com, rubend@talkradionetwork.com

4. SEND COPIES of all correspondence to CAIR at: E-Mail info@cair.com or fax to 202-488-0833.

5. ORGANIZE local coalitions with friends of the Muslim community to challenge Savage's hate rhetoric.

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ISLAM NOT WELCOME IN HANNITY’S AMERICA - TOP
News Hounds, 11/23/07


As has been noted in numerous News Hounds threads, Sean Hannity is very hostile to numerous groups and ideas prominent among them Islam and public education. In the November 18th edition of “Hannity’s America,” Hannity was able to bash both of the aforementioned categories. He was also able to work in the ever popular Fox “fear factor” as he introduced his piece by stating that a “radical Islamic agenda is infiltrating public schools all across the nation and targeting our kids.” He spoke in apocalyptic terms when he declared that “there is a battle reaching the boiling point in California. Parents are taking a stand and fighting back.” In an “us vs them” (very popular with the conservative right wing and Fox News) metaphor he asserted that it’s “smalltown USA vs. Islamic indoctrination.”

Hannity began by noting that Lodi, California is the “Zinfandel capitol of the world;” but “it’s not wine that is drawing attention to Lodi but radical Islam” (while showing photos of Muslim children playing in a school yard). He said that 2 years ago a pair of Muslim residents was charged with being part of a terror sleeper cell. (Comment: If Hannity were trying for accuracy he would have added that Hamid Hayat was sentenced to 24 years in jail; but the jury was deadlocked in the case of Hamid’s father, Umer Hayat.)

So now that the stage has been set by inferring that Lodi is a hotbed of radical Islam, Hannity moved to the main topic which was about a group of parents who are upset that the local school’s history text, “History Alive,” is being used to “teach Islam.” He interviewed local parents, Jim and Korina Self, who feel that the history of Islam, in this text, is given more attention than it warrants and that the information is inaccurate. The Selfs have petitioned the local school board to remove the text. (Comment: not mentioned by Hannity is the fact that the boy is now being homeschooled and that a school administrator “didn't know of any other parent who has contacted the district to complain about the textbook.” So much for this boiling point battle!) (MORE)

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