Katie Couric denounces anti-Muslim hatred

[ellenrr]

Katie Couric spoke out against anti-Muslim bigotry and said America may need a Muslim version of "The Cosby Show" to counteract it.

Speaking on her web show, Couric said that the controversy surrounding the Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero had exposed a "seething hatred" for Muslims in America:

"I also think sort of the chasm between, or, the bigotry expressed against Muslims in this country has been one of the most disturbing stories to surface this year. Of course, a lot of noise was made about the Islamic Center, mosque, down near the World Trade Center, but I think there wasn't enough sort of careful analysis and evaluation of where this bigotry toward 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide, and how this seething hatred many people feel for all Muslims, which I think is so misdirected, and so wrong--and so disappointing."

She then said that she thinks there may need to be a Muslim version of "The Cosby Show."

"'The Cosby Show' did so much to change attitudes about African-Americans in this country, and I think sometimes people are afraid of what they don't understand," she said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_803208.html
(video)

[Blue_Tires]

1. headline sort of reads like a triple-negative

"Couric is against those who are against anti-Muslims":silly:

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. I don't even hate those who carried out the attacks

I'm saddened.

I'm saddened that real hatemongers groomed them to throw away their lives to kill innocent people. I'm an atheist but I find it hard to believe any God would congratulate them. I'm saddened the people died and now we are locked in a war that will last for generations and nobody on either side has the courage to be the first to stop shooting.

If you love ANYTHING this whole mess has to leave you sad because this whole mess will destroy whatever it is you love.

[Romulox]

3. The "Ground Zero Mosque" controversy took place over a year ago.

Way to stay on top of the news cycle, Katie. :eyes:


"I also think sort of the chasm between, or, the bigotry expressed against Muslims in this country has been one of the most disturbing stories to surface this year. Of course, a lot of noise was made about the Islamic Center, mosque, down near the World Trade Center, but I think there wasn't enough sort of careful analysis and evaluation of where this bigotry toward 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide, and how this seething hatred many people feel for all Muslims, which I think is so misdirected, and so wrong--and so disappointing.""

[Obamanaut]

5. The controversy was still ongoing during July and August of the last

calendar year? Nit picking "this year" from Katie's statement is really, well, picking nits. Here are a couple of threads from July/August.

I realize that a year is actually only 52 weeks, but sheesh!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1744567

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1484238

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1472471

[Romulox]

6. It's a stretch (the current month is September, fwiw.) Katie's comments are not timely. nt

[Obamanaut]

8. September? Already? Imagine! She was off in "this year" by a couple

of weeks.

No worse than Obama campaigning in 57 states, but we got over that, didn't we.

People gloss over the "misspeaks" of people they like, and grab on to the ones of the people they don't.

[Romulox]

10. She's ranting about something that happened *two* summers ago like it's a current event./

She's supposed to be a "news woman"--maybe she should try engaging with current events? :shrug:

[Obamanaut]

14. There were court cases ongoing in July and August of last year, as

referenced by my earler response with links to DU threads.

There is Islamophobia ongoing even today, so it's still current.

There are still not NOT 57 states, but hey, we like him so it's ok to miscount or misspeak. One would think a guy running for president would know the current number when speaking of them, wouldn't one?

[closeupready]

17. See my post below re: Rosa Luxemburg/Julius Streicher (whose career in publishing

Nazi propaganda began in 1924, and didn't end until many years later).

[Romulox]

18. Your analogy isn't on point. Katie has been a tool of the mainstream media since day one.

She hasn't spoken out against any of wars or creeping fascism. She cheered it on.

[closeupready]

20. The larger point is whether it's Katie Couric, Katie Price or Katie Did,

people who diminish her attempt at helping to bridge a current and longstanding cultural divide are being petty and superficial, condemning her remarks as 'dated' or 'so yesterday', like some stereotypical blonde. As if, right and wrong have manufacturer warranties. :eyes:

[Romulox]

22. No. Credibility doesn't work that way.

"people who diminish her attempt at helping to bridge a current and longstanding cultural divide are being petty and superficial"

Or, people who believe Katie had a sudden conversion on the road to Damascus (losing her anchor position along the way, no less!) may be being a bit naive.

[closeupready]

24. I can see that we aren't going to agree, no matter what. So I'm not wasting any more time

responding to you. No hard feelings. Cheers. :hi:

[Romulox]

26. OK. One might ask why you jumped into a subthread between two other posters to declare that

*you* don't want to discuss the matter. :shrug:

[closeupready]

27. I did discuss it. You're being unreasonable. Therefore, I'm wasting time here

trying to 'reason' with you.

Anything else? :shrug:

[Romulox]

28. So you *really* mean it this time, yes? nt

[closeupready]

29. Post #24.

nt

[closeupready]

30. And actually, with that final bit of snark from you, I'm putting you on ignore.

nt

[Romulox]

34. You've posted five posts, over the course of an hour, in someone else's subthread

declaring that *you* don't want to discuss something. The discussion began without you and can go on without you. :hi:

[LanternWaste]

31. I believe she's illustrating that it is a relevant, contemporary event

I believe she's illustrating that it is a contemporary event, relevant to the here and now; rather than 'ranting' over ancient history.

I imagine we've all lamented about the short attention span of the American populace at one time or another, and when we see a counter to that, possibly we should embrace rather than deny the historicity.

[Romulox]

33. OK. So where's her critique of the indiginities visited upon Muslims by Predator drone, circa 2011.

[Romulox]

11. PS: Obama's 57 state comment was *cringe-worthy*.

"People gloss over the 'misspeaks' of people they like"

Saying something stupid isn't "misspeaking", if it's what you intended to say--it's just stupidity. :shrug:

[Obamanaut]

16. No, I typed exactly what I intended. nt

[Yavin4]

7. Next Up: Katie Couric Speaks Out Against Alcohol Prohibition n/t

[closeupready]

9. And yet, Islamophobia is running as strong now as ever.

nt

[Romulox]

12. Primarily evidenced by our 3 or 4 wars of aggression, all waged in Muslim countries.

Bet Katie ain't got much to say about THAT. :hi:

[closeupready]

15. She has, admittedly, sometimes been quite the RW tool, yes.

That said, why second-guess her comments here? Take them at face value, and move on. They are useful for progressives and liberals, and help advance our agenda. Let me remind you she helped scuttle the McCain/Palin campaign - deliberately or otherwise.

If she pisses you off later, cross that bridge when you come to it.

[Romulox]

19. Because she's a GMA anchor *DESPERATE* for gravitas. Her flailing around for credibility

looks contrived, to me.

[closeupready]

21. Sad ideas.

And exactly what I've be arguing. :puke:

[Romulox]

23. I'm sorry you think it's "not fair!" that credibility can't be picked up like a lay-away:

i.e. when Katie's ready to collect it. :shrug:

[closeupready]

25. Post #24.

nt

[gratuitous]

4. Gosh Katie, you missed the relevant train by that much

Darnie!

[closeupready]

13. So if Rosa Luxemburg had spoken out against Julius Streicher, for example,

in, say, 1926 or 27, then how many of you poo-pooing Couric's condemnation of Islamophobia in the West today as 'dated' would also have told Ms. Luxemburg the same thing, that Julius Streicher was 'so 1924'?

You know, people here complain about the superficiality and surburban-y Los-Angelinish 'what kind of car do you drive?'-ification of popular society; meanwhile, here they are, condescending about Katie's important words, as a public figure and influential member of the mainstream media.

:mad:

[KamaAina]

32. Indeed. Ever since Cosby, there's been no racism at all in America.

I mean, it's not like congressmen are calling the black President a "tar baby", or news*casters are saying "he's over in Ireland swigging forties" (of Guinness?)or anything like that. :sarcasm: