To: Chris Cuomo, CNN Journalist
Chris Cuomo you owe Reza Aslan an Apology
Your statement that Reza Aslan, a prominent Iranian American scholar and thinker:
"demonstrat(ed) what people are fearful about when they think of the faith, which is the hostility of it."
After he challenged misconceptions around Islam on a interview are unacceptable and offensive. We're asking you to please apologize on air.
"demonstrat(ed) what people are fearful about when they think of the faith, which is the hostility of it."
After he challenged misconceptions around Islam on a interview are unacceptable and offensive. We're asking you to please apologize on air.
Why is this important?
CNN host Chris Cuomo just said he thinks that Reza Aslan, a prominent Iranian-American author and commentator who's frequently appeared on CNN, FOX, The Daily Show and elsewhere is 'angry' and demonstrates ‘the hostility’ that makes people afraid of Islam.
Here’s the story. During a CNN interview with Reza Aslan on September 29th Alisyn Camerota and Don Lemon discussed what they called the "primitive treatment in Muslim countries of women and other minorities" and asked Aslan if Islam as a religion inherently promotes violence. He answered by saying that the treatment of women and minorities differed in various Muslim countries and that such broad generalizations of a religion with over 1.5 billion people are not only unfair but the definition of bigotry. The interview went viral.
That's when CNN host Chris Cuomo referred to Reza Aslan as 'angry' and said Aslan "wound up kind of demonstrating what people are fearful about when they think of the faith, which is the hostility of it." Chris Cuomo is someone who cares deeply about his reputation and has previously responded to criticism - that’s why we think that us coming together to ask for his apology will make him reconsider his words and actions.
Will you sign the petition to Chris Cuomo and ask him to apologize?
No one denies that there are a those using the name of Islam to commit horrendous crimes. Here’s the thing though. Over the last few years we’ve seen people in this country go on shooting rampages in theaters, in schools and in our streets. Yet no journalist has ever asked ‘does being caucasian or Christian promote violence?’
There is no doubt that there are many troubling crisis happening in numerous places across the world. And that some of the most troubling are taking place in predominantly Muslim countries. However, we’ll never be able to work together as a global community to solve those challenges if our media outlets don’t report the news accurately and instead perpetuate harmful stereotypes. After all, the challenges in Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Morocco and Tunisia – all predominantly Muslim countries – vary greatly from one country to another.
Yes, I’ll add my name to the petition asking Chris Cuomo to apologize on the right.
Everyday people like us play a very important role in foreign policy decisions. We’ve seen our power over and over again when it comes to supporting diplomacy with Iran. What happens in the Middle East is often complex as countries and cultures are different from one another.
Journalism is crucial to our democracy and public debate - without an informed citizenry America’s democracy doesn’t function. When it comes to foreign policy discussions, there are literally lives on the line. It’s time we demand more.
+++++
References:
Watch the original interview (with fact checking) here: http://www.upworthy.com/cnn-asks-an-expert-a-dumb-question-his-answer-kills-it?g=2&c=upw1
Read the media matters report here: http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/10/03/cnn-host-reza-aslans-tone-demonstrated-why-peop/201008
Here’s the story. During a CNN interview with Reza Aslan on September 29th Alisyn Camerota and Don Lemon discussed what they called the "primitive treatment in Muslim countries of women and other minorities" and asked Aslan if Islam as a religion inherently promotes violence. He answered by saying that the treatment of women and minorities differed in various Muslim countries and that such broad generalizations of a religion with over 1.5 billion people are not only unfair but the definition of bigotry. The interview went viral.
That's when CNN host Chris Cuomo referred to Reza Aslan as 'angry' and said Aslan "wound up kind of demonstrating what people are fearful about when they think of the faith, which is the hostility of it." Chris Cuomo is someone who cares deeply about his reputation and has previously responded to criticism - that’s why we think that us coming together to ask for his apology will make him reconsider his words and actions.
Will you sign the petition to Chris Cuomo and ask him to apologize?
No one denies that there are a those using the name of Islam to commit horrendous crimes. Here’s the thing though. Over the last few years we’ve seen people in this country go on shooting rampages in theaters, in schools and in our streets. Yet no journalist has ever asked ‘does being caucasian or Christian promote violence?’
There is no doubt that there are many troubling crisis happening in numerous places across the world. And that some of the most troubling are taking place in predominantly Muslim countries. However, we’ll never be able to work together as a global community to solve those challenges if our media outlets don’t report the news accurately and instead perpetuate harmful stereotypes. After all, the challenges in Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Morocco and Tunisia – all predominantly Muslim countries – vary greatly from one country to another.
Yes, I’ll add my name to the petition asking Chris Cuomo to apologize on the right.
Everyday people like us play a very important role in foreign policy decisions. We’ve seen our power over and over again when it comes to supporting diplomacy with Iran. What happens in the Middle East is often complex as countries and cultures are different from one another.
Journalism is crucial to our democracy and public debate - without an informed citizenry America’s democracy doesn’t function. When it comes to foreign policy discussions, there are literally lives on the line. It’s time we demand more.
+++++
References:
Watch the original interview (with fact checking) here: http://www.upworthy.com/cnn-asks-an-expert-a-dumb-question-his-answer-kills-it?g=2&c=upw1
Read the media matters report here: http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/10/03/cnn-host-reza-aslans-tone-demonstrated-why-peop/201008