Not My Warriors

Advertisement

Christiane Amanpour is at it again. This non-journalist has traveled the world seeking out “God’s Warriors.” In this documentary, two hours each are devoted to Jews, Christians and Muslims who:

“share a deep dissatisfaction with modern society, and a fierce determination to place God and religion back into daily life and to the seats of power.” (MORE)

Her Muslim warriors are those who have found that after 9/11 they have been unfairly singled out as potential terrorists, as well as a reformed extremist, fundamental Muslim.

Her Christian warriors are the Reverend Jerry Falwell and a family who chose to home school their children to instill God as a basic part of their education.

Her Jewish warriors are settlers in the West Bank who see all Arabs as terrorists; Yigal Amir, who assassinated Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin; the Gush Emunim Underground, who tried to blow up the Dome of the Rock to derail peace talks with Egypt; and Christian Zionists who “are raising large sums of money to support the activities of the settlers.” She also highlights “how the pro-Israel lobby’s clout in Washington has helped religious settlers remain in the West Bank.”

Now, as a student and practitioner of journalism, I’m not one to cite the so-called media bias against Jews and Israel. I think that far too many organizations have harassed journalists simply trying to do their job.

But here is a prime example of a “journalist” who ignores all conventional rules of fair and honest reporting. Her comparisons remind me an Aaron Sorkin quote from “The West Wing:”

Islamic extremists are to Islam what the Ku Klux Klan is to Christianity…

I would add “and what Amanpour’s warriors are to Judaism.”

*If you want to check it out for yourself, the series airs August 21st-23rd, from 9 p.m.- 11p.m. on CNN. “God’s Jewish Warriors” is the first of the three pieces.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Discover More

Watchdogs, Superheroes, & Second Life

-Sayed Kashua, an Israeli-born Arab journalist, and author has created a prime-time situation comedy which “deals with Israeli society’s prejudices ...

Holy War: A Jewish Problem, Too

War in the name of God must be examined in our own tradition as well.

A Modest Proposal: Avoid Travel

Yesterday morning I was at airport at five in the morning. After a grueling security line, I was instructed to ...

Advertisement