Wednesday, September 29, 2010

EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION IS IN MAPLE HTS

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At 7PM, 10/5/2010, the Andersons got a special treat .... John Legend performed (for them) singing two of his hit songs "Ordinary People" and "Shine".

Watch below:
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Extreme Makeover Coverage (details and videos)


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Actually the announcement (of a family in Maple Heights) was made some time on Tuesday ... and Andre and Jasmine Anderson were surprised at the bus stop on Wednesday morning (10am).
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-Early Filming: (1) 9/29/2010





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(8) 9/30/2010






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(10) Friday, October 1, 2010





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(13) Saturday, October 2, 2010


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(14) Monday, October 4, 2010
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(15) Tuesday, October 5, 2010 - today's the day - "MOVE THAT BUS"

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16 DISABLED
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(17) Moments to be shared for a lifetime!
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ANDERSONS - HAPPY AND AT THEIR BEAUTIFUL HOME AT LAST!!
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YOUTUBE MUSIC SLIDESHOW BELOW HAS PICTURES FROM 9/29 UNTIL 10/3/2010
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DAY 6 - ANDERSON HOME (YOUTUBE MUSIC SLIDESHOW)

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CITY OF MAPLE HTS PHOTO ALBUM - THE ANDERSONS SURPRISED AT THE BUS STOP- TAKE A LOOK



WTAM 1100



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EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME EDITION
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READ THE STORY:
Maple Heights family gets new 'smart' house from 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'

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"KraftMaid Cabinetry of Middlefield will donate cabinetry in the episode like it has in all episodes since the 2004 debut. The company also said 200 of its workers will participate in the build.

“Something wonderful and amazing happens when ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ touches a community,” KraftMaid spokeswoman Kim Craig said. “Neighbors and strangers work side by side to help make a difference and for a family they may or may not know. It is a magical experience and has truly been an amazing thing for KraftMaid to have had a part in helping to change the lives of nearly 200 families.” (News Herald -9/30/2010)

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Saturday, September 25, 2010

NBC TV WILL ROCK YOUR WORLD!!

OH MY GOD! I just spent two wonderful, delicious days on the NBC TV website. ... Hey, I love my MSNBC and TNT; but, NBC rocked my world in primetime for those two days.

A month ago, I canceled my cable to save some money and get away from the "Boob Tube" for awhile. Thought I'd become a more productive person ... besides, I knew I could always catch my favs, Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann, on my computer at the MSNBC website.

People, ... I think I've spent more time on my computer watching full episodes of *****"The Closer", "Leverage", "Hawthorne" ( Jada Pinkett-Smith) , "Memphis Beat" (Alfre Woodard), "Southland" (Regina King), ... you get my drift ... yeah, more time watching those full episodes [and more] on my computer than I ever spent watching television [and I've got 10 (yes, I said 10) television sets all over my house]. Ain't that a "bit..h"

I'm ashamed to say, ... heaven help me, ... I did watch USA network. Forgive me ...

Actually, I'm pissed at them because they seem to think that African American women don't exist on this planet (well, maybe 1 or 2 exist in their world). Truly, I'm not joking.

Yes, yes, I did write them ... told them I'd be spending my time at TNT until I saw evidence of African American actresses in the foreground, the background, the lead, ... hell, until I saw African American actresses at USA network all over the freaking "episodes" place.

I don't know about you, but I was tired of that old format ... white guy/black guy/white chick ... [Don't get me wrong, I love a brother getting his propers, and a whole lot of compensation, ... if you know what I mean] ... But, hell, like I said ... where are the African American actresses on USA? I'm looking all over the place. What the hell is wrong with USA? I saw a little something something with Diahann Carroll on "White Collar", but was that it?

Then I see Marsha Thomason return to "White Collar". [Someone at USA must have gotten a memo about the scarcity of Black actresses on their network.]
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But "give me a break" I really got pissed off when they made Marsha's character a Lesbian, thereby ensuring that she would never have a "hot and heavy" relationship with Neal or some really sexy man. I was totally not feeling that lesbian part; however, I mean no disrespect towards our Lesbian sisters.
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I want to see some HOT SCENES between an African American actress and a MAN on primetime television. ARE YOU LISTENING NETWORKS?
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I won't dismiss ABC - ABC, ... I'm feeling the love ["Rookie Blue" - dynamite] ... but, ABC, you've got to step up to the plate to compete with TNT. [10/3/2010 Update: see below]**
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And what the hell is wrong with CBS primetime? Can you possibly be worse than USA network?
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Anyway, the other day, I decided to see what full episodes were on the NBC website. I had heard about this exciting new show [that the Washington Post said was "Irresistibly Watchable"] called "Undercovers" starring [yummy] Boris Kodjoe and [beautiful and luscious] Gugu Mbatha-Raw (yes, that's her name). Totally enjoyed the pilot episode, and told NBC I wanted to see more.**** [UPDATE]

Well, my fun at NBC was just beginning. I went from "Undercovers" to Parenthood (with Joy Bryant) to "30 Rock" to "Outlaw" (with Jimmy Smits), to "Outsourced" to "Law and Order -LA" (with Regina Hall). and landed at the creme de la creme of TV shows, "The Philanthropist" starring "heart stopping", "take me to bed" James Purefoy as the sexy, reckless, spontaneous, impulsive billionaire Teddy Rist.

My complaints about the scarcity of African American actresses ?? ... NBC had my back ... and "The Philanthropist" delivered and answered my prayers. African/African American/Indian/Haitian actresses/everywhere. Yes baby ... I had my "dream come true" television network at last.***
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GOOD JOB ABC:
**ABC/Extreme Makeover Home Edition does something great for the girls in Baltimore , the Johnsons; and I'm looking forward to the wonderful Sunday in December when you air Extreme Makeover Home Edition (in Maple Hts) with that truly amazing Anderson family.
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**More Kudos for ABC:
"There's a brand new housewife in the neighborhood! Okay, Renee Perry (Vanessa Williams) isn't exactly a housewife since she spends a lot of her time zipping around in a private jet." Let's hope Vanessa stays a lot longer on the series than the magnificent and accomplished (actress) Alfre Woodard did.
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**and then there's "Castle" with the lovely Tamala Jones and (of course) "Grey's Anatomy" (Chandra Wilson). You're getting better ABC!! Again, KUDOS for you.
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I was a little irreverent in my regards for the character in NBC's "The Philanthropist". This exceptionally well cast, written, produced, and directed story is loosely based on Bobby Sager's philanthropy and dangerous travels. I say loosely because Mr. Sager is by no means the irresponsible playboy portrayed by James Purefoy. Mr. Sager does seem to have a bit of the risk taker in him; however, he is a loving husband and father who has done much good in this world that has too much misery and suffering. I bought "The Philanthropist" DVD, and I've played it over and over again. Every single time, I end up either smiling or with wistful tears.
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*** If you're not able to watch episodes of "The Philanthropist" on the NBC website, buy the canceled series at Amazon, then tell NBC to bring the series back with all the original cast: "The Philanthropist"
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**** Just heard that "Undercovers" might be on the chopping block. NBC, you canceled the creme de la creme of TV shows (The Philanthropist), ... now you want to cancel "Undercovers"? ... Do it and I'll never stray from TNT ever again. Trust me.
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TNT
*****A word to TNT about "The Closer" ... You had a woman of color on the show. Now you're lacking in African American actresses in the cast. What's up? You really don't want me telling my friends you discriminate against African American actresses on "The Closer" ... You need to get real, fast.
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Oh, and Jada (Hawthorne), ... lose that actor that plays your love interest.... he's BORING ... and totally not sexy.
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One more thing, ... when you put African American actresses in the cast, make sure you have some great writers. A lot of times you pinch hit with second rate writers (there are exceptions of course - "Grey's Anatomy" for one). You point fingers at the actors (blaming them for the shows failure) when it's really about crappy writers. Not loving that tactic at all (totally transparent).
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UNDERCOVERS


Key to it All - Aired December 29, 2010
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Funny Money - Aired December 22, 2010
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A Night To Forget - Aired December 1, 2010
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Crashed Aired Wednesday, November 10, 2010


Friday, September 24, 2010

REPUBLICANS HAVE PLEDGED TO SCREW YOU IF THEY WIN IN NOVEMBER

I'm not going to talk about what Republicans are ready to do if they gain a majority in Congress in November. Just watch this and "Pass This On"
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UPDATE 9/27/2010: BEWARE AND WEARY
Read Robert Reich's: Republican Economics as Social Darwinism
UPDATE: 9/25/2010: Have they no shame? Factchecking "The Pledge"
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ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/#39336386

Saturday, September 18, 2010

REPUBLICAN HYPOCRISY AT ITS FINEST- THEY'RE PRO GAY AND ANTI-GAY

UPDATE: 9/22/2010, 8PM: OMG, a perfect example of what I'm talking about: Detente': GOP Leadership To Make Historic Appearance Before Gay Rights Group

UPDATE: 9/22/2010: GOP Pits Culture War against Civil Rights



Above video can be viewed at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39298345


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UPDATE 9/18/2010, 8:44pm
: Montana GOP Policy: Make Homosexuality Illegal

I can't figure it out; either the Republican Party is for 'Gay rights or against Gay rights ... you can't be both. ....or can you?

The Republican Party's base are the religious conservatives. Religious conservatives are against Gay rights. They want nothing to do with Gays or the Gay movement.
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But lo and behold, there are Gays in the Republican Party ... but get this ... most are "in the freaking closet". .. What the hell?!
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I guess you have to ascertain what Republicans stand for, and define what a Conservative is;Gay conservative to go?
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Hey, I'm not going to tell you what Republicans stand for, or define what a Conservative is ... hell, you've got time, you look it up. Right? after that, you can determine if Gays have a place in the Republican Party. If not, where the hell is the

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39241289
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Here's an article you might enjoy: May 2010: Gay Conservatives, Pulling the Movement to the Right, By Surina Khan
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The Saviors Alliance for Lifting the Truth
(SALT)
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ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIYzlUGenuA&feature=channel
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ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxMFhfVGvzk&feature=related
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Top Five Republican Gay Sex Scandals

August 31st, 2007 by John Marcotte

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Gay Republicans come out of the closet
(2007)
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Delaware GOP Senate Nominee A Staunch Supporter Of Ex-Gay Ministries by Wayne Besen, September 15, 2010
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Love in Action
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TRUTH WINS OUT

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Rachel Maddow analyzes the story behind "curing" gays

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WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH
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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

LANGUAGE IMMERSION

Unfortunately, there are people (Tea Party, other conservatives - though not all of them) that want nothing to do with people of another country, ethnicity or race. They fear anyone who is not like them.
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These people are segregating themselves from the rest of the world. Learning another language will enrich your life. The video below is a PBS video about "language immersion". Your children need to speak more than one language.

DIRECTORY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAMS



Watch the full episode. See more Speaking in Tongues.


VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AFTER 9/17/2010!
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LANGUAGE IMMERSION
WIKI
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Sunday, September 12, 2010

Saturday, September 11, 2010

THE UNITED STATES DECLARATION AND CONSTITUTION OF CONSERVATIVES

UPDATE 9/23/2010: watch video #4 - JIM RUSSELL (R)

UPDATE 9/18/2010, 11:22PM, added another video (#3)


I've learned quite a bit over the last 48 hours. I learned why Republicans lie, and create fear and cause anxiety, and confusion.
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Want to know why? ...
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The reason is, ... Conservatives don't want you to know what they truly believe.
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They believe that
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1. Everyone is not created Equal
2. Everyone is not Welcome Here / and
3. No you cannot practice Freedom of Religion, only what we say you can practice, and

4. Everyone does not have the right to vote. The one group of people that they don't want to have a right to vote ... is poor people; and the other groups are certain Hispanics (that they call anchor babies) and American Muslims.
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Update: Rachel Maddow Show /Oklahoma / November 10, 2010

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ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39241133

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ABOVE CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39107847

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ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE SEEN AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann#39240738
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ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/#39336508

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The United States of Inequality // Too Many Republicans by Timothy Noah http://www.slate.com/id/2266025/
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TOO BE EDITED FURTHER

Friday, September 10, 2010

THEATER OF THE WEIRD AND ABSURD!!

UPDATE: September 10, 2010, 9:14pm, added Jason Linkins article (see end of post) about the Media's irresponsible behavior in ginning up the public (and international community) over the proposed "Qur'an burning" stunt, the so called "Ground Zero Mosque"; and how they've allowed the far-right, fringe groups, and politicians with ulterior motives, take over the airwaves.
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WATCH and READ!!

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CRAZY CALLS FOR COVERAGE
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ABOVE CAN BE SEEN AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39089442
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WEIRD WHITEWASH
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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy-


ABOVE CAN BE SEEN AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39089476
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CHRISTINE O'DONNELL (TOO WEIRD)



ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE SEEN AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39089547
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CRAZY GOP CANDIDATE - PHIL DAVISON
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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39089644
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DONNY DEUTSCH, PAT BUCHANAN GONE WILD
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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe#39094786
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THE LAWRENCE O'DONNELL AND PAT BUCHANAN CONFLICT LINGERS ON - BUT HOW DID EUGENE ROBINSON GET SUCKED INTO IT? (SMILE)
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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe#39095265
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I JUST HAD TO INCLUDE THIS:

"Yesterday afternoon, the leader of a microscopic cult of idiots who announced plans to stage an "international" day of Quran burning in Gainesville, Florida held a press conference, for a rapt media which decided that his moronic plans were the single most important thing going on in America. At that press conference, in front of "9/11 Truther" signs, this cult leader lied to everyone who was watching, telling them that he was going to call off his 9/11 book burning festival because he had successfully reached a deal with the people behind the Park51 community center in Lower Manhattan, in which they would move their facility away from the site of the World Trade Center.

Not a word of this was true, but it was amazing, all the same -- at one fell swoop, we had finally knit up the strands of a season of irrationality into one big, shiny, synergized knot. This was supposed to be the end of Recovery Summer? More like Relapse Summer.

The story of how one lone idiot, pimping an 18th-century brand of community terrorism, held the media hostage and forced some of this nation's most powerful people to their knees to fitfully beg an end to his wackdoodlery is an extraordinary one. It's a modern media retelling of Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying", in which a gang of Islamaphobes, cast in the role of Addie Bundren, bamboozle the media into carrying their coffin full of malevolence on a journey of pure debasement. Let's begin at the beginning.

Earlier this year, an organization called the Cordoba Initiative were granted permission by the appropriate authorities in New York City to turn an old Burlington Coat Factory at 51 Park Place in lower Manhattan into a community center. The organization was headed by an Imam named Feisal Abdul Rauf, who has made it his life's work to stand against radical cults like al Qaeda and teach young Muslims that America is a place where one can freely worship at the appointed times and then join other faith communities in America in the task of building a great nation. The proposed community center was to include a basketball court and space for different religious communities in New York City to have interfaith relations. It was also going to have a place for Muslims to pray, if they liked.

The news didn't sit well with many people in New York, most notably people who didn't live in Manhattan. This is because they were told by a gaggle of dumb Islamophobes that what was planned was a "Ground Zero mosque." Of course, the planned community center was not, strictly speaking, a "mosque." And it was most definitely not "at Ground Zero." "Ground Zero" is the site of an interminable municipal construction project. There are no plans to build a mosque there. "Ground Zero" is also not the name of a recognized New York City neighborhood, like DUMBO or Murray Hill. But, here's the thing: even if it was, the battle to stop the "Ground Zero mosque" was already lost, because there already is a mosque in that neighborhood.

This logic failed to sink in, because very few people outside of me and the good people over at Wonkette made any attempt to bring these facts to light. But it might not have mattered, because the fertile field of opposition to the Park51 community center was the raw wound of the September 11th attacks. Obviously, many people are still feeling the loss of that day. And that loss breeds many emotions, among them sadness and anger. And people definitely do have the right to express their sadness and their anger. But what people don't have the right to expect is that the government will intervene to remedy claims that have no basis in law.

As soon as the media saw themselves a shiny shiny shining thing shining shinily in New York City, they pounced! How perfect! Something for us to talk about during the slow-news summer! I mean, we could talk about the nation's unemployment crisis, but that would mean we'd have to talk to poor, jobless people, and there's no currency in having access to a bunch of poors. Right away, they accepted the premise that this was a "Ground Zero mosque," when it wasn't. And so, by the power vested in the media, things that weren't in fact true were accorded the privilege of being "one side of a great debate" and "an interesting point of view."

Charlie Brooker, calling out the media for this bullshit, states what should have happened at this very moment:

New York being a densely populated city, there are lots of other buildings and businesses within two blocks of Ground Zero, including a McDonald's and a Burger King, neither of which has yet been accused of serving milkshakes and fries on hallowed ground. Regardless, for the opponents of Cordoba House, two blocks is too close, period. Frustratingly, they haven't produced a map pinpointing precisely how close is OK.


That's literally all I'd ask them in an interview. I'd stand there pointing at a map of the city. Would it be offensive here? What about here? Or how about way over there? And when they finally picked a suitable spot, I'd ask them to draw it on the map, sketching out roughly how big it should be, and how many windows it's allowed to have. Then I'd hand them a colour swatch and ask them to decide on a colour for the lobby carpet. And the conversation would continue in this vein until everyone in the room was in tears. Myself included.

That hasn't happened. Instead, 70% of Americans are opposed to the "Ground Zero mosque", doubtless in many cases because they've been led to believe it literally is a mosque at Ground Zero. And if not...well, it must be something significant. Otherwise why would all these pundits be so angry about it? And why would anyone in the media listen to them with a straight face?

And because the media couldn't do their job, a group of hack politicians, like Rick Lazio and Newt Gingrich, desperate to get a little famewhore attention for their quixotic political career goals, saw an opportunity to horn in on the "discussion." They started telling all the sad and angry people that they actually did have the right to expect someone to provide a remedy to their claims. Their case was primarily based on the idea that nobody has the rights of religious freedom, no one has property rights and that the government has the right -- nay, the duty! -- to intrude.

Right away, they should have been entirely ridiculed, because the people pimping this bilge were primarily right-wing types who would ordinarily say that church and state should not be separated, that property rights are sacrosanct, and that government should be small and unobtrusive. Someone really should have said to Newt Gingrich, "Is this seriously the stand you want to take? Because if it is, we shall never allow you to claim to be a supporter of small government or a 'Constitutional constructionist' ever again. And if you try to assert that claim, we will drop on you like a ton of bricks. We will cause you real, public pain."

But of course, that's not what happened. The media has too much invested in flattering people like Newt Gingrich, and whoever writes Sarah Palin's tweets. And so, these inherent contradictions simply became "one side of a great debate" and "an interesting point of view."

And from there, some idiot news producer said, "Hey, I bet we can shoehorn this into our election narrative somehow!" And so the Park51 community center became an election issue. Imagine that, in a world with a nine year-long, going nowhere war and a massive unemployment crisis! Imagine how many times you would have to hit yourself in the head with a ball peen hammer before you would ask a politician from California how they stood on a local zoning issue in Manhattan.

But ask they did, all the way to the White House. And that's when Democrats like Harry Reid stepped forward to publicly cover themselves in cowardice. This turned the frenzy up several notches for the media, because suddenly, they had obtained a very precious thing -- the right to say "both sides do this." The matter had become a folie a deux -- a madness made for two! -- but the media focused all their attention on the "two" and none on the "madness."

And in that climate, a pastor named Terry Jones saw an opportunity to make himself famous. Jones heads up a heretofore unknown and uncared-about gang of Florida morons known as the Dove Outreach Church -- minor bit players in the field of antagonizing American Muslims. This idiot announced that he was going to burn some Qurans on September 11th, and was anyone interested in giving this nonsense a whole lot of media attention?

And boy howdy, lots of people took him up on the offer! And you know why they did that? Because of the shame. Because deep down, your media all-stars knew that they had aided and abetted something that closely resembled an intellectual atrocity, and now it was time to atone by finding the lowest-hanging fruit available and make themselves feel better by beating on them repeatedly for being assholes -- something they should have already been doing for months!

And this gave an opportunity for some of those who had opposed the Park51 community center -- who deserved the treatment being meted out to Terry Jones -- to do the same. They joined their friends in the media in this demonstration of game-show absolution, saying, "This level of bigotry is unacceptable! It's so declasse in comparison to our own bigotry, which is a refined, 'Sunday Afternoon On The Island Of La Grande Jatte' form of despicableness."

A few people, like John Boehner and whoever writes Sarah Palin's tweets went so far as to say, "See, this is exactly the same thing we were decrying with the Ground Zero mosque." Except it wasn't, because the Ground Zero mosque was a thing they had made up!

None of this bothered Terry Jones at all! Why should it? In the long history of fringe religious figures saying and doing stupid things, it is exceedingly rare for the media to provide much attention to them. Pat Robertson has been telling America that gay people cause hurricanes for years, and it never amounts to much in the way of coverage beyond a periodic reminder that Pat Robertson is a complete fool. Terry Jones, however, had been given something very precious: he was now "one side of a great debate" who possessed "an interesting point of view."

And the media worked very hard to push the case that Jones was part of a debate. Now, Quran burning was an election-year issue, for which every candidate had to answer. And they even went so far as to ask Jones repeatedly, "What if President Obama told you not to do this? What if former President George W. Bush told you not to do this?" They were literally brokering negotiations between an idiot cult leader and some of the most powerful and important people in the world!

By now, things were terribly out of control. President Obama had to publicly state that Quran burning is a stupid thing to do. Imagine how out of touch you have to be that you need to go all the way to the White House to find that answer! Other important people were compelled to interject at this point. General David Petraeus had to come forward and state the plainly obvious: that all the public attention being given to this Quran burning would undermine the ability of U.S. forces to conduct their counterinsurgency operations, which depend heavily on winning the "hearts and minds" of Afghans. I think a lot of people read this as Petraeus speaking out against the attention-seeker, Terry Jones. But I think he was speaking more directly to the attention-givers. And everything that Justin Elliot reports here, I believe, lends credence to my contention.

Eventually, Robert Gates -- the Secretary of Defense, who is running two wars! -- had to call Jones up and try to convince him not to do this. "Which is crazy," says Alex Pareene, accurately, because when, exactly, did the Pentagon start negotiating with two-bit terrorists?

All of this finally culminated with yesterday's press conference, where Terry Jones lied and said that the Park51 community center was going to move, thanks to him. You see where this is headed now, don't you? Now the people behind Park51 are on the hook for stopping this Quran burning, and all of the negative external impact it may have. Now, all of the refined hate-merchants from early in the story can say that if the "Ground Zero mosque" isn't moved, immediately, American troops could die!

To go back to Charlie Brooker, let's remember that after sizing up the incompetence that pervaded the Park51 coverage, he warned that the "media" should just "give up" before they "[made] things worse." Pretty prophetic, isn't it? They got played, and played badly, by a dude with 14th-century religious beliefs, 19th-century facial hair and ultra-modern media savvy. Terry Jones has essentially blackmailed some of the most important people in America, with the assistance of the media.

Let's remember that all of this paralysis was caused by 50 people who wanted to burn a book that's available for free, on the Internet!

There were many, many moments where someone could have simply said, "No, we should really not be doing this. These Islamophobes are objectively wrong, objectively stupid, objectively contradictory, objectively harmful, and by God, as someone with a functioning brain and a devotion to the pursuit of reason above all else, I am going to stand here and say no to all of this." But as it turns out, it wasn't until yesterday afternoon that someone finally had the guts to say maybe we cannot really believe a word this man is saying.

Well, they should have thought of that before they decided to point a bunch of teevee cameras at him, I guess."



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and This is from "anonymous" comments:
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"20 (let me say it again -20) terrorists committed horrific acts on September 11, 2001 ... and now, 9 years later, we're involved in 2 wars (excuse me, now 1), thousands of military and innocent Iraqis and Afghans have died, we've spent and are spending trillions of dollars on national security and national defense. We've bankrupted this nation; and many people are either homeless or had their homes foreclosed on. Millions are unemployed ...
...
more stupidity, hate and divisiveness than I've seen in my lifetime ...
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and the only people left standing (with more power and fat wallets) are "Goldman Sachs", JP Morgan Chase, Dick Cheney's Haliburton, military contractors, security firms, health insurance companies who now have record profits, large corporations who continue to outsource, oil companies (the same ones who had a hand in why we went to war) ....

Do I need to go on? ....

Are we insane?"