Transcript File - Media Ethics in a Nutshell

Hands-On Activity:
Case Review Writing
03 March 2009
Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Read the article titled “Achmed the Dead
Terrorist banned in South Africa as
offensive to Moslems”
Summarize the S.
Write the A.
Arrive at a D.
Source: Commentary on FoxNews Report
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CASE: "Achmed the Dead Terrorist" banned
in South Africa as offensive to Muslims
Source: Commentary on FoxNews Report
3
CASE: "Achmed the Dead Terrorist" banned
in South Africa as offensive to Muslims
Wait a minute. Aren't we supposed to believe that Muslims
condemn and abhor terrorism? At least until someone mocks
an Islamic terrorist. Then suddenly one has offended all
Muslims. But if they really condemn terrorism, wouldn't they
find Achmed the Dead Terrorist inoffensive and maybe even
helpful?
Free Speech Death Watch Update: "Comedian Defends 'Achmed
the Dead Terrorist' Puppet Routine Against South African
Ban," by Joshua Rhett Miller for FoxNews, October 2 (thanks
to Sidekick):
It's no laughing matter.
Source: Commentary on FoxNews Report
4
CASE: "Achmed the Dead Terrorist" banned
in South Africa as offensive to Muslims
Funnyman ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is fuming after a ringtone
advertisement based on his popular comedy skit, "Achmed
the Dead Terrorist," was scrubbed from South African TV
because it mocks Islam.
The ringtone was taken from a puppet routine performed by
Dunham, a native Texan, in a TV special on Comedy Central.
A 10-minute clip of the comedian's routine that was posted on
YouTube has been viewed more than 66 million times since
April.
But the government of South Africa doesn't think it's funny.
According to iafrica.com, South Africa's Advertising Standards
Authority (ASA) ruled that a GloMobile ringtone commercial
featuring Dunham and his puppet was offensive to Muslims.
Source: Commentary on FoxNews Report
5
CASE: "Achmed the Dead Terrorist" banned
in South Africa as offensive to Muslims
The commercial depicts Dunham holding his skeletal puppet, Achmed,
dressed with a white cloth around his head and demanding that the
audience keep quiet, uttering, "Silence! I will kill you!"
ASA officials said a South African man, Moegamat Khan, had filed a
complaint that the commercial was offensive to the Islamic religion
and created an impression that all Muslims were terrorists.
Questions: Have you ever seen a Muslim spokesman say, "Hey, we
really liked this anti-terror presentation"? Have you ever seen a
Muslim spokesman say, "Hey, we really liked this anti-terror
presentation because it stated that not all Muslims are terrorists"?
Have you ever seen a Muslim spokesman react to an anti-terror
presentation without saying that it gave the impression that all
Muslims were terrorists, even when the presentation in question
explicitly denied that all Muslims were terrorists -- as does
Obsession?
Source: Commentary on FoxNews Report
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CASE: "Achmed the Dead Terrorist" banned
in South Africa as offensive to Muslims
And the ASA agreed. "To associate this divine inspiration to a terrorist
is offensive to the people who believe in [Muhammad]," the
authority ruled. Muslims make up 2 percent of South Africa's
population.
But Dunham begs to differ. In a statement to FOXNews.com, he said:
"Achmed makes it clear in my act that he is not Muslim, so I'm sorry
the gentleman Khan didn't see my entire show.
"I've skewered whites, blacks, Hispanics, Christians, Jews, Muslims,
gays, straights, rednecks, addicts, the elderly, and my wife. As a
standup comic, it is my job to make the majority of people laugh,
and I believe that comedy is the last true form of free speech."...
Achmed is not Muslim? How insanely PC.*
Source: Commentary on FoxNews Report
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URLs:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/022941.php
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,431866,00.html
Source: Commentary on FoxNews Report
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