Failure of the media and ignorance or intelligence of fanatics...

As anyone who's watched the news these last weeks will know there's been a bit of storm regarding a speech that the Pope recently read at the University of Regensburg. Is curious to note that when I first heard reports of this speech I turned to two well know news sites, the BBC and Reuters. Both were quick to report the general condemnation of this speech from various Islamic leaders. I was very disappointed to see the BBC making much of the following quote:

"Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

The problem being a simple one, as it stands this is completely out of context and it is obvious to anyone who reads the full text of his speech that he does not state this as his view nor does he try to encourage others to do so. The full speech can be viewed here:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg_en.html

All this just goes to show how the media are manipulating stories to fuel fires that do not exist and goes to show how little faith we can have in our news agencies.

As always in these situations there was little suprise at the reaction of the more fanatical elements of Islam. There would never be any need to understand the full speech, after all a quotation had been used that they could use to their advantage. What is more shameful is the reaction from non-fanatical quarters of Islam. I can understand how British Muslims would be upset by all this as our media failed us all. It is more suprising to hear the various other leaders of Muslims states jump on the bandwaggon and show a complete lack of understanding of the speeach.

Of the three sections it seems ironic to see that the only ones that have indicated some level of intelligence in all this is the more extremist sections of Islam. They have been offered a route of attack and have made use of it. The media must be given full responsibility for this situation as they reported poorly on the subject. Given the current climate that we are all faced with it would be good for the media to engage some intelligence with the reporting that they do.....