The media is a very powerful instrument -- so powerful, in fact, that those who disseminate messages meant to incite hatred and violence must often be challenged in the courts.
For example, a man in Australia has just been arrested under Australia state's racial vilification laws for producing a 10 minute, anti-Semitic film that encouraged violence:
The newspaper said the 10-minute video showed the man saying to the camera "your days are numbered" and "I will put you in the camps with the rest of them."He is also shown taunting a Jewish man outside a shopping center and calling him a "racist, homicidal maniac," the newspaper said.
Such incitement is all too common -- and is not legally challenged -- in the Muslim world, where television channels are often used to promote anti-Semitic, anti-American sentiment. Videos can be found saying that the Jews are enemies of Islam, teaching children that in the end of days, when the Muslims comes to fight the Jews, stones and trees will say, "Oh Muslim, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him (Egyptian-Saudi Koran-Memorization Channel, aired April 2009)."
The Muslim media has even been pushing information stating that the Swine flu epidemic is part of a Zionist-American conspiracy (Iranian TV: Swine Flu - A Zionist/American Conspiracy, aired May 2009).
This type of indoctrination not only promotes hatred, but also fuels terrorism. It puts at risk our soldiers living and serving in the Middle East. The U.S. is taking action against this in the form of a House Resolution:
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fl) and Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) authored the bill, explaining that these television stations were helping foreign terrorist organizations in their objectives, including recruiting fighters, collecting funds and disseminating propaganda.
They are demanding punitive measures be taken against the satellite carriers.
The resolution will require the U.S. government to monitor and report on these stations, including possible divestment from satellite companies that host them. The bill, H.R. 2278, was introduced on May 6th, 2009, and currently is being referred to the House Foreign Relations committee.
