The Daily Mail is running a story which claims that a cafe owner was ordered by Stockport Council to tear down an extractor fan because the smell of bacon offended Muslims. Yet another instance of our Muslim neighbours attacking our British way of life?
A planning inspector has now heard an appeal and the order has been rescinded which the Mail hails as "a victory for common sense", which it probably was, but not for the reasons headlined by the Daily Mail.
Were it not for just one comment by an objector with an English name, this issue would have hardly rated a sentence in the local newspaper. It offers a case study in how the media has an agenda to create division and hatred.
The Stockport Area Committee met on October 14. They received a committee report which made absolutely no mention of any religious or cultural dimension. They were simply doing the job of a local council in ensuring that business premises do not have a detrimental impact on their neighbours. From my experience as a councillor it was an exemplary report.
Twenty three neigbours were consulted, there was just one objection from a Mr Webb-Lee who is not above creating offence himself. He apparently had what he believed were good reasons for objecting.
However he seems to have over-stated his case by claiming "I have a lot of Muslim friends. They refuse to visit me any more because they can't stand the smell of bacon." I do wonder how many serious Muslims would want to visit the home of a couple who display four letter words on their car.
However this simple statement allowed the story to take off in October with coverage in the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph. The story was taken up by those bloggers who are antagonistic to the Muslim community, David Icke - who should know better, and even some claiming that Jesus will save.
Shortly after publication of the original Daily Mail story in October the blog Tabloid Watch pointed out that the story was a lie. The only Muslim actually mentioned was a Mr Akciecek, who happened to be the husband of the cafe owner.
Why take this up in detail on a Methodist blog?
Firstly, we want to strive for good community relations. We obviously have differences with our Muslim neighbours, but that doesn't mean that we should stand by and see them defamed.
Secondly, we have a commitment to truth and the Daily Mail's presentation of this story is obviously at variance with the truth.
Thirdly, we know that were this same story to have referred to Jews or any other religious or ethnic minority we would have automatically understood it to be anti-Semitic, part of the racism that we state is a denial of the gospel in our one line standing order 013B.
Finally, I recognize the story telling, and the myth creation and repetition that goes with racist bigotry. Sadly, our own denominational leaders are not above giving a ethnic or religious group the Daily Mail treatment.
A planning inspector has now heard an appeal and the order has been rescinded which the Mail hails as "a victory for common sense", which it probably was, but not for the reasons headlined by the Daily Mail.Were it not for just one comment by an objector with an English name, this issue would have hardly rated a sentence in the local newspaper. It offers a case study in how the media has an agenda to create division and hatred.
The Stockport Area Committee met on October 14. They received a committee report which made absolutely no mention of any religious or cultural dimension. They were simply doing the job of a local council in ensuring that business premises do not have a detrimental impact on their neighbours. From my experience as a councillor it was an exemplary report.
Twenty three neigbours were consulted, there was just one objection from a Mr Webb-Lee who is not above creating offence himself. He apparently had what he believed were good reasons for objecting.
However he seems to have over-stated his case by claiming "I have a lot of Muslim friends. They refuse to visit me any more because they can't stand the smell of bacon." I do wonder how many serious Muslims would want to visit the home of a couple who display four letter words on their car.
However this simple statement allowed the story to take off in October with coverage in the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph. The story was taken up by those bloggers who are antagonistic to the Muslim community, David Icke - who should know better, and even some claiming that Jesus will save.
Shortly after publication of the original Daily Mail story in October the blog Tabloid Watch pointed out that the story was a lie. The only Muslim actually mentioned was a Mr Akciecek, who happened to be the husband of the cafe owner.
Why take this up in detail on a Methodist blog?
Firstly, we want to strive for good community relations. We obviously have differences with our Muslim neighbours, but that doesn't mean that we should stand by and see them defamed.
Secondly, we have a commitment to truth and the Daily Mail's presentation of this story is obviously at variance with the truth.
Thirdly, we know that were this same story to have referred to Jews or any other religious or ethnic minority we would have automatically understood it to be anti-Semitic, part of the racism that we state is a denial of the gospel in our one line standing order 013B.
Finally, I recognize the story telling, and the myth creation and repetition that goes with racist bigotry. Sadly, our own denominational leaders are not above giving a ethnic or religious group the Daily Mail treatment.
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1 comments:
There's an interesting article here that makes a similar point:
http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2011/3/31/mail-resurrects-smell-of-bacon-offends-muslims-story.html
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