Elisabeth Winkler
EWinkler@SoilAssociation.org
Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:49:00 +0100
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Dear people
I just want to say how relieved I am that a response has been made to Mike
Lowe's column.
I have been sickened by his column many times over the last few years.
For a while I had a column called Earthmother in the E.Post in an attempt
by me and the then features editor to counter Lowe's views. But aftere 16
months I got the chop and surprise, surprise, no one has culled the
E.Post's editor's column.
The most awful and insiduous thing about Lowe's column is that he defends
it on the grounds that it is intended to be "ironic".
He claims that it is a parody of the racist stereotype and is therefore
innoffensive.
He claims that anyone who takes offence to his column - which, he claims,
is "just a joke" - must therefore have no sense of humour...
(the classic defense of anyone telling to a racist/sexist joke)
And he will also defend himself by saying that he has been responsible for
the E.Post's anti-racist's reporting. Which is also true.
Mike Lowe is not living in the real world because:
a) the column is unskilfully written - there is NO way of knowing it is a parody... (a true parody would have us laughing at the racists - and we
don't)
b) there are plenty of readers who write in AGREEING with the column
(apparently this only delights Lowe - who thinks therefore he is VERY
clever to have hoodwinked the racists.)
Such is Lowe's immaturity, he sees anti-racists as the 'new authority' stopping him having his 'fun'.
An editor who seeks to vent his rebellious spirit by attacking
anti-racists under the cloak of 'joke'
is self-indulgent and completely irresponsible.
Thank you so much for responding to Lowe's column and I am so sorry that
you had to....
Elisabeth
Elisabeth Winkler
Living Earth, editor
Previous Socialist Alliance candidate
Tel: 0117 914 2434
----- Forwarded by Elisabeth Winkler/SoilAssociation on 28/08/02 03:13 pm
-----
Tony Gosling <tony@gaia.org>
Sent by: nuj_bristol-admin@lists.southspace.net
27/08/02 05:49 pm
To: nuj_bristol@lists.southspace.net
cc:
Subject: [NUJ Bristol] Bristol Muslims' response to Mike Lowe's column
Hi All,
This is the first email sent as part of our new automated list - to post
to
all Bristol NUJ members on the list send an email to
nuj_bristol@lists.southspace.net
You have to register a password at
http://lists.southspace.net/listinfo/nuj_bristol
if you want to view the archives in future
thanks
Tony Gosling
Bristol NUJ branch sec.
0117 944 6219
PRESS RELEASE : BRISTOL MUSLIM CULTURAL SOCIETY
This press release has been forwarded to you by Bristol-Stop-The-War.
For comment from Bristol-Stop-The-War contact : James Venables :
James@Venables.plus.com : 0117 9514 744
The 'Devil's Advocate' column in the Bristol Evening Post of 14th August
has provoked a strong response due to it's racist content. An extract
from the offending column can be seen below:
"(S)ome Muslims have pretty fixed ideas about religious warfare. They
honestly believe that if they die in battle there will be 16 virgins
waiting for them in Paradise...That may just give them the edge when
it comes to diving on grenades...On the other hand, they believe it
is a mortal sin to have anything to do with pigs, ie: no bacon
butties must enter their bodies. So why not equip Our Boys with pork
bullets? The towelheads will then spend their time dodging flying
lumps of crackling & black pudding bombs while we roll down the road
to Baghdad unimpeded." Barry Beezlebub. 14th Aug 2002
*************************************************
THIS IS THE RESPONSE FROM THE BRISTOL MUSLIM CULTURAL SOCIETY.
This response was originally addressed to the Bristol Evening Post & The
Bristol Racial Equality Council.
Date: 20th August 2002
Re: EP Article: Devils Advocate 14th August 2002
Dear Sirs,
I am writing to advise you that our office has received a number of
complaints regarding the Devils Advocate Column in your paper dated 14th
August 2002. Whilst I missed the original article, a copy has been
forwarded to this office by one of our members.
The content of the article is appalling, and serves to further propagate
the
usual racist and stereotypical misconceptions regarding both the
worldwide Islamic faith and the national Arab identity.
The fact that Iraq is secular country, including people of all faiths,
including Vice President Tariq Aziz, (a Christian) seems to have eluded
Barry
Beelzebub. He deliberately ignores the fact that the issue with Iraq is
nothing to do with Islam, (remembering it was Iraq's invasion of a
Muslim
country, Kuwait that led Iraq to be a pariah state) however, this does
not
prevent him form spewing his obvious ill-informed animosity towards
people of the Islamic faith.
His reference to "16 virgins" waiting in heaven for the dead Iraqis
singularly indicates his comments as a baseless stereotype, groomed on a
deliberate distortion of the Quranic texts.
His further "advice" to use pork bullets against Iraqis is astounding
and
numbs every basic human instinct, inciting violence against those very
people who have been suffering for decades both at the hands of Saddam
Hussein and the merciless UN sanctions. His suggestion that perhaps
Iraqis would somehow find "pork bullets" more deadly than other
bullets is phenomenal in its malice.
And if such comments were not appalling in their own right, his
reference to the Iraqis as "towel heads" is racism pure and simple.
Whilst I recognise and vehemently support the need for opposing
viewpoints to be articulated in both the local and national press,
especially in the current conformist climate, Barry Beelzebub's ignorant
and bigoted comments are not an opposition to any view, rather they seek
to merely reinforce the swell of misinformed views already prevalent in
today's media, and therefore contradictory to the whole purpose of the
Devils Advocate column.
The comments are further unfortunate especially in view of the
tremendous
efforts of the Evening Post reporting staff to reduce racial/cultural
tensions in our City, both in the wake of September 11th and in the
papers
support for Bristol's bid to become the "European Capital of Culture".
Mr Beelzebub's comments are deeply offensive to at least 20,000 Muslims
of all nations who live in our city, and I am sure equally offensive to
all
decent people of all faiths. The gravity of the offence caused can only
be
adequately articulated by asking one simple question:
"How much longer will the people of Bristol have to endure the personal
prejudices of Barry Beelzebub, being habitually masqueraded within the
pages of a trusted local family newspaper?"
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Farooq A. Siddique
Public Relations (BMCS)
For comment from Bristol-Stop-The-War Contact : James Venables :
James@venables.plus.com : 0117 9514 744
--
James Venables
---
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<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Dear people</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I just want to say how relieved I am that a response has been made to Mike Lowe's column.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I have been sickened by his column many times over the last few years.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">For a while I had a column called Earthmother in the E.Post in an attempt by me and the then features editor to counter Lowe's views. But aftere 16 months I got the chop and surprise, surprise, no one has culled the E.Post's editor's column.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">The most awful and insiduous thing about Lowe's column is that he defends it on the grounds that it is intended to be "ironic".</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">He claims that it is a parody of the racist stereotype and is therefore innoffensive.</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">He claims that anyone who takes offence to his column - which, he claims, is "just a joke" - must therefore have no sense of humour...</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">(the classic defense of anyone telling to a racist/sexist joke) </font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">And he will also defend himself by saying that he has been responsible for the E.Post's anti-racist's reporting. Which is also true. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Mike Lowe is not living in the real world because:</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">a) the column is unskilfully written - there is NO way of knowing it <u>is</u> a parody... (a true parody would have us laughing at the racists - and we don't)</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">b) there are plenty of readers who write in AGREEING with the column (apparently this only delights Lowe - who thinks therefore he is VERY clever to have hoodwinked the racists.)</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Such is Lowe's immaturity, he sees <u>anti</u>-racists as the 'new authority' stopping him having his 'fun'.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">An editor who seeks to vent his rebellious spirit by attacking anti-racists under the cloak of 'joke'</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif"> is self-indulgent and completely irresponsible.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Thank you so much for responding to Lowe's column and I am so sorry that you had to....</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Elisabeth</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Elisabeth Winkler<br>
<br>
Living Earth, editor</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Previous Socialist Alliance candidate </font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><br>
<br>
Tel: 0117 914 2434<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</font>
<br><font size=1 color=#800080 face="sans-serif">----- Forwarded by Elisabeth Winkler/SoilAssociation on 28/08/02 03:13 pm -----</font>
<br>
<table width=100%>
<tr valign=top>
<td>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>Tony Gosling <tony@gaia.org></b></font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: nuj_bristol-admin@lists.southspace.net</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">27/08/02 05:49 pm</font>
<br>
<td><font size=1 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif"> To: nuj_bristol@lists.southspace.net</font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif"> cc: </font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif"> Subject: [NUJ Bristol] Bristol Muslims' response to Mike Lowe's column</font></table>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2><tt>Hi All,<br>
<br>
This is the first email sent as part of our new automated list - to post to<br>
all Bristol NUJ members on the list send an email to<br>
nuj_bristol@lists.southspace.net<br>
<br>
You have to register a password at <br>
http://lists.southspace.net/listinfo/nuj_bristol<br>
if you want to view the archives in future<br>
<br>
<br>
thanks <br>
<br>
Tony Gosling<br>
Bristol NUJ branch sec.<br>
0117 944 6219<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
PRESS RELEASE : BRISTOL MUSLIM CULTURAL SOCIETY<br>
<br>
This press release has been forwarded to you by Bristol-Stop-The-War.<br>
For comment from Bristol-Stop-The-War contact : James Venables : <br>
James@Venables.plus.com : 0117 9514 744<br>
<br>
The 'Devil's Advocate' column in the Bristol Evening Post of 14th August <br>
has provoked a strong response due to it's racist content. An extract <br>
from the offending column can be seen below:<br>
<br>
"(S)ome Muslims have pretty fixed ideas about religious warfare. They<br>
honestly believe that if they die in battle there will be 16 virgins<br>
waiting for them in Paradise...That may just give them the edge when<br>
it comes to diving on grenades...On the other hand, they believe it<br>
is a mortal sin to have anything to do with pigs, ie: no bacon<br>
butties must enter their bodies. So why not equip Our Boys with pork<br>
bullets? The towelheads will then spend their time dodging flying<br>
lumps of crackling & black pudding bombs while we roll down the road<br>
to Baghdad unimpeded." Barry Beezlebub. 14th Aug 2002<br>
<br>
*************************************************<br>
<br>
THIS IS THE RESPONSE FROM THE BRISTOL MUSLIM CULTURAL SOCIETY.<br>
This response was originally addressed to the Bristol Evening Post & The <br>
Bristol Racial Equality Council.<br>
<br>
Date: 20th August 2002<br>
<br>
Re: EP Article: Devils Advocate 14th August 2002<br>
<br>
Dear Sirs,<br>
<br>
I am writing to advise you that our office has received a number of<br>
complaints regarding the Devils Advocate Column in your paper dated 14th<br>
<br>
August 2002. Whilst I missed the original article, a copy has been <br>
forwarded to this office by one of our members.<br>
The content of the article is appalling, and serves to further propagate <br>
the<br>
usual racist and stereotypical misconceptions regarding both the <br>
worldwide Islamic faith and the national Arab identity.<br>
The fact that Iraq is secular country, including people of all faiths, <br>
including Vice President Tariq Aziz, (a Christian) seems to have eluded <br>
Barry<br>
Beelzebub. He deliberately ignores the fact that the issue with Iraq is<br>
<br>
nothing to do with Islam, (remembering it was Iraq's invasion of a <br>
Muslim<br>
country, Kuwait that led Iraq to be a pariah state) however, this does <br>
not<br>
prevent him form spewing his obvious ill-informed animosity towards <br>
people of the Islamic faith.<br>
His reference to "16 virgins" waiting in heaven for the dead Iraqis<br>
singularly indicates his comments as a baseless stereotype, groomed on a <br>
deliberate distortion of the Quranic texts.<br>
His further "advice" to use pork bullets against Iraqis is astounding <br>
and<br>
numbs every basic human instinct, inciting violence against those very <br>
people who have been suffering for decades both at the hands of Saddam <br>
Hussein and the merciless UN sanctions. His suggestion that perhaps <br>
Iraqis would somehow find "pork bullets" more deadly than other<br>
bullets is phenomenal in its malice.<br>
And if such comments were not appalling in their own right, his <br>
reference to the Iraqis as "towel heads" is racism pure and simple.<br>
Whilst I recognise and vehemently support the need for opposing <br>
viewpoints to be articulated in both the local and national press, <br>
especially in the current conformist climate, Barry Beelzebub's ignorant <br>
and bigoted comments are not an opposition to any view, rather they seek <br>
to merely reinforce the swell of misinformed views already prevalent in <br>
today's media, and therefore contradictory to the whole purpose of the <br>
Devils Advocate column.<br>
The comments are further unfortunate especially in view of the <br>
tremendous<br>
efforts of the Evening Post reporting staff to reduce racial/cultural <br>
tensions in our City, both in the wake of September 11th and in the <br>
papers<br>
support for Bristol's bid to become the "European Capital of Culture".<br>
Mr Beelzebub's comments are deeply offensive to at least 20,000 Muslims <br>
of all nations who live in our city, and I am sure equally offensive to <br>
all<br>
decent people of all faiths. The gravity of the offence caused can only <br>
be<br>
adequately articulated by asking one simple question:<br>
<br>
"How much longer will the people of Bristol have to endure the personal <br>
prejudices of Barry Beelzebub, being habitually masqueraded within the <br>
pages of a trusted local family newspaper?"<br>
<br>
Yours sincerely,<br>
<br>
Mr. Farooq A. Siddique<br>
Public Relations (BMCS)<br>
<br>
For comment from Bristol-Stop-The-War Contact : James Venables : <br>
James@venables.plus.com : 0117 9514 744<br>
-- <br>
James Venables<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
---<br>
Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.<br>
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).<br>
Version: 6.0.384 / Virus Database: 216 - Release Date: 21/08/02<br>
<br>
---<br>
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.<br>
Unless you're using Norton Antivirus.<br>
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).<br>
Version: 6.0.384 / Virus Database: 216 - Release Date: 21/08/02<br>
</tt></font>
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