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tweakabelle -> How to manufacture the truth (8/20/2012 12:12:59 AM)
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It's interesting to trace the genesis of the crucifixion fable/lie that surfaced recently on the "Muslim Brotherhood Take Egypt" thread. I suspect this might be a template for many of the falsehoods that are circulated and believed as fact by the looney Right and others.
As far as I can establish, something alone the following lines seems to have occurred:
1. Sky News published a story on its website claiming Christians had been crucified in Egypt.
2. The story was taken up and repeated by a small number of non-mainstream outlets and blogs.
3. Sky News removed the story from its website for undisclosed reasons, the most probable reason being it was found to be a fabrication/false.
4. Raymond Ibrahim, writing on the algemeiner.com website takes up the story. While acknowledging Sky's withdrawal of the story, Ibrahim insists on its accuracy citing Middle Eastern media who also ran with the story (see point 2 above). Ibrahim appears motivated by ideology rather than journalistic pursuit of the truth. Ibrahim's arguments for adopting the interpretation of events he does are transparently thin.
This is the point where the story changes from being a report of 'factual' events, leaves the realm of truth behind and becomes conjecture. http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/08/16/muslim-brotherhood-crucifies-opponents-attacks-secular-media/
5. The wnd website publishes the story as fact, citing Ibrahim and other "middle East media" sources (the same sources as outlined in point 2 above). Wnd omits any qualifications about the veracity of its story - this is the point where the tale is passed off as unqualified fact
http://www.wnd.com/2012/08/arab-spring-run-amok-brotherhood-starts-crucifixions/
6. The story is consumed by wnd's readers who readily believe what they have been told is factual.
7. The tale is posted on CM, where more right wingers sieze upon it as evidence of Muslim Brotherhood perfidy.
So it can be seen how an erroneous or false report gets taken up and ciirculated. The story grows as it passes through various stages until it is presented as fact to a gullible audience only too eager to believe anything that reflects badly on the Muslim Brotherhood for ideological reasons, no matter how implausible the claims are.
My impression is that the average Westerner's understanding of the situation in the ME is sketchy at best. It is an alien, commonly misunderstood place for most Westerners. It is far too easy to pass a plausible lie off as truth and get away with it. Far too often propaganda and falsehood are accepted as fact simply because it is repeated enough times.
One well known example is Ahmedinajad's alleged exhortations to "wipe Israel off the face of the planet" (in fact, he called for regime change in Israel). The original 'mis'-translation came from the Middle East Media Research Insititute, an organisation with close links to Israeli Intelligence. There are many other similar stories from both sides. The adage 'Truth is the first casualty of war' cannot be understated. It applies to all sides.
For mine, all this reinforces the need for readers to be discriminating, critical thinkers. Sources need to be checked and stories believed only if the source is trustworthy and independently confirmed. Caution and relying on multiple reputable international media, is the key. Independent verification is a must.
How can we best protect ourselves from falling for propaganda and falsehoods such as the above?
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