Daniel Pipes on CBC's The Current: -a letter sent to CBC

Submitted by b kostynuik (Canada), Feb 3, 2003 at 18:29

January 30, 2003

Dear Ms. Tremonti,

We were very embarrassed by your inability to speak intelligently to Dr. Pipes without accusing him or insulting him, or laying "dumb" to the facts laid before all of us. The fact that you NEVER DID YOUR RESEARCH on a NEWS/CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM reveals your underlying agenda - to obfuscate facts with fiction; to continually attempt to derail arguments that are informed by reality, by introducing campus-level ideologically-based canards to necessarily address and dispel.

The only thing that was of question in this entire piece was the level of professionalism in journalism as exemplified by The Current. To only attack and confront Dr. Pipes without visiting his web site, without DOING YOUR RESEARCH, to ONLY repeat libelous hearsay by those "spades" who don't like Dr. Pipes (because he calls them what they are), reveals your personal agenda and the lack of "newsworthiness" of The Current.

This journalistic practice can only serve to promote hatred and misinformation of the kind not seen since 1930's Germany. The Current's pro-ignorance, pro-denial position, along with your own embarrassing cook show depth of fact and historical background, and your obvious personal agenda, plus your lack of even minimal investigation or critique of the accusers of Dr. Pipes shows the CBC to have been reduced to be no more than a national campus radio station.

We have heard you be consummately respectful and unchallenging of Islamist apologists on several, if not most occasions. On the other hand, when visited by a representative of democratic and pro-western values you are rude and constantly in opposition. Why is this? Why are you so antagonistic to those who dare suggest we have something to worry about from fundamentalist Islam and its propaganda and terror machine?

Dr. Pipes was extremely correct when he said to you, "You don't pay attention." You really don't and this is not the first time.

Furthermore, we believe, as taxpayers, and as the facts of our era reveal, our national broadcaster cannot afford to put forth such dangerously uninformed programming any further and should seriously reconsider The Current and its September 10th world view, without delay.

We look forward to your prompt response.

regards,

withheld

Note: To date we have received no response.

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