We owe Arabs nothing. Robert Kilroy-Silk

[Sophist]

Dear members,

 

**Please write to the Express on Sunday today.Robert Kilroy-Silk's article

in this Sundays Express is extremely offensive and it is very important

that as many people as possible write to the SundayExpress about it. Also

bear in mind that he is employed by the BBC, and that we pay for his salary

via the licence fee. Please write/e-mail of fax today. Keep your letters

short and to the point.The contact details are as follows: Sunday

ExpressUnited MediaLudgate House245 Blackfriars RdLondon, SE1 9UX

 

e-mail on expressletters@express.co.uk

 

or phone 020 7620 1654 (fax)

 

Note the liberal use of 'they' and 'we', the absurd generalisations made,

and the designation of Iran as an Arab state!

 

The article is below:

 

We owe Arabs nothing.

Robert Kilroy-Silk, Express on Sunday, 4th January 2004

 

 

WE ARE told by some of the more hysterical critics of the war on terror

that"it is destroying the Arab world". So? Should w e be worried about

that?Shouldn't the destruction of the despotic, barbarous and corrupt Arab

statesand their replacement by democratic governments be a war aim? After

all, theArab countries are not exactly shining examples of civilisation,

are they?Few of them make much contribution to the w elfare of the rest of

the world.Indeed, apart from oil - which was discovered, is produced and is

paid forby the West - what do they contribute? Can you think of anything? A

nythingreally useful? Anything really valuable? Something we really need,

could notdo without? No, nor can I. Indeed, the Arab countries put together

exportless than Finland. We're told that the Arabs loathe us. Really? For

liberating the Iraqis? Forsubsidising the lifestyles of people in Egypt and

Jordan, to name but two,for giving them vast amounts of aid? For providing

them w ith science,medicine, technology and all the other benefits of the

West? They should godown on their knees and thank God for the munificence

of the United States.What do they think we feel about them? That we adore

them for the w ay theymurdered more than 3,000 civilians on September 11

and then danced in thehot, dusty streets to celebrate the murders? That we

admire them for the cold-blooded killings in Mombasa, Y emen andelsewhere?

That we admire them for being suicide bombers,

limb-amputators,womenrepressors? I don't think the Arab states should start

a debate aboutwhat is really loathsome. But why, in any case, should we be

concerned that they feel angry and loatheus? The Arab world has not exactly

earned our respect, has it? Iran is avile, terrorist-supporting regime -

part of the axis of evil. So is theSaddam Hussein-supporting Syria. So is

Libya. Indeed, most of them chantsupport for Saddam. That is to say they

support an evil dictator who has gassed hundreds ofthousands of their

fellow Arabs and tortured and murdered thousands more.How can they do this

and expect our respect? Why do they imagine that only they can feel anger,

call people loathsome? Itis the equivalent of all the European nations

coming out in support ofHitler the moment he was attacked by the US,

because he was European,despite the fact that he was attempting to

exterminate the Jews - and Arabs.Moreover, the people who claim we are

loathsome are currently threateningour civilian populations with chemical

and biological weapons. They are promising to let suicide bombers loose in

Western and American cities. Theyare trying to terrorise us, disrupt our

lives.And then they expect us to be careful of their sensibilities? We

havethousands of asylum seekers from Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Egypt, Libya,

Yemen,Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries living happily in this country

onsocial security. This shows what their own people think of the Arab

regimes, doesn't it?There is not one single British asylum seeker in any

Arab country. That saysit all about which country deserves the epithet

loathsome.

 

© Copyright Express Newspapers 2004 The Express on Sunday

[LANDER]

As right wing as the article might be, it does have some merits. Most of all this author is speaking frankly and honestly from his point of view, unlike many others in the West who hide behind politically correct statements. For that alone he should be respected.

 

 

He saids

theArab countries are not exactly shining examples of civilisation,

are they?

and

given the present state of most arab countries I have to agree with him

 

 

and he often attacks the arab regimes who control the countries rather than the populations itself. Sure he makes some misguided and ignorant generalizations but remember that he is a westerner looking in.

 

We

havet housands of asylum seekers from Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Egypt, Libya,

Yemen,Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries living happily in this country

onsocial security.

This shows what their own people think of the Arab

regimes, doesn't it?

Some arabs would even relate to this last statement about their own government leaders. Let's not get too emotional here because a westerner has dared insult fellow muslims, instead look at some of the truths this man is speaking of and put yourself in his shoes. My personal opinion is that the US is not the greatest threat to the Islamic world today, it is a distant 2nd to the pathetic arab dictatorships who are in place today. We should start of by criticising these desert bedouins before we look to the west.

[Gabbal]

My personal opinion is that the US is not the greatest threat to the Islamic world today, it is a distant 2nd to the pathetic arab dictatorships who are in place today

Is your opinion clouded by your feelings toward the Arab League position on Somalia?

[LANDER]

hornafrique,

non mon ami, I wouldn't be so narrow minded as to base my opinion simply on somali political affairs. my opinions where the same before the fallout of the arableague and Somaliland. I can suggest to you some former arab leaders that I admired in the past for example Gamal Abdel Nasir the former Egyptian president and maybe even former King Faysal. My critique isn't directed towards the arabs themselves but more towards the current regimes that run the arab countries, for example "La vache qui rit" (Hosni Mubarak) as well as King Fahd and the prince of Kuwait.

[Saxardiid]

although i disagree some of his analysis and generalisation but i totally agree with him many points. i used to ask myself when oppoligist suggest that the west should respect the arab/muslim countries, why should they do that. because we don't respect ourselves in the first place.

We

havethousands of asylum seekers from Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Egypt, Libya,

Yemen,Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries living happily in this country

onsocial security. This shows what their own people think of the Arab

regimes, doesn't it?There is not one single British asylum seeker in any

Arab country. That saysit all about which country deserves the epithet

loathsome.

as long as arabs/muslims chant words like "be ruux be dam nafdiika yaa sadam/mubarak and so forth we will be teated like this.

[Sophist]

Anger at Kilroy 'anti-Arab rant'

Mr Kilroy-Silk presents a daytime television show

Muslim leaders have accused Robert Kilroy-Silk of "anti-Arab and anti-Muslim views" after a newspaper piece entitled "We Owe the Arabs Nothing".

 

The Muslim Council of Britain denounced the BBC discussion show presenter's piece as a "gratuitous anti-Arab rant".

 

In the Sunday Express piece, the former Labour MP referred to Arabs as "suicide bombers, limb-amputators, women repressors".

 

The Commission for Racial Equality has also reported the matter to the police.

 

The MCB secretary general Iqbal Sacranie said in a letter to BBC One controller Lorraine Heggessey that Mr Kilroy-Silk had failed to distinguish between the terrorists behind the 11 September attacks and 200 million "ordinary Arab peoples".

 

Mr Sacranie questioned whether if the word Jew or black was substituted for Arab in the piece, the presenter would not still be occupying a high-profile spot on television.

 

A BBC spokeswoman said the corporation was carefully examining Mr Sacranie's letter before deciding whether any action should be taken.

 

The presenter was unable to give a comment due to his mother's funeral.

 

Mr Kilroy-Silk's piece started: "We are told by some of the more hysterical critics of the war on terror that 'it is destroying the Arab world'. So? Should we be worried about that?"

 

Some have complained that anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiment has led to attacks

Mr Kilroy-Silk went on to say that the toppling of despotic regimes in the Middle East should be a war aim, and questioned the contribution of the Arab nations to world welfare and civilisation.

 

"Apart from oil - which was discovered, is produced and is paid for by the West - what do they contribute? Can you think of anything? Anything really useful?... No, nor can I...

 

"We're told the the Arabs loathe us. Really?... What do they think we feel about them? That we adore them for the way they murdered more than 3,000 civilians on 11 September and then danced in the hot, dusty streets to celebrate the murders?"

 

He said Arab nations should be grateful for the aid and technology the West had provided.

 

"They should go down on their knees and thank God for the munificence of the United States."

 

Mr Sacranie said action should be taken over the "bigoted and ill-informed ideas" in the piece, which was "ignorant, extremely derogatory and indisputably racist".

 

The BBC spokeswoman said: "We've received an e-mail from Mr Iqbal Sacranie and are looking into how the Sunday Express column, which Robert Kilroy-Silk writes in his capacity as a freelance, fits with his on-screen work for the BBC.

 

"We'd like to take the time to carefully consider the points Mr Sacranie makes."

 

CRE chair Trevor Phillips said: "This article is indisputably ****** and its main effect will be to give comfort to the weak-minded.

 

"However, given the extreme and violent terms in which Mr Kilroy-Silk has expressed himself, there is a danger that this might incite some individuals to act against someone who they think is an Arab."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3376633.stm

[India]

Well Done to the Muslim council for getting this bigot of the air.

 

Result at last:

 

BBC takes Kilroy show off the air

 

 

The Kilroy programme will be suspended from Monday

The Kilroy programme will be taken off air immediately following comments made by Robert Kilroy-Silk in a newspaper article, the BBC has announced.

The presenter branded Arabs "suicide bombers, limb amputators, women repressors" and asked what they had given to the world other than oil.

 

The BBC stressed the comments did not reflect its views as a broadcaster.

 

It said the programme would be suspended from Monday 12 January while it investigated the matter fully.

 

The Muslim Council of Britain described the piece written by the BBC discussion show host in last week's Sunday Express as a "gratuitous anti-Arab rant".

 

Hours before the suspension was announced, Labour MP Lynne Jones urged the BBC to "consider the position" of Mr Kilroy-Silk.

 

She tabled a Commons motion denouncing his comments as "racist".

[-Serenity-]

Another ignorant b*stard takes us back a few yrs :mad:

[Gabbal]

Originally posted by LANDER:

hornafrique,

non mon ami, I wouldn't be so narrow minded as to base my opinion simply on somali political affairs. my opinions where the same before the fallout of the arableague and Somaliland. I can suggest to you some former arab leaders that I admired in the past for example Gamal Abdel Nasir the former Egyptian president and maybe even former King Faysal. My critique isn't directed towards the arabs themselves but more towards the current regimes that run the arab countries, for example "La vache qui rit" (Hosni Mubarak) as well as King Fahd and the prince of Kuwait.

Lander walaal those leaders are but the icing on the cake. Who laid the foundation of their dictators and supports them in keeping it? Hhm, I should think you would understand that in the overall picture it is America that is the problem. That is the foundation, and the head of the snake.

[Saxardiid]

the toppling of despotic regimes in the Middle East should be a war aim

this would get more support in arab middle east.

[rudy-Diiriye]

hey! u seen any good arab rulers lately! so why all the fuss! let this ppl get freed and be part of this world! instead of being ruled by a sex maniac who has >20 palaces filled with under age gals! their rulers are wrong and are oppressing their ppl's progrssion and intellect! time for them losers to be escorted outta there!!

[AYOUB]

This card-carrying member of the gay lobby now claims he is sorry.>>>>>>>>>Kilroy 'regrets' anti-Arab comments

[Thinkerman]

From my point of view this is yet more good news , its always good to know really what the host of the countries that we reside in think , and whilst this piece was directed at Arabs it could quite easliy have been about us somalis, or indeed Muslims as i belive it is indirectly aimed at.

 

True some Arab Regimes are amongst some of the most corrupt and Repressive Regimes in the world, but that has nothing to do with their ethincity or ISLAM, and i think thats what Mr Kilroy was trying to suggest hence the up roar.

 

Would it be fair though to say that we it would have been a fair critiq if it ws aimed at our somali 'culture'??

[N.O.R.F]

He does have some good points, the problem with us is we dont like the truth because it hurts, as much i hate the arab rulers and their double standards, i think this article should be taken with a pinch of salt but not entertaining the 'highlighted statements' of all arabs are suicide bombers, limp amputators, women oppressors. Apart from these statements highlighted by the media, what else has he really said thats not true?

 

I consider this more of a wake up call than a derogotory statement.

[Rokko]

Well done to the UK Muslims for taking care of this issue. Great work.

 

Alhamdu Lillah.