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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 27, 2008

DVD 'Fans The Flames'

Regarding "Focus Of Film On Islam: Fear" (Metro, Sept. 21):

This article should have been displayed as prominently as the DVD. It is clear from just the packaging of the DVD that the sole intent of the re-issue of this film is to "fan the flames" of fear, and to scare people witless.

The reader may have the choice of opening the package, but the package falls out of the newspaper and lays there with that sad little boy's face staring up at the reader. Come on, Denise Palmer, there is no choice involved. The citizens of the United States are scared enough and deserve better from our news sources. We don't want to fly, we want to stuff our savings in our mattresses, and more and more we are home-schooling our children out of fear.

Enough is enough. And, the timing of this re-release is very interesting.

JUDI LARSON

Sun City Center

The Fear Factor
Having seen this DVD, I must comment. The headline for this article ended with the word "fear" but should have ended in "be aware." The fear factor comes about after you've been made aware. This film will truly make you aware of the depth of the Muslim terrorist threat we face here and abroad.

TOM HEBERT

Sun City Center

An Explanation Owed

Being a Tampa area Muslim, I am upset that The Tampa Tribune decided to profit from the distribution of anti-Muslim hate. Obsession, the movie in question, is based on false premises and attempts to equate Islam and Muslims with Nazism. I, as an American Muslim, cannot tolerate hatred irrespective of who advocates it.

From what I understand, the DVD was an advertisement sent using your paper. I would like to know who paid for the distribution and how much they paid for it. I also demand that the Tribune explain to us why they believed it was a good idea to distribute it, irrespective of how much was paid. Would the Tribune have distributed a similar hate-filled anti-Semitic or racist DVD? If not, then why is it OK to do so when the material is anti-Muslim?

I am disturbed that a reputable newspaper would make this movie available to its readers. I strongly recommend that this newspaper clarify its stance on this issue and cease to distribute any future hate-filled propaganda.

IMRANA KHAN

Valrico

Muslims Must Stand Up

Finally, Muslims are standing up in outrage against extremist - oops, I mean against the recently distributed video that portrays radical Islam. I am sick and tired of hearing about Islam being a religion of peace. You peaceful Muslims out there had better start denouncing these horrific attacks and weeding out these Imans who preach death to all who don't agree with their extreme views.

It is terrifying to see those little Muslim children parroting this vitriol and proclaiming that they want to grow up to be suicide bombers. Where is the outrage? Interesting that no one is denying the accuracy of the scenes depicted in this DVD. The hate and carnage are terrible to behold.

Hitler was busy building his great armies while the rest of the world was in denial. We cannot afford to let anything like that happen again. Peaceful Muslims stand up and be counted. The world is watching.

LAURA HARRIS

Brandon

Courageous Decision

Congratulations to the Tribune. Your decision to include the DVD "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" is courageous and brave.

The Tribune is one of 70 newspapers that decided to include the DVD in their Sunday's edition. You will be bashed by leftists who hate and blame America first. They will state that the Tribune is a racist organization. I have been critical of the mainstream media and the bias for the left. Polls demonstrate that most Americans understand the bias of the media. Do the media now understand that journalists are not trusted by most Americans?

Thanks to the Tribune for being fair and balanced. It is about time.

JOHN ADDAR

Valrico

The Story Needs Telling

Thanks so very much for the DVD you included concerning the radical Islams' war against the West. This story needs telling, and you are to be congratulated for your efforts.

I would like to get several more of these DVDs, and I am willing to pay for them if you have extras.

GENE D. BARKER

Brandon

Suspicious Of Timing

After receiving one copy of the DVD "Obsession" in my mail box, I discovered that I had received another copy with my Sunday Tribune. Did you guys really need the ad money that badly?

Although the DVD was made two years ago and had nothing to do with Barack Obama, it's now being used as a scare tactic to influence the upcoming presidential election. Oh, and the timing for the 9/11 anniversary came in handy, too.

Sadly, there are people who will naively believe that Obama is a Muslim (which he is not) who's out to destroy the United States.

I don't mind receiving the sample boxes of cereal or shampoo with the Trib, but please try to refrain from being a party to this type of activity in the future.

LEE ANN HOWLETT

Tampa

A Scare Tactic

Please do not attempt to say that this was a paid advertisement and that you had no control over the content. The Tampa Tribune obviously sides with the producers of this DVD (a New York-based group called The Clarion Fund who will not disclose who their financial backers are) because you chose to make yourselves an outlet for distribution.

MARK PUGLIESE

Tampa

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