I do have better things to do than bash the media. After all, in a fashion I am a member of said profession. That said, sometimes things come down the MSM chute that simply can’t be ignored.
Like really, really bad reporting.
One would think in this era of newspapers being on the endangered species list all parties involved would be more than proactive in the realm of quality journalism. If you’re going to attempt a case for being something worth purchasing, it makes a fair amount of sense to put the highest quality product out there for consideration. Apparently this notion has yet to permeate the rarefied atmosphere of the Orlando Sentinel.
Or they’re simply anti-Christian bigots and don’t care if everyone knows it.
Submitted as an example of same is this story from yesterday on the case of Rifqa Bary. The story is presented as written and posted on the Sentinel’s website as of this morning. It has since been rewritten. How convenient for the newspaper and its reporters. How inconvenient I caught it before it was scrubbed.
Fathima Rifqa Bary,
First off, Ms. Bary goes by Rifqa and does not use her first name. I was unaware of this when I wrote my first two columns on her for the Examiner. Given how the media indulges most everyone with whatever they want to call themselves this week, not respecting Ms. Bary’s wishes in this regard is… well, typical.
the Ohio teenager who has become a cause célèbre among evangelical Christians for running away from her Muslim family,
I’ll say this for Rene Stutzman and Amy L. Edwards, who wrote the story: they let you know early where they stand. Namely, on the contempt for Christians side of things.
Whether Ms. Bary’s case is hailed or wholly ignored by Christians — carefully note the insertion of “evangelical” into the mix, for we are of course the root of all evil and super bigots to boot — is utterly immaterial to the court case. The issue is between Ms. Bary and her parents.
She asserts should she be returned to them she will be killed for having converted to Christianity against the beliefs of her devout Muslim parents. Evidence states she has a case.
There have been repeated allegations of Ms. Bary being physically abused by her family. There have been documented cases of “honor killings” in families given over to the radical branch of Islam. There is evidence the mosque attended by Bary’s parents has clear associations with this branch.
It is beyond immaterial what anyone not directly involved with the case believes or says. So why mention it in the story’s lead sentence? This is not an attempt to put things in “context.” This is a deliberate effort to manipulate the reader against Ms. Bary and her case by portraying it as something upheld by those (ugh!) evangelical Christians.
returns to an Orlando courtroom today.
Actually, this is a lie. The story is dated yesterday. The court case is today. I wrote a couple of posts for the Examiner about how it went, located here and here.
A judge must decide whether her father — or anyone else in Ohio — poses a threat to her.
Which of course can’t be true. When have Muslims ever practiced violence against others? Oh wait…
Meanwhile, Ohio child welfare officials have already concluded it’s safe for Rifqa to return. They want to place the girl in therapy and reunite her with her family.
There! See? It’s all better now! A member of the Crisis Counselors SWAT team which descends like hungry locusts on the site of any and every human tragedy these days will sit down and have a nice chat with everyone. That’ll solve everything! Because a follower of radical Islam always follows the pop psychology platitudes of a non-believer, i.e. infidel? Right? I mean… right?
That, however, may not be the conclusion of Florida officials who have had to deal with a flood of e-mail and reaction from thousands of people,
They care, I’m sure.
many of them including anti-Muslim sentiments,
You mean people mentioning radical Islam, honor killings and all that? The nerve of those biased cretins! How dare they bring up the inconvenient truth!
who say the runaway is a hero.
No, we say the young woman has a right to practice her faith without fear of being murdered for it.
Gov. Charlie Crist has received more than 9,000 e-mails about the runaway, his office said.
That’s nice. Immaterial to the case sidebar nice. But still nice.
For the past two weeks, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been investigating whether there are any credible threats to Rifqa, 17, a native of Sri Lanka. Agents will present their findings today, something that could signal what happens next.
Or not, since the judge presiding over the case sealed the report. It’s worth noting there was an exchange in court today where one of the lawyers for the parents (amazing how people who earlier pleaded poverty now have a battalion of legal beagles at their disposal) claimed the report favored his clients… immediately after being handed the report. He had BS called on him by a child protection worker, stating not only had he just violated the judge’s gag order along with commenting on the contents of a court sealed document but that Rifqa was more than a little distraught over questioning for the report. Something tells me the report is going to be challenged hard by Rifqa’s defenders.
If they conclude no threats exist, Circuit Judge Daniel Dawson could send the girl back to Columbus, Ohio, where her parents have agreed to place her in foster care for at least a month.
And you believe that, of course. Got proof? Further, got proof she’ll be safe and protected?
If agents conclude Rifqa is in danger, the judge could leave her here in foster care, her status since Aug. 10 when another judge ordered her temporarily into the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families.
The judge now presiding over the case has told both sides to work this out via mediation as he doe not want it decided in court. Somehow I doubt he’ll get his wish. In the meanwhile, Rifqa is still with her foster family in Florida and will remain there until at least the end of the month, when the next court hearing is scheduled.
No matter what FDLE says, Rifqa will fight to stay here until next August, when she turns 18, said her attorney, John Stemberger, a conservative Christian activist.
See? Conservative and Christian! EVIL!!!
He said Rifqa is in a stable home with a Christian foster family and is happy.
So have her case workers. Funny how that went unmentioned.
If she is returned to Ohio, he has said, it’s just a matter of time until she disappears or is killed.
Which if it happens will be to the soundtrack of crickets from the Sentinel.
Rifqa says her father became enraged, confronted her about becoming a Christian and threatened to kill her earlier this summer.
Later, on July 17, Rifqa says her mother discovered a Christian book in the house, challenged her “and told me I was going to have to be sent back to Sri Lanka to be dealt with.”
And to think the poor deluded child thought they might mean it. Check out the report (link is inside the story) filed by Stemberger about the mosque Rifqa’s parents attend.
Two days later Rifqa ran away.
Guess she prefers living. Silly girl.
Her father, Mohamed Bary, 47, a jeweler and Amway distributor,
Oh, well, that proves the man is above reproach! He sells Amway!
says he never threatened Rifqa, loves her, wants her back and will allow her to practice whatever religion she chooses.
Back in my retail days, we sold multiple sacks of that in the outdoor nursery department. It’s called steer manure. Or to be more precise…
Eric Fenner, executive director of Franklin County Child Services in Columbus, Ohio, said Wednesday that his agency has investigated the girl’s complaints and believe she can safely return home.
R-i-g-h-t. Care to produce your report? Can we see who you did and did not talk to about it?
“We think by getting the family with a therapist … hopefully, we can salvage this family,” he said.
Refer to the aforementioned Crisis Counselor SWAT Team comment.
Rifqa is expected at today’s hearing. Her parents are not.
Nice of them to show their concern, what say?
Stemberger filed paperwork on Monday, alleging that the mosque attended by Rifqa’s family is home to terrorists and Muslim extremists. He is expected to make the same argument today.
He didn’t, since apparently he believes the judge can read. No wonder the parent’s new attorney wants Stemberger barred from the case. The chump dislikes being trumped.
The mosque, Noor Islamic Cultural Center, issued a statement Wednesday to say those allegations are lies and that hate groups are using Rifqa’s case to attack Muslims.
It then declared jihad on anyone who disagreed with it.
Rifqa boarded a bus to Orlando and sought refuge with husband-and-wife pastors Blake and Beverly Lorenz of Global Revolution Church. She met Beverly Lorenz through a prayer book page on the Internet social network site Facebook.
How dare Rifqa talk to fellow believers!
Although Rifqa’s family was searching for her and had filed a missing persons report with Columbus police, the Lorenzes kept her for two weeks without notifying authorities.
My turn to call BS. Rifqa’s parents didn’t bother filing a missing persons report on their daughter until she had been gone for ten days. The Lorenzes did not hide Rifqa from everyone and are under no investigation by Florida law enforcement for their actions. Had they broken any law, think there’d be a moment of hesitation by the state to pounce?
FDLE will not say whether the Lorenzes are under investigation.
They’re not.
It is a crime in Florida to shelter an unmarried juvenile for more than 24 hours without the consent of her parents or notifying authorities.
Need I mention again if there was the slightest bruising of the law by the Lorenzes, let alone breaking of same, law enforcement would be on them like flies on steer manure? Although considering how much of same is containing in this article, the Sentinel must be wall to wall with winged insects.
The Lorenzes say they were trying to protect a frightened teenager who was convinced her life was in jeopardy.
The gall of it all!
Actually, the only gall displayed here is that of the Orlando Sentinel passing off this biased, bigoted garbage as news reporting.
Geesh, that was bad. Praying God will protect her.
Rifqa Bary will still remain in Florida; next hear…
Jihad Watch (via Heard His Call, Gotta Go) has been at the court hearing for custody of Rifqa Bary, and again, she’s lucky that the judge has decided to grant her a longer stay in Florida…
The mother was asked if she felt that her husband would kill or harm Rifqa when she returned to Ohio. She responded with a solid, “I don’t know.” I heard Rifqa say that she will be the first girl in the family (in their 150 year history) to turn away from the Muslim faith. She believes her parents will murder her. It’s so sad.
My prayers are with her.
Susan
Two things. First, the most important thing to do is pray for Rifqa – and her family. I have added them to my prayers.
Second, per Acts 5:41b, Christians should rejoice “because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” I am reminded of Veggie Tales creator Phil Vischer who wondered why Christians are surprised when the world acts worldly. The thing is, and I know I do this, we often give unbelievers the same benefit of the doubt we would give fellow believers. So, we are shocked still.
God bless,
Michael
Glad someone is putting out the truth of what the proceedings are in Florida. Hope that if “mediation” doesn’t work (and it probably won’t) she can file for emancipated teen and still stay in Florida while that filing is played out. Has her attorney tried that yet?