Comments on: Here’s a really good story — so there http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=heres-a-really-good-story-so-there "The press . . . just doesn't get religion." -- William Schneider Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:04:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Julia http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118323 Julia Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:13:06 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118323 FWIW Two comments on good journalism: 1) I checked out The Turkish Daily News reporter named Mustafa Akyol, "a young Istanbul journalist with a knack for explaining Turkish Islam clearly" mentioned above at #14 and #16. He is truly outstanding. His articles are collected at a blog The White Path where you can check out what he has to report about various happenings and issues in Turkey. I learned a lot. Here's his article on the 84 Islamic scholars who are re-evaluating the Hadiths with a great explanation of the background history. http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=97795 2) I sent the recent GR positive review of an article in the Memphis Commercial Appeal to my brother who is also a reporter at the paper. He intended to call it to the attention of the writer. My bro says reporters are rarely complimented on their stories and he's sure the guy will appreciate knowing some peers thought he did good. FWIW Two comments on good journalism:

1) I checked out The Turkish Daily News reporter named Mustafa Akyol, “a young Istanbul journalist with a knack for explaining Turkish Islam clearly” mentioned above at #14 and #16. He is truly outstanding. His articles are collected at a blog The White Path where you can check out what he has to report about various happenings and issues in Turkey. I learned a lot. Here’s his article on the 84 Islamic scholars who are re-evaluating the Hadiths with a great explanation of the background history.
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=97795

2) I sent the recent GR positive review of an article in the Memphis Commercial Appeal to my brother who is also a reporter at the paper. He intended to call it to the attention of the writer. My bro says reporters are rarely complimented on their stories and he’s sure the guy will appreciate knowing some peers thought he did good.

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]]> By: Dennis Colby http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118318 Dennis Colby Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:46:27 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118318 In my experience as a journalist, the lack of comments on positive stories parallels the lack of comments on stories that readers like. How rarely do journalists get notes or phone calls saying "good job"? In my experience as a journalist, the lack of comments on positive stories parallels the lack of comments on stories that readers like. How rarely do journalists get notes or phone calls saying “good job”?

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]]> By: Turkey in radical revision of Islamic texts - Page 3 - LI Islamic Forum http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118262 Turkey in radical revision of Islamic texts - Page 3 - LI Islamic Forum Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:15:45 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118262 [...] Re: Turkey in radical revision of Islamic texts - 1 Minute Ago Listening to Turks explain Turkey’s Islamic reform plan March 1st, 2008, filed by Tom Heneghan Still confused about Turkey’s plan to review the sayings of the Prophet Mohammad and reclassify the sexist and superstitious ones as unauthentic? Unsure whether this is a revolution, a reform or a revision of Islam? I gave my take on it here yesterday, but I’ve since found two explanations that shed a lot more light on what’s going on. The better of the two is a column in today’s Turkish Daily News by Mustafa Akyol, a young Istanbul journalist with a knack for explaining Turkish Islam clearly. I won’t summarise it — just go read it, it’s not long. IslamOnline did a good job on this, too, in an interview that gave Mehmet Görmez, deputy head of Diyanet (the government’s religious affairs department shown in the logo above) more space than he got in other reports to explain what’s being done. Akyol and Görmez both make an important point. Many Western journalists approach Islam from a starting point vaguely based on Christianity (hence the misguided quest for an “Islamic Reformation”). They don’t have to be Christians or believers or even know much about Christianity to do this; it’s as much a part of our cultural baggage as our native languages. Conversely, Muslims approach Christianity from a square one closely linked to Islam, their primary religious reference. Nobody starts out tabula rasa in this exercise. The gap can be bridged, but to do this we have to report what is actually happening, rather than just what we think is going on. Listening to these two Turks is a good place to start. Akyol says of the Koran: “Westerners who haven’t read this book generally assume that it must be something like the New Testament – i.e., a book which reports the life and works of the religion’s founder. Yet that is not the case at all. The Koran actually hardly speaks about Prophet Mohammed. It rather speaks to him.” Görmez says: “The Western media have read what we are doing from a Christian perspective and understood it in line with their Christian and Western cultures.” Diyanet made the same point in more official jargon in a communique it put out on Friday. The headscarf issue and this hadith story have put a spotlight on Turkey and that’s a good thing, even if there are misunderstandings. Islam has many faces — just look at these recent Reuters stories and blog posts from Malaysia, Lebanon, India, United States and France — and the Saudi version is not the only one around. Turkey is at the cutting edge of some important trends in contemporary Islam. Bookmarking Akyol’s blog The White Path is a good way to keep up with what’s happening there. Source [...] […] Re: Turkey in radical revision of Islamic texts - 1 Minute Ago Listening to Turks explain Turkey’s Islamic reform plan March 1st, 2008, filed by Tom Heneghan Still confused about Turkey’s plan to review the sayings of the Prophet Mohammad and reclassify the sexist and superstitious ones as unauthentic? Unsure whether this is a revolution, a reform or a revision of Islam? I gave my take on it here yesterday, but I’ve since found two explanations that shed a lot more light on what’s going on. The better of the two is a column in today’s Turkish Daily News by Mustafa Akyol, a young Istanbul journalist with a knack for explaining Turkish Islam clearly. I won’t summarise it — just go read it, it’s not long. IslamOnline did a good job on this, too, in an interview that gave Mehmet Görmez, deputy head of Diyanet (the government’s religious affairs department shown in the logo above) more space than he got in other reports to explain what’s being done. Akyol and Görmez both make an important point. Many Western journalists approach Islam from a starting point vaguely based on Christianity (hence the misguided quest for an “Islamic Reformation”). They don’t have to be Christians or believers or even know much about Christianity to do this; it’s as much a part of our cultural baggage as our native languages. Conversely, Muslims approach Christianity from a square one closely linked to Islam, their primary religious reference. Nobody starts out tabula rasa in this exercise. The gap can be bridged, but to do this we have to report what is actually happening, rather than just what we think is going on. Listening to these two Turks is a good place to start. Akyol says of the Koran: “Westerners who haven’t read this book generally assume that it must be something like the New Testament – i.e., a book which reports the life and works of the religion’s founder. Yet that is not the case at all. The Koran actually hardly speaks about Prophet Mohammed. It rather speaks to him.” Görmez says: “The Western media have read what we are doing from a Christian perspective and understood it in line with their Christian and Western cultures.” Diyanet made the same point in more official jargon in a communique it put out on Friday. The headscarf issue and this hadith story have put a spotlight on Turkey and that’s a good thing, even if there are misunderstandings. Islam has many faces — just look at these recent Reuters stories and blog posts from Malaysia, Lebanon, India, United States and France — and the Saudi version is not the only one around. Turkey is at the cutting edge of some important trends in contemporary Islam. Bookmarking Akyol’s blog The White Path is a good way to keep up with what’s happening there. Source […]

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]]> By: bethany http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118223 bethany Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:19:27 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118223 I don't comment on this blog much ever, but I *really* don't comment on the non-US stories, not because they aren't good, but because it's not my area of knowledge. I don't have anything useful to add, usually. However, Kevin should be careful about his accusations. For one thing, clerical collar wearing isn't a symbol of piety, it's a marker of status. Taking off your collar isn't a compromise, it's a choice. For another, how do you know those things are disallowed now? I don’t comment on this blog much ever, but I *really* don’t comment on the non-US stories, not because they aren’t good, but because it’s not my area of knowledge. I don’t have anything useful to add, usually.
However, Kevin should be careful about his accusations. For one thing, clerical collar wearing isn’t a symbol of piety, it’s a marker of status. Taking off your collar isn’t a compromise, it’s a choice. For another, how do you know those things are disallowed now?

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]]> By: Listening to Turks explain Turkey’s Islamic reform plan - FaithWorld http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118208 Listening to Turks explain Turkey’s Islamic reform plan - FaithWorld Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:13:09 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118208 [...] The headscarf issue and this hadith story have put a spotlight on Turkey and that’s a good thing, even if there are misunderstandings. Islam has many faces — just look at these recent Reuters stories and blog posts from Malaysia, Lebanon, India, United States and France — and the Saudi version is not the only one around. Turkey is at the cutting edge of some important trends in contemporary Islam. Bookmarking Akyol’s blog The White Path is a good way to keep up with what’s happening there. [...] […] The headscarf issue and this hadith story have put a spotlight on Turkey and that’s a good thing, even if there are misunderstandings. Islam has many faces — just look at these recent Reuters stories and blog posts from Malaysia, Lebanon, India, United States and France — and the Saudi version is not the only one around. Turkey is at the cutting edge of some important trends in contemporary Islam. Bookmarking Akyol’s blog The White Path is a good way to keep up with what’s happening there. […]

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]]> By: John L. Hoh, Jr. http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118205 John L. Hoh, Jr. Sat, 01 Mar 2008 14:46:45 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118205 You know, head scarves can be quite stylish! Watched <em>Penelope</em> with Christine Ricci. Now there was a lady who could have worn a burka! <blockquote>It’s really hard for us, here in America, to understand just how emotional this issue is in Turkey. You risk a war in order to distract attention from head coverings? In Turkey, maybe. </blockquote> Hmmm, ONLY in Turkey? Does William Jefferson Clinton, Monica Lewinsky, and the bombing of a Sudanese aspirin factory (or a poor farmer's mule) ring a bell? Has anyone ever done a historical treatment of Turkey? I'm guessing the formation of a secular state may not have been all to smooth. Or was Ataturk one who used despotic means to force a democratic system? You know, head scarves can be quite stylish!

Watched Penelope with Christine Ricci. Now there was a lady who could have worn a burka!

It’s really hard for us, here in America, to understand just how emotional this issue is in Turkey. You risk a war in order to distract attention from head coverings? In Turkey, maybe.

Hmmm, ONLY in Turkey? Does William Jefferson Clinton, Monica Lewinsky, and the bombing of a Sudanese aspirin factory (or a poor farmer’s mule) ring a bell?

Has anyone ever done a historical treatment of Turkey? I’m guessing the formation of a secular state may not have been all to smooth. Or was Ataturk one who used despotic means to force a democratic system?

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]]> By: tmatt http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118201 tmatt Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:49:11 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118201 Oh, I was joking back with Keith. Joe sounded serious. Joe, and your point? Oh, I was joking back with Keith. Joe sounded serious.

Joe, and your point?

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]]> By: Stephen A. http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118192 Stephen A. Sat, 01 Mar 2008 04:40:43 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118192 I think Joe and Keith were being snarky, Terry. I think it's funny that you took the sarcasm so seriously. I don't know why this is so unbelievable (if one thinks it is.) Bill Clinton bombed an asprin factory in Sudan just to distract us from the Lewinsky scandal. Why not this? It also may be a coincidence. The PKK surely didn't wait until this issue was about to come up to increase their cross-border attacks inside Turkey, after all. Has any reporting gone on about how this latest act in the Muslimisation of Turkey will affect its standing in the EU? (note the Euro spelling. See, I'm an internationalist, not just a couch-hugging Yank!) I think Joe and Keith were being snarky, Terry. I think it’s funny that you took the sarcasm so seriously.

I don’t know why this is so unbelievable (if one thinks it is.) Bill Clinton bombed an asprin factory in Sudan just to distract us from the Lewinsky scandal. Why not this?

It also may be a coincidence. The PKK surely didn’t wait until this issue was about to come up to increase their cross-border attacks inside Turkey, after all.

Has any reporting gone on about how this latest act in the Muslimisation of Turkey will affect its standing in the EU? (note the Euro spelling. See, I’m an internationalist, not just a couch-hugging Yank!)

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]]> By: Going To War - Over Head Scarves? « In Other Words http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118186 Going To War - Over Head Scarves? « In Other Words Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:13:54 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118186 [...] Going To War - Over Head Scarves? Terry Mattingly at Get Religion points us to a story that’s been ignored - not by the press, but by us. Did you know that Turkish troupes crossed into Iraq this week? Well, I did, but by the same token, I didn’t have the slightest clue as to why they did. The answer, he thinks, is linked to another story that I vaguely remember - The Turkish government just recently lifted a ban on wearing head scarves. [...] […] Going To War - Over Head Scarves? Terry Mattingly at Get Religion points us to a story that’s been ignored - not by the press, but by us. Did you know that Turkish troupes crossed into Iraq this week? Well, I did, but by the same token, I didn’t have the slightest clue as to why they did. The answer, he thinks, is linked to another story that I vaguely remember - The Turkish government just recently lifted a ban on wearing head scarves. […]

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]]> By: Herb Brasher http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118184 Herb Brasher Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:44:21 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118184 This whole issue should be seen in the context of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7264903.stm" rel="nofollow">this article</a> about a "modern translation/application" of the Hadith that is being worked on in Turkey. Whither Islam? It will be interesting to see, and if the press will be able to understand the general direction. This whole issue should be seen in the context of this article about a “modern translation/application” of the Hadith that is being worked on in Turkey. Whither Islam? It will be interesting to see, and if the press will be able to understand the general direction.

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]]> By: tmatt http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118181 tmatt Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:52:54 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118181 JOE: And your point? JOE:

And your point?

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]]> By: Joe Miller http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118180 Joe Miller Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:35:23 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118180 I wish I had more time to read and respond to your story, but I am far too busy reading stories that criticize the press here in America. I wish I had more time to read and respond to your story, but I am far too busy reading stories that criticize the press here in America.

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]]> By: Kevin P. Edgecomb http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118173 Kevin P. Edgecomb Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:19:22 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118173 If women will be permitted to wear scarves to university, will Christian and other clerics be permitted to wear clerical attire in public? Don't hold you breath.... If women will be permitted to wear scarves to university, will Christian and other clerics be permitted to wear clerical attire in public?

Don’t hold you breath….

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]]> By: tmatt http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118172 tmatt Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:10:13 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118172 Keith: Thanks! Any other opinions about the pretty scarves? Keith:

Thanks! Any other opinions about the pretty scarves?

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]]> By: keith http://www.getreligion.org/2008/02/heres-a-really-good-story-so-there/comment-page-1/#comment-118169 keith Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:41:07 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3233#comment-118169 <blockquote>Feel free to leave a comment on this. I dare you.</blockquote> The scarf in the second photo is pretty. I like the bright colors.

Feel free to leave a comment on this. I dare you.

The scarf in the second photo is pretty. I like the bright colors.

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