Religion

Praise the Lord and Pass the Prosperity

by Sheldon Rampton — November 8, 2007 - 6:17pm

Iowa Senator Charles Grassley (Republican-Iowa) is investigating reports of lavish spending by Christian televangelists, including Joyce Meyer,

Main Source: 
Washington Post, November 7, 2007

Shared Values Revisited

by Sheldon Rampton — October 17, 2007 - 7:17pm
  • Topics: Advertising, Terrorism, International, Propaganda, Religion

    • I received a request recently from a university professor who teaches a course about media literacy. She was wondering if I could help her find videos of the "Shared Values" television ads that the U.S. Department of State produced to improve the image of the United States in Muslim countries shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, so she could show them to her students.

    Framing the War on Terror

    by Sheldon Rampton — September 12, 2007 - 2:56am

    The Gallup polling organization marked the sixth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks by publishing a thoughtful analysis challenging the assumption that "religious fanaticism fuels extremism and therefore replacing Muslims' worldview with Western liberalism is the path to victory against terrorism. ... As a starting point, Muslims do not hold a monopoly on extremist views.

    Main Source: 
    Gallup World Poll, September 11, 2007

    America Supports You With Apocalyptic Rhetoric?

    by Diane Farsetta — August 9, 2007 - 4:43pm

    In a July 2005 PR Watch post, Laura Miller asked whether the U.S. Defense Department's "America Supports You" campaign was an attempt "to boost public support for war and distract ...

    Main Source: 
    The Nation blog, August 7, 2007

    Michael Evans, A General in God's Army

    by John Stauber — June 14, 2007 - 9:10am

    Bill Berkowitz reports on the rise of Michael D. Evans: "In recent appearances on two U.S. cable news networks, he was slinging and zinging -- the well-rehearsed pitchman for the Biblical 'End Times' was dead certain that 'Iran is going to have to be attacked' before 2008.

    Main Source: 
    IPS, June 13, 2007

    Muslims Don't Trust U.S.

    by Sheldon Rampton — May 29, 2007 - 10:31pm

    An in-depth poll of Muslim countries has found that large majorities believe undermining Islam is a key goal of U.S. foreign policy. Most want U.S. military forces out of the Middle East, and many approve of attacks on U.S. troops there. "While U.S.

    Main Source: 
    U.S. News & World Report, May 23, 2007

    The Promised Land Goes Online

    by Diane Farsetta — March 29, 2007 - 12:26pm

    "Israel's official MySpace page was launched in January under the direction of officials from the Foreign Ministry," reports Gregory Levey.

    Main Source: 
    Salon.com, March 23, 2007

    What Would the Other George Do? An Interview with the Author of "Saving General Washington"

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — December 27, 2006 - 11:19am
  • Topics: Arts / Culture, Democracy, Politics, Propaganda, Religion, Science, U.S. Government, War / Peace

    • I spoke with author J.R. Norton in June of this year about his book, Saving General Washington: The Right Wing Assault on America's Founding Principles. The following excerpts are from an interview on "A Public Affair" on WORT (89.9 FM), community radio in Madison, WI, and from a follow up in-person interview.

    JSP: Why do George Washington and the rest of the Founding Fathers need to be saved?

    J.R. Norton: Well, it's a bit of metaphor. It's in part aimed at rehabilitating and reintroducing these founding figures of American history, but on a broader level, on a more important level, it's about reintroducing the values that these guys stood for. Certainly over the last five or six years, I think we've really lost sight of those virtues.

    Hill & Knowlton Challenged Over Maldives Work

    by Bob Burton — October 6, 2006 - 5:20pm

    In an overview of the changes occurring in the Maldives, a cluster of islands to the southwest of India, reporter Meera Selva sketches how the repressive president, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, is failing to respond to the either the democracy movement or the growing influence of Islamic fundamentalism. "The government is aware that the problems facing ordinary Maldivians may affect its tourism industry, but its response has been cynical rather than hopeful," Selva writes.

    Main Source: 
    The Independent (UK), October 5, 2006

    What Iraqis Want

    by Sheldon Rampton — August 29, 2006 - 11:50am

    According to a recent survey conducted by two Michigan universities, 91.7 percent of Iraqis now oppose the presence of U.S. troops in their country — a nearly 20 percent increase since 2004. A big majority (76 percent) thinks the U.S. is in their country for the oil. The survey also found "a growing sense of powerlessness, pessimism about the future and insecurity.

    Main Source: 
    Abu Aardvark weblog, August 23, 2006
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