it's amazing for two reasons: one, this guy's exceptional composure under attempted hatchet job, and two, the fox news' interviewer's also exceptional composure in delivering a script she obviously had no agency to stray from in any degree.
Some commentary just in case you can't get through the whole thing, or whatever.
quote:"I wrote a historical book using my 20 years of academic research." "But you're a Muslim." "Yes, but I wrote the book because I'm interested in Jesus." "But you're a Muslim." "The book has nothing to do with Islam." "But you're a Muslim."
quote:Akin to saying "I have a PhD in oceanography, I study the ocean." "But you live on the land" "Yes, but my area of study is the ocean." "But why would you study the ocean, when you live on the land?"
quote:Lol she literally said "That's like a democrat writing about how Reagan was a bad republican" this is a counterpoint that actually works in their heads
quote:The irony is that Reza, a Muslim, believes in something Islam heavily states did not happen - that Jesus was crucified.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Wow. That was uncomfortable to watch.
I wanted to give her some credit until about the last two or three minutes, then it really went off the rails.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Gosh, I sure am sad I've failed to dispose of all my knowledge regarding things of which I myself am not an investor in.
I'll be sure to rectify that mistake, and report to the nearest reeducation camp.
Posted by theamazeeaz (Member # 6970) on :
This guy was on the Daily Show as well and got himself a 3 part interview with Jon Oliver, who actually read the book (and fanned over him a bit).
It's worth watching because Reza repeats verbatim some of the same stuff he barely slipped out in the Fox interview (I guess those lines are his elevator pitch. To be fair (barely) to Fox, it takes two minutes into the second interview with Oliver for the Muslim thing to come up so no, TV viewers would not have learned that. It's a good example of why Daily Show viewers come out better than fox viewers.
But the real reason it's worth watching is that you are going to end the video wanting this guy's book.
Also, Jesus the Bird Stand.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
His patience in that interview makes me want to read his book, and I really couldn't care less about Jesus.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: His patience in that interview makes me want to read his book, and I really couldn't care less about Jesus.
If patience makes you want to read a book, you should be all about reading what Jesus had to say, just sayin'.
Posted by Thesifer (Member # 12890) on :
quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade: If patience makes you want to read a book, you should be all about reading what Jesus had to say, just sayin'.
I read this a couple times, and I cannot determine where the logic in this comment can be found.
Posted by vegimo (Member # 12618) on :
My interpretation is that if patience is a virtue that makes you want to read what someone has to say, then not caring about what Jesus has to say seems a bit incongruous.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade:
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: His patience in that interview makes me want to read his book, and I really couldn't care less about Jesus.
If patience makes you want to read a book, you should be all about reading what Jesus had to say, just sayin'.
Tell that to the fig tree.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
I finally watched it. It was worse than I thought.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
He did an IAmA on Reddit earlier today, if anyone is interested.
Blade, you are coming from the opinion that he was a lot of things, some supernatural. I'm not. But an academic who has the patience and orating proficiency to handle such a ridiculous situation without getting angry or laughing at Fox for being so bad at being so bad, impresses me. It leads me to believe that he would bring that same sober and capable approach to his work, which is commendable regardless of subject.
Posted by Dogbreath (Member # 11879) on :
quote:Originally posted by scifibum: I finally watched it. It was worse than I thought.
+1
It was really hard for me to watch all the way through.
I just bought his book on my Kindle, though. It sounds pretty interesting.
Posted by Geraine (Member # 9913) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: Blade, you are coming from the opinion that he was a lot of things, some supernatural. I'm not.
Jesus Christ, mentor and predecessor to Tony Wonder and Gob Bluth ?
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: Blade, you are coming from the opinion that he was a lot of things, some supernatural. I'm not. But an academic who has the patience and orating proficiency to handle such a ridiculous situation without getting angry or laughing at Fox for being so bad at being so bad, impresses me. It leads me to believe that he would bring that same sober and capable approach to his work, which is commendable regardless of subject.
I made no mention of Jesus' supernatural capabilities. Only that if you are moved by stories about patience then Jesus rises above the minimal standard of couldn't care less.
Posted by stilesbn (Member # 11809) on :
I'm not sure what the confusion is.
Achilles wants to read Reza Aslan's book because he's a patient guy.
Jesus was a patient guy therefore Achilles should want to read his book.
Of course you could break it down and claim that Jesus didn't actually write the bible but I think you're taking a simple bout of humor too far at that point. Just chuckle and move on.
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
quote:Only that if you are moved by stories about patience...
There was no story about patience. This was a direct observation of a person exhibiting remarkable patience. If I saw Jesus showing remarkable composure while under fire by a Fox News personality, I'd probably want to read his book too. But he hasn't yet appeared in such an interview or written a book.
ETA: If that was a joke as stilesbn has suggested, then nevermind. I read it as an attempt to point out an actual contradiction.
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
I'm pretty sure it was a joke.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Definitely a joke.
Posted by Reticulum (Member # 8776) on :
My theory:
Jesus was never crucified. He wrote the Bible to conceal his real philosophy:
Be nice, or I'll crush your spirit.
Just a theory.
Posted by Wingracer (Member # 12293) on :
quote:Originally posted by Reticulum: My theory:
Jesus was never crucified. He wrote the Bible to conceal his real philosophy:
Be nice, or I'll crush your spirit.
Just a theory.
Why does that make me think of Patrick Swayze? Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :
If a Muslim writes a book about Jesus--that does not flatter Jesus, Fox News throws a fit.
If a Christian writes a book about Mohammed--that does not flatter Mohammed, riots, deaths, and death threats run rampant.
I am not saying which, if either, is correct--but in my book--this is a win for Christianity.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Darth Mauve -
Well, you just dramatically shifted the terms of this discussion from a left/right analysis and critique of modern American news media to a debate over which is better, Islam or Christianity.
Sort of like dropping the puck on the ice and instead of winning the faceoff, you kick a field goal.
Posted by stilesbn (Member # 11809) on :
Football is so much better than hockey.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Those, sir, are fighting words.
Hockey is WAY better than football.
They only actually play for like 30% of a football game. I hope you like your announcers, they're active a lot more than the actual players.
Posted by Obama (Member # 13004) on :
Football is good for the tactics and strategy. I love hockey, but the only thing that compares to the seconds leading up to the snap of a game deciding football play is the pitch on a 3-2 count of a big baseball game in the bottom of the ninth.
Posted by stilesbn (Member # 11809) on :
Troll success! Except none of you are actually that serious...
Posted by Dogbreath (Member # 11879) on :
quote:Originally posted by Darth_Mauve: If a Muslim writes a book about Jesus--that does not flatter Jesus, Fox News throws a fit.
If a Christian writes a book about Mohammed--that does not flatter Mohammed, riots, deaths, and death threats run rampant.
I am not saying which, if either, is correct--but in my book--this is a win for Christianity.
It paints Jesus in an extraordinarily positive light, actually. The author seems to be a big fan. (I'm about halfway through)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)