The following clip comes from a broadcast on Fox News:
The fact that Steve Emerson’s statement was laughably exaggerated and based entirely on ignorance (in this case of the city of Birmingham) comes as no surprise. After all, this was Fox News – a channel whose drivel-mongering is often beyond parody. It did however provoke two things that were surprising, at least to me.
One was something that is a rare commodity these days: a full and unreserved apology:
It’s better not to say stupid things in the first place, but credit to him at least for doing the right thing. I gather he has made a donation to a children’s hospital in Birmingham. So there’s that.
The other surprising thing was what happened on Twitter. Some genius had the idea of setting up a hashtag called #FoxNewsFacts. The consequences were hilarious, as hundreds of people contributed tweets lampooning Fox News for its ignorance of the United Kingdom and of Islam. You can find some of the funniest ones here.
I even contributed a few myself. This one proved a particular hit:
Sharia Law is the wife of retired footballer Denis Law. #foxnewsfacts
— Peter Coles (@telescoper) January 11, 2015
There was also this:
The UK’s largest mosque is in #Brighton It also doubles as a venue for same-sex weddings. #FoxNewsFacts pic.twitter.com/rnw9ZgZH9C
— Peter Coles (@telescoper) January 12, 2015
and this
Trains are so nervous about entering Birmingham that they often wait hours outside New St Station before plucking up courage #FoxNewsFacts
— Peter Coles (@telescoper) January 12, 2015
But my favourite was this:
In Britain the weather switches between Sunni and Shi’ite #foxnewsfacts — 가빈 (@blueliberal1) January 11, 2015
I thought it was wonderful how Twitter users responded in such an imaginative, light-heartedly humorous, and sometimes downright surreal, way to something which could instead have produced pure bile. Twitter isn’t always like that, but yesterday it was a delight on a dark and stormy evening and a welcome change of mood after the depressing events of the last week. And I’m glad to say #FoxNewsFacts is still trending…so it’s not too late to have a go yourself!
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