Al-Jazeera English offers more insight into Middle East than most American TV news stations

The name "Al-Jazeera" is often associated (wrongly) with "terrorism." Prejudice and ignorance among Americans has put pressure on many stations to ban the Arab World satellite station from being broadcast in mainstream American television cable and commercial TV channels.

Yet, the truth is Al-Jazeera (Aljazeera) English is more objective, more balanced and more in-depth than ANY other mainstream American TV station (cable or commercial). For example this week, the station led coverage of the Middle East Peace Summit convened by President Bush in Annapolis, Maryland. Although Al-Jazeera is denounced as being one-sided, and pro-Arab and even supportive of terrorist, the station has offered debates and discussions that have included some of Israel's most ardent supporters, Israeli journalists including a few who often come on and say things that are so anti-Arab it is surprising no one challenges them, and Israeli government officials. American military and government officials are on the stationa ll the time. In fact, Al-Jazeera audiences are larning more about the Middle East conflict than Americans, who have just as much at stake.

Why is it that the best and most informative news is banned from America, the land of the "free" and the home of the "brave?" The only explanation is racism and prejudice. Al-Jazeera is an Arab and Muslim satellite news outlet and it broadcasts both sides. And the term "both sides" is actually the real issue that bothers many Americans, especially those who are prejudiced.

What I mean is, they don't want "both sides." They only want their side. They don't want to be portrayed negatively. And they expecially do not want to be called to taks.

So why does the mainstream American news media ignore this important issue? Professional jealousy? Al-Jazeera is doing a better job professionally than mainstream American news media, which often only show one side of the conflict and suppress Arab and Muslim American voices.

Al-Jazeera is not biased on the issues of the Middle East. But the American media is biased on issues of the Middle East.

Comcast Cable TV refused to include Al-Jazeera English in their line-up of premium channels. Why? They said they couldn't reach a deal. I say they're bigots and are playing to the bigotry in American society. They don't want a competitor to claim that they support a "terrorist" news network like Al-Jazeera and then risk their contracts to someone like AT&T.

It's tragic, really. The real losers though are not the people of the Middle East who are moving forward, advancing and building their economies (while the American dollar and the American image is taking a beating in the Middle East and in Euorpe). The real losers are the American people who wallow in ignorance and hate, promoted by a biased American news media and by powerful lobbying groups that suppress free speech and open debate.

The fact is that there is MORE FREEDOM of speech and an open discussion of issues on Al-Jazeera satellite network than there is in America. They are the future of journalism, not American journalism. The world sees it while Americans and American journalists have their heads buried in the sand afraid to report the truth because it is too risky to their careers and to their bottom line revenues.

That's the real Middle East tragedy.

On another topic, I was proud to be the first Palestinian to ever perform at an Israeli comedy club. I performed Thursday at the Off the Wall Comedy Club in Jerusalem, located at the intersection of Ben Yehuda Street and King George V Street. The club is owned by David Kilimnick and the audience was very receptive to Palestinian comedy and my humorous satire lampooning the Annapolis Middle East Peace Summit.

Here's a link to a photo:

Ray Hanania