OpenLetters™

Dear reader: I have repeated my challenge to Chris Matthews on Hardball but not heard back. Please click on the email link below and ask Mr. Matthews, Hardball and NBC why they are afraid to bring on strong Muslim voices like mine and are they afraid to accept Imran Anwar' challenge? Thank You.

To: Mr. Chris Matthews, Hardball on MSNBC ( hardball@msnbc.com )
From: Imran Anwar (imran@imran.com)
Subject: Repeat: Open challenge to Mr. Matthews to play Hardball
Date: Sunday 11/11,/01 1010 AM


Dear Mr. Matthews

Since I have not heard back from your team or you, I am taking the liberty of repeating my challenge to you - but this time in the form of an OpenLetter (tm) on the Internet so people can decide if you and I should go head to head on air.

I repeat my challenge. Are you ready to take on a Pakstani-Muslim-American published journalist, media expert on your show?

You and I have an opportunity to play a good round of Hardball that will educate, excite and entertain the audience. Many among my more than 2 MILLION visitors at http://imran.com would like to see that happen. Here's why.

I have previously griped about your often unilateral, unfair, attacks on Pakistan with so-called experts (who have not been within 1000 miles of the region) who have simply nodded their heads to whatever you loudly proclaimed. (That is not HARDBALL and does not make for objective journalism or even exciting TV).

Other times you have made apparently bigoted comments about Muslims, hopefully inadvertently. (To your credit, since my last criticism of such comments, I have noticed a less unilateral Muslim bashing tone in your show, but it's still there and Pakistan-bashing goes on uninterrupted).

In the true spirit of Hardball, I think it would be professional, fair and objective to have an independent Muslim and Pakistani guest with strong but objective opinions, who knows the region and its issues, and can put up a good "fight" with you. After all, if people were just looking for pushover guests or "experts" who simply nod their head to everything you say, they could watch other softball shows.

You have had guest experts (who have not been within 1000 miles of the region) expressing opinions as "facts" about Muslims and Islam. The few Muslim guests you have had are better suited to discuss religious rules but you ignore Muslim analysts who can take you on in a debate of the political issues and flawed policies that led us to this painful situation. You have regular guests, who come and bash Pakistan, yet you have no one to speak up for Pakistan in those shows.

Your show is acting like a media outlet for the "Northern Alliance" (really just a band of drug-peddling, gun-toting, thugs whose atrocities caused the vacuum the Taliban filled). You do not ask Mister Haron Amin about what the status of women was under their rule, or the genocide they committed in Kabul, or the drug business that is their lifeline. And, you have rarely had people come and speak for the silent majority of Muslims, who believe in their faith, but abhor the extremists who are hijacking it. By ignoring this silent majority and its "voice" you, and other media, are merely helping push this majority into the arms of the extremists, because they are feeling the war IS against Islam.

This is made worse by the facts they see. The US does not pay UN dues for years, but then uses UN resolutions to attack Muslim countries, whether they are Iraq or Afghanistan. Yet, when the President is asked about 50+ year old UN resolutions on Kashmir and Palestine, he can merely say he will ask the opposing sides to talk to each other. The Taliban are evil for their treatment of women, the corrupt Arab leaders are our friends despite doing the same or worse. We say "They hate us for our freedom", yet, as a guest even on your own show said, it is in our US interest to NOT support democracy in these countries.

Who are we kidding, Mr. Matthews, the One Billion Muslims have reasons to believe it is a war on Islam. Do you disagree?

Communication and airing of strong, even dissenting, opinions are what make America strong. One would like to think that with a show name like Hardball you won’t be shy or afraid to take my challenge in a one-on-one discussion on air.

I am looking forward to it and I am ready. Are you?

Kind regards,

Sincerely


Imran Anwar
http://www.imran.com