http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12174110/ NBCSports.com news services Updated: 7:13 p.m. ET April 5, 2006 NASCAR said it was “outrageous” that “Dateline NBC” targeted one of its race tracks last weekend for a possible segment on anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States. “ ‘Dateline’ is looking into this story,” NBC said in a statement Wednesday. “We were intrigued by the results of a recent Washington Post/ABC News poll and other articles regarding increasing anti-Muslim sentiments in the United States. “It’s very early on in our newsgathering process, but be assured we will be visiting a number of locations across the country and are confident that our reporting team is pursuing this story in a fair manner,” the statement said. NASCAR said NBC confirmed it was sending Muslim-looking men to a race, along with a camera crew to film fans’ reactions. The NBC crew was “apparently on site in Martinsville, Va., walked around and no one bothered them,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Wednesday. “It is outrageous that a news organization of NBC’s stature would stoop to the level of going out to create news instead of reporting news,” Poston said. “Any legitimate journalist in America should be embarrassed by this stunt. The obvious intent by NBC was to evoke reaction, and we are confident our fans won’t take the bait,” he said. NASCAR is in the final year of a broadcasting agreement with NBC Sports. The Associated Press contributed to this story
Well, you gotta admit though, NASCAR would likely be the best place to carry out such an 'experiment', nowhere else do you get such a large sample of White-Americans from the 'Bible Belt'.
Well I'm glad you can already pre-judge the attendees' behavior. Wouldn't that be called prejudice on your part?
hush bro, you're the last person to talk about 'prejudice'... you're the stereotypical person to go to such a race
FYI, a few years ago ESPN went to a NASCAR race and asked fans why NASCAR drew so few Black fans. Granted, most of the fans that made the bit used the n-word, and had some pretty racist things to say. However, I'm not going to label all NASCAR fans as racists based on that, just like it would be stupid for any of yall for instance to label all Muslims terrorist sympathizers.
yeah, I remember MTV had something on this about NASCAR. MTV. I think they wanted to do a story on Dale Jr or something.
If I were a NASCAR fan (and I'm not) I'd welcome such a newspiece if I thought it would help dispell the negative stereotype most people have of the fans in the way of ignorant social views. If I DIDN'T think it'd help on the other hand, I'd be against it because I wouldn't want people having hard evidence that NASCAR fans are predominantly racist, or at least enough of the demographic is to be nervous about such a random sampling. I've got good family friends originally from Iran who are randomly called sandni**ers to their faces by people on their street in their suburb, etc. Pretty disturbing and enfuriating considering what great decent people they are. If I saw that happen I'd definitely get... unseemly. Its a huge injustice how bad Arab-Americans and even Arabs in general are getting it socially because of a few extremists. So I guess it's wrong to profile NASCAR fans as racist just like its wrong to profile anyone who appears Arab as a terrorist threat to national security. But I still want the other side to get as good as it gives. Call it poetic justice. I'm forgainst it.
Profiling and stereotyping of Arabs or Persians is commonplace by most Americans still today. The sad part is many Americans lump Sikhs and even Indians into their general prejudice against brown people. I work out with some foreign paramilitary and open agents from time to time. This German friend of mine once told me the story of his buddy who was working out in a gym in a north east city of the US. The buddy of his was an open agent of Arab descent. Anyways, some other lifter, who was white, made the comment asking him, "Mohammed, are you done using the bench?" This guy's name was not Mohammed. The Arab guy got extremely upset, and next thing you know a weight is crashing down on the head of the white guy. Needless to say, the agent was quickly transferred to another city on the seaboard. There are some more crazier and funnier stories about the "brown people" fighting back against their detractors. I think the main lesson to be learned is that alot of Arabs, Persians, Sikhs and Indians nowadays especially the youths are pretty pissed off at the injustices they face every day, and are willing to fight back. These aren't no passivists like their fathers were.
exactly why i dont have a problem with it. if nascar fans take the bait, then it is news. it shouldnt happen in our society.
