Muslim group asks LA-area radio show host for apologyAssociated PressANAHEIM, Calif. - A Muslim civil liberties group demanded an apology Thursday from the host of a Los Angeles-area radio show for making fun of a stampede that killed hundreds of Muslims during an annual pilgrimage.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations asked for an apology from KFI-AM 640 host Bill Handel, who allegedly made fun of the deaths during a Jan. 12 segment he called the "Annual Stampede Report."
A spokeswoman for KFI, which is owned by Clear Channel Communications, did not immediately return a message left Thursday. Handel's producer, Michelle Kube, also did not return calls for comment. Handel had left work for the day and attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
At least 363 pilgrims were killed and hundreds injured in a stampede that day in Mecca, where thousands of people were rushing to carry out a symbolic ritual of stoning the devil in Mina.
According to CAIR, Handel imitated the people screaming and then joked that the Muslims at the pilgrimage should use a helicopter to monitor pilgrimage traffic, as is done in Los Angeles with the freeways.
CAIR quoted Handel as saying, "This is Mahmoud Nolan. Hajj in the Sky. There is an accident ... Ali lost his sandal on the on-ramp to the Martin Luther King Jr. freeway ..."
In March 2004, KFI issued an on-air apology after CAIR filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission following a skit that claimed Muslims have sex with animals, don't bathe and hate Jews.
"The deaths of hundreds of people engaged in religious observances is no laughing matter," CAIR spokeswoman Sabiha Khan said in a statement. "KFI needs to distance itself from Mr. Handel's unbelievable insensitivity by issuing a formal apology and a reprimand."

KFI-AM Bill Handel Show : With us is that great constitutional scholar -- the Iraqi constitutional scholar -- Muhammad Barak Farud Kaffi: (phonetic spelling) Mr. Muhammad, would share with us some of the provisions in that constitution that very few of us are aware of.

"Muhammad": Yeah, I brought a couple of pages to read to you.

Handel: Okay.

"Muhammad": We, the people of Iraq, in order to form a more perfect union, promote injustice, ensure domestic anarchy, provide for a radical religious fundamentalist theocracy, promote the subjugation of women and secure the blessing of the almighty Allah for ourselves and our prosperity, do ordain and establish this interim constitution of the new Iraq. Sounds very familiar, doesn't it?


Handel : It does. I'm surprised. You took a lot of it from the United States, didn't you, sir?

"Muhammad": Yes, and we will take more of your money.

Handel: Yes, thank you.

"Muhammad": Article One, Section One: All legislative powers are herein granted and shall be vested in Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, who will personally see to it that personal freedom and civil rights be set back 1,000 years.

Section Two: Death to the Jews, death to the Jews, death to the Jews.

Radio Work



The format of The Bill Handel Show is heavily news based. The first hour consists primarily of banter of topics Handel finds interesting, while the second hour is a more focused look at the news entitled Handel on The News. In Handel on the News, Handel discusses the main news stories of the day with his sidekicks, while music appropriate to the subject or topic being discussed plays in the background. In the third and fourth hour, Handel often has guests to discuss topics in the news. Frequent guests include other KFI hosts such as Leo Laporte and Dr. Dean Edell. Otherwise, Handel will cover a single news story of item of interest for a half hour, and take listener calls on that subject. Legal stories and stories of hoaxes often pique Handel's interest.

On Handel on the Law, he "gives marginal legal advice to listeners and tells them they have no case". Handel on the Law is a legal advice show where Handel gives very terse advice to callers, designed to point them in the right direction. He often makes fun of callers for getting themselves in the predicament of requiring legal advice. Still, the show is informative in that in deals with many common legal problems such as landlord-tenant, child custody, and divorce in an easy to understand way.

Handel was born in Brazil to survivors of the Nazi Holocaust, a topic he occasionally brings up. On his show, one memorable excursion involved taking white supremacist John Metzger to Auschwitz to view the concentration camps and the gas chamber where his grandfather was executed. The German government originally thought that KFI was a neo-Nazi radio station but finally relented after being presented with more information.

When breaking topical news stories occur, he is usually on air live giving commentary.

On September 23, 2005, Bill Handel was named Major Market Personality of the Year at the 2005 NAB Radio Marconi Awards for his KFI show. During his acceptance speech, Handel said, “I haven’t been this affected since my circumcision. Seriously, I’m proud and honored to be singled out for this incredible award.”

Through his radio show, Mr. Handel regularly illustrates the absurdity of racial stereotypes but his satirical comments can often be misunderstood. In 1996, Asian American leaders called for his resignation after mocking bigotry by making absurd comments about figure skaters Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan. Handel apologized for the comments. On December 1, 2005, Handel announced that he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by an unnamed member of the United States House of Representatives. Reasons provided for his nomination include, among other things: the promotion of racial harmony through his radio program. Handel's nomination is believed to be in direct response to the fact that Stanley Tookie Williams, one of the founders of the Los Angeles criminal gang "The Crips," is a multi Nobel Prize nominee and he sat on California's Death Row for multiple murders until his execution. Handel has stated he received the nomination in under 24 hours of asking for any political representative to nominate him. Handel also once joked on the air about having a boss tell him to "go fly a kike."

His shows can be streamed live from the KFI website. Podcasting is also available

WITHOUTACLU

I like that!

Wow - it's just a big old conservative circle jerk in here! I wonder if Handel had repalced the words Muslims and used Catholics or Jews if there would be so much Jizim flowing so readily in this topic area.

Wow - it's just a big old conservative circle jerk in here! I wonder if Handel had repalced the words Muslims and used Catholics or Jews if there would be so much Jizim flowing so readily in this topic area.

If it were anyone else I would think they were kidding. I will indulge your failure in logic and address your knee-jerk reference. Jews and Catholics are made fun of and make fun of themselves all the time, a South Park episode about child molesting Catholic priests comes to mind. I don't recall the Church or priests demanding apologies. Your point is a joke, but you are often hilarious.

...Stealth. Yes - I saw that episode and there is a reason why it's open to ridicule - it was not the children being made fun of - not the victims - it was the Catholic Church itself that was being mocked. And deservedly so. They swept the issue of molestation under the rug for so many years that they deserved all the ridicule and attention to their moral deprivety that is possible. It was this kind of attention to a crime, being perpetrated by the catholic church through sheer inaction of their part, that forced them to change and start reforming in their own skewed way.

But that's not the same as comparing a South Park episode and Handels depraved words, I am wondering how you can equate making fun of the deaths of hundreds of Muslims with the actions of a few dozens of pedophilic priests (Hundreds?) and a slowly dying and morally challenged Catholic Church? They are not even close to the same issue.

I've not seen any of these shows or remarks making fun the deaths of hundreds of people in a current news cycle...

Simply put, the guy went over the line with his "jokes". To many of the family members of those killed or those in the Muslim communities that send people to these annual religious pilgrimages I would thiink this more than bad taste. It's disgusting. It's no different than makiing fun of a Church Bus that was hit by a drunk driver (1988- Lexington, Kentucky and Randy Weaver) killing 24 kids out on a church outing. Or the fire that kills parrisoners or when some whacko goes into a church and starts shooting worshipers... no different at all.

So if you think this is funny - you have some serious problems.

Now I may hate what he says and wish him an infestation of pubic Lice...
... But I support his ability to say what ever he wants to say no matter how disgusting it is to me personally.....
IMHO - Handel was over the top - and deserves whatever comes his way for his right to spew his own form of bullshit.....

SkiGuy - yes - I support the ACLU all the way. They not only represent left wingers, they represent republican gays, your mother, your preacher - your right wings friends in the Nazi party, my left wing commie friends, John Ls so called classic liberals, Solo's deranged patients, Nomad's ignorance, Grizz's eloquence - they support kids and their ability to pray - privately to themselves - in public schools - they support freespeech no matter how important or deprived it may be. They are the ones who keep forums like this open so we can all spout out all of our hatreds and spews and rants and raves against anyone and everyone we want.

So yes - does that answer your question?

Greyman, as usual while the plane passes over your head you look for it at your feet. The point is those who get their panties in a wad over comedy at the expense of Islam should grow thicker skin or develop a sense of humor. There are things in Islam that are fair game just like anything else. 

Handel makes fun of the consequences of a pre-Islamic pagan ritual adopted by Mohammad, so what? Muslims die every year because of this adopted practice, the irony makes it funny. The South Park episode is funny because of similar reasons.

Satire is a special kind of protected speech and I resent CAIR's attempts at intimidation in regards to speech they don't like.

The ACLU doesn't represent MY preacher.  My preacher is a Christian.  If anything, my preacher will work to stop the ACLU.  Now if my preacher was a Buddhist, Muslim or other non Christian religion then I would have agreed.  The ACLU, in my opinion, has a warped view of the First Amendment.  Just go look at their mission statement on their web page.  They support a STRICT separation of church and state, also notice they omit freedom of expression.  Why is that?
As far as answering my question.  Oh yeah, you did!  

Whether you l;ike it or not  - if the government interfered with your preacher's right to free speech he would be covered under the ACLU guidelines and they would help him with his case. But if he used a public institution to promote his beliefs using Tax dollars - then of course it would not. I understand you're gat - I'm surprised that you do not have a better view of this as the ACLU has stood up for the rights of everyone including gays.

The time is coming when the ACLU will make it a hate crime to speak out against homosexuality even in a church. Like in Canada.

Grey, I'll say this.  You are one of the more pleasant atheists I've seen on the boards. (unlike some I've come across on Democratic Undeground  )
A lot of what you post here and in other topics is why I switched parties..or at least stopped considering myself a Liberal.  Am I a neocon in the full definition of the word?  Doubt it.  But I'm too far rightwing when it comes to religion to be a Liberal.   Plus I disagree now more with Democrats/left/liberals than I do Republicans.   I still have my problems with Rush (no global warming..whatever) and Coulter (she's just too rotten to even consider anything she says).  And, for some reason I just can't pinpoint, Cheney and Rumsfeld bother me..just a gut feeling I have about them.  I'm very curious about what's going to happen with this leak case.  I disagree with Murtha saying he wouldn't sign up in the military now..or at least disagree that he spoke it publically, but I don't make him out to be the bad guy like those 2 have.
Keep in mind that I totally look at Government as man made, and that's not always a good thing.  Democrats-stop complaining/critisizing and get a plan going for the situation we are in now.  Republicans-stop the personal attacks (don't mean here.  I mean in Congress) when someone disagrees.

Grey, I'll say this.  You are one of the more pleasant atheists I've seen on the boards. (unlike some I've come across on Democratic Undeground  )
A lot of what you post here and in other topics is why I switched parties..or at least stopped considering myself a Liberal.  Am I a neocon in the full definition of the word?  Doubt it.  But I'm too far rightwing when it comes to religion to be a Liberal.  Plus I disagree now more with Democrats/left/liberals than I do Republicans.  I still have my problems with Rush (no global warming..whatever) and Coulter (she's just too rotten to even consider anything she says).  And, for some reason I just can't pinpoint, Cheney and Rumsfeld bother me..just a gut feeling I have about them.  I'm very curious about what's going to happen with this leak case.  I disagree with Murtha saying he wouldn't sign up in the military now..or at least disagree that he spoke it publically, but I don't make him out to be the bad guy like those 2 have.
Keep in mind that I totally look at Government as man made, and that's not always a good thing.  Democrats-stop complaining/critisizing and get a plan going for the situation we are in now.  Republicans-stop the personal attacks (don't mean here.  I mean in Congress) when someone disagrees.

Since you are a practicing Christian, let me remind you that in the Bible it states in many places that Lucifer appears as a handsome fellow, and very friendly, as this is how he steers the soul away from G-d.  And it is with nice things stated, good appearance, etc, in which he does it.

Do you follow my point here?

Since you are a practicing Christian, let me remind you that in the Bible it states in many places that Lucifer appears as a handsome fellow, and very friendly, as this is how he steers the soul away from G-d.  And it is with nice things stated, good appearance, etc, in which he does it.

Do you follow my point here?

So I can make fun of christians that are Killed in other countries, in accidents, intentionally murdered - what ever - because I think that it is nothing more than a simple minded pagar throw back to our less sophisticated days?

Is that what you are implying? All in the name of humor and you're okay with that?

Cool!

Christians are instructed to turn the other cheek. In other words let the other guys make an fool of themselves or just maybe consider a biting truth. Christians are instructed to turn the other cheek. Muslims are taught to do on to others. Like it or not they are fair game just like any other religion, at least, in these here United States.

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." (Matthew 5:38-42, NIV)

Stealth, let me elaborate a bit more on that statement, as it tends to become misunderstood by most of us.  Here is the scripture.
If you think about it, striking someone on the right side of the face can only be accomplished by the left hand, or the back of the right hand.  And since the left hand was used to wipe another end of the body, the right hand was always used.  Therefore, a backhanded slap is what the scripture referrs to.  Back then a backhanded slap, as even today, was used by the striker to show that the other person was beneath them.

By turning the other cheek, the striker is forced to slap with the open hand, or fist, which shows a treatment of equality.  The same thing holds true with the tunic and cloak part.  If someone would take your tunic, then give him your cloak as well, leaving you naked, and thus exposing the other to his low actions.

That was the purpose of the point with the "turn the other cheek" passage.

Where did you find this out.......what reference?

If you want to make fun of Christians that kill themselves while practicing some religious observance please be my guest. Guess what? Christians would drop a practice the Muslims trample some to do. Muslims can't drop it, they can change it, that is why Handel was making a satire of it. At any rate the man is doing his job, if you don't like it change the channel.

Christians are instructed to turn the other cheek. In other words let the other guys make an fool of themselves or just maybe consider a biting truth. Christians are instructed to turn the other cheek. Muslims are taught to do on to others. Like it or not they are fair game just like any other religion, at least, in these here United States.

Where did you get the idea that the Muslims try to purposely kill themselves like so many lemmings?

You seem to know so much about it... I mean you can laugh at their deaths afterall and find that it's funny to see these people die horrible deaths by being crushed, trampled and smashed into the ground and other people - how is this funny?

Where did you get the idea that the Muslims try to purposely kill themselves like so many lemmings?

That's an interesting take on this - please eleborate? I want to know why the people who go to these things think it's a good way to die... seriously. Please give me this from the point of view from the islamic side of the table.

You seem to know so much about it... I mean you can laugh at their deaths afterall and find that it's funny to see these people die horrible deaths by being crushed, trampled and smashed into the ground and other people - how is this funny?

There are countless examples of Muslims killing themselves on purpose, did you not know?
Muslims perform the Hadj to fulfill their religious obligation. I don't know why you would say that I think doing so is a good way to die... cause those are your words not mine. Muslims die every year because of crowd control problems. It is forseeable and preventable. Only it can't be stopped because this original pagan Arab practice was incorporated into Islam for political porposes. So Muslims are stuck with the results because Mohammad left no way for Islam to change.
Handel see humor in the situation and in the U.S. he has the right to do so. I think what he presented was funny. You don't think so OK, thanks for your opinion.

No I agree he has the right to think and say whatever he wants - if someone speaks out against him because they don't like what he said - that's his problem.

I'm just curious why you think this is funny?

Perhaps, you are unaware that comedy is another form of aggression. We usually find something funny at the expense of someone or something else. These Muslims are not dieing from some unforeseen catastrophe. They put themselves at risk for a ceremony that predates Islam. I find that ridiculous, therefore I can appreciate the satire of Hadel. Because you are offended and CAIR is offended makes no never-mind. Handel has the right, CAIR can go pound salt.

I guess I'm just old fashioned and find that laughing about the deaths of religious pilgrims is a little deprived and more than a little sick. Hey - but more power to you man!

I prefer to think of Islam as a cult and it ain't about pilgrim deaths,  it's about the mindless, robotic following of a ceremony that predates Islam. Why not change it so people don't die? Oops, can't change it because it says so in the rule book. Well, just change the rule in the book? Oops, can't do that because it says so in the rule book. It is cruel, but it is true, like a self-inflicted gunshot wound. I saw gang member shot himself once on TV, while playing, for the camera, with his gun. I thought it was extremely funny, just call me sick.

You know - you're a very sick individual. Very sick indeed in that you seem to find it okay to laugh at the deaths of others. I can see you are pretty typical of most conservatives in this country. No wonder the rest of the world hates...

Compassionate conservatism is dead and burried.

Done here.

Thanks for your opinion! I think maybe you are projecting something within yourself, you don't like, toward me. Handel skit appears to read fun in text form, so again I think it is funny.

The human mind is capable of thinking in the abstract; satire, I think, qualifies. Now, if I looked at the situation literally it would not be funny. Maybe your view is more literally. Maybe because of a diminished capacity to think in the abstract or perhaps because of your over developed sense of drama, coupled with the narrow mind of a bigot.

Yeah - that's it.

Cartoons about the Prophet! Oh the humanity! Warning not for those prone to cringe and wring your hands.

PARIS, Jan. 30 -- Cartoons in Danish and Norwegian newspapers depicting the prophet Muhammad in unflattering poses, including one in which he is portrayed as an apparent terrorist with a bomb in his turban, have triggered outrage among Muslims across the Middle East, sparking protests, economic boycotts and warnings of possible retaliation against the people, companies and countries involved….

The cartoons included one of the prophet as a crazed, knife-wielding Bedouin and another of him at the gates of heaven telling suicide bombers: "Stop. Stop. We have run out of virgins!" -- a reference to the belief of some Muslim extremists that male suicide bombers are rewarded in heaven with 72 virgins…..

Clinton described as "appalling" the 12 cartoons published in a Danish newspaper in September depicting Prophet Mohammed and causing uproar in the Muslim world.

"None of us are totally free of stereotypes about people of different races, different ethnic groups, and different religions ... there was this appalling example in northern Europe, in Denmark ... these totally outrageous cartoons against Islam," he said.

The cartoons, including a portrayal of the prophet wearing a time-bomb-shaped turban, were reprinted in a Norwegian magazine in January, sparking uproar in the Muslim world where images of the prophet are considered blasphemous.

And how does this equate to making fun of the deaths of hundreds of innocent people?

Seriously... how does this relate to ridiculing the deaths of people?

Prophets, religions and philosophies and some of the stupid suicidal followers are fair game - but you miss the point of this whole thing.

But you can do what ever you want - I bet you'd find the pictures of aborted fetuses dressed in little birthday hats funny when some idiot on the right dressed up a bunch of dead fetuses he found in a medical dumpster a few years ago, for a really sick birthday party shot to make a point about they will never see their first birthday - Well - if that's your kind of humor - then more power to you.

I have already explained why I think the pilgrimage skit is funny. You would rather embrace the drama of the tragedy. The ridiculous silliness is what Hadel and I see. Look at it this way, maybe you like the enlightenment to understand.

Thanks for letting me do what I want, after your attempts to ridicule me, this comes as a welcome change.

If you did bet about the fetuses you lose that one. I doubt the guy who did it thought it was funny. But you know, an act like that could, possibly be the fodder for satire, as in you bringing it up is a joke.

I just have certain lines I draw as far as humor goes. I love South Park and the Daily Show - I enjoy Family Guy and the Office - the human condition is ripe with all sorts of potential for humor and satire. I used to be a political cartoonist back in the 80s so I see humor in all sorts of things. But I draw the line on mass death. Just like I would never find humor in hundreds of people dying in an airplane crash - I don't find it funny making fun of hundreds of people dying while getting trampled to death.

Call me weird.

I have never heard this guy Hadel, but I like his style.   

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/World/2006...419520-sun.html

A Los Angeles radio personality said he would apologize for an on-air skit that made fun of the deaths of hundreds of Muslims, but only if an Islamic civil rights group denounces terrorism and acknowledges Israel's right to exist.

I think that's a good trade=off.  Certainly do.

Hadel knows CAIR will never denounce "all bombing or attacks where intended victims are innocent citizens," "acknowledge Israeli sovereignty" and be able to "verify that the group has never had connections with any terrorist group or sponsor."

CAIR as been out maneuvered at their own game, you have to love it.