Reply #27: Internet Myth [View All]

[quinnox]

One correction, it was Palestinians that were shown dancing, not muslims. Some if not a majority of them may have been muslim, but that is not something which can be determined from a videotape.

Just a quick search turned up this - a history of how the rumor was started:

CNN Used Old Footage From the Gulf War and Made It Appear as Though Palestinians Were Rejoicing Over the Terrorist Attacks On the U.S.-Fiction!

bullet Summary of the eRumor
An email from a Brazilian student has been circulating on the Internet at lightening speed. It alleges that CNN used Gulf War footage from 1991, saying that it was actually showing Palestinians rejoicing in the streets over the terrorists attacks on the United States in September, 2001.
bullet The Truth
It is not true. CNN has officially denied the claim. Also, the person who originated the email has now said that his information was wrong and he no longer believes the story.

It is true that there were Palestinians dancing in the streets and celebrating the terrorist attacks. A spokesperson for CNN told TruthOrFiction.com that the footage they used was authentic and was taken shortly after the terrorist attacks.

It is regarded as unethical among reputable news organizations to use film or video from one event and represent it as being from another event. When footage is used from a time or place other than what is being reported, it is customary to indicate that for the viewer. If it had been proven that CNN used 10-year-old pictures as though they were current, it would have been a major embarrassment.

The eRumor got its start from a university student in Brazil. He said that a teacher of his had videotapes from 1991 that proved that CNN had mislead its viewers and had complained to CNN and other news organizations about it. The student was deluged with requests about the teacher's claims so he contacted her outside of class about it and he says she denied having any videotapes. She is quoted as having said only that she remembers seeing the footage in 1991, even though she told the class differently.
A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:
---------------------------------------------------There's an important point in the power of press, specifically the power of CNN.

All around the world we are subjected to 3 or 4 huge news distributors and one of them - as you well know - is CNN.

Very well, I guess all of you have been seeing (just as I've been) images from this company. In particular, one set of images called my attencion: the Palestinians celebrating the bombing, out on the streets, eating some cake and making funny faces for the camera.

Well, THOSE IMAGES WERE SHOT BACK IN 1991!!! Those are images of Palestinians celebrating the invasion of Kuwait! It's simply unacceptable that a super-power of cumminications as CNN uses images which do not correspond to the reality in talking about so serious an issue.

A teacher of mine, here in Brazil, has videotapes recorded in 1991, with the very same images; he's been sending emails to CNN, Globo (the major TV network in Brazil) and newspapers, denouncing what I myself classify as a crime against the public opinion. If anyone of you has access to this kind of files, serch for it. In the meanwhile, I'll try to 'put my hands' on a copy of this tape. But now, think for a moment about the impact of such images. Your people is hurt, emotionally fragile, and this kind broadcast have very high possibility of causing waves of anger and rage against Palestinians. It's simply irresponsible to show images such as those.

Márcio A. V. Carvalho State University of Campinas - Brazil ------------------------------ http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/c/cnnpalestinianvideo.htm


Another link talking about how AP reporter was threatened if he released the videotape he shot showing celebrations that day -

Dated: Sept 16. 2001
Thousands of Palestinians again celebrate attacks, videotape suppressed


On Friday and Saturday, thousands of Palestinians again paraded through cities in the West Bank and Gaza, celebrating the attacks on the United States. Some Palestinian policeman reportedly joined the celebrations, while other Palestinian security officials confiscated videotape shot by journalists at the rally.

International news agencies continue to refrain from broadcasting video footage showing Palestinians, including members of Palestinian security forces, celebrating after this week's terrorist attacks in the United States due to severe threats and warnings issued by Palestinian Authority officials and representatives.

The Associated Press (AP) filed an official complaint with the Palestinian Authority after a freelance cameraman who filmed Palestinians celebrating the terror was threatened.

According to the AP, a videographer on assignment for Associated Press Television News, was "summoned to a Palestinian Authority security office and told that the material must not be aired." Tanzim militia members reportedly called and warned the freelancer that he would be held responsible if the footage was shown and made what he interpreted as threats on his life.

http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/diplomacy/articles/dip_0087.htm