Perpetuating Hate: How one reporter perpetuates social divisiveness in a small-town Tennessee

In an interview with the New English Review (anti-Islamic and immigration gang), the Shelbyville Times-Gazette reporter Brian Mosley continues to repeat his distorted and bigoted views that have angered many people following his earlier hate-bursts against the Somali community in Shelbyville. Once again, Mosley confirms what many people have previously suspected- that his reports are in fact nothing more than a blatant display of his inherent bigoted and chauvinistic attitudes disguised as a “research” or “news”.

Mosley continues to be quite unapologetic and shows no signs of compunction for the hateful writings he has written against the Somali people. Answering a question on the attitudes of the Somali people in Shelbyville, Mosley replies:

“We have been told that the Somalis have an extreme sense of entitlement in their dealings with the general public……..They are hundreds of years behind the times in many respects……I have also heard many opinions of disgust and disbelief that our own government would let these people in here. Anger from members of the public over the issue of illegal immigration is already high in this community and the introduction of the Somalis has only made these feelings much worse.”

Guided by a hateful agenda of racial intolerance and xenophobia, Mosley perpetuates social divisiveness by demonizing the Somalis and through his writings encourages his readers to harbor resentments against the Somalis:

“Suddenly introducing a society that is literally hundreds of years behind the times in the ways of hygiene, mannerisms, culture and the treatment of women into 21st Century America is a recipe for sociological disaster. It is a massive shock to the Somalis and doesn’t do the local communities any favors either.”

Furthermore, Mosley deliberately creates confusion presenting FGM as an Islamic custom when it most certainly is not. This not only shows Mosley’s disingenuous tactics, but also more importantly, his lack of knowledge about Islam, even though he feels free to speak about it as if an authority. Furthermore, it shows his lack of quality as a journalist. FGM is practiced by many non-Muslims throughout the world whether in India or Nigeria. It is a cultural custom, not a religious one.

Mosley generalizes the Somalis as if they are a flock of sheep with no individuality. He keeps saying “the Somalis do this, do that” as if they are a monolith. No complexity or differentiation is afforded to them. His entire focus is on exoticism and shock value and not on humanity, so that the Somalis could just be labeled as barbarians at the gate who can never change or integrate or be of any value to society. Fear is used instead of attempts to create mutual understanding which is what good journalists do.

The Somalis are presented as “demanding,” “isolationist” and “arrogant” but no attention is given to their point of view. So the question naturally follows, “how well can one open up or integrate when one is being constantly demonized and reduced to an object of hate?” Immigrants’ anxiety is an extremely complex issue not to be reduced to such a joke.

Meanwhile, to lend his bigoted writing a breath of credibility, Mosley pretends to sympathize with the Somalis by saying it is hard for both the locals and for the Somalis, however, it is simply a smokescreen that does such a pathetic job in hiding Mosley’s over-all agenda: to intimidate and force the Somalis out of Shelbyville

Well, let me tell you something Mr. Mosley: Lewiston, Maine with its racist mayor and hordes of skins-heads from out of state failed to drive the Somalis into submission. It is deluded to even think that your lousy writings which are sweet-coated as research will force the Somalis out of Shelbyville. The Somalis are here and they are here to stay. No amount of xenophobia and hate-mongering will force them out.

Throughout the United States, Somali refugees have overcome hardships and turned their fortunes from refugees into legitimate members of the American economic/political/social fabric whether it is in Minnesota, Ohio or elsewhere. Mosley’s bigoted generalizations and hate-mongering should have no place in any decent newspaper. The only purpose his bigoted views serve, apart from satisfying his inner orgies of hate and chauvinism, is to drive a wedge between the Somalis and the local community at a time when they need to be coming together.

Of course, the Somalis are not the first group to be targeted by such hatred and xenophobia in the United States. The Chinese Exclusion Act and the discrimination vented out against the Jews and the Irish in this country are a famous case in points. The xenophobia and bigotry that are currently practiced in Shelbyville by people such Brian Mosley and others remind us all about the painful history immigrants of all cultures and races have endured.

Once again, people should stop making excuses for the hateful views of Brian Mosley and see them for what they are: hateful and down-right racist rhetoric. I am happy that more and more people are waking up to notice this man’s hateful tirades