Madeleine Fryzek

Madeleine Fryzek

April 16, 2012

Foundations of Islam

American Muslims in the Media

Most Americans do not know very much about the Islamic faith and Muslims today in the United States. The media paints all sorts of wild images about Muslims; about how Muslims are very violent and are on a constant mission to place terror into the hearts of their enemies.  In the article “Meet Some All-American Muslims, the Reality, not the Show,” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/meet-some-all-american-muslims-the-reality-not-the-show/2012/03/23/gIQAYGVKgS_blog.html) Mary Curtis, a multimedia journalist who has contributed to The Root, NPR, and Fox News Charlotte, as well as many other news sources,  writes about attending “Meet the Muslims of Charlotte” hosted by Rose Hamid, co-founder of Muslim Women of the Carolinas.  This meeting was held in response to the complaint from a conservative group about the TLC show “All-American Muslim” and this complaint led to Lowe’s Home Improvement to cancel its advertisements during the show.  Hamid’s main message during the meeting was that each Muslim is unique so Muslims should be treated individually instead of grouped as a whole.  Curtis goes on to describe individuals who participated in the panel and some of the comments that they had, such as Keith Stringfellow a “country boy from Alabama” who prayed during a Civil War reenactment and looked up to twelve people surrounding him and taking pictures.  Rather than being upset, he embraced the moment because “people just don’t know” and during moments like this “people find a lot more commonalities.”  The main focus of this panel was to help educate Americans on Islam and the uniqueness of each individual person of Muslim faith.

  This article gave a good brief overview of the panel and it also included a few key arguments made by the individuals on the panel.  Curtis was able to present this article’s main points in a neutral light, allowing for the voices of the panelists to shine through rather than giving her own opinion.  I found that this article to be a good neutrally written source presenting solely the opinions and beliefs of Muslim Americans.   It was very clear from the article the message trying to be conveyed to the audience.  I found that I wished that the article was a bit more in depth because I wanted to know more than one person’s opinion on a subject, such as terrorism or the struggle between American and Muslim identity.  As I read the article I questioned what exactly the complaint was that caused Lowe’s to pull their ads. 

According to CNN wire staff, the conservative Florida Family Association pushed advertisers to drop “All-American Muslim” because they felt that the show was “propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values."  I found a video from CNN that interviewed the Executive Director of Florida Family Association as well as Congressman Keith Ellison, one of two Muslim Americans in Congress.  This video shows both sides of the debate and is a perfect example of how uneducated some Americans are about Islam, and how each Muslim is an individual person who practices in his or her own way (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuldyYX0CIM).  I then looked further and found that Lisa de Moraes of the Washington Post TV column explained that All-American Muslim will not be returning for a second season because “the cast of “All-American Muslim” showed a shocking propensity to not scream at recalcitrant children, brawl in bars, consume gallons of tartar sauce, steal best friends’ boyfriends or any of the other behavioral earmarks of a hit reality docu-soap” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/tame-reality-of-all-american-muslim-leads-to-cancellation/2012/03/07/gIQAXSOoxR_story.html).  And so, I feel this proves the point that Hamid was trying to make, that Muslims are part of the community but are also individuals who are peaceful and unique.

Claire Tiffany

Claire Tiffany

Foundations of Islam

American Muslims in the Media

April 19, 2012

            The cancellation of TLC’s series “All-American Muslim” was met with mixed responses.  The series aired its first season on TLC this year but the network recently announced that there will not be another season, citing low ratings as the determining factor for pulling the series. The show opened with a following of about 1.7 million viewers and closed with only 900,000.

 Cast members and critics of the network’s decision have voiced their opinions and pointed out that at least thirty other shows on the TLC network have similar ratings but have not faced the threat of cancelation.

            The show takes place in Dearborn, Michigan and follows the lives of five Muslim families and is the first in the United States to present the lives of modern Muslims. Although many critics and cast members praised the success of the show for its ability to familiarize the American public with a culture many may have not encountered, others were quick to criticize the network’s efforts to portray the lives of American Muslims.

Many anti-Muslim groups, including the Florida Family Association, protested the airing of the series and petitioned the show’s advertisers to remove their support, stating that the program is "propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values” (Hollywood Reporter).  Conservative Muslim groups were also among the opponents of the series, concerned with the lack of piousness that they believe the families displayed, citing the lack of modesty in the dress of some of the female cast members. After continued petitioning from anti-Muslim groups, a Lowe’s representative reportedly responded, “While we continue to advertise on various cable networks, including TLC, there are certain programs that do not meet Lowe's advertising guidelines, including the show you brought to our attention. Lowe's will no longer be advertising on that program,” proceeding to pull their support for the show.

According to Hollywood Reporter, PETA also protested the program, concerned after the fourth episode, in which one of the cast members gave away her husband’s dog because she believed it aggravated her allergies.

The cancelation of the series was met with disappointment and disapproval from many amid controversial mystery regarding the network’s true reason for the discontinuation. Christian and Muslim groups and a few celebrities showed their continued support for the program by boycotting Lowe’s.

I think all three articles I reviewed in response to the cancelation of “All-American Muslim” present the opinions of many different groups regarding the issue with minimal bias. Each article notes the opinions of opponents as well as the supporters of the program and portrays both neutrally. While I believe that television is a great way to appeal to and educate the American public, I think that reality television may not be the best means by which to present Islam especially to a public already misinformed on the topic by the media. Reality programs get ratings due to conflict and drama in the lives of the cast members and this does not necessarily promote a positive view of American Muslims when the show’s directors must aim to portray their lives as “interesting” to the American public. Although I think that familiarizing Americans with the culture and beliefs of Muslims is important, I think that a more accurate depiction of American Muslims can be accomplished through other means.

Although the true intentions of the TLC network regarding their choice to pull the program aren’t known, it would be interesting to know if any of the other religious-related TLC programs are under attack and why. I am curious whether the Florida Family Association protests any other reality shows like MTV’s Jersey Shore or TLC’s Sisterwives, which are arguably more inappropriate and threatening to conservative groups than All-American Muslim. Upon further research I found an article featured in Huffpost of Detroit explaining the background of Florida Family Association (FFA) and their reason for protesting the series. The article can be found at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/13/florida-family-association-all-american-muslim-lowes_n_1145760.html. According to the article, the FFA aims to “defend traditional American biblical values” and targeted the show after a poll on the group’s website revealed that the spread of Islam was the number one concern of about 1,800 members. The founder of the FFA, David Caton, maintains that the program doesn’t accurately portray Muslims and that it doesn’t divulge that "99.9 percent of Muslims agree with the principles of Sharia law”, according to Caton. The FFA also takes credit for the cancellation of NBC’s “The Playboy Club.” Although this article provides evidence that the FFA has attacked programs other than All-American Muslim, their reasoning for targeting the program is still unclear and Caton’s assertion that Muslims are dangerous because of their adherence to Sharia law is blatantly ignorant.

Links:

http://worldnewsresource.com/controversial-reality-show-all-american-muslim-faces-equally-controversial-cancellation/18

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/07/all-american-muslim-cancelled_n_1327264.html

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/all-american-muslim-canceled-tlc-297407

Hannah Rosenberger

Hannah Rosenberger

American Muslims In The Media

It seems that in recent history, Muslims in the United States have seen two stages in this country: unrecognized and threatening. Now, as Americans move deeper into the era of the “Muslim boogeyman,” it has come to inevitable – furthered fear mongering and propaganda directed at the public. One segment of National Public Radio’s “Tell Me More” with the host, Jacki Lyden, focused on exactly that.

In the segment, “Are Muslims Treated As Outsiders In Their Own Country?” Lyden spoke with Arsalan Iftikhar (author of Islamic Pacifism: Global Muslims in the Post-Osama Era and regular contributor to the program) and Jen’nan Read (researcher on “Muslim and Arab integration in the U.S. and abroad”), on the topic of Newt Gingrich’s comments, as well as other political figures, on Islam. They began by speaking about one comment in particular:

On a radio program ... [Newt Gingrich] was asked whether he thought the press would be focusing on Mitt Romney's Mormonism...

NEWT GINGRICH: Do you think you're going to see two pages on Obama's Muslim friends or two pages on the degree which Obama's consistently apologizing to Islam while attacking the Catholic church? Do you see anybody in the elite media prepared to say, gee, isn't this kind of odd that we really worry a lot about the Koran and nothing about the Bible?

The speakers on the program took turns assessing where this comment fit against the accepted norms of today. Together they found that in American politics it is generally the Republican candidates who bring up the concept of Islam, and do so because it is the last accepted slur to “other-ize” Barack Obama. To call Obama a Muslim is in essence to remind the public that he is not one of us. He is un-American, has different values, does not understand what the people want, and it is a way reminding people that Obama is black, while never having to say it.

By playing up to this in the political sphere, these candidates reinforce the concept of Muslims as boogeymen. Lyden and Iftikhar referred to Islam as the new ‘red menace,’ which I find to be an excellent analogy. It is the idea that something harmless, an ideal or a religion, by gaining followers will be the downfall of this country. As the contributors asserted, this is due in large part to the media. Because of the constant ‘ratings game’ newscast must ‘sensationalize’ everything.

They find that the key to truly assimilate Islam into American culture without the fear that comes with it now lies with the media as well. If there were more human interest stories in the works to show the public that Muslims are no different than other Americans, that Muslim is only one of the identities that a person wears, then they may no longer seem to be the ‘other’ that they have been made out to be.

I felt that this radio segment covered a wide spectrum of American Islam in the media as it moved through the political sphere, what affect Islam had for Bush as compared to Obama, as well as the brief availability of ‘All-American Muslim’ to make Islam seem more accessible, more normal. I agree with Iftikhar that this is the post-9/11 civil rights struggle and may one day be just a note of past prejudice.

Sabrina Wandres

Sabrina Wandres

Foundations of Islam

Professor Barber

April 4, 2012

Blog: Analysis of “Boko Haram: Nigerian Islamist Leader Defends Attacks”

            This article discusses attacks by Muslims, in the Islamic group Boko Haram in Nigeria, on Christians on Christmas day and how the leader of the Boko Haram group is defending these attacks. He states that these attacks are in retaliation to attacks made on Muslims in northern Nigeria in recent years. It is noted in the article that Mr. Shekau, the Boko Haram leader, has put videos up on YouTube that discuss his justification for the attacks. This article also briefly states how although the conflict between Christians and Muslims seems religious, it could also be politically based. Albeit only a brief statement is made, the article does point out how the conflicts between Muslims and Christians might be politically based since the differences between north and south Nigeria are the mainly Muslim north is more poverty stricken while the predominantly Christian and animist south is oil-rich. Here is the link for the article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16510929.

            Firstly, even though Mr. Shekau feels the attacks on Christians have proper justification because of recent attacks on Muslims, he is just giving the Christians reason to attack more Muslims by killing Christians. Although he may see it as an “eye for an eye” and now his Muslim brothers have been avenged, the Christians may view it as just outright violence towards the Christian community of Nigeria and then they may retaliate as to avenge their Christian brothers, leaving a cycle of never ending violence between the two groups.

            Secondly, in the article, there was mention of the Boko Haram wanting Shariah law to be established in Nigeria. Although this is not the topic of the article, it poses a question in my mind: what was the Christians reason for the attacks on Muslims prior to the Muslim attacks on Christmas day and did it have something to do with Muslims trying to institute Shariah law into the government of Nigeria? Unfortunately, the article does not discuss what prompted the attacks on Muslims by Christians prior to the Christmas attacks, but I wonder if it was purely hatred of Muslims, political policy enacted by Muslims, or maybe even what Christians believed to have been attacks on Muslims that they themselves were seeking revenge for.

            Thirdly, it seems to express Muslims in a violent way because of their attacks on Christians, yet the Muslim reasoning, given by Mr. Shekau, behind what most would view as religious violence, is that the sense of community among Muslims is valued of all else, and so the revenge of a fellow Muslim’s wrongful death is thus proper and not seen as a crime to the Muslim community. Basically, he restates the idea that the Qur’an says that violence, in accordance with some limitation, is allowed to be used when a Muslim is harmed and it will be seen as a justified act by God and will not warrant his wrath. Because of this point of view, violence was what ensued from the attacks Christians had made on Muslims in recent years.

            Fourthly, although there is not much bias from the writer, the article produces a skewed view of Muslim-Christian relations in Nigeria. According to a video aired on Al Jazeera, most Muslims in Nigeria do not identify with the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, nor do they approve of the violent attacks. In another article that discussed the statement made by Sa’ad Abubakar, the current Sultan of Sokoto, he stated that Muslim Christian relations were friendly and that the heads of the religions were trying to improve relations and keep religious peace in Nigeria. From this, Muslims are depicted as non-violent and the relationship between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria is not one of violence or vengeance, but actually one of friendship, although that is not depicted in this article. It is acknowledged that there is violence, but it is not flaring up all over Nigeria, just in some parts.

            In conclusion, what I will be discussing in my presentation is the connection between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria to see if it really violent or if these seem to be more isolated occurrences just involving the Boko Haram and whether or not others view Mr. Shekau’s justification of these attacks as valid arguments for the Christmas day attacks on Christians. Also, the fact that this one occurrence is not

            

Bridget Maloy

Bridget Maloy

Foundations of Islam

Islam and other religions in the media:

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            Florida pastor Terry Jones made worldwide news last year when he filmed himself burning the Qur'an. Once again he makes headlines, stating the goal of Islam is 'world domination'. He held an anti-Muslim rally outside the Islamic Center of Michigan, causing the mosque to have a lockdown preventing cars/people from entering. He went on to tell reporters of his concern that the growth of Islam in Detroit and throughout the country will lead to the 'oppression of non-Muslims'. He had sought permission to speak in front of the mosque several times throughout the past year and at one point he was put in jail and ordered to stay away from the mosque for 3 years (this was eventually overturned). Last month, the city asked him to sign a legal document before protesting but Jones filed a lawsuit and a judge ruled in his favor. These events consequently led him to question the American right to free speech. During his talk, derogatory comments were made about Muslims and when Jones criticized Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson, someone yelled "Throw 'em in the pit with the Muslims!"  A TV station called 'Real Catholic TV'  (owned by a member of Opus Dei) based in a Michigan town had its host there who said he supported Jones' right to free speech and some of his views. He concluded with his fear that the growing power of Islam in Europe will eventually reach the U.S. Warikoo closes the article with a somewhat scary comment from a Jones supporter who stated, "sharia law is the most dangerous thing. We can't have it in this country". The final, and seemingly only positive note is that there were counter-protesters that were Christian.

            My initial reaction to this article was a little bit of surprise/sadness. Since we have been discussing the backlash and stereotypes still placed on Muslims in our class I was not entirely shocked by this anti-Muslim rally. However, it is quite frightening and sad that someone like Jones can get so much attention for his outlandish views of a peaceful religion. While reflecting this it did hit me that maybe in our country his views are not entirely out of left field and maybe there are many people who still fear Muslims post 9-11. It has been 11 years since 9-11 and people with knowledge of Islam know that the vast majority of Muslims do not share the beliefs of Bin Laden and it leads me to ask the following question: is it fair that in our country Islam is still so heavily persecuted? News stations still report stories misleading Americans into believing that the religion of Islam is some anti-American violent religion. I did not find this article to be biased; it remains objective in explaining the series of events. I also question what leads people and other religions to believe that Islam's goal is world domination? I thought it was significant that the Muslims were encouraged not to counter-protest them, were the Muslim leaders trying to appear more peaceful to the media? It is mentioned a Christian woman held a sign that read "God loves us all", maybe if other religions supported Islam by finding various ways to inform believers that Islam is just a peaceful practicing faith like theirs (with obvious ideological differences) Instead of having a Catholic TV station promote anti-Muslim beliefs. But, maybe other religions are hesitant to do so?

            I do not mean to appear naive or uninformed when questioning what has led to these social constructs since I do remember 9/11, but I find it hard to believe that in our country people still blame a whole religion for an event done by violent, hateful people. It also seems strange to me that acts of violence have been done by other religious people in our country and we have not blamed whatever religion it was, we just blamed the person. It is almost comical when Warikoo mentions that this rally was uneventful compared to Jones' previous visits where there were arrests and street clashes. It is like the media and society hopes for things like these because they know people love to hear about controversy. Maybe because we give people like Jones so much attention other ignorant people in our country see this guy who seems convincing and think he must be telling the truth.