I actually don’t thing I’m exaggerating here.
Today I received a DVD in the mail called “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West.” It’s sent out by a group called “The Clarion Fund” (of whom VERY little is available on the web). It’s disturbing, but ironically not in the way they intended it to be. The intent, obviously, was to scare Americans into a near-frenzy about the impending destruction of the west by radical Islam. The underlying thesis is that Islam is a religion of extremism and that Muslims are dangerous. Fundamentally, the DVD suggests that Muslims are modern-day Nazis. I’m not blowing this out of proportion; the connection between Islam and Nazism isn’t even hidden – it isn’t insinuated – the video draws a clear equal sign between the two.
Of course, there’s a small-print caveat at the beginning of the film noting that “most” Muslims are peace-loving people. And yes, they spend a few moments talking about how “most” Muslims are “liberal,” “democratic,” “moderate” (a variety of adjectives are used) and not extremists, but the rhetoric throughout the film makes very little distinction – it is not remotely balanced. This is what’s so disturbing: An entire religion portrayed as if its extremes are it’s norms.
Are the extremes detestable. Of course! But come on – none of us want the world to judge us and our beliefs by those on the violent extremes of our own religious communities. We’d better hope not, anyhow… Think of the horrors actively supported (or passively embraced through knowing silence) by Christians over the centuries. Our history is no less plagued by extremism, torture, brain-washing, and yes… the attempt to eliminate entire people groups sometimes even with the promise of eternal glory for those who are “martyred” in the process.
What frightens me is not that there are radical Muslims but that the world basically stands by and allows all Muslims to be portrayed as such.
I, for one, know better. If you’ve never even met a Muslim, it’s time. Be pro-active about it. Go to your local mosque. Search out your local Muslim Students’ group. Don’t allow yourself to be manipulated by fear-mongering propaganda.
Grace and Peace,
`tim
I haven’t seen that DVD, though I’ve heard a lot about it. A token disclaimer cannot make up for the content. I for one do not want to be assumed into the Crusaders and the Inquisitors…I don’t understand why Christians do that with Muslims. I agree, we must leave our Christian boxes and get to know others. It’s amazing what personal relationships will do to dispel demonization of “the other”.
Maybe someone should make a DVD of how Radical Americans are trying to take over the world and impose their way of life on everyone else who is different…
Except those aren’t the radical Americans. Those are the nice, conservative, corporate Americans who start wars because we know that others would really be happier with our kind of democracy, and who (more insidiously)encourage the proliferation of MacDonalds, Holiday Inn, Starbucks (in the Louvre! yikes!), SUVs, and dozens of other Americanisms into cultures around the world.
To those who say there is nothing wrong with such businesses setting up shop wherever, I wholeheartedly agree. BUT then there is nothing wrong with the Pakistani restaurant down the street or the mosque around the corner in upstate NY or West Michigan, either. It’s only when we start hating people as groups and/or blowing each other up that we have crossed the line . . . in either direction.
James, I wholeheartedly agree with you.