Comments on: Don’t blame ‘24′: Properly directed criticism needed http://blog.catholicsphere.com/2007/01/19/dont-blame-24-properly-directed-criticism-needed.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:32:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: CatholicSphere » Muslim speaks up; validates CatholicSphere http://blog.catholicsphere.com/2007/01/19/dont-blame-24-properly-directed-criticism-needed.html#comment-2248 CatholicSphere » Muslim speaks up; validates CatholicSphere Thu, 08 Feb 2007 02:34:31 +0000 http://blog.catholicsphere.com/2007/01/19/dont-blame-24-properly-directed-criticism-needed.html#comment-2248 [...] It always feels good when you write about something, and a similar commentary shows up in a major media outlet.  It’d be even better if you were the writer whose commentary was given major play.  So, what am I referring to? Yesterday, Catholic Exchange (which I consider to be a major media outlet, distinct from the MSM) posted this commentary by M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., the chairman of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy and a former U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander, related to this season of the Fox television drama, 24.  Back on January 19th, I posted an entryDon’t blame ‘24’: Properly directed criticism needed.  In that post, which was in response to the news that Muslims were upset over portrayal in ‘24’, I said much of the same as Dr. Jasser said in the Catholic Exchange article. Here are some of the similarities between the two articles: Dr. Jasser: The show addresses a real concern. Me: However, there is a real fear [of Islamic extremists] among people in the world … Dr. Jasser: To the extent Muslims have a bad image on TV, what can we do to change that? Me:  if a portrayal is inaccurate, do something to change the impression or opinion that drove the portrayal. Those of “true Islam” need to condemn those who are responsible for creating this fear of Muslims, and the mistaken impression of Islam. Dr. Jasser:  Other than press-release condemnations, there has been virtually no palpable public effort from the greater Muslim community in this regard. Me:  In fact, in my search, I could find only an article or two in the first few pages of a Google-News search for “Muslims criticize/criticise… [...] [...] It always feels good when you write about something, and a similar commentary shows up in a major media outlet.  It’d be even better if you were the writer whose commentary was given major play.  So, what am I referring to? Yesterday, Catholic Exchange (which I consider to be a major media outlet, distinct from the MSM) posted this commentary by M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., the chairman of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy and a former U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander, related to this season of the Fox television drama, 24.  Back on January 19th, I posted an entryDon’t blame ‘24’: Properly directed criticism needed.  In that post, which was in response to the news that Muslims were upset over portrayal in ‘24’, I said much of the same as Dr. Jasser said in the Catholic Exchange article. Here are some of the similarities between the two articles: Dr. Jasser: The show addresses a real concern. Me: However, there is a real fear [of Islamic extremists] among people in the world … Dr. Jasser: To the extent Muslims have a bad image on TV, what can we do to change that? Me:  if a portrayal is inaccurate, do something to change the impression or opinion that drove the portrayal. Those of “true Islam” need to condemn those who are responsible for creating this fear of Muslims, and the mistaken impression of Islam. Dr. Jasser:  Other than press-release condemnations, there has been virtually no palpable public effort from the greater Muslim community in this regard. Me:  In fact, in my search, I could find only an article or two in the first few pages of a Google-News search for “Muslims criticize/criticise… [...]

]]> By: Matt http://blog.catholicsphere.com/2007/01/19/dont-blame-24-properly-directed-criticism-needed.html#comment-1983 Matt Sat, 20 Jan 2007 17:33:15 +0000 http://blog.catholicsphere.com/2007/01/19/dont-blame-24-properly-directed-criticism-needed.html#comment-1983 Ajaz, welcome to CatholicSphere and thanks for your comments. I would say that '24' is perpetuating or echoing such a stereotype and fear. While the sense of impending danger is different, Catholics are constantly stereotyped in the U.S, too. I will say that '24' did attempt to have a portrayal of a former Muslim extremist who was now looking to diplomacy. Maybe just a token though, to be able to make just such a point in the face of criticism. As for the fact that many don't distinguish between the "vast majority" and a "handful of extremists", I would tend to agree. The reason for it kinda comes back to the point of my blog entry ... the "extremists" and those who react violently receive near exclusive coverage (and I know how the mainstream media [MSM] can be, though, in biased reporting -- choosing what is controversial instead of fair and balanced). It appears that they make up the "vast majority" of Muslims. If more of the non-extremists were to speak out against the extremists, wouldn't there be progress in changing people's mindset by showing who really made up the "vast majority"? Ajaz, welcome to CatholicSphere and thanks for your comments.

I would say that ‘24′ is perpetuating or echoing such a stereotype and fear. While the sense of impending danger is different, Catholics are constantly stereotyped in the U.S, too.

I will say that ‘24′ did attempt to have a portrayal of a former Muslim extremist who was now looking to diplomacy. Maybe just a token though, to be able to make just such a point in the face of criticism.

As for the fact that many don’t distinguish between the “vast majority” and a “handful of extremists”, I would tend to agree. The reason for it kinda comes back to the point of my blog entry … the “extremists” and those who react violently receive near exclusive coverage (and I know how the mainstream media [MSM] can be, though, in biased reporting — choosing what is controversial instead of fair and balanced). It appears that they make up the “vast majority” of Muslims.

If more of the non-extremists were to speak out against the extremists, wouldn’t there be progress in changing people’s mindset by showing who really made up the “vast majority”?

]]> By: Ajaz http://blog.catholicsphere.com/2007/01/19/dont-blame-24-properly-directed-criticism-needed.html#comment-1973 Ajaz Sat, 20 Jan 2007 10:59:09 +0000 http://blog.catholicsphere.com/2007/01/19/dont-blame-24-properly-directed-criticism-needed.html#comment-1973 Indeed 24's recent episode is thought provoking, but is it not promoting streotypes and fear of the muslims in general. Many people in the U.S. do not seem to distinguish between the vast majority of 1.6 billion muslims and a handful of extremist muslims. Indeed 24’s recent episode is thought provoking, but is it not promoting streotypes and fear of the muslims in general. Many people in the U.S. do not seem to distinguish between the vast majority of 1.6 billion muslims and a handful of extremist muslims.

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