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 Samira Amen, who's featured in "All-American Muslim."
November 28th, 2011
02:38 PM ET
My Take: Defending TLC’s ‘All-American Muslim’ against Muslim complaints
By Khurram Dara, Special to CNN.com For the last decade, Islam has been under a lot of scrutiny, and understandably so. When you’ve got terrorists all over the world declaring war on America and the West in the name of Islam, it’s only natural that people will have questions. But this reasonable concern has rapidly turned into irrational suspicion, with anti-Muslim groups seizing on the opportunity to paint all Muslims in America as radical-loving, violence-approving foreigners. The problem is that the response from American Muslims has been about as effective as Herman Cain’s PR strategy in the face of sexual harassment allegations. Instead of pooling our resources to combat radicalism, or taking a more active role in our communities so that other Americans better understand us, we’ve resorted to defense tactics. We tell people that the Quran is being taken out of context. We focus on efforts to try to “educate” the American public. And we desperately cling to the idea that if people just had a better grasp of the facts on Islam, they wouldn’t buy into anti-Muslim propaganda. Unsurprisingly, none of that has changed Americans' view of Islam. So when I heard that TLC was doing a reality show about several American Muslim families, I was intrigued. The show wasn’t going to feature scholars refuting the (ridiculous) claims made about Islam. It was going to show regular Muslim families living in America. It was going to show, rather than simply tell, people about Muslims and Islam. After three weeks of airing, “All-American Muslim” has done just that. Whether it was Mr. Aoude prepping his pregnant wife for that hectic hospital trip, or newlyweds Jeff and Shadia worrying about how their families will get along, it has shown viewers the single most important truth that will change the perceptions of Muslims: We are just like everyone else. There has been widespread praise from TV critics, calling the show "intimate and heartfelt" and "as good as it gets" and praising TLC for how it has "upended the conventions of reality television." The show’s premiere had 1.7 million viewers, making it the No. 2 program in its time slot among key demographics and scoring TLC's best Sunday prime time performance in more than a year. Predictably, the show was also met with harsh and unfair criticism. Anti-Muslim groups wasted no time citing this as another example of Muslims trying to “take over” America. This was expected. What wasn’t expected was the reaction from some other American Muslims. “The families aren’t Muslim enough.” “They aren’t good role models.” "They don't represent all American Muslims." Is the show a perfect cross-section of the American Muslim demographic? Are they the most religious families? Is it full of people you aspire to be one day? No, of course not. It’s reality TV. It’s entertainment. We American Muslims ought to look at it in the grand scheme of things instead of just criticizing the show by saying it “doesn’t represent me.” You’re right. It doesn’t represent you. That’s because no TV show, no organization, no movement is ever going to represent you better than you can represent yourself. “All-American Muslim” is not going to change the image of Muslims on its own. But it’s got the right idea. It’s premised on the fact that people judge a group not just on its beliefs, but also on their interactions with members of that group. So if you don’t think “All-American Muslim” represents you, then go out into your community and show people what being Muslim is all about, from your perspective. Whether it’s a book club or a basketball league, we can all have our own “All-American Muslim” moments. The most important take-away from a show like “All-American Muslim” is that we Muslims should focus our efforts on showing average Americans that we share far more in common with them than some would like them to believe. And you don’t need a TV show to do that, you just have to have the courage to break out of your shell and share in those experiences with your American brethren. Don’t treat TLC’s reality show as the only hope for changing our image, or as our one shot at showing America what Islam is all about. Don’t treat it as needing to be a flawless, immaculate portrayal of Muslims in America. Treat it as a first step. Consider it a new approach. Look at it as the beginning of the long journey we have ahead, in changing the negative stereotypes about Muslims in America. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Khurram Dara. soundoff (2,050 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Editor's Note: Khurram Dara is the author of 
Thank you for writing the same thing I have been saying for years- Muslims seriously need to do some positive PR work – as a group. Instead of being angry with Americans that they are discriminated against- perhaps they should direct some of that outrage towards the radicals that seem to be the only ones talking. Oh- and when your outward religious symbols and ways (niqab, full veiling, child brides, etc) are so restrictive and offensive to Western women who embrace the ideals of personal freedom, what do you expect?
all Muslims are talking but the Zionazi media chooses to pick the radical ones to broadcast. It's the persona freedom of Muslim women to dress as they wish. Their personal freedom should not offend you.
Yes, I am totally offended by women feeling the need to be subserviant and mask their faces in my country. When you move to another country, you assimilate to that way of life. Hmm.. If I moved to Saudi Arabia, I wonder if they would be okay with me wearing a short skirt, simply because that is my personal freedom in a Muslim nation? (oh, right....there is no such thing there!)
and what do you expect, when you're restrictive and offensive? no worries you will find love.
maybe you should talk to these women before you assume they dress modestly because they feel subserviant. Do you believe nuns who dress almost the same do it because they feel subserviant? You can wear your short skirt in any Muslim country except in Sauida Arabia. Saudi never claims to be a bastian of freedom, the US does.
Assimilation is what takes place in dictatorships, religiously influenced governments, and socialism. Pluralism is what is supposed to take place in secular democratic countries. Cuz that's what freedom is about .. duh. And in 'our' country we women are subservient in other ways – our bodies are exploited to sell just about everything and our faces are masked by foundation, eye shadow, mascara, blush, lipstick before we decide to walk out the door, go to work, etc. Niqab, and obviously government imposed models of dress, are problematic – but let's not pretend that women in the west aren't subservient to norms and capitalism ..
this guy may be on to something. we do waste an awful lot of time arguing with others who have nothing to add. i feel like our interfaith groups preech to the choir?
im fine with muslims if they look like the writer!
When I saw this show being plugged on TV it made me sick. There's nothing All American about a faith which has a death penalty if you decide to leave it. A faith which regards women as subhuman. There are simply too many flaws of morality in the Islamic faith to list here. The bottom line... this show is a disgrace to America.
Agreed, how hard is it to understand, that if one follows all of the tenants of islam, then you are un-american. You hate free speech, you hate freedom, you hate equality. Islam is evil, and so are all of those who practice it
Christians are also a disgrace to America.
Seriously, you are mentally ill. Please get some help.
You should take a close look at some of the sht some Christians believe in. Talk about ignorance and sheer hypocrisy.
THE ANSWER IS EASY:
(from the studies of Armstrong, Rushdie, Hirsi Ali, Richardson and Bayhaqi)
The Five Steps To Deprogram 1400 Years of Islamic Myths:
( –The Steps take less than two minutes to finish- simply amazing, two minutes to bring peace and rationality to over one billion lost souls- Priceless!!!)
Are you ready?
Using "The 77 Branches of Islamic "faith" a collection compiled by Imam Bayhaqi as a starting point. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true "faith" (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings." i.e. a nice summary of the Koran and Islamic beliefs.
The First Five of the 77 Branches:
"1. Belief in Allah"
aka as God, Yahweh, Zeus, Jehovah, Mother Nature, etc. should be added to your self-cleansing neurons.
"2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence."
Evolution and the Big Bang or the "Gi-b G-nab" (when the universe starts to recycle) are more plausible and the "akas" for Allah should be included if you continue to be a "crea-tionist".
"3. To believe in the existence of angels."
A major item for neuron cleansing. Angels/de-vils are the mythical creations of ancient civilizations, e.g. Hitt-ites, to explain/define natural events, contacts with their gods, big birds, sudden winds, protectors during the dark nights, etc. No "pretty/ug-ly wingy thingies" ever visited or talked to Mohammed, Jesus, Mary or Joseph or Joe Smith. Today we would classify angels as f–airies and "tin–ker be-lls". Modern de-vils are classified as the de-mons of the de-mented.
"4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore."
Another major item to delete. There are no books written in the spirit state of Heaven (if there is one) just as there are no angels to write/publish/distribute them. The Koran, OT, NT etc. are simply books written by humans for humans.
Prophets were invented by ancient scribes typically to keep the un-educated masses in line. Today we call them for-tune tellers.
Prophecies are also invali-dated by the natural/God/Allah gifts of Free Will and Future.
"5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)
alone."
Mohammed spent thirty days "fasting" (the Ramadan legend) in a hot cave before his first contact with Allah aka God etc. via a "pretty wingy thingy". Common sense demands a neuron deletion of #5. #5 is also the major source of Islamic vi-olence i.e. turning Mohammed's "fast, hunger-driven" hallu-cinations into horrible reality for unbelievers.
Walk these Five Steps and we guarantee a complete recovery from your Islamic ways!!!!
Unfortunately, there are not many Muslim commentators/readers on this blog so the "two-minute" cure is not getting to those who need it. If you have a Muslim friend, send him a copy and help save the world.
Analogous steps are available at your request for deprogramming the myths of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Paganism..
Epic fail .. that's gotta suck, dude
FAIL.
Your comments make no point. And most are flat wrong. Do not forgrt, that part of islam is the death of all who do not believe, that is the only part one must know.
WHO THAT GIRL
It's funny, in a world of 1.5 billion Muslims, the ones portrayed by TLC are a tiny, basically insignificant minority. They have little in common with the half-billion Muslims who live in South Asia or the 250 million who live in Indo-Malaya. But of course it's propaganda in pursuit of the social engineering goals of the elite so that's irrelevant. I haven't seen the show, but does the camera crew ever sit in on a mosque sermon with these All-American Muslims? If not, why not? And if so, what kind of stuff is being preached from the pulpit?
OR THE 1.5 BILLION THAT WANT US DEAD.
Because the preachers usually bluntly said "we must fight infidels"
Really, if 1.5 billion wanted you dead, you would be dead. Please remove head from rectal opening.
Frank, don't loose fact that 99.9% of the 1.5 billion muslims have no other choice but to be a muslim. I have spoken with many muslim females who would like to leave the faith but are afraid for their life (it's called honor killing). Don't forget the grand Islamic deed of killing those who defile or leave the faith. Secretary Rice demanded the release of a Afghan man who was jailed and sentenced to life in prison for converting to Christianity from Islam.
Frank, that is why the show is called "All-American Muslim," not "Those Muslims in Other Parts of the World."
Why don't you visit one and find out?
Every Muslim country I've ever been to has been backwards.
The more Muslims in the United States will mean a slip into the third world.
Nobody wants them here, they should respect our culture and leave.
American's have a "culture"? What would that be exactly??
We are heading for a 3rd world nation
ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN IDIOCRACY IN THE FUTURE WERE MUSLIMS.
Joe,
I really hope that you are not a confessed christian! It is so easy to be afraid of something you know nothing about! I am an american, however I have live 3 years of the past 6 years living in a Muslim country. They are very peaceful people! I was originally afraid when I arrived, but with time, I grew to love them as people and not as a religion.
Back in the 20's to the early 70's, blacks and other minorities dealth with terroistic plots taken out on their lives by the Klu Klux Klan! well, take that same viewpoint and replace it with the terroist in the Middle east! They only represent a small part of their culture! I am sure you absolutely would not want people to judge our country based on the actions of the KKK! I certainly would not!
I pray that you lay down your ignorances and learn to love people and not their religion. We will all meet our maker one day and you will be judged on your heart! One that has been shown to have hatred for someone that is not like you! God bless your soul!
One of the keystones of American culture is acceptance of all cultures. If we had it your way we'd be sending black people back to Africa daily.
All thiests need to pack up and leave, or SHUT THE F UP, RELIGON IS EVIL
It's like other race in the past, The Irish, Germans, Italians, African American, and now the Muslim American. Its being repeated for centuries. They are here, they belong here, the social responisblity does not just rest on the American Muslim Community but us non-muslims as well. Embrace them as they are our own.
I wish CNN should have asked the question whether the nuslims are allowed to leave their religion. In the middle east ...the answer is death and polygamy is encouraged too. I have nothing against polygamy because it prevent adultery
gliese42,
to answer your question, yes a muslim can leave the faith and don't have to worry about being put to death, what you've read has been called religious killings and thats culture beliefs not islamic belief
Nuslim? Learn to spell first, idiot.
Jeff, if you are telling us that we are to seporate the islamic culture of places like S.aribia and indonesa? NO WAY. The way the majority of the faithful act is the measure of the faith as a whole. When 9 out of ten muslems wish death to all infidals, there is a problem that can only be corrected with force.
This show was not intended to others American. It was intended to young Americans muslim that "this is how muslim Americans should live in America – the land of freedom" This show are some tactics to overcome radicals mindset on young Americans. That the "what the Middle East told you about Islam" were wrong and Islam Muslim are encourage to have the freedom that their parents or ancestor never had on their former system.
To Muslim, welcome to America, where you can criticize the Govt and others religion and still can regret and have fully peace to know that you had criticize the wrong system.
you need to get out and hang out more with your local Muslim community outside of your immediate circle. The show is a good snap shot of a majority of Muslim Americans and many Muslims worldwide as well.
AL LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA
If you are what passes for a 'real American', I'd rather be a Muslim terrorist.
NEW, with your name that is funny, I would rather come from anywhere on earth other then NewYork, them meanest most vile americans i have ever had the displeasure to meet.
@Mickey: Please stay in your hillbilly redneck town. There's enough trash in New York. We don't need any more.
Heard this show is good, gonna watch it when I have the chance.
And to the people saying baseless negative stuff about muslims as a whole: shut the hell up.
Too many out there are trying to create a counter-stereotype – and there is just no such thing as a good stereotype. From a Muslim that has never wanted to be a cookie-cutter anything – thank you for the spot on article.
This is the voice we need representing Muslims on CNN's blog. Great article, man.
So many positive things come from muslims and islam. like ........... well ............ I'lll get back to you.
I am an atheist and especially dislike organized religion of any kind. Yet your comment is completely ignorant. Nothing positive about Islam? How about this one: they are the ones who got Europeans out of the Dark Ages. The first university in the WORLD was Islamic.... Timbuctu. Every culture has given humanity something and Islam has given us education, poets, philosophers, mathematicians, etc.
YOU FORGOT ABOUT THE 3000 DEAD PEOPLE IT GAVE US IN 2001.
I am athiest, so I hate to give them a point, but muslems created algebra and were clean and educated while europe was wallowing in filth.
And what was the death toll of the crusades again?????
@THE BIBLE IS GARBAGE: So 9/11 is reason enough to hate 1.5 billion people that had nothing to do with it? OK, keep hating Muslims. I can't imagine Muslims would give a sht about what people like you think.
I travel around the world on business over 50% of the time. It makes me laugh to see comments like yours. How little we understand history and how ignorant we are about the rest of the world. Algebra, Chemistry and many other subjects were invented and taught in 12th century, long before Western world came out of the dark ages, by Muslims. Muslim relgion was the first to ban slavery in Middle East around 11th century. They were the first to introduce traders and interest free banking systems. Please read the histoiry of Otman Empire and Mughal Empire and learn about beautiful poetry and art they created. Go see Taj Mehal and many sites around the world and you will be amazed by the architecture they created in 12th or 15th century. Dont forget that if it wasnt for Pakistan and Afghanistan making the sacrifies, USSR will be the most powerful nation on this earth with central asia and south asia as a part of USSR. I can go on but you get the idea......READ.
I will not feel safe as an American soldier in war with a muslim nation, Remember Major Nidal Hasan and Faizal the timessquare bomber who just received his citizenship
There were some more caught who were in the service
remember the guy who shot congresswoman from AZ? remember the neo nazi militants caught recently with plans to used chemical weapons against the gov? remember the murder of a guard outside the holocaust museum? remember the guy who flew his plane into the IRS building? remember the ex president who forged WMD evidence and lied to us and sent our children to die in the middle east in a huge blunder? all those are your good ole local christian terrorists. Are you afraid of them too?
So if you were fighting in a war with a predominately Christian country you would feel safe?
Kat is right on. How does an interesting article about a much needed entertainment and education initiative attract so many hateful remarks?
This represent every debates and arguments about Islam:
Koran 5 verses 51 : Never be a friend with Jews and Christians especially Atheist because in fact they are allied one another.
The logic was " Why they came here to force sharia implementation and occupy an occupy group IF the previous country was at good on the islamic sharia system?? Don't they run here because oppresion by sharia?? or maybe looking better water system??"
This had to be answer by some Muslim before we open the hand to them?? Why moved to western countries if the western are not complement with sharia "your way of life" systems???
KAT, yes, I am. On the 1-10 scale of evil. islam=7 jewism=8 christianity =10 & 1/2
Way to wasted time on the part of the good guy, let alone the so called faithful. What does the world show us not to mention all those who are super intelligent? .......let me see turn on the tv and listen for yourself or just look at your own family as you know it, what do we find peace and joy?.......nope instead we find comprimise and fatige, or stress and depression or all these so called child hyper disorders. All just little signs that are there to remind us that we ALL are not perfect. that there is something missing and its called hope and faith, But we dont want to here that because that means self examination. And we"d rather charge our insurance money to prescribe a pill or see a therypist and have him tell us what it is we want to hear , kinda like these blogs we chat on. People its not complicated the world as we know it is NOT the component that supports and builds up faith and hope but instead robs us of it as we fall for all its lies day in and day out. He laid out before us the choices blessings or curses life or death? dont waste your choice while you have one. heres a clue selfishness wins everytime, untill its exposed to the truth. do it today and your life as you know it will be the difference between night and day!
I was born and raised in Dearborn, MI, the city that this show is filmed in. I was raised in a Christian household and went to public school with a student body of over 60% Muslim-Americans. I have a great respect for their culture and for the people I have known throughout my life in Dearborn who practice Islam. The Hijab is not something to be feared as someone has insinuated and neither are our Muslim neighbors. There are bad people in the world and they come from a vast array of religious and non-religious backgrounds. By assuming that all Muslims must be terrorists perpetuates the hate against a culture that is misunderstood by Americans. I think that TLC does a decent job showing what typical Dearborn Muslim families are like, granted they seem to show the more affluent ones, the picture is still pretty accurate. They are nothing to be afraid of and it only points out your ignorance if you automatically judge someone based on having Islamic beliefs.
Well said Elizabeth. I live in Houston and there is a large Muslim population here as well, and I have several very close friends that are practicing Muslims. I wish more people would just reach out rather than let their fear paralyze them.
How come all the commentators who speak for tolerance and respect are women? People don't write these hateful things unless they lack confidence and are afraid. And there you have it folks, the American conservative Christian male.
You are correct, they are not to be feared as they are the minority, However, anywhere in the world where they are the majority, the same can not be said. Tell Brigitte Gabriel, a girl who grew up in Beirut Lebanon that mulims are not to be feared. Lebanon was the only Christian in the Middle East. They accepted the Palestinian into Lebanon when no other muslim country would accept them. When they became the majority, they took over the government, invited the Syrian army in, slaughtered the Maronite Christians, and now we have Hamas and Hezbollah running the country and waging war on Israel every chance they get. Elizabeth you are correct and you are incorrect. If they could, right there in Dearborn, they would force you to convert to Islam, kill you, or expel you from the city. Go to the library and check out the book, Because They Hate by Brigitte Gabriel.
We watched one show and gave up. This was very benign for a reality show, but it was still a reality show – and seemed phony. It's in the DNA. We also felt like we weren't learning anything about the culture. Maybe PBS could do a better show.
But we really need to know more about this culture. I'm not at ease with muslims, but if you took christianity – or ANY religion – and read the canon, writings, and the writings of the followers, and used generic phrases for the principals – you'd have some pretty scary text! We have cheated and mistreated that region for (decades? centuries?). We shouldn't be too surprised that they don't like us. Now that they have the power and numbers, what do they do? They act like US! Scary.
We are having too many problems with those "ordinary educated" home grown terrorist. I believe too that many muslims would speak out against this country if they didn't have what to lose
we're having problems with bigots and war mongers like you
This is in response to Kat – you are a jerk. Robert didn't say anything about war – what is wrong with you? Are you a muslim lover?