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 One of the families on TLC's "All-American Muslim."
December 12th, 2011
10:29 PM ET
My Take: Is ‘All-American Muslim’ begetting all-American bigotry?
By Arsalan Iftikhar, Special to CNN Imagine for a moment that a major American corporation decided to remove its commercials from a reality television show highlighting the everyday lives of Latinos, African-Americans, members of the LGBT community or Jewish Americans because of coordinated letter-writing campaigns from right-wing organizations. If you think this kind of bigotry could not happen in modern-day America, you would be absolutely wrong. The hardware and building supply chain Lowe’s has pulled its TV commercials from future episodes of TLC’s new reality show “All-American Muslim” after a letter-writing campaign by the Florida Family Association, a Christian group. The Tampa-based organization has urged companies to pull ads because it alleges the show is “propaganda clearly designed to counter legitimate and present-day concerns about many Muslims who are advancing Islamic fundamentalism and Sharia law.” This argument is lunacy and is a pretext for bigotry against Muslims, plain and simple. Using this sophomoric logic, the TLC reality show "Sister Wives" is a covert campaign to promote fundamentalist Mormon polygamy across America. Nonetheless, in response to the growing controversy, Lowe's issued a terribly weak statement (and non-apology) on its Facebook page which states, in part: “Lowe’s has received a significant amount of communication on this program, from every perspective possible. Individuals and groups have strong political and societal views on this topic, and this program became a lightning rod for many of those views. As a result, we did pull our advertising on this program.” Wait a minute, Lowe’s. Exactly what "topic" are you talking about? Are we 7 million American Muslims merely a "topic" to discuss in today’s America? In 2011, do we live in a country in which an entire minority group can be dehumanized as a “topic?” Plus, it is cowardly for Lowe’s not to even mention this "topic" (aka Muslims) by name in its public statements. What if right-wing groups were mobilizing against a television show highlighting the everyday lives of Latinos, African-Americans, Jewish people or gay people? Would Lowe’s have buckled? Of course not. What makes this national controversy all the more troubling is that many of the more than 12,000 comments responding to Lowe’s Facebook statement endorse the chain store’s decision, and in jingoistic language that is a lot less oblique than Lowe’s. Here are some of the comments that were showcased by BuzzFeed: - “Thank you Lowes, for pulling your advertising from “All American Muslims” show (there is no such thing as “All American Muslims”).” - “[The women on the TLC show] were almost pretty, till they put rags on their heads.” - “How dare these people come into our country and try to take over and push their religion onto us!” - “Thank you for pulling your support for American Muslim, now I will come back and shop in your stores.” I wonder whether these people would ever have the guts to say these same things about other religious and ethnic groups in America today. Do these people know that the cast members for "All-American Muslim" include a federal agent and a deputy chief of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, both of whom are proud American Muslims? Do they know that some of America’s foremost heroes and celebrities, from boxer Muhammad Ali to comedian Dave Chappelle, are proud Muslims? Just as anti-black, anti-Semitic, homophobic or anti-Latino campaigns should have no place in our country, it is important for Americans of all races, religions and ethnicities to stand up against the bigoted campaign against "All-American Muslim." Otherwise, TLC might as well change the name of its show to "All-American Bigotry." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Arsalan Iftikhar. soundoff (2,079 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 33 34 35 36 37 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: Arsalan Iftikhar is an international human rights lawyer, global media commentator and author of the book
Its all about 'Free Will" that is partly the reason you exist on this planet. People have choices to make and the choices have no color or creed. When will people start to realize that you cannot blame an entire race for those who are completely ignorant and refuse to live in peace. White people tortured blacks in history, but not all white people are bad, blacks did the same to whites, but not all black people are bad, the Germans, slaughtered the Jew in Nazi Land, but all of those German people were not all bad, there had to be a few with good sense and in hiding, With all the Muslims living in this country, don't tell me for one minute that all of those people are bad, a lot of them are your neighbors and you don't even know it because they are good people and did you no harm, don't tell me they did, you smiled with them this morning and shook their hands... I think we need to do our homework a little better and stop being hypocrites. Know the story and stop threatening people based on their race because you are no better than the ones who did the harm and that don't make your race bad, it only makes you bad. Check yourself in the mirror.
NO one who opposed this show said "All Muslims are bad." No one wants to deprive Muslims in the US of their rights.
I opposed the show because it simply failed to address any problem in Islam. There was only one portrayal of the religio-legal framework, a fully positive one that commended the faith. I must take exception with that as a nurse.
As a nurse, I've come across the results of Islamic practice that you see in much of the Muslim world. One of these is FGM.
I can't stand by as a nurse and remain silent, singing the praise of a faith system whose clerics the world over continue to advocate for this practice:
http://sheikyermami.com/2007/05/31/female-genital-mutilation-is-part-of-the-sunna-of-the-prophet/
Time to get real and be honest. There are problems in Islam. FGM is a particularly cruel practice with many health problems and costs. Yet where in the media in the US do you see the issue honestly covered? Enough with the propaganda, now let's get to the truth.
and...what's your point again?
I agree whole-heartedly with the decision of Lowes to pull advertising from this program. It seems that people are using a double-standard in this country and are blind to it at the same time. If this show was about a group of Christians, it never would of made it past the cutting-room. But because it is Muslim based, it is OK to promote it. This double standard is ridiculous. This country needs to wake up and remember what the core principles of our founding fathers were. Freedom of religion was one of them. And until EVERY religion is treated equally by everyone, I say BRAVO to the companies such as Lowes that have the backbone to stand up and say "This is wrong". Lowes will continue to get my business and I am proud to admit it.
Wow the ignorance of your statements is stunning. There are Christian based shows all over the networks! Where have you been hiding?? Religion is not race based you fool. The original Christians were Semetic – actually so was Christ.
Yea shows like Touched by an Angel and Seventh Heaven didn’t actually exist right? You Xtians and your victim complex are laughable.
I only boycott stores on the price and quality.
Mr. Arsalan, your response is not only well timed, but also very well supported by reality. The bigotry of Lowe's and the Florida Family Association is non-American in the very least, and outright violation of the trust of the American Muslims. It is religious racism and prejudice. This act brings Lowe's retail discipline and ideals in question and clearly shows how Lowe's support religious discrimination and segregation. I am hurt Lowe's. You are a beacon of injustice and religious hatred.
Way to go Lowe's!!!
Hey Shah,
Want some bigotry? Go to the Arab countries wearing a cross....You fools..
You can take Lowe's out of the South but you can't take the South out of Lowe's.
True that. I however can take myself and my money out of Lowes and have. Here I come Home Depot.
I agree right.. I mean those Evil Lowe’s guy.. what were they thinking listening to customer complaints. We should march right up there and FORCE them to advertise on the show.
-PC neo-con.
now there's some real ignorance
Patrick,
You must mean the complaints by these fine American Christians who believe this country was founded with freedom of religion and all men are created equal...so long as those freedoms are approved by Florida Family Association or which ever lunatic fringe organization makes headlines next week.
I mean the ones from multiple groups including Muslims.
Read the article. Better yet read more than just this one sided bias.
For the record I’m an Atheist.
Treating Islam like just another world faith would be like treating the Nazis as just another political party.
Oh wait, people did that – how'd that work for ya?
Ingoring the flaws in a belief system of intolerance in the name of tolerance is the ultimate failing of political correctness.
you're exactly right!
The difference here is that Islam does not teach hatred universally. Islam is centuries old and has been practiced in this country well before any terrorism struck. The media and its zombie followers had no problem with Muslims before 9/11 and everyone knows it. Nazis wanted a complete removal of anyone who was not of the right color/religion. THAT, sir, was a universal in their political agenda. Your ignorance and bigotry is unwanted here. Go to college, get educated, then come back and contribute to these discussion boards.
I don't necessarily believe that Lowes did this solely because Christians took issue with the show...there were quite a few Muslims that have voiced outrage at the show's portrayal of American Muslims as less pious than themselves. If I'm remembering correctly, there's an opinion piece on CNN that says exactly that. I don't like the show for the same reason I don't like any reality TV shows: they paint the picture that ALL families that can be charactatured as "the same" as those recorded–which cannot be further from the truth. Not all American Muslims are like this family, not all Quiverfull families are like the Duggars, and so on.
I can kind of see, from a business perspective, why Lowes didn't want to advertise during this program. Too much controversy is generally not good for business,and this show definately has too much controvery–from many different sides.
Google Muslim Atrocities and see what Islam is all about.
Google Christian Atrocities and see what Christianity is all about.
Google Christian Atrocities and find out what Christianity is all about.
Did you ever hear of the the Christian atrocities called the Crusades?
Google Christian Atrocities and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
See how "Real" stupid you sound.
Hey Roland,
Nice try to take up for the murdering Islamic poor ecuse for a religion that stones little girls to death for showing their face, huh? As for the "christian atrocities", go ahead and google them. You must be talkiing about the one's about the 15th century when women were objects and the africans sold slaves when they conquered other tribes, right? Priceless...
Guess that's where we got detroit and it's GREAT slums! LOL
Hey Fred,
Just because you last name is Sanford? ha ha ha
Michael,
Lame excuse for the murdering Islamic cult. Christian Criusades? You mean the one's over 500 years ago when women were owned (they still are in the middle east), and it was fight or die regardless of who you were? Lame...
Oh for pete's sake. Women have been owned and chattel by most sociieties for centuries. American women received the vote well after other nations like New Zealand and Canada granted it to them. Trying to make it sound like Islam alone has done this is ridiculous.
Google Christian atrocities to see what Christianity is about...
The Christian atrocities were a long, long time ago. muslim atrocities are happening right now.
Mr. Iftikhar, again the point is missed. What other religion wants those that do not follow their religion exterminated?
Well until rather recently – Christianity. Christian organizations still tie their giving to spreading the word – ask any African who has received help if they haven't also been given a crash course on Christ. Ask the Irish.
Lowes is aiding and abetting bigotry... pure and simple... I will never shop there again...
Good boycott a company that supports gay rights, etc.. islam is evil!
That's o.k. I'll make up for your failure to buy a lightbulb or screwdriver. Duh!!!!!!
Neither will I. Closed my account there this morning. Goodbye and good riddance to this publicly traded corporation that kowtows to a private sect.
So what? Now I WILL shop there. For everyone who decides to boycott Lowes, there will be at least five more who will not only shop at lowes but will make it a point NOT to shop at the other stores who support these groups bent on bringing down America and it's values.
Your boycott is useless.
I’m moving my business TO Lowe’s. Sure its an entire block further down the road.. but hey I’ll support a company that listens to their customers.
The blindess of some of the people on here is amazing. It is the blind people that will allow the muslims to achieve their religious goal of having the world dominated by sharia law. Google muslim atrocities. I know you will talk up atrocities committed by other religions, but I ask you this, how many centuries ago were the acts done? It is what the muslims of today do in the name of their religion that scares me, for example, mutilating women, and treating them as property, not to mention the terrorist acts committed against innocent people on purpose. Yes I know all religions have their idiots, but the numbers of mulsims doing uncivilized things in the name of their religion today is much greater than any other.
The leftarded can not see this. Islam is their main goal
How about when those Muslims protested the funerals of dead soldiers?... Oh wait, that was the Christians! My bad...
@Roy
That is a single church. (god help me I’m defending Christians) Who do you think killed those solders?
I’m an atheist.
While I think the articles is right to call out Lowe's for it's incredibly bad decision to pull its ad on the basis of races/religion, I think it's wrong about the degree of racism directed toward other races, which goes unchecked. Latinos, as of late, have become the new media punching bag; they're targeted in comedy sketches, and written about with direct callousness in numerous articles, and talked about with unhuman-like disdain in various news segments. And all but the Jews (who have been the media's darling at least with the last 50 years) have have been the target of unwanted hateful message, both obvious and subtle from every media source. Rather than setting Muslim Americans apart from the other minorities, the article should ask for solidarity in confronting hate.
So??? Lowes is a business, out to make a profit, not make a social statement. If you are offended, don't shop there.
Simply put, from a business standpoint, there are more Christians than Muslims in the US.
A true Christian would not countenance such bigotry.
exactly!!! Lowe's is on the right side of history
and I won't shop there ever again!
I am sadden by what is happening in our country. American Muslims will boycott Lowe's for sure. II will never spend a dime at Lowe's.
I am a proud American Muslim with many Christian friends. My Christian friends know the type of person I am and they do not represnt the bigotry that the Florida Family Association exhibits.
Shame on Lowes and shame on Florida Family Association,
You mean you will hope for beheadings and suicide bombers? Isn't that what you mean?
American-muslim,,,,,an oxymoron.
It's not just Muslims that will be boycotting Lowe's because of this.
wow, I had no idea how many ugly people there are...
yes, there are bad muslims and those who would kill in the name of their religion, or God, but how ignorant can you be to believe that is all Muslims. talk about Stereotypes...
@jeanneO, It is the blind people such as yourself that will allow the muslims to achieve their religious goal of having the world dominated by sharia law. Google muslim atrocities. I know you will talk up atrocities committed by other religions, but I ask you this, how many centuries ago were the acts done? It is what the muslims of today do in the name of their religion that I have a problem with, for example, mutilating women, and treating them as property, not to mention the terrorist acts committed against innocent people on purpose. Yes I know all religions have their idiots, but the numbers of mulsims doing uncivilized things in the name of their religion today is much greater than any other.
Lowes wins my business. Home Depot never has anything in stock and they never sort their merchandise. Ever try to get sales help there? You're lucky if you get a glimpse of an orange apron before they run away. I agree Muslim bashing is cr@p but this is hardware and home improvement we're talking about.
There are so many "christian" groups that are so terribly bigotted (makes me embarrased to call myself a Christian)...and I guess it's not politically incorrect to discriminate against Muslims. Christians are supposed to love one another, but maybe that only pertains to other Christians???
Shame on you, Lowes!
Christians are being massacred in Egypt since the Muslim brotherhood took over!
Respectfully, do you read your Bible? It is very clear that you are to treat a stranger in your land well. However – you do NOT let them live there with their false gods!
JeanneO, there are none so blind as those who choose not to see. I feel sorry for you, and more sorry for the rest of us as it is well-meaning people like you that will allow the muslims to reach their goals.
Hei, this cop in the picture is the one that are persecuting Christians in Dearborn?
And I dont get where humans of today think their some advanced speices, not more than 150 hundreds years ago we killed for land, and 5000 years ago? we killed for land. So correct me if im wrong but, We go many thousands of years killing in the name of religion and land, and suddenly in the last 100 yrs we think were a civil race of being... thats just stupid, we cant change our nature that quick.
In a sense, you're right. But it goes just a tad further than that. It's all about economics. Every war in history has been about money. Why? Because humans are fearful creatures.
Humans seek money to have power to have control and the need to control comes from fear of the unknown.
Honestly Id rather be the one in control than the one not, and who doesent think that way, to deny that is to deny being human, and to deny fear is to deny your own existence. We live and survive because of fear.
Of course! It goes to prove my point that humans are creatures of fear. I think all of us have that fear, and some have greater amounts than others. People who we call "control freaks" are examples of that. You know the people. The ones who have to have all of the cups in the cupboard facing a certain way, have to brush their hair exactly 100 strokes, things like that.
Is it any wonder our society is so stressed out all of the time?
GOOGLE Muslim Artrocities and see what the cult of Islam is all about. Wake up before we fall for another Hitler world domination.
Yeah, I'm sure your cult is waay cooler than their cult.
Yeap. People think these people posting here are Americans. Most are not and are being paid to do so to overthrow this country and to change your beliefs. Exactly what Hitler did.
Hey Real, you should look up christian atrocities.
Hey Taz,
Back to the truth and stop your lame excuses for the cult of Ilsam. Again, Google Muslim Atrocities NOW. Look at those smiling faces while the man's head was sevfered, the smiling faces when the towers fell, the smiling faces under those US servicemen's mutilated bodies on that bridge. Now, back to your ghetto with you.
Real, I feel sorry for you.
How can anyone be that ignorant to call a religion a cult? It is a legitimate religion and much like Judaism and Christianity, it has many of the same basic tenets. Terrorists in another country has distorted this religion to justify their hatred. This does not mean all people of this religion are like these terrible people.
your sad
I hope those of you point fingers at Christianity are not Atheists. Defending one group’s wrongful actions by redirecting that moral out rage to another group is a five year olds tactic. Two wrongs don’t make a right. I expect more.
Timmy: Mommy jimmy broke the vase!
Jimmy: Yea well Timmy hit me /cry
@Aaaye
Look up the definitions of cult and religion. A cult becomes a religion when it becomes main stream.. thats it.
_Atheist
Buy Lowes!