Recently, approximately 28 million people received a copy of "Obsession," a film that addresses the issue of "radical" Islam in the world and its goal to rid the earth of "infidels." Unfortunately, the Clarion Fund -- the right-wing distributor of "Obsession" -- wasted its postage.
This propaganda does a disservice to Muslims here and abroad by implicating that Muslim terrorists are lurking around every corner, posing as mild-mannered civilians, while secretly harboring violent feelings toward non-Muslims.
This film also could undermine American decision making during election season. If nothing else, the film has high production values often associated with top-quality work. Still, carping about "radical Islam" is so 2001.
For more than seven years, the image of the Muslim in the public eye has gone through a lengthy development. Introduced forcefully into the American consciousness on Sept. 11, 2001, as bloodthirsty holy warriors, the Islamic image in American consciousness has -- thanks to the pushback of groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the gradual erosion of the epically flawed stereotypes that emerged after 9/11 -- gradually approached something close to acceptance. This film, however, teaches Americans to be suspicious of fellow citizens.
Fostering a culture of paranoia does little to encourage cooperation and understanding of cultural and religious differences. By relying on a cleverly edited "documentary"-style film for information on the Muslim faith, many are misinformed and continue to harbor hatred and distrust of Muslims who, as members of all other religious groups the world over, run the gamut of personalities and inclinations from downright despicable to highly humane.
In this final stretch before Election Day, voters should consider the sources of the information they use to select their candidate. They should also carefully consider for whom they vote based on their own cognitions and independent research. They should not rely on cleverly packaged, convenient morsels of half-truths and convincing lies to inform them, but they should seek answers for themselves from reliable sources.
The editorial board is composed of David Grant, Laurel Colella, David McIlroy, Sally Bull and Jackie Peters
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One could argue that Michael Moore has done the same thing with his handful of propaganda movies, and that Al Gore has done the same with his. Propaganda exists everywhere, on both sides of the political spectrum - the ability to separate legitimate information from smear is part of that whole 'well-informed' public thing that the Founding Fathers sought.
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Dispute the facts put forth before you slam the messenger ...
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An extensive FBI investigation that took several years with dozens of FBI agents concluded that the Council on American Islamic Relations is a "Front Group" for Hamas. http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/10/fbi-cair-is-a-front-group-and.html http://www.khou.com/news/state/stories/khou070826_tnt_muslimcharity.70ea6a5c.html For an Editorial Board - You are showing a lack of research skills...but then, it's just your "opinion"
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How did we get in this financial mess? You deserve to know, especially if you are losing your home or your life savings has been wiped out by the recent stock market decline. For answers watch this You Tube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5z9lD4C2Io
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Actually, CAIR is a front for the Saudi Government, which also basically founded and still funds Hamas. What's sad is that through CAIR and other organizations the Saudis have been accepted as a moderating voice in the west while continuing to spread their violent brand of Islam (Wahhabism)throughout the world.
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Calling this film "propaganda" is completely off-base. It's the kind of comment I would expect from someone who hasn't seen the film, which seems to be the case here. I found the movie - a film that I am happy to help spread the word for - to be incredibly insightful, informative, and most importantly even-handed. Far from castigating the entire Muslim religion as one that promotes terror, "Obsession" points to the radical and extremist Muslims as the harbingers of terror - folks who will stop at nothing in their quest to end the West, while giving this entirely peaceful religion a bad name in the process. And when it comes to CAIR...that organization is so full of controversy I don't know where to begin. The issue of radical Islam is still very current and important, and to say the issue is "so 2001" is incredibly ignorant - the real "disservice" here is this op-ed.
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"Still, carping about "radical Islam" is so 2001." are you kidding me?
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How exactly does this movie relate to making choices on election day (I admit I have not seen it)? Does it say Obama is a muslim, or are you implying it? What does CAIR have to do with either candidate? Or is this simply a case of you trying to subtly nudge people to vote for Obama because all those Republicans are eeeevil?
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