Jul. 1st, 2005 05:27 pm
30 Days - Life as a Muslim American
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toastykittenThe Christian-guy-living-as-a-Muslim episode terrified me and made me not want to leave California. I do not want to know that people are that fucking ignorant, and dumb enough to ask, "Have you observed any terrorist activity?" Also, dumbass radio host - Muslim is not a synonym for Arab, nor is it necessary for you to coddle dumb callers in that NPR voice by pretending they are legitimate questions.
Really, this episode broke my heart. I wish it had been two hours, and then we could have had more time to discuss David's struggle between the two religions, an explanation of why Islam is not the same thing as Arab and more on the Pakistani culture, the difference between condemning an act and apologizing for it, why no one in that entire hour seemed to understand that the Muslims ARE Americans, why certain people commit terrorist acts, etc. It frustrated me that as soon as the conversations went somewhere, we would move on to the next day.
According to a poster on the TwoP Forums:
Here's what I found sad: I could tell by the landmarks that that scene was actually shot in Brighton, where I grew up. I recognized the Asian man as one of my childhood Sunday School teachers. I happen to know that he was in an internment camp during WWII because he is Japanese-American. I was primed for him, of all people, to be the voice of reason against race-based discrimination. But no, you saw what he said.
Yeah - I'm disappointed, but not surprised. I've had to grow up with some ignorance (I remember people trying to "educate" me on why Rodney King had it coming to him) in my life, but wow. These people scare me. David, I liked up to a point. He gets stupid and obnoxious sometimes without realizing the things he's saying and implying, but overall I liked him. I liked that he went out on his own and tried to learn Arabic. I loved the family he stayed with; they were so devoted to their family and so damn American.
Really, this episode broke my heart. I wish it had been two hours, and then we could have had more time to discuss David's struggle between the two religions, an explanation of why Islam is not the same thing as Arab and more on the Pakistani culture, the difference between condemning an act and apologizing for it, why no one in that entire hour seemed to understand that the Muslims ARE Americans, why certain people commit terrorist acts, etc. It frustrated me that as soon as the conversations went somewhere, we would move on to the next day.
According to a poster on the TwoP Forums:
Here's what I found sad: I could tell by the landmarks that that scene was actually shot in Brighton, where I grew up. I recognized the Asian man as one of my childhood Sunday School teachers. I happen to know that he was in an internment camp during WWII because he is Japanese-American. I was primed for him, of all people, to be the voice of reason against race-based discrimination. But no, you saw what he said.
Yeah - I'm disappointed, but not surprised. I've had to grow up with some ignorance (I remember people trying to "educate" me on why Rodney King had it coming to him) in my life, but wow. These people scare me. David, I liked up to a point. He gets stupid and obnoxious sometimes without realizing the things he's saying and implying, but overall I liked him. I liked that he went out on his own and tried to learn Arabic. I loved the family he stayed with; they were so devoted to their family and so damn American.