(h/t to American Muslim)
UPDATE 1/9/08: Based on some comments, I felt it necessary to clarify that while I disagree with the overall undertones of this video, I have the utmost respect for those involved in its production. I'm no fan of arm-chair Muslim critics, who whine and moan about our screwed up situation without lifting a finger. May Allah (swt) bless these individuals who actually stood up and did something constructive (as much as I may disagree with their approach). Good for them!
I'm really not diggin' the vibes in this video. I feel its too... apologetic... submissive...
I understand that Muslims are in dire need of a PR makeover.
I understand that far too many media outlets seek out the bearded FOB with the broken English as representative of the entire American Muslim community.
I understand that the war on terror has made the Muslim into the 21st century Commie/Nazi/Bogeyman.
I do understand all that.
But what are we aiming to achieve with this public service spot? Is a message consisting of 'Hey look at me! I'm just as American as you. I love Britney Spears and the NFL just like every other Joe Six-Pack. Please accept me! Oh and I also cheated in high school' really worth saying?
It seriously irks me the lengths we go to in order to humanize ourselves to those hellbent on dehumanizing us.
I would much rather prefer a more substantive portrayal of Muslims in America with signs stating our hatred for the economic injustices of capitalism or the disgust for the racism ravaging American cities or intolerance for the greedy crooks running the big pharmaceuticals.
How about a video with more substance - reflecting the higher principles we stand for as opposed to the weaker image of a domesticated people asking to be accepted?
While I won't knock the MAS Media Foundation and the dedicated individuals who put this video together (May Allah continue to motivate them to help the situation of Muslims in the West), I just don't feel its necessary to show our American-ness by citing Grey's Anatomy or Justin Timberlake or Victoria's Secret.
In its defense, I liked that the video conveyed an anti-alcohol, pro-abstinence, pro-environment, pro-social justice message.
But why is showing that a young Muslim is able to rap to all of Tupac's songs so important in establishing our American Muslim identity?
Its not about integrating into society. Its about elevating society.
One final note: I don't care much for the choice of the song. Generally speaking, its a nice song, but to even remotely intimate that Muslims are in America because they see it as a Paradise is highly questionable and quite insulting. Let's not feed the Amero-centricism so prevalent in American society.
WAW
2 days ago
14 comments:
I know what you mean. I feel the same. I think to show that America is `Paradise’ is submissive although I didn’t mind the throwing in of American TV programmes and shopping outlets. I’m so tired of being asked to integrate. Do Americans integrate in the Middle Eastern societies where they may live up to 20 years to earn fat tax-free dollars? How many Americans respect the Muslim values in say a liberal city like Dubai? I have seen women showing so much flesh in cold shopping malls for just no reason. The mums who do school runs are always in shorts in vests. Respect us – our values. Integrate in our society and then ask us what we want to say to America!
I quite liked the video :p Although I do see your point Naeem and Suroor's.
AA Naeem -
Just out of curiosity, did you just happen to come across that video the same day that I did and post it one day after, or did you see it on my blog?
I opted to not attach any comments on my blog because while the same problems you mentioned also bothered me, there was something about the video that really struck me.
But I wouldn't call it apologetic really. I didn't like the part about cheating through high school really, I'll give you that much. But I still don't see it as trying to prove American-ness.
There is a problem with more 'substantive portrayals of Muslims'--of which there are PLENTY. I don't think anything in the video had to do with Muslims trying to be accepted, but rather just showing a kind of honest cross-section of what Muslims think about. And as shallow as you or I may think it is--there are plenty of Muslims who are pretty hell-bent on catching Grey's Anatomy the second it starts, more so than getting to a prayer on time... even Jummah.
I guess I just don't see the whole video as being as sinister as you seem to think it is.
As a final note, it never occurred to me that the song selection implied that America was a paradise. (Do people really think that??) I kind of saw it as showing that the overriding theme was that Muslims are more concerned with the afterlife than this life.
I didn't parttticularly think it was apologetic...because while I personally am the type to not really buy into the apologetic junk..this did kind of depict reality....
think about it.
as for the paradise thing...this is how i took it..alot of muslims came to this land for better money, for better education, for security from the persecution of their own lands, so it that sense yur looking to go somewhere paradise-like meaning a great experience. I didn't take it literally. and I don't particulary find that insulting cuz as much as it bothers us..there is a general level of civility and chaos in this society.
mind you..i'm someone who is planning on moving overseas like you br naeem to raise my kids overseas for the same values you listed in one of your earlier posts, which took the words right out of my mouth, but the truth is that there is a lot of good here too. and soemtimes people's lives are so unbearable back home(whereever their back home is..cuz lets face it..everyone backhome isn't going to be well off with maids and drivers..thats just reality) that coming here and having the freedom to move up in society..to have a chance at an education you can somehow work to afford to pay..is something great.
I know of a practicing practicing family who just recently moved here from pakistan. they have 7 kids and while their dad is very islamicaly knowledeable with some big degree..he's white...and the mom is paki...i'm guesing they probably moved back here at this point in their life so the kids can afford to go to college..each kid can work partime to earn some cash...can they do that in pakistan? nope.
so when yur hungry and can't afford basics..beleive me ..then you don't care if someone's belly is hanging half outside their pants and shirt once you step outside your house. sad at that is..thats reality. food just comes first..education is something we do need.
the part where i said..as much as it bothers us...i think i meant to say .. 'no matter how much we deny it'..lol
and that white dad...left out one detail..from what i understand he has no secular degree.
AA- Suroor,
"although I didn’t mind the throwing in of American TV programmes and shopping outlets."
I have no beef, per se, with TV shows and shopping malls. Its just that the context of their reference in this video was unnecessary.
Do we need to show that Muslims eat burgers and apple pie just to be considered worthy of acceptance?
AA- Amy,
I saw it on AmericanMuslim's blog. I added that to my post...thanks for reminding me.
"And as shallow as you or I may think it is--there are plenty of Muslims who are pretty hell-bent on catching Grey's Anatomy the second it starts, more so than getting to a prayer on time... even Jummah."
True and there are Muslim crackheads also...so what? Are they worthy of being mentioned?
I still see it as an attempt to prove that we're 'normal' by American standards.
And I don't think our standard should be to satisfy the status quo. We should be striving to uplift society...not just fit in and be accepted.
AA- Anon,
Thanks for your comments,
"this did kind of depict reality...."
Yes I realize that and my response (as I commented to Amy) is that Muslims are crackheads and criminals as well. Why not depict that reality also? Because that's NOT the image we want to convey.
So what is the image that we wish to present? Of kids who love Tupac and Justin Timberlake? Why? What does that achieve?
"alot of muslims came to this land for better money, for better education, for security from the persecution of their own lands"
I understand that people came here for a better life. I wrote about that in a previous post. I just don't believe that they came here with the hopes of anything more (like freedom or democracy or equality). Its about pure and simple economics.
"I don't particulary find that insulting cuz as much as it bothers us..there is a general level of civility and chaos in this society."
I agree 100% and I'm not into bashing America. There is alot for the rest of the world to learn from the West and I have never denied that. Lets just temper our praises for it...
AA Naeem. Sahra here. You know that I agree with almost everything you write. So this is a critical moment for you and I, will I continue to read your posts? Hmmmmmmmmmm.
First off, I'd like to say that just because someone uses an artists song on a video, the two don't necessarily have anything to do with each other. This has no point, I just thought I would point that out.
I happen to know Br. Kareem's family and they good and devote Muslims. I LOVE this song. The lyrics are amazing and they are not talking about America. Listen to them again and I urge you to reevaluate them. Stop thinking like an intellectual for a second, and think like an artists so you can see where he is going with this.
The video was AWESOME! I love that it tells people that even though we have our faults, we love ISLAM and being Muslim and we are going to practice it whether you like it or not. It's not about acceptance, it's about IN YOUR FACE BOO YAA, WE ARE HERE SO DEAL WITH IT MAYNE! OH, AND BY THE WAY, WE'RE HUMAN!
Don't forget Naeem, most of the people in the deen are not going to be a bunch of passionate, KNOWLEDGEABLE, INFALLIBLE folks like the Rasool or the Sahabah or the Salaf as Saaliheen. They are just normal "Naeems" trying to live life and keep Allah in their lives. That is why the path to paradise is not one road. It is many. That kid that cheated in high school might just go to paradise because he LOVES the Rasool and for no other reason.
Sometimes you gotta cut people some slack. 70 excuses and all that bro.
BTW, I was just kiddin about reading your posts, you know I gotta support the number one blogger! :-)=
AA- Sahra,
Thanks for your thoughts. But I think you misunderstood my point about the song. I can't speak to Kareem Salama's intentions behind his lyrics - I was referring to how the producers of the video juxtaposed their questionable message (we love this land America!) with a song titled 'Land called Paradise'. It may leave *some* to conclude that Muslims in general (and the producers in specific) believe USA to be that land.
Again, its got nothing to do with Kareem.
"we love ISLAM and being Muslim and we are going to practice it whether you like it or not. It's not about acceptance, it's about IN YOUR FACE BOO YAA, WE ARE HERE SO DEAL WITH IT MAYNE! OH, AND BY THE WAY, WE'RE HUMAN!"
Yeah, but why do we need prove that we're human? That's what I'm getting at when I said "It seriously irks me the lengths we go to in order to humanize ourselves to those hellbent on dehumanizing us."
Why not prove that we're real Americans by having some obese Muslim kid with a sign 'I eat McDonalds twice a day' or some yuppie Muslim with 'I drive my gaz-guzzling Escapade everywhere I go...even to my local gym' or some young Muslim couple with 'We're living in major debt having max'ed out all our credit cards'
What would that prove? That we're good 'ol Americans who have serious American tendencies...so what?
i'm the anonymous from earlier...u know i would have agreed perhaps a few years ago that we dont need to be playing into this thing of having to humanize ourselves through videos like this that can come across as apologetic.
but u know what...things seem to have gotten so bad that perhaps we do need to prove we're HUMAn before we can prove that we're an asset to society or that we can uplift it through our message/practice etc.
u know most joe shmoe's in the south or people who just dont know any muslims may just be like 'hmm i guess they're regular people'. That is a step towards decreasing the BIAS.. don't u think?
As Salaam u Alaikum,
Well made and necessary point Borther Naeem. I do like the song very much, but its juxtaposition to the video is quite disturbing.
AA
I've watched the video bunches of times now, and you know... I still am not getting the impression that it is saying America is great. Rather that there are Muslims here who, as commenters above said, love Islam and are proud of Islam and aren't going to give that up--they are proud of their non-American heritage in many cases, and that they're not trying to do anything but improve this society.
Naeem, the video is in no way apologetic and the primary point isn't to humanize us. If you don't like the average Muslim, then you should spend all your time with the Muslims who are well above average and don't need you.
You seem angry that these producers dared to show how Muslims really are. I hate to tell you but most Muslims are not what you want them to be, they are just average folk in most every way but guess what??? They LOVE being Muslim and are not apologizing for it. I had my nonMuslim friend watch the video and she told me that she learned so much that she didn't know about Islam.
What say you to that Mr. Cynicism?
~Sahra
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