Bigotry and the Dehumanization of the American-Muslim

I am not the biggest fan of “The All-American Muslim”. I believe that this show is not out there to become a favorite. I believe the show is out there to make a difference in this diversely-challenged world we are living in. The personalities of this reality show are not your typical everyday Muslims. There are a lot of Muslims like them, but there are so many more colors and tastes to the beautiful diversity of Muslims in the US.

This being said, I am a fan of “The All-American Muslim” because of the stereotypes it is attempting to diffuse of American-Muslims. God forbid that the general American public wouldn’t perceive ALL Muslims as terrorists and haters of freedom. Bertrand Russell said, "The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd”.

For all the companies that are pulling their ads because they are following the bigoted zombies of our society, I say you are only attracting the scum of our social order to be your supporters.

What I have yet to understand is how shows like “Jersey Shore” and the one with the scary little doll-like toddlers and even scarier moms could still be on TV and not get any trouble for it. “The All-American Muslim” is a show that is relatively clean. Is it because it’s relatively clean that people have a problem with it? The “Jersey Shore” is one of the most disgusting and disgraceful shows I’ve known to grace our homes, yet their cast made last year’s “Most Fascinating People” list on ABC. I can’t even see a commercial or watch a talk show with these messed up people as guests without wanting to throw something at my screen. It is deplorable that our society has dimmed itself down to liking only the most corrupt and encouraging the most ignominious of people.

Can you imagine people pulling their ads for a show based on an all-American black family? What would happen and what ramifications would our society be facing if this happened?

Image from: http://www.everythinglongbeach.com/

Dear Reader, try to envision yourself in the shoes of an American-Muslim, and see how you might feel about society and the way the world is changing. In the words of Edwin Hubbel Chapin, “Bigotry dwarfs the soul by shutting out the truth”. We have to fight to keep truth, rationality and understanding high on our scale of values as American citizens; otherwise, we will fall back into the dark ages of discrimination and hate. The late Coretta Scott King, the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a women’s rights activist, so eloquently said “Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood”. The same holds true today. Times are changing, civilization is maturing and aging. With these changes we need to be up for the challenge. Keep on fighting against the tide for that is the way you know you’re going in the right direction.

Peace be with you fellow Journeyer of this delicate life.

~Mona