An Open Letter to ABC’s 20/20 regarding “Islam: Questions and Answers”

In light of the highly problematic portrayal of Muslims in ABC’s 20/20 September 29, 2010 episode “Islam: Questions and Answers,” a colleague of mine, Margari Hill (who is also an amazing blogger in her own right), and I wrote an open letter to the production team of the program. If you are interested in supporting this effort and endorsing this letter, please click on the link here to fill out the requested information and share with others who shared similar sentiments about the episode.

An Open Letter to ABC’s 20/20 regarding “Islam: Questions and Answers” Season 31, Episode 3

Maintaining a Narrative: ABC’s Monolithic Muslim Experience

Discrimination, however administered and defined, is not what defines the American Muslim woman’s experience. Nor the experience of all American Muslims. To continue to focus on the discrimination faced by Muslims in terms of taunts and stares thrown their way is to create a victimized narrative and experience of American Muslims…

Editorial: 9/11 anniversary is no time for hate

The nationwide resurgence of anti-Muslim sentiment is sad and unfortunate. It threatens to tear at the seams of the fabric of America. On the ninth anniversary of 9/11, we appeal to the people of Newport-Mesa to refrain from joining in to stoke this frenzy against fellow Americans whose name for God might sound foreign to us, but who call their maker Allah. Locals should instead look to a mosque that’s right here in Costa Mesa, the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County, as an inspiration for spreading peace and goodwill that is so badly

The Sufi and the Jihadi: The Dangerous Good Muslim/Bad Muslim Trope

In a recent op-ed from New York Times (“Muslims in the Middle,”August 16th) contributor William Dalrymple writes that “many of our leaders have a tendency to see the Islamic world as a single, terrifying monolith,” unable to discern between the varying “complexities and nuances” rampant within a community of faith that envelops..

The Right-wing Sensationalists’ handbook to incriminating any Muslim (or a “Modern-day Morisco”)

1. Whether it be an American beauty pagent winner or any MSA student, connect _______ Muslim to one of the following: Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, IHH, Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Qaeda, Bin Laden family, Palestinians, Mexicans, Hugo Chavez, or Allah. See the following example (here)

2. Acceptable responses to “What is wrong with Muslims anyway?”:

Rima Fakih Has The Backbone To Pose Topless

Earlier this week, the reigning Miss USA, Rima Fakih, was photographed topless for an official Miss Universe photo shoot. Fakih was one of only several Miss Universe contestants that chose to go the topless route. This photo shoot is sure to be controversial because how is posing topless in any way appropriate for the Miss Universe pageant? Regardless, according to Fakih, the contestants were given options to choose what was most comfortable for them. Fakih’s response to that was she felt “comfortable with beauty.” What the hell is that supposed to mean? Is posing in a bikini not beautiful enough for her? The women, including Fakih, as you can see, were partially covered in body paint, by the way.

FYI: This September 11th Muslims Will Celebrate, Don’t Panic

Ramadan begins in most Arab countries today August 11 2010….a month from then is September 11th, the 10th anniversary of the terrorist and violent attacks on America’s soil. Many talking heads and demagogues have argued Muslims have danced on the streets in celebration. And something tells me the same talking heads will strike again and take advantage of this and show images of happy Muslims on September 11th 2010, the date that will be the Eid, one of two Muslim holidays. While the majority of Muslims will join the rest of the world in commemorating the tragic events of September 11th, they will also be partying it up for the Eid. In other words, they will take the words of former President George Bush to heart and do what he told the American people to do few people after 9/11 “Go and shop”, that’s why the Muslim holiday like everything in this world has been commercialized.

Vikings Safety Shows There’s No Reason To Complain This Ramadan

With Ramadan a day away, it’s nice to read something inspiring before the holy month when practicing Muslims fast from sunrise to sundown begins. I recently came across an article on Yahoo! about Minnesota Vikings Safety Husain Abdullah. Abdullah has been fasting during Ramadan since he was seven years old. For him, whatever conflict my exist regarding fasting and the rigors of daily practice, there’s no question that fasting comes first.

Dalai Lama Gives Shout-Out To All His Uighurs

His holiness, the fourteenth Dalai Lama risked the ire of Chinese Authorities when he came out explicitly in support of the Muslim Uyghur minority yesterday, Uighurs have fought for equal rights and autonomy in Western China. “Let us not forget about dem Uighurs in East Turkestan… dey be resisting oppressions and shit.” He told a [...]

Guest Post: The Muslim Cabbie Who Saved Chrismas

There aren’t too many people who don’t remember Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, also known as “The Grinch.” It was a 2000 American film starring Jim Carey based on the 1957 book of the same name by Dr. Seuss. For four weeks it sat as the #1 film in the U.S., eventually earning $260 million at the US box office and breaking the 2007 Guinness World Record for Highest-Grossing Christmas Movie.