Reality TV worth watching
June 29th 2005
30 Days is a reality show unlike all others – it actually feels real. It deals with real issues, real people, and real problems. Tonight’s episode sent a guy from West Virginia to the largest Muslim-American community in the US to live as a Muslim for 30 days, and it was a great show. I learned a lot about the culture and the religion and the people of Islam, and about people in general. It’s something that every American should watch. Highly reccomended. FX, Wednesdays, 7PM PST.
It’s one of the best ideas for a “reality” show I have heard in ages, but it’s poorly executed.
It all has his agenda attached. Morgan Spurlock is out to further his opinion. This was intended to show how intolerant “white christians” are, but what about them? They got wholly defensive when asked serious questions.
He was shocked when he had to take off his shoes when he went through the airport… when is the last time he was an an airport? I am as white christian as they go, and I get the same treatment every time I go through an airport.
Also, when has ANYONE asked them to apologise? What most people want is for them to come out and openly condemn what these terrorists are doing. They also mentioned Eric Rudolph… what did his fellow white christians do? They caught and convicted him. We stood up against him and openly condemn what he does.
The lawyer guy also took up the profiling at airports. Why wasn’t the fact that TSA emplyees were fired because the “profiled” more than two muslims on one flight? We NEED to profile. When a white christian hijacks a plane, I will openly agree to be searched every time I am at an airport, until then, I want profiling, because the last time I looked, white christians weren’t doing that. I totally agree to profiling if it stops another terrorist attack.
They also mentioned that “it’s not our religion that does that”. I will remember that when they behead the next hostage while screaming “Allah Akbar”, while they keep quiet.
We are not asking they say “sorry”, we have them to come out and stand beside us when we stand up against it. I don’t see that, so what are people expect to think?
You cannot deny that Arabs are discriminated against in this country. Your words are proof. Vile, clear proof.
Think about it. You can’t group any religion together and expect them to take any kind of responsibility for the actions of insane people who happen to look like them. Terrorists are not Muslim, they are extremist religious fanatics. How can you ask Muslims to come out and say they are connected to something that is not their religion? They have no more responsibility for condemning terrorism as you or I, and they do as much. What they do not do, and rightfully so, is go above and beyond that responsibility, because they shouldn’t have to.
It’s like asking Christians, specifically Christians to apologize for Eric Rudolph. You say you will condemn him, but you do so with all people, not just Christians. To go further and condemn him on behalf of your faith—“We, as Christians, apologize for the actions of this man”—would be admiting some kind of responsibility on the part of Christianity, which you obviously wouldn’t do. You can’t ask anything more of the people of any other religion in the same situation, which is exactly what this show was about.
It’s not an “agenda”—it’s real. Enlighten yourself and stop discriminating already.
Again, you are twisting what I said. I am not asking them to be responsible, I am asking them to stand up for their religion. These are religious extremists who are hijacking their religion, but they do nothing about it.
We have a fair muslim community where I live. We have about 4-5 mosques within 30 minutes of where I live. Since September 11th, 3 of those five have been shut down because there was clear evidence they were sending money to support these terrorists.
You missed where I said “Where has anyone asked them to apologise?” They don’t have to apologise, what they have to do is stand up with their fellow Americans, which they haven’t done. They cry victim every time. You are mistaking “apologise” with “condemn”. And yes, I need to hear them come out and condemn.
If I could pull the lever that would make Eric Rudolph fry… I would do it without question. I won’t apologise, simply because he isn’t a christian in my eyes. He is a very sick human being that needs to die for what he has done.
Do you think people in the community knew what the terrorists in Buffalo, Albany and California were up to? Of course they did. muslim communities are tight, nothing goes on without others knowing.
If I see something suspicious, I will call it in, I couldn’t give a crap what religion they are. That is the differece. Until they show me otherwise, I will continue to be righty suspicious.
Look, you’re just generalizing and steriotyping. There’s no judging going on here—there is always—always—a reason to question logic like that.
But you’re right, generally. Muslims are more likely to be terrorists than Christians. And if we see anyone—Muslim or Christian—being suspicious, then we’ll call it in.
That’s not the point, though. You can be completely right generally and be completely wrong actually. This kind of generalized thinking is just something to watch yourself on. You start making little assumptions about Muslim communities and righteously justifying small actions against groups.
I mean to twist your words. I can feel in your writing a way of thinking that I despise, and I’m trying to make you realize it.
I am suspicious of everyone. That isn’t the problem. I do have a problem with muslim communities hiding their guilty within their community, when they know it’s going on. In my own city, there were 3 mosques who were connected to terrorist activity, as well as a few business and a charity run by muslims. This was known within the community, and no one said a thing.
The terror cell that was caught in Albany. It was again, known within the community, but they said nothing, the same with the cell caught in California. If they truely want to show that their religion is peaceful… prove it to me.
A Religion cannot possibly be peaceful. To say so is to say every single person who practices it is peaceful, and you just can’t say that, ever.
About the “terror cells”—everyone, Muslims included, is free to participate—or not participate—at any level they want within the country. You can’t force anyone to rat on people, even with the god forsaken patriot act. It’s not illegal not to be patriotic, or at least it shouldn’t be. Anything saying differently is an abomination of democracy.
My bet is that it’s infinitely more complex than you think it is. Simplifying and generalizing will of course make it seem black and white—“They were supporting terrorists” you think, but it’s not that simple. Nothing is.
If you have information about a terror cell, and you keep quiet… it IS illegal.
This has nothing to do with patriotism, it’s called right and wrong. If they refuse to turn in the people who want to kill us then don’t expect me to be tolerant and understanding.
Abomination of democracy, like I said.
I just want to know when it was OK to not call in illegal activity? It isn’t an abomination of democracy, it’s the saving of freedom.
My bet is that its infinitely more complex than you think it is. Just like I said before—it’s not black and white, this is terrorism we’re talking about. It’s an extremely complicated situation. Who knows? They could have been misled in their own communities into believing they were sending money to help their families at home. They could have not even been told at all. They could have been terrorized (a Muslim being terrorized? No way…) into keeping quiet.
Or, the most likely explanation, they were probably afraid of being discriminated against in this country for speaking out at all, especially against their own people. What kind of message does it send about Muslim communities if it’s made public that there are terrorists in them? It would make dumb Americans even more afraid of the Muslims in their own country—great—just what we need. You think the people in the community didn’t think of that? Is it possible that greater harm would be done by Americans afraid of terrorism than by terrorism cells themselves? No, of course not, we’re the good guys…
Don’t be so quick to judge. Put yourself in their situation and you’ll find it’s not such an easy decision to make. It’s an abomination of democracy that we call these people criminals, who are asked against their will to act against their own people. Even when they may know that terrorist activity is going on, it’s still incredibly difficult to speak out against it, and we’re not making it any easier by—to be honest—hating Muslims. Would you want to help your “fellow Americans” if it mostly looked like they hated you? I wouldn’t.
So it’s not a black and white decision, and the Patriot act is far too blanketing over such decisions—it’s completely ambiguous of what exactly constitutes “aiding terrorists”—and it just promotes fear and hatred and steriotypes around the country. We are terrorizing Muslims. That has to stop before they—the select few of them who actually are terrorists—stop.
Actually, no. It would be the easiest decision I could make. If I knew of terrorist or other illegal activity in my community, it’s my duty to protect the country I love.
Actually, no. I think 19 terrorists flying planes into some buildings and killing 3,000 innocent people is more harmful than people being careful of people around them.
I am not afraid of terrorism, and will continue to live the American dream. That doesn’t mean I will allow anyone to try and terrorize and hurt this country. There are people who hate this country, some are willing to do anything to kill as many of us as possible. There is no appeasing them, and they will continue to try it.
What we can do, is allow them to share in our freedoms. If we hated Arabs so much, how come we welcome them into our country and live free? They can participate in our election, our system. It’s not a right to live here, it’s a priviledge.
How exactly are we “terrorising” them? They are allowed the same right as everyone else in this country. Tell me ONE right that you or I have that they don’t. You have again moved into the liberal ideals void of reality if you think that if we treat muslims the way they think we should, then all the terrorists will stop. Back in reality, they won’t stop until they are arrested or killed. Their “ideal” is the infidel (you and I) have to convert to islam, no compromise. That is what they believe. If the real muslims don’t believe that, then they need to stand up and say so, stand up against the terrorists who are hijacking their religion, not the other way around.
The right to discriminate against, steriotype, and hate an entire race, and get away with it.
So you actually believe they don’t discriminate or stereotype? Do you not think they hate us?
Quotes direct from the Koran
Sure, there are bible passages that can be interpreted as the bad too. Thing is, the bible isn’t the be all, it’s a guidebook for Christians. There are those who take to to cause trouble, and I openly codemn anyone who uses the bible for hate. The Koran is “the” book for them. They do not condemn the people who use it for evil.
Again and again you generalize, so ignorantly. “They” and “them” you say, when “they” are not all the same, and “they” cannot be grouped. “They hate us” is a logically false statement. You just can’t say it!
You know nothing of the real people who practice Islam. All you know is propaganda from your leaders (Government, family, GOP, religious leaders, etc). All I know is this Surah guy is pretty insane, and I bet a good number of Muslims don’t take these words too seriously. People are smarter than the groups to which they belong.
Every religion has its problems. In fact, the whole idea of religion is a problem in my eyes. It’s great when people use it as a guideline to lead a good life, but when you get a group together with mass-reinforced beliefs, that ideal goes out the window. Religion causes so much war and conflict throughout the world that it’s not worth it.
Because, you see, long ago, with all these religious groups around in conflict with one another’s beliefs, some prophet named Surah thought like you: combative, narrow-minded, generalized, black and white…
“They desire nothing but your ruin”, “Make war on them“, “they bite their finger-tips”, “He will grant you victory over them.”
“The Koran is “the” book for them. They do not condemn the people who use it for evil.”, “So you actually believe they dont discriminate or stereotype? Do you not think they hate us?”
No, actually. I don’t think they exist. They‘re all in your head.
You sure had the last word on that one. Way to go!
Careful, he might come back….