Moron Spurlock Starts A New Show
Actual name, "Morgan Spurlock," I know. His new show, 30 Days, is featuring the episode, "Inside An American Muslim Familiy," next Wednesday, writes Detroiter Debbie Schlussel in The Wall Street Journal:
While Mr. Spurlock is often referred to as a journalist, and touts "30 Days" as a "documentary," the outcome of the show was decided before production began. A show summary sent to me before taping said: "This process aims to deconstruct common misconceptions and stereotypes. . . . Our character will learn firsthand about Islam and the daily issues that . . . Muslims in America face today. The viewers will witness our character emerge from the immersion situation with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Muslim-American experience. . . . The potential is great for this program to enlighten a national television audience about the Muslim American experience and increase their compassion, understanding and support."
Oh, eat me. Right after you read the lying, hate-spewing Arab rags in Detroit. Absolutely frightening. I know, because my parents have sent me copies. I was stunned at the stuff they print. "The Protocols of The Elders Of Zion"/the "news" division, you could call them.
Schlussel meets David Stacy, a childhood friend of Spurlock who's featured in this episode, and finds him clueless about all of it:
This new "expert" on Islam never heard of Wahhabism--the extremist Sunni strain of Islam that dominates Saudi Arabia and informs the terrorist-breeding madrassa schools throughout Arab and other Muslim lands. He was unfamiliar with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. He did not believe me when I told him that Hezbollah had murdered hundreds of U.S. Marines and civilians in Beirut and elsewhere. He seemed mystified to learn that President Bush shut down American Islamic charities, like the Holy Land Foundation and Global Relief Foundation, for funding Hamas and al Qaeda.In Mr. Stacy, it is clear, Mr. Spurlock had found the perfect tabula rasa. He had also found the perfect "experts" and "key members" of Detroit's Islamic community to educate him. One such was Muqtedar Khan, a professor at Adrian College whose occasional columns in the Detroit News and elsewhere have urged us to understand how devout Muslims can be driven to commit terrorism because of the West's economic alliances.
Mr. Stacy was also taught by Imam Hassan Qazwini of Dearborn's Islamic Center of America, the largest mosque in North America. In November 1998, Mr. Qazwini's mosque hosted Louis Farrakhan, who was introduced as "our dear brother" and "a freedom fighter." I was there and watched Mr. Qazwini cheer on Mr. Farrakhan's attacks on America and his descriptions of Jews as "evil" and "forces of Satan."
When I told Mr. Spurlock's executive producer that I felt David Stacy was, well, a moron, she replied that Imam Husham Al-Husainy, a prominent Dearborn Shia cleric, "said the same thing" and refused to continue teaching him about Islam for the show. The biggest morons, though, will be not Mr. Stacy but the critics and viewers who fall for this supersized phony "documentary."
See also Cosh.
Crid at June 29, 2005 6:27 AM
Regarding the "eat me" comment, not as romantic as one would have liked, but, well, I do accept. While we do not always agree, I've always found you very sexy. What time shall I arrive in the people's republic of Santa Monica?
chris "world teacher" volkay at June 29, 2005 7:26 AM
Sorry, the position's been filled.
Amy Alkon at June 29, 2005 7:52 AM
So to speak.
Maybe the show should be called Sermonize Me.
Jim Treacher at June 29, 2005 8:10 AM
I finally watched "Supersize Me," under duress from my wife, who couldn't understand why I can't stand this guy. You can see where's he coming from as soon as the film opens, stating his supposedly still - unproven premise (yeah, right). Then he proceeds to agitprop his way to the clumsy finale: fast food = bad; poor, unsuspecting, easily - duped people = good!
He never, ever puts any responsibility in the hands of the consumers themselves - no, it's all everyone else's fault. Guess this proves the theory that if the preview looks like it's gonna really suck, then so it will.
DMAC
Dmac at June 29, 2005 8:23 AM
I believe it is important not to paint entire communities with the same brush: whether it be whitewashing or demonizing. Each person is different, regardless of whether they claim the same belief system. There are muslims that are terrorists, and there are muslims that are peace loving. There are xtians that are terrorists (i.e., Timothy McVeigh, for example), and there are xtians that are peace loving (Martin Luther King, Jr.). It is key not to buy into the stereotypes, but it is also key to be awake to what is going on around you. What does a terrorist look like? It could be anyone. So do we go around with hatred and distrust in our hearts? Or do we choose the high road of kindness and giving the benefit of the doubt? There has to be a middle ground somewhere.
Goddyss at June 29, 2005 8:28 AM
Start with hatred and distrust, and see if they're worth more.
Amy Alkon at June 29, 2005 8:53 AM
In 40 years, I have met two people worthy of hating. I think I have met a thousand worthy of trusting.
eric at June 29, 2005 9:22 AM
Truthfully, I don't hate a lot of people. I do, however, favor my cynicism-colored glasses!
Amy Alkon at June 29, 2005 12:03 PM
Cynicism to me can be the equivalent of cautiousness. That's no crime. In this day and age, a girl has to protect herself. I wouldn't go as far as to say that I am a cynic, but I sure am cautious. I do tend to give the benefit of the doubt, but keep an open eye for red flags. You have to do what works for you, Amy, as you know -
Goddyss at June 29, 2005 12:39 PM
Goddyss: Here's the short form of the question. Do you believe people are naturally good?
Crid at June 29, 2005 4:35 PM
-excuse me, to butt in-
I think good fences make good neighbors, as the old country saying goes.
But I would like to hear your opinion Crid, (with no animosity attached).
eric at June 29, 2005 8:10 PM
ps- no animosity from me in that question...
eric at June 29, 2005 8:11 PM
Liar! Taunter! You're going to TRICK me again!
Crid at June 29, 2005 10:24 PM
I think people are "naturally" self interested. And, if being good serves a beings self interested, then they are naturally good. The trouble is that we are so far removed from the natural that the point is moot.
John O at June 30, 2005 8:57 AM
> The trouble is that we are so far removed from
> the natural that the point is moot.
I disagree; A person's answer to this fundamental question has consequences in a thousand other judgments.
Crid at June 30, 2005 9:23 AM
Spurlock seems to specialize in grand revelations: first he revealed to us that if you eat crap all day every day you'll feel like, well, crap. Now we learn more incredible secrets: that a typical Muslim family in America is not comprised wholy of suicide bombers.
Are these things NEWS to anyone but the fictitious NASCAR-loving rubes that Spurlock thinks we all are?
Todd Fletcher at June 30, 2005 2:41 PM
Crid,
I don't believe that *all* people are inherently good (and my definition may be different from yours), but I believe that the majority (not all, but the majority) are just trying to be the best they can be and find love and acceptance. Ultimately, I believe the basic human need to be loved is simply not filled for too many people, and they wither on the vine, so to speak.
It is not necessarily realistic to think the way I do sometimes; I own that. But by the same token, I want to create a reality where love and acceptance can thrive.
I know. I'm a hippy. *sigh*.
Pass the tofu.
Goddyss at June 30, 2005 5:10 PM
Interesting. "lying hate filled Arabs" huh? So when I get racist newspapers from UC San Diego, can I start screaming about the evil lurking behind all white people? Amy...give me a break. Every nationality in the fucking world has a magazine/newspaper/movie/song/etc; devoted to the absolute hatred and distrust of anyone not like them. One of my favorite poems is "Listen Asshole" by Yellow Rage. The movie "Birth of a Nation" made me want to kick the shit out of people, "Roots" did it too for an entirely different reason. My white friend got a newspaper from the local KKK that said 'bring your own rope to the next mtg'.
I'm not saying all people are good, but I at least am selective about whom I choose to hate. I'm cynical as all hell, have to refrain from punching random people every day for the stupid racist comments they make, but I still won't act like 'they' are all my enemy. I won't trust every person I meet, but at least I won't demonize them before they give me a reason to hate them. Aren't you the one always going off on free speech? Well I can't kill my evil klan newspaper people, and you can't kill yours. But if you are going to fire bullets (verbal or otherwise) at least be careful where you shoot.
Lia at July 2, 2005 1:32 AM
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