All American Muslim

[PM_Mama00]

Is anyone watching? I'm curious how "outsiders" feel about the show. Having gone to UofM-Dearborn, I learned a little about the Muslim culture, and A LOT about them not all being terrorists. Many I met were wonderful people.

[DrPhil]

What network is this on? ETA: TLC (it is not on now)

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

...and A LOT about them not all being terrorists.

I understand but it is sad that you did not already know this. In all honesty, why do you think you needed that reality check?

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Many I met were wonderful people.

I am sure that goes without saying. This sounds a little like "some of my best friends are (insert)."

[DrPhil]

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/all-american-muslim

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

What network is this on? ETA: TLC (it is not on now)



I understand but it is sad that you did not already know this. In all honesty, why do you think you needed that reality check?



I am sure that goes without saying. This sounds a little like "some of my best friends are (insert)."

I said that because

1- a big purpose of this show is for the world (or Americans) to see that they are NOT terrorists. I already knew this. I was in college on 9/11 and it was heartbreaking to hear my friends' stories.... yes my FRIENDS... about how they were being treated by the public. Friends or not, I've never once felt threatened by a Muslim and it's REALLY sad that many people have felt that way. I hope this show changes a lot of people's minds.
2- Many I met are wonderful people, and just like all races, religions, body types, genders, I met some shitty ones too.

Don't try to turn my post into something it isn't. I'm very interested in this show because it's showcasing a culture I was surrounded by for 6 years, and it was filmed in my own "backyard". Don't turn this into some kind of hate thread.

[honeychile]

I'm going to go with informative and having potential. I've watched worse.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

1- a big purpose of this show is for the world (or Americans) to see that they are NOT terrorists. I already knew this. I was in college on 9/11 and it was heartbreaking to hear my friends' stories.... yes my FRIENDS... about how they were being treated by the public. Friends or not, I've never once felt threatened by a Muslim and it's REALLY sad that many people have felt that way. I hope this show changes a lot of people's minds.

When you type: "having gone to UofM-Dearborn, I learned a little about the Muslim culture, and A LOT about them not all being terrorists. Many I met were wonderful people" it conveys that you did not know this until you attended UofM-Dearborn.

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

2- Many I met are wonderful people, and just like all races, religions, body types, genders, I met some shitty ones too.

Again, doesn't this go without saying? In stating the obvious, are you trying to inform people or speaking about what you learned from your experience? Serious questions.

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Don't try to turn my post into something it isn't. Don't turn this into some kind of hate thread.

It is what it is. I am responding to your posts just as I would to someone who said "I went to a school with a large Jewish population and learned A LOT about Jews not all being greedy" or a nonwhite person who said "many white people I met in college are wonderful people."

What is embedded in those statements?

Sure, you can add that there are wonderful and shitty Muslims just like there are wonderful and shitty people of all races and ethnicities, religions, etc. But, again, in stating the obvious are you trying to inform people or are you speaking about what you learned from your experience?

[DrPhil]

I was wondering why Dearborn, Michigan is home to the largest mosque in the United States. Then I read the racial and ethnic demographics of Dearborn. Approximately 86% whites which includes about 33% Arab Americans (approximately 30,000).

Wikipedia is okay sometimes:

Originally Posted by wikipedia

The city's population includes 30,000 Arab Americans. Ethnic Arabs own many shops and businesses, offering services in both English and Arabic. Lebanese are included among the population. In the 2000 census, Arab Americans comprised 30% of Dearborn's population; many have been in the city for several generations. The city has the largest proportion of Arab Americans for a municipality of its size (about 100,000).

The first Arab immigrants came in the early-to-mid-20th century to work in the automotive industry and were chiefly Lebanese Christians (Syriac-Maronites). Other immigrants from the Mideast in the early twentieth century included a large Armenian-American community, who are Christian. Assyrians/Chaldeans/Syriacs have also immigrated to the area.
Since then, Arab immigrants from Yemen, Iraq, and the Palestinian territories, most of whom are Muslim, have joined them. Lebanese Americans are still the most numerous group. The Arab Muslim community has built the Islamic Center of America, the largest mosque in North America, and the Dearborn Mosque. More Iraqi refugees have come, fleeing the continued war in their country since 2003.

Interesting blogs about All American Muslim:

http://www.buzzfocus.com/2011/11/21/all-american-muslim-episode-2-review-the-fast-and-the-furious/

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/15/my-take-all-american-muslim-doesnt-speak-for-this-muslim/

http://blog.chron.com/thestraightpath/2011/11/all-american-muslim-the-tlc-version/

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=47508

****

My thoughts based on the videos that I have seen and the things that I have read: Shows like this have pros and cons. DUH, of course. These shows can be informative but they can also merely form "exceptions to the rule." I tend to dislike shows that are teaching people about different groups of people and can be interpreted as attempting to prove "they are just like us." CNN's shows like "Black in America" also toll that line.

More importantly, when interacting with and learning about groups of people who we were previously less exposed to, we need to think critically about how we express and respond to what we have learned. We can have the best of intentions but people typically do not react based on our intentions. For example, I have had people in real life tell me about a television show they saw on Black men in America or something they read and they have said things like "I learned from this show...I also have some really good Black male friends...they aren't all street-level offenders despite Black males statistically being disproportionately involved in violent crimes...and many of them are really good, intelligent people." I responded with "thanks for that reminder and your expression of approval of Black men...I guess some people need that newsflash about Black men...did you need it? Do you still need it from time to time?"

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

When you type: "having gone to UofM-Dearborn, I learned a little about the Muslim culture, and A LOT about them not all being terrorists. Many I met were wonderful people" it conveys that you did not know this until you attended UofM-Dearborn.



Again, doesn't this go without saying? In stating the obvious, are you trying to inform people or speaking about what you learned from your experience? Serious questions.



It is what it is. I am responding to your posts just as I would to someone who said "I went to a school with a large Jewish population and learned A LOT about Jews not all being greedy" or a nonwhite person who said "many white people I met in college are wonderful people."

What is embedded in those statements?

Sure, you can add that there are wonderful and shitty Muslims just like there are wonderful and shitty people of all races and ethnicities, religions, etc. But, again, in stating the obvious are you trying to inform people or are you speaking about what you learned from your experience?

I'm giving my damn opinion. Before college I knew nothing of the Muslim culture. All you hear about in the media is negativity about Muslims. I appreciate my college experience, learning about MANY different cultures since I grew up in a predominately white, middle class, Catholic community. Hell I was the weird Italian who brought Nutella sandwiches to lunch (think: My Big Fat Greek Wedding and her moussaka).

This is an internet board, not a speech class on Persuasive Writing. I'm not going to carefully think about every single letter I type, just in case you decide you want to pick it apart and find a reason to make it look like I am discriminating against something. It is what it is. Stop searching for hidden meanings.

[Cen1aur 1963]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I am sure that goes without saying. This sounds a little like "some of my best friends are (insert)."

I feel you on this.

[agzg]

I keep meaning to tune in but am never home. It's On Demand so I'm going to watch an episode right now.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I'm giving my damn opinion.

I'm giving my damn response to your damn opinion.

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Before college I knew nothing of the Muslim culture. All you hear about in the media is negativity about Muslims.

I am responding to how you expressed what you learned. That is all.

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

This is an internet board, not a speech class on Persuasive Writing. I'm not going to carefully think about every single letter I type, just in case you decide you want to pick it apart and find a reason to make it look like I am discriminating against something. It is what it is. Stop searching for hidden meanings.

There was no hidden meaning. You said exactly what you meant. It is wonderful that you learned something and how you expressed what you learned is what I am responding to.

The bolded sounds like a newbie responding to GCers critiquing their spelling. LOL.

[AGDee]

I am planning on catching up with this show On Demand once this class term is over. I'm anxious to watch it and everybody around here is talking about it, especially about the young woman who said she dyes and styles her hair even though it is always covered in public.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I am planning on catching up with this show On Demand once this class term is over. I'm anxious to watch it and everybody around here is talking about it, especially about the young woman who said she dyes and styles her hair even though it is always covered in public.

Which one is that? I know there is the daughter who dyes her hair and is married to (or marrying?) an Irish Catholic man who is converting.

[KKGCaroline]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I learned a little about the Muslim culture, and A LOT about them not all being terrorists

Your organization must be so proud.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Which one is that? I know there is the daughter who dyes her hair and is married to (or marrying?) an Irish Catholic man who is converting.

I don't know, I'm only going by things I've heard people talk about.. haven't seen it yet. They did talk about the guy who is converting also, so maybe that's the one. It was a lunch conversation that I couldn't partake in since I haven't seen the show yet.