All American Muslim

[als463]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Thanks to als463.

Oh, well thank you ladies! The truth is that we should thank EVERYONE in this thread for making it such a great topic of discussion. If we never have discussions like this, things will never change. I applaud PM Mama for bringing up this show (which I hadn't even heard of--though I watch more television than I should even admit) and DrPhil (as well as anyone else) who made a point to look at this from a different perspective. I think we can all learn from one another on here.

I think I may check this show out! Thanks PM Mama for bringing it to my attention. Also, thanks for giving me another reason to procrastinate in doing my work , lol.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by als463

If we never have discussions like this, things will never change.

Realistically, discussions like this are not what make things substantively change. Things change when societies remove incentives and resources for keeping things the way they are; and add incentives and resources for change.

There are plenty of people who will watch All American Muslim, claim to be gaining insights, and will still say and do things that potentially negatively impact Muslims. To reiterate what I typed on page 1, shows like All American Muslim, Black in America, and Latina in America tend to merely create "exceptions to the rule." Such is life and the constant challenge of differences across groups of people (which are not inherently bad) and the inequalities that were created based on those differences.

Just being honest to avoid the ponies pissing rainbows routine that tends to happen when people discuss group dynamics. We can discuss a show and discuss the details behind the show without it becoming about some sweeping change that is going to make the planet fart unicorns.

[als463]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Realistically, discussions like this are not what make things substantively change. Things change when societies remove incentives and resources for keeping things the way they are; and add incentives and resources for change.

There are plenty of people who will watch All American Muslim, claim to be gaining insights, and will still say and do things that potentially negatively impact Muslims. To reiterate what I typed on page 1, shows like All American Muslim, Black in America, and Latina in America tend to merely create "exceptions to the rule." Such is life and the constant challenge of differences across groups of people (which are not inherently bad) and the inequalities that were created based on those differences.

Just being honest to avoid the ponies pissing rainbows routine that tends to happen when people discuss group dynamics. We can discuss a show and discuss the details behind the show without it becoming about some sweeping change that is going to make the planet fart unicorns.

Oh, no I don't think this thread will necessarily open up doors or eyes of people who choose not to read but, I do think it's great to have these conversations. For instance, I remember you saying something in a thread (I think it was you) that said something about how saying, "I have a ____ friend," really makes a person look dumb. To be honest, until that was said in that thread, I never thought about it and I'm sure I was guilty of it as well. No, I didn't make racial slurs and then say, "Well, my friend is ___ so, that is okay" but, I'm sure I have said things similar to, "I'm not racist. Don't call me that. I have friends who are ____." When it was mentioned by people of various races in a thread, I started being more aware of what I say and how I say it. In fact, I def. pick up on it when other people do it. So, this may not change everyone's perspective but, it can help those of use (a general we) who didn't realize how close-minded we sounded.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I didn't watch the show--I don't really watch that much TV so it's no surprise there.

Sometimes diversity leads to more segregation. In terms of numbers, I didn't grow up in a diverse town the way that NYC or SF are "diverse cities," but there was a lot less segregation since there wasn't a _____ community the way that some cities have. Because of the military, my hometown has substantial populations of Thai and Filipina women; but outside of that, there are only handfuls of other ethnic groups and they tend to associate with larger groups. For example, the Indo-Caribbean people will associate with the larger "Black community" in my hometown, while in NYC they are segregated by countries--there are delineated Trinidadian and Guyanese communities that don't mix all that often. Eastern Europeans and other white immigrants just get assimilated into specific "white" communities based on their socio-economic status. I guess it's more of a "melting pot," which has its benefits and drawbacks.

The accent thing that PM_Mama mentioned doesn't surprise me at all--I see it in some groups here. If they're living in insular communities, patronizing the same businesses, and going to schools in the same areas, then there are fewer opportunities to interact with larger communities and the accents stay, even among second-generation Americans.

I grew up in one of those "diverse cities" and if I hadn't left and moved away to eventually live in Idaho I'd be less knowledgeable about the diversity of White people. It sounds strange to some people, but I had never been around so many White people (including Christian & Conservative) until my first day in Idaho and it was unsettling since I had never been around so many other White people before. Even though I'm White and Protestant (ELCA Lutheran, so on the far liberal end) that's where a lot of the commonality ends which has caused me existential angst I never knew existed. I knew that White people who hated the government, were literal word of God speaking in tongues Christians or Mormons, and had never eaten ethnic foods I did regularly nor met anyone of certain groups existed, I just never knew any personally.

The military does bring some unexpected diversity in some places, my experience being in Alaska and overseas. Now I want some lumpia, dammit.

[PM_Mama00]

http://www.clickondetroit.com/entert...o/-/index.html

Lowe's has pulled its advertising from the reality TV show "All-American Muslim," which the retail store called a "lightning rod."

"All-American Muslim" is an eight-part series that follows five Muslim families living in Dearborn, Michigan.

"Lowe's has received a significant amount of communication on this program, from every perspective possible. Individuals and groups have strong political and societal views on this topic, and this program became a lightning rod for many of those views. As a result we did pull our advertising on this program," the company said in a statement Saturday.
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"We believe it is best to respectfully defer to communities, individuals and groups to discuss and consider such issues of importance."

The conservative Florida Family Association, which is pushing advertisers to drop "All-American Muslim," cheered Lowe's decision. The group called the TLC show "propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values."

But the company's decision was decried by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and at least one of the show's cast members.

Both CAIR and Shadia Amen-McDermott, who is featured on the show, posted links on their Facebook pages to a petition, calling on advertisers to continue their support.

Late Saturday night, the petition had some 2,300 signatures.

"This is NOT about standing up for All-American Muslim - This is about Standing Up Against Bigotry and Hatred in this Country Founded on Peace, Justice, and Equality. Let's Stand United against Bigotry," Amen-McDermott wrote.

This is absurd.