David Caton and the Florida Family Association speak out against the reality show "All-American Muslim"
Leader of the Florida Family Association, David Caton, has spoken out in recent days against the new TLC reality show "All-American Muslim".
When asked about why he and his organization felt the show was so controversial, Caton said the following: "It's the absence of the radical side of the imam's proposition of the shariah law that is most concerning. It's the absence of the application of the Islamic code...This program creates the image which is harmful education-wise to the belief structure and memories of millions of Americans who will look at this and say that all Muslims are like this, when it is not accurate."
This quote and a satire on the bit can be viewed here via The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-december-13-2011/kabulvision?xrs=playershare_fb
So, let me get this straight... It was the absence of extremist portrayed in the show which Caton had a problem with? Because it could potentially tinker with people's belief structures regarding Muslims and make them believe (wrongly) that all Muslims are as peaceful as the ones in the show? So, it's only okay if Muslims are displayed as dangerous or potentially dangerous? Or at least a decent percentage of them are shown in this manner?
No, not all Muslims are peaceful. It doesn't mean we have to include extremist Muslims in any and every televised feature about them. Guess what? There are also violent and dangerous Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Atheists, Agnostics, etc., etc., etc. Does this mean that in every television program which includes one or more of these groups of people, we have to give a balanced look at them with individuals whom are peaceful along with ones whom are violent? I highly doubt Caton would be in favor of this if the program focused on Christians. If any were shown in a negative light, he'd probably protest that as well. It's all about the belief-structure and keeping things in tact. Christians are good. Muslims are evil. It's as simple as that - black and white logic. We have to continually paint another group of people as evil to paint us in a brighter light. That's most likely what Caton wants.
It is funny that he brought up education and how such a peaceful and HUMAN portrayal of Muslims was harmful to people's belief structures. He's obviously not in favor of education reform. Education can be a vital tool in expanding our knowledge on groups of people whom we may hold prejudices against in order to give us a more well-rounded view and hopefully allows us to get over said prejudices. That frightens Mr. Caton. His fear is of people losing their fear of Muslims. One thing I fear is people being ignorant, allowing others to take advantage of that ignorance in order to bring about fear in them of what they don't understand. I fully support education and allowing people to make up their own minds on issues as opposed to not being given the opportunity to learn about said issues and being spoon-fed BS.
When asked about why he and his organization felt the show was so controversial, Caton said the following: "It's the absence of the radical side of the imam's proposition of the shariah law that is most concerning. It's the absence of the application of the Islamic code...This program creates the image which is harmful education-wise to the belief structure and memories of millions of Americans who will look at this and say that all Muslims are like this, when it is not accurate."
This quote and a satire on the bit can be viewed here via The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-december-13-2011/kabulvision?xrs=playershare_fb
So, let me get this straight... It was the absence of extremist portrayed in the show which Caton had a problem with? Because it could potentially tinker with people's belief structures regarding Muslims and make them believe (wrongly) that all Muslims are as peaceful as the ones in the show? So, it's only okay if Muslims are displayed as dangerous or potentially dangerous? Or at least a decent percentage of them are shown in this manner?
No, not all Muslims are peaceful. It doesn't mean we have to include extremist Muslims in any and every televised feature about them. Guess what? There are also violent and dangerous Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Atheists, Agnostics, etc., etc., etc. Does this mean that in every television program which includes one or more of these groups of people, we have to give a balanced look at them with individuals whom are peaceful along with ones whom are violent? I highly doubt Caton would be in favor of this if the program focused on Christians. If any were shown in a negative light, he'd probably protest that as well. It's all about the belief-structure and keeping things in tact. Christians are good. Muslims are evil. It's as simple as that - black and white logic. We have to continually paint another group of people as evil to paint us in a brighter light. That's most likely what Caton wants.
It is funny that he brought up education and how such a peaceful and HUMAN portrayal of Muslims was harmful to people's belief structures. He's obviously not in favor of education reform. Education can be a vital tool in expanding our knowledge on groups of people whom we may hold prejudices against in order to give us a more well-rounded view and hopefully allows us to get over said prejudices. That frightens Mr. Caton. His fear is of people losing their fear of Muslims. One thing I fear is people being ignorant, allowing others to take advantage of that ignorance in order to bring about fear in them of what they don't understand. I fully support education and allowing people to make up their own minds on issues as opposed to not being given the opportunity to learn about said issues and being spoon-fed BS.
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