Check out this review of the new Canadian TV sitcom, "Little Mosque on the Prairie." Interesting and important questions, including, "can Muslims laugh at themselves?"
The future of Islam in the West is largely up to Muslims themselves. It is because there are so many competing forces in play over this issue.
Humor is foremost for easy-going, pleasure-loving Westerners. If they can break through at the sitcom level, other walls will fall quickly.
The violent, radical mindset must be marginalized within Islamic communities themselves. CNN's Christiane Amanpour profiles radicals in England this weekend, and that suggests that even moderates and liberals are prepared to deal more honestly with the issue.
Conservatives in the U.S. are going to have to give more time, attention and clout to moderate Muslims. Rather than the relentless campaign to marginalize Islam as "dangerous" and solely "violent," American media moguls (and especially conservative ones like Rush and Laura Ingraham) will have to pay attention to the Muslim in the check out line.
Why should the first thought be suspicion? The American way is to show what you're made of. I expect to see Muslim girls playing high school basketball with their head coverings. I expect to see more Muslims in Congress. I expect to see more Muslims in the business world and at the PTA, participating in the fabric of American life.
It's up to you, my Muslim friend. Show us what you've got. Lest the bad guys define Islam.
The future of Islam in the West is largely up to Muslims themselves. It is because there are so many competing forces in play over this issue.
Humor is foremost for easy-going, pleasure-loving Westerners. If they can break through at the sitcom level, other walls will fall quickly.
The violent, radical mindset must be marginalized within Islamic communities themselves. CNN's Christiane Amanpour profiles radicals in England this weekend, and that suggests that even moderates and liberals are prepared to deal more honestly with the issue.
Conservatives in the U.S. are going to have to give more time, attention and clout to moderate Muslims. Rather than the relentless campaign to marginalize Islam as "dangerous" and solely "violent," American media moguls (and especially conservative ones like Rush and Laura Ingraham) will have to pay attention to the Muslim in the check out line.
Why should the first thought be suspicion? The American way is to show what you're made of. I expect to see Muslim girls playing high school basketball with their head coverings. I expect to see more Muslims in Congress. I expect to see more Muslims in the business world and at the PTA, participating in the fabric of American life.
It's up to you, my Muslim friend. Show us what you've got. Lest the bad guys define Islam.
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