First it was Tunisia. Then came Egypt. Next in line looked like it was a competition between Bahrain and Yemen. Both of those have been eclipsed by the drama and tragedy playing out in Libya.
But the question I can't get out of my mind is, isn't the official story just a little too good to be true? A little simplistic? Purposefully naive?
I guess before I try to answer those questions, I'll define what I mean by "official" story.
(To be continued...)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Slumdog Continues with Hollywood Tradition of Misrepresenting Islam
I had certain hopes for this new indy film, current darling of film critics and award circles. These days I do all I can to avoid the mainstream Hollywood releases as well as any independent and foreign film that thrives on existential and depressing subjects. But I was drawn to Slumdog Millionaire in spite of it's mainstream critical acclaim and promotion. Yes, in spite of. I was drawn to it because some of my favorite films are Indian films - Lagaan, Parineeta, Salaam Bombay, including some other Bollywood films that I have enjoyed. But I really didn't know too much about it other than it was a small budget film shot in India and directed by Danny Boyle, director of Trainspotting.
My husband and I went to see this film yesterday. At first I was pleasantly surprised to find that the main character and his brother had muslim names and therefore presumably muslim. There was a inkling of hope in my heart that maybe through these muslim main characters, Islam would finally get a positive portrayal in a film by non-muslims that's been marketed to the mainstream. But that hope soon turned to apprehension and confusion. In a scene very early on in the film, religion enters the picture. I am still not clear on exactly what was meant to be portrayed in these scenes, so please correct me if I am mistaken. However, in these scenes it seemed to portray muslims attacking the slums and attacking the people that lived there: muslim, hindu, whomever. I wanted to believe that I was wrong. That perhaps I had just missed some key subtitled text. But because of scenes later in the film that again touch upon Islam, I am afraid that this is what was being portrayed in the film. Later in the film, a character who has been portrayed as quite corrupt and inhumane, is shown to be praying muslim prayers on a prayer rug and asking for Allah's forgiveness just before the character goes off to kill someone for his "mafia" boss. And even though the main character is shown in a completely positive light, he is also portrayed as completely non-religious, perhaps even anti-religious. The message? The only good muslim is the anti-religious/secular/non-practicing muslim.
I have become quite sensitive to these seemingly "innocuous" and "unimportant" scenes in films, in T.V. programs, in mainstream news media. These flashes of violence paired with Islam, however brief, show up on magazine covers, in the prime time news, in Hollywood films, in Bollywood films, on CNN, on Fox News, on the History Channel, etc. I know how deep the ignorance can run when it comes to non-muslims and their knowledge of Islam and/or muslims. I know that when a non-muslim, ignorant of Islam, watches Slumdog Millionaire they will wholly accept these brief flashes of Islam as completely accurate. They have no reason not to because it fits with the long-running narrative told by the media/government since 9/11; since before 9/11. I try not to become too involved in conspiracy theories, but sometimes that is hard as a muslim living in this information age, inundated with media in its varied forms, in a country that must propagandize the majority against a common "enemy" that resides and "controls" some very prized land, to not see a lot of truth in a lot of the "conspiracy" theories. After all, a "conspiracy" theory is only labeled as such when it contradicts the "official" story that the government is telling. And if there's one truth that I hope the majority can accept, it's that the government lies, because that's what people in power do so that they maintain their power and control over the "powerless."
I pray that Allah (swt) guides the muslim Ummah towards unity and strength and knowledge. I pray that this unity, strength, and increasing knowledge gives us the much needed voice heard throughout the world, speaking Truth, and revealing all the falsehood for what it is. May Allah (swt) always guide me, increase my knowledge, purify my heart, forgive me my weaknesses, give me patience and strength to stand up for what is right and fight against what is wrong.
My husband and I went to see this film yesterday. At first I was pleasantly surprised to find that the main character and his brother had muslim names and therefore presumably muslim. There was a inkling of hope in my heart that maybe through these muslim main characters, Islam would finally get a positive portrayal in a film by non-muslims that's been marketed to the mainstream. But that hope soon turned to apprehension and confusion. In a scene very early on in the film, religion enters the picture. I am still not clear on exactly what was meant to be portrayed in these scenes, so please correct me if I am mistaken. However, in these scenes it seemed to portray muslims attacking the slums and attacking the people that lived there: muslim, hindu, whomever. I wanted to believe that I was wrong. That perhaps I had just missed some key subtitled text. But because of scenes later in the film that again touch upon Islam, I am afraid that this is what was being portrayed in the film. Later in the film, a character who has been portrayed as quite corrupt and inhumane, is shown to be praying muslim prayers on a prayer rug and asking for Allah's forgiveness just before the character goes off to kill someone for his "mafia" boss. And even though the main character is shown in a completely positive light, he is also portrayed as completely non-religious, perhaps even anti-religious. The message? The only good muslim is the anti-religious/secular/non-practicing muslim.
I have become quite sensitive to these seemingly "innocuous" and "unimportant" scenes in films, in T.V. programs, in mainstream news media. These flashes of violence paired with Islam, however brief, show up on magazine covers, in the prime time news, in Hollywood films, in Bollywood films, on CNN, on Fox News, on the History Channel, etc. I know how deep the ignorance can run when it comes to non-muslims and their knowledge of Islam and/or muslims. I know that when a non-muslim, ignorant of Islam, watches Slumdog Millionaire they will wholly accept these brief flashes of Islam as completely accurate. They have no reason not to because it fits with the long-running narrative told by the media/government since 9/11; since before 9/11. I try not to become too involved in conspiracy theories, but sometimes that is hard as a muslim living in this information age, inundated with media in its varied forms, in a country that must propagandize the majority against a common "enemy" that resides and "controls" some very prized land, to not see a lot of truth in a lot of the "conspiracy" theories. After all, a "conspiracy" theory is only labeled as such when it contradicts the "official" story that the government is telling. And if there's one truth that I hope the majority can accept, it's that the government lies, because that's what people in power do so that they maintain their power and control over the "powerless."
I pray that Allah (swt) guides the muslim Ummah towards unity and strength and knowledge. I pray that this unity, strength, and increasing knowledge gives us the much needed voice heard throughout the world, speaking Truth, and revealing all the falsehood for what it is. May Allah (swt) always guide me, increase my knowledge, purify my heart, forgive me my weaknesses, give me patience and strength to stand up for what is right and fight against what is wrong.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
