Media Post 3

I wanted to take the opportunity we had with this media portfolio to do something different that what we learned directly about in class. I read an article titled “Islam and its misrepresentation”; the article itself can be linked to so many things we have talked about, learned about, and watched in class. “Islam and its misrepresentation” is written by Federal Agent Mark Briskey whose first sentence got my attention “The reality is that the target of our endeavors (efforts) is but a small minority who, through their disproportionate acts, affect equally disproportionate views of Islam and Muslims”. The article continues to talk about the portrayal of Islam’s and Muslims after September 11th and years before. Briskey talks about how the media gives us the worst portrayal of these people and it is everywhere, we as Americans count on the media whether it be for entertainment or news. Most of us do watch T.V. at night or pick up popular magazines. I guess I will ask it this way and maybe it will be easier to understand because we don’t see negative images anymore (although after September 11th they were everywhere for a while) everyday but when is the last time that you can think of that you saw a Muslim portrayed positively? Briskey describes in the article how the media does expose us to the bad of the Muslim and Islam people he states, “Even conventional news magazines distort views of Islam to sometimes significant degrees. Time magazine has, over the years, unfortunately published articles which, although relatively benign content wise, almost subliminally support Islamic generalizations through the accompanying images they present. The following relatively recent historical examples are proof that this distortion has been evident well before September 11, 2001. A 1998 feature in Time Australia titled Stalking Satan, featured an eye-catching double-page picture of President Khatami in his clerical robes against a clearly defined and superimposed backdrop of militant young men in camouflage aged military fatigues raising their clenched fists. This image, by presenting the combination of a clerically-robed President Khatami and military-garbed, defiant young men presents a clearly distortive representation, which, instead of focusing on some of the liberal measures President Khatami was trying to Promulgate, preferred to depict an image which could easily be construed as that of a militant, bloodthirsty and devious Muslim population” (Briskey 2). The article continues, it is not only in magazines, but movies such as Rules of Engagement, Navy Seals, and True Lies. Briskey says America also categorizes Islamic Fundamentalism as a shorthand metaphor for terrorism, oppression and as a redundant and medieval way of living. As it continues the article talks about what is being done today to try and abolish such stereotypes. The AFP which tries to reduce counter-terrorism, and keep productive, harmonious relationships with Muslim nations, their values include respecting diversity and in no way will subject to aspersions of any bias whether ethically, sexually, or religious. So far the AFP has been successful in using these ideas to maintaining and producing relationships with the Muslim countries of South Asia and the Middle East. Briskey describes moves like these to be good for our countries future as well as others, if we can all work together to get rid of such negative images and ideas. This article can be tied into movies we have watched in class such as Ethnic Notions and Race: The Power of Illusion because we are all alike and anyone could have done terrible things to the US but it happened to be the Muslims and now they are ALL categorized as terrible people, when only few did those terrible things. Also this article could be relevant to the articles we have read in class dealing specifically with how Columbus thought the Indians were savages. I think this was a really good article; it pertains to issues that are newer but can date back to the 1970’s. I feel like Muslims are portrayed poorly and it is a really sad thing. I am ashamed to say that even today when I fly on a plane and someone is wearing a turban or speaking in a different language that I think can be related to Muslim heritage, I get nervous. Of course, it is for relevant reasons, September 11th, but the media does have a huge influence in our society, not all Muslims are bad, or wish to harm us (America). But from what we are given to work with in our society and what is presented to us about other cultures and beliefs it is no wonder that this has become a problem and will continue to be for a long time.
This PDF can be found at http://www.afp.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/3593/islam.pdf