The Brotherhood on US TV

I got home this evening after a day spent at NYU at a very interesting literary symposium (that I hope to blog about tomorrow). Flipping channels, I happened on a segment of the PBS series "America at a Crossroads" called "The Brotherhood." It's interesting but I can't help finding parts of it a bit tendentious and alarmist--the show's main question ("Does the Brotherhood support terrorism?") seems to be largely rhetorical. One problem is that when Brotherhood members express support for Hamas and Hezbullah, this is taken as evidence that the organization may be "terrorist." Typically, the narrators interview a Brotherhood member, saying something like "we do not support violence," and then cuts to a shot of masked Hamas members waving guns. The other problem is that the Brotherhood's goal of establishing "Islamic rule on earth" is seen as an actual practical aim (rather than an ideological statement) and as inherently troubling. The narrators show a document that mentions this goal, to a background of ominous music. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in favour of establishing any religious rule on earth, but would people be equally concerned about an organization that said its goal was to establish "Christian rule on earth"?

I didn't see the whole segment (I think I caught the last half). I do think it's an interesting topic to cover--I've always wanted to find out more about the inner workings of the Brotherhood--and that it's great that it's being covered by a serious program on US TV. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, the show left me with more questions than answers.

Comments

[MWF]

I watched the entire series this week and was quite surprised at how....hmm...stilted this installment was. The segments portraying the two journalists having conversations with each other...as if they are coming about these facts for the first time and attempting to probe each other further was insultingly shallow. And I too was a bit perturbed at the "conclusions" being quickly constructed threading imagery and sound...which isn't unique to most media passing off as informative...it was just that I was surprised at this particular installment being the last in a series that up until this one had significant merit in the way they presented what every American should be exposing themselves too...wait...what was that? Anna Nicole Smith's baby is on the news again...gotta run...

[Anonymous]

Hey, I'm Mormon and Mormons want to "establish Christian rule on earth". But as you say, as an ultimate ideal by persuasion, not force. Doesn't seem to be hurting Mitt Romney too much. Not that I like Mitt Romney, wouldn't vote for him or anyone who pandered to the Republican right in a million years. It's not a bad comparison though. The history of US fear-mongering against Mormons in a political framework would probably yield a lot of similarities to that of the Ikhwan. With similar stories of the groups' internal evolution too. Plenty of differences, but similarities too.

[cereal187]

First of all let me say that I read your blog (almost) daily and really appreciate the tone and intellegence reflected here.

In refrence to this quote, retorical as your question may have been, I think the anwer is a resounding no.

People dont, and shouldn't fear a religion (like cristianity) that spreads its message through love. Christianity gets its name because its followers are supposed to be Christ like in their love for eachother. So why would someone fear a religion like this?

On the other hand you have a religion like Islam that tells its followers that if people of other religions dont convert to Islam or pay the dhimmi tax, they MUST be killed. Thats a bit more scary... :)

I dont know if by asking this question you were meaning to open the door to respectful debate, but I would very much like to hear your response as I am a Christian in America trying my best to find truth in a world where politicians and even the media is doing thier best to obscure it.

[ursula]

Dear cereal187:

I lived in Egypt for the last four years. 5 to 10% of the Egyptian population is Christian--and is neither at risk of paying any dhimmi task nor of being killed. The only Muslims to advocate such measures are tiny, extreme splinter cells. I am not sure where in the Koran they get this from (I do know the Koran states "there is no compulsion in religion"). You talk about the media obscuring the facts but you clearly have a very inaccurate picture of Islam--you have to understand that there are billions of Muslims, 99.9% percent of Muslims, who live all around the world and would find the idea that they believe that non-Muslims should pay a special tax or should be killed ridiculous.

You and most Christians associate Christianity with love--even though people have been tortured, murdered, persecuted and invaded in the name of Christianity over the centures, and even though some people today (homosexuals, for example, or women who believe in their right to an abortion) would not consider it a loving religion. In the same way, most Muslims see their religion as also prescribing moral values we can all respect (honesty, caring, compassion, justice)--even though their religion has been high-jacked by a few hateful extremist groups, and even though there's plent of everyday bigotry to go around. I would argue that all religions can give people's lives meaning and inspire them to do good, and can also be used to justify terrible crimes. And they all have been (I mean, really, from the Inquisition to the Crusades to civil wars all across Europe, Christianity for most of its history has been marked by episodes of intense violence).

So to conclude, cereal187, on the one hand posts like yours makes me kind of depressed, because I realize how really little people in America know about the Middle East. Do you really imagine all these Muslim countries are just chock-full of crazy, bloodthirsty, hateful people? 'Cause the truth is they're full of people more or less just like you and me--some good, some bad, a few crazy, and most just trying to get by in the light of the beliefs they hold dear. If you want to understand anything about the Middle East, then you have to respect the people there enough not to write off their religion as some nonsensical form of hate-mongering. On the other hand, your post also makes me kind of happy, because you're reading Arabist and engaging in a real way (and I appreciate your polite tone). So, welcome, and hope this answered your question.

[cereal187]

Ahlan wa sahla Ursula, ismee Larry.

Thank you so much for responding to me. I think that a lot of the misunderstandings could be cleared up if more people like you and I could get together and dispel some of the myths that about Islam and westerners. :)

The teaching that I was referring to is what is commonly called the Jizya and is referred to in Q’uran 9-29. I am glad to hear that it is not only, not in practice in Egypt, but would rejected by most Egyptians. But unfortunately it is practiced in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, to varying degrees of legality.
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=8773&size=A
http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Area=sd&ID=SP60103

You said that Americans need to understand the people in Muslim countries and not just write them off. And I want to say that I agree with the 1000%! Part of the problem is that there are so many myths and misunderstanding about these extremists that it is hard to separate truth from fiction.

But one of the accidental road block to people understanding Muslims is sometimes there is this defensiveness about the religion of Islam, which, truthfully, is understandable. But can you see how this makes things harder? I know that many terrible things have been done in the name of Christianity. But it doesn’t help me or other people understand the problem of Islamic Extremists. Whenever I hear people try to talk about the Islamic terrorism I hear a couple reoccurring replies:

“Well what about Christian extremists�
“You just don’t respect Islam�
“Bush is the worst terrorist�
“You are an ignorant decadent westerner�
“Why don’t you get off the couch and help out around the house every once and a while!�

Ok the last one I only hear from my wife :) But my point is that; however true any of these statements may be, not only do they not help me understand anything, but they don’t help to keep the conversation going.

Even in your post to me you attributed my response to misunderstanding, and even kind of implied that I only said what I said because I don’t respect Islam. This is so frustrating because by my post I am showing respect, not only for you, but all people who share your faith. In essence I am saying “I don’t want to just write your religion off, because I believe that the middle east is NOT filled with crazy blood-thirsty people. I believe that most people want to live peaceful happy lives.

But it also seems that Muslim countries write off the threat of Islamic terrorist as “few hateful extremist groups,� When in fact millions and millions of muslims world wide support attacks on civilians living in america.
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/apr07/START_Apr07_rpt.pdf
Now very quickly let me say that I am not saying you support this, or that you have to answer for what other people of your faith believe (because I know I don’t what to have to answer for christians like Rev Phelps!). But what we (people of every faith) need to do is admit that there IS a problem with Islamic terrorism and THEN we can find the path to peace.

I tried so hard to keep this short, but I failed, and I’m sorry. Also the reason it took me two days to reply is because sometimes the written word tends to sound more accusatory or disrespecful. So if I gave offence I appologize in advance. Just know that I agonized for two days over what words to use to keep this a conversation, not an argument.

shukran
Larry