Some idiot made a film depicting an image of the prophet Muhammad.
So what?
He even called the Quran “a mix between some versions of the Torah and some versions of the New Testament” and a bunch of “false verses.”
So what?
The film depicts Muhammad pronouncing the first Muslim animal to be a donkey. And not just any donkey, a gay donkey!
So what?
The film calls Muhammad a “bastard” with an “unknown father.” In it, he is a soulless warrior who allows his men to take child concubines and slaves. He refers to himself as the “master” who can freely sleep with whomever he wishes, including married women. He is called a “child molester,” “gay,” and “a murderous thug.” His men are shown brutally killing an old woman. They are commanded by him to cut off a Jewish man’s legs and arms in front of his wife. He proclaims that all those who refuse Islam must “pay extortion or die.” He proclaims that, “Every non-Muslim is an infidel. Their lands, their women, and their children, are our spoils.”
Ok… So what?!
The movie’s trailer was posted on YouTube and has led to protests in various parts of the Arab World, including in Libya, where US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens was killed in an attack that coincided with the protests, though it is unclear whether the actual raid on the Benghazi consulate building was carried out by protesters or an organized group that had planned its attack well before the movie emerged.
What is clear, however, is that the film created outrage. But why? Depictions of Muhammad are clearly forbidden in Islam. When he is depicted, it is usually done by idiots who are only looking to create a stir and violent reactions among those “savage Muslims.”
But why can’t we just say “So what?”
It is still not well-defined who the filmmaker of this clunky, shoddy production was. Who cares? Those who starred in the movie have come out to say they were misled about the purpose of the production. And, for the most part, they cannot clearly identify the producer.
Even more reason to simply say, “So what?”
Our community needs to grow up. We have real problems to worry about. In the wake of the Arab Spring, further degradation of Palestinian rights, the demonization and de-humanization of Arabs and Muslims in American society and the American political process, an idiotic move created by an idiotic human being should simply cause us to say, “So what?”
Mitt Romney is running on a platform of starting wars in Iran and Syria, Barack Obama re-declared Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel, and mosques in America are being vandalized at an alarming rate. A man gunned down six Sikhs in Wisconsin because he thought they were Muslims. The NYPD monitors Muslim student groups. A congressman declared Hillary Clinton’s top aide an infiltrator simply because she was a Muslim. Arabs and Muslims in America are seen as suspect at every turn.
So when an idiot makes an idiotic film about Muhammad, it actually becomes our duty to just say “So what?”
We are educated. We are deep thinkers. We are above being instigated to idiotic behavior by idiotic hate speech. Our pride in our heritage, culture, and religion requires us to ignore the inconsequential clamor and tackle the real problems.
There are angry mobs with torches across the Middle East. But there are also educated people on social media sites writing things like “I hope he gets what he deserves.” That kind of behavior doesn’t make me say “So what…” It makes me say, “We are better than this.”
Who are we if we are so easily prompted to such anger by an unprofessional amateur film that will never be distributed or sold?
I have a message to the 1.5 billion Muslims in the world. Islam doesn’t need your protection. It needs your representation.
We cannot ask to be taken seriously until we can see through the noise, until we can confront the real issues with a coherent voice, and until we can sometimes learn to just say, “So what?”
Thank you. You put it into words every one can understand.
You are %100 right….Islam doesn’t need your protection. It needs your representation. You have echoed my sentiments EXACTLY!!!!!….God bless you brother!
So what! Very well said. I’ve always been troubled by people that literally go crazy over things as trivial as movies, songs, books, etc. Murdering innocent people only draws attention to the stupid movie while simultaneously stripping any credibility from the the cause.
Wonder what a reaction would be to a movie epresentation of doings in the Old Testament, like Lot’s incestuous relations with his two daughters, the trickery of Tamar, the treacherous slaughter of all the men of Sechem who had agreed to be cirumcised and become as brothers to the Israelites, the genocide of all the Canaanites, the massacre of the Amalekites, David’s philandering and murders, Ammon’s incest with Thamar, etc. Are we nauseated yet?
Movies degrading Christianity happen in the USA all the time, and there is no violence. A play depicting Jesus as a Homosexual just came out, and no one died. Remember Jesus is considered to be God by most Christians
If such a movie were to be made……..no one would care. In fact they are made almost all the time, especially animation. I am a Christian, and I have seen countless protrayals of Jesus as every negative incarnation you can think of. None of it affected my faith. So why should I or any other Christian care. If you want to know my “Truth”, come talk to me I will be happy to help enlighten you. Vengeance is God’s territory, not mine.
Thanks Amer.. “Islam doesn’t need your protection. It needs your representation.” is very powerful
Amen, Brother. We should say “so what?”. There are indeed far bigger issues and concerns to worry about. I recall growing up in Palestine (currently known as Israel) and being told to my face that I was a dirty Arab. So what? Am I dirty, no (I do take daily showers and use expensive colognes, by the way). It was “their” way to denigrate who we are and put us down so they can justify to themselves why they’re brutalizing us (for 6 decades now). So, Dear Amer, a big “SO WHAT?” from my end…another Civil Arab.
Ibrahim
just brilliant…you helped me to control my unger,so thank you!
Amer,as Dana said Please put it into words every one can understand.
What we can’t understand from American administration and Hilary Clinton concerning this issue is that although she asked strictly the Arabs to condumns this action we don’t hear any action from her side inside America toward real investigation and send them to justice. khaled khalefe
Dear Khaled,
Are you asking about why Americans aren’t investigating the attacks on our embassy, or why we aren’t investigating the making of the film? If you’re wondering why we’re not talking about investigating the film, I may be able to (at least try to) answer that question.
why?
God bless you, my dear Muslim friends who represent with dignity. As it says in the Quran: “Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; But turn away from the ignorant.
7:199
Well said Amer! I agree 100%
I totally agree: so effing what. And since no one is being forced to view and study this crap then it’s voluntary whether you allow this film to affect you. But this film has roots in a civil war that is happening in Egypt, where Islam has never played such a profound role in society as it does today. The film was produced by a renegade Egyptian-American Copt with a criminal history. The backlash has been directed at the U.S., but really this issue lies in the middle of one several sectarian divides that is causing upheaval throughout the Mid East.
As always, you are very right Amer. The film was made specifically for this kind of reaction and Arabs rise to the occasion rather than saying we are better than this. Rather than standing up and showing what Islam truly is, we are acting like a bunch of barbarians. My sister put it best when she said, “Days like this, I am glad we were born in America and not the Middle East.” As usual, Arabs are doing nothing but making fools of themselves. I understand saying that we have a problem with this type of intolerance but creating violence and saying it is in the name of Islam, now we have crossed the line. And I love the blog update.
Right on, Amer! And, so what!!? I love it. Some maj’doob makes a silly movie to distract us from real problems and it works– the fact that it works makes me think “ya’ har’am!” even more than the stupid video does, because whoever made is maj’doob . . so what can we expect? But the people going crazy can’t afford to be ‘mjadeeb. Ugh. Thanks for this!
“Islam doesn’t need your protection. It needs your representation.” I am so gonna quote you one day!
I agree that the reaction is way crazy, a violent response is unjust. However, there cannot be a “so what” There needs to be some address of these issues. But we should act as we were taught by our respective religions, peacefully, respectfully through dialogue. I am more frustrated than angry. I am frustrated by the constant attacks on our religion, culture and very existence. I am angry at the evil in the response to all this. There are many people who hope for these reactions and even plan them out. The poor, uneducated, impoverished, “moregunsthanbread” masses are pawns. Our anger should be aimed at the leaders, the bastards who continually high-jack a religion, who plot against their own and who play dirty games with our minds.
Good post Amer! What is even more contradictory about these mobs’ behavior is that we are taught at a very young age that the Prophet Mohammed was the most merciful and compassionate human being to walk this earth, even when his enemies are throwing garbage on his front door… GABAGE on the front door of the Prophet and he did nothing but pick it up and move on… so IF this movie were to happen and the Prophet saw it at this time, he would have forgiven them!! So the Muslims living there are absolutely wrong in their reaction, which becomes embarrassing for us here in America… Bunch of ignorant and easily manipulated sheeple, it’s so annoying!
Well said. We need to always be focusing on the bigger picture.
I am so glad I came across this post today from you. By far the smartest thing I’ve read all day. Will recommend this page on all my Muslim social groups.
People are angry because this film is a part of a much larger issue: The American government attacking and threatening to attack multiple countries in the Middle East, and then turning around to encourage hating, mocking and villifying Muslims and Arabs within American society. This is not just about a little film – Muslims across the Middle East are protesting something much bigger, and more important. Some of the tactics – the killings in Libya – are way off base and wrong. But protesting/dismantling an embassy of an aggressive state is not immoral or extreme. American Muslims need to realize that this isn’t just about being a Muslim anywhere. This is about being a Muslim in the Middle East, suffering U.S.-initiated and sponsored bombardment and harrassment, and then watching themsleves be humiliated and mocked by American society at large… and people are fed up. I, for one, have had to escape a U.S.-sponsored attack of Lebanon in 2006 which tore me away from my family and country indefinitely. It is maddening and I actually have it good in comparison to many Lebanese, Iraqi, Egyptian or Iranians… so imagine what some of them may feel towards the U.S.’s blatantly barbaric actions throughout the decades in their region. Many of the protests’ complaints are legitimate, and many people and the media are using the movie to make it appear as though these complaints aren’t significant or “worth-while”.
It’s easy for those of you living in the United States, as I now do, to look at these “mobs” and claim that they’re extreme, uneducated, embarrassing. But I’m going to take a guess by looking at many of these comments that MOST of you haven’t witnessed half of what the protesters have in terms of American aggression and outright brutality. I think it’s rather pompous to sit back from afar and claim that people you do not know are fools because they don’t live in the same world YOU live in. If you can afford saying “so what” as a Muslim/Arab in America, mabrook aaleik. That doesn’t mean Muslims/others in the Middle East are obligated to take America’s shit and never respond accordingly.
Yes dear I totally agree with you but you say ” that doesn’t mean that Muslims. Etc..”.”..take shit and never respond accordingly”.
Yes but how they respon is the crux o the problem……what KFC has to do with some guy who made a stupid film … KFC was burned to the ground in Beirut in revenge of the film…
um Hussain
1. if the states is ” threatening to attack multiple countries in the arab world” PLEASE don’t blame the states, blame your self… all the arab leader are spending their time making more money, sleeping with prostitutes , and going to conventions that result in absolutely NOTHING, so please don’t blame the US, blame your self for not freaking doing anything about it and don’t act so weak. if you want something in life work for it and defend it , don’t expect ppl to be sympathetic.
2. regardless where you live – and i lived in both the US and the Arab world – the truth is arabs are weak, all they do is kill, protest stupid crap, and leave the important things undone… how about freeing palestine!!!??? how about moving to save syria?? wain il 3arab????
3. if you think whats happening is the muslims right and is a legitimate respond, i feel sad for you . Humanity has evolved centuries ago and muslims are still acting in barbaric behavior, instead of voicing their opinion in a civilized way they are yet again giving the world the extract image they gave when those silly cartoons came out ( there is a draw mohamed day on youtube , ppl draw him as a joke! why isn’t the islamic community doing anything about thats!!! ) there are millions of insulting and bogus videos about christ! why aren’t the christians doing anything about it! ..
you cannot blame the west or the civilized world for your barbaric actions and expect them to understand , you can’t say you did this and my reaction is valid, this is not how it goes. problem is I’m sure in 20 years del be having the same discussion about something else similar and nothing would have changed which is very sad and pathetic .
um Hassan
1. if the states is ” threatening to attack multiple countries in the arab world” PLEASE don’t blame the states, blame your self… all the arab leader are spending their time making more money, sleeping with prostitutes , and going to conventions that result in absolutely NOTHING, so please don’t blame the US, blame your self for not freaking doing anything about it and don’t act so weak. if you want something in life work for it and defend it , don’t expect ppl to be sympathetic.
2. regardless where you live – and i lived in both the US and the Arab world – the truth is arabs are weak, all they do is kill, protest stupid crap, and leave the important things undone… how about freeing palestine!!!??? how about moving to save syria?? wain il 3arab????
3. if you think whats happening is the muslims right and is a legitimate respond, i feel sad for you . Humanity has evolved centuries ago and muslims are still acting in barbaric behavior, instead of voicing their opinion in a civilized way they are yet again giving the world the extract image they gave when those silly cartoons came out ( there is a draw mohamed day on youtube , ppl draw him as a joke! why isn’t the islamic community doing anything about thats!!! ) there are millions of insulting and bogus videos about christ! why aren’t the christians doing anything about it! ..
you cannot blame the west or the civilized world for your barbaric actions and expect them to understand , you can’t say you did this and my reaction is valid, this is not how it goes. problem is I’m sure in 20 years del be having the same discussion about something else similar and nothing would have changed which is very sad and pathetic .
Can you show me where exactly Mitt Romney has said he’ll start wars with Syria and Iran? It’s Barack who has sent troops to Libya, kept them in Afghanistan and has sent troops into new countries as a result of these riots.
So what? … Mr Amer… If a person insults your father or mother, should you say ‘so what?!’ … If a person makes insults and curses you … Your reaction should be ‘so what’?! …
Muhammad (saww) is the most desirable to us. He is beyond the love of our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and family. If someone insults him, we will break his jaw ,., but not with our hands… With our words. Very strong words.
Islam and Muslims are not garbage or worthless. When Abu Lahab insulted Prophet, Quran replied by ‘tabbat yada Abi lahabin wa tub!’ (Destroyed were the hands of Abu Lahab, and he lay utterly doomed. 111:1)
When Quresh insulted Prophet, Allah replied ‘inna Shane’aka huwal Abtar!’ (Surely it is your enemy whose traces are cut off!!.. 108:3) and this is the Challenge of Quran that the enemy of Prophet will surely be destroyed.
Please have some dignity!
Ali,
At the same token, we are better than this. The movie was made to provoke a reaction. Rather than responding with violence, we should be standing up and showing people that Islam is good. Additionally, this goes back to Freedom of Speech. People are going to say what they want and about what they want and it is up to a civilized society to respond appropriately. Yes, none of us agree with the film and yes, freedom of speech can have ramifications. However, the response of Muslims only pulls Islam and us in a negative light. I personally think we are better than this and I also strongly believe that these people causing all the chaos are NOT representative of me. Despite that, their actions are speaking for Islam right now and that is in no way appropriate.
So what? … Mr Amer… If a person insults your father or mother, should you say ‘so what?!’ … If a person makes insults and curses you … Your reaction should be ‘so what’?! …
Exactly. Someone can insult my mother or father all they like, and I will say “So what?” Just because they say it, that doesn’t make it true. It only makes them look stupid for stooping so low. The people who matter know the truth.
Reacting to any and every provocation is just giving power to the person who wants to provoke you.
Does angry reaction engender respect for Muslims? No. The exact opposite.
Being able to say “So what?” is not a sign of weakness or lack of dignity. In fact it is a sign of strength.
Yes so what we’ll done….picture this : if my mirror is solid and shining beautifully then if somebody says the mirror is not clean …..do i go and break his neck …the rays that emit from my mirror speak for themselves…..in this case the mirror is Islam .. Get the point?
could someone please tell me the name of the movie. Im in New Zealand and have just caught the news and am interested in seeing it so i can see what the deal is. Thanks again good people.
Nevermind i saw it on youtube……. pretty sad. i’d not like for my beliefs to be mocked in such a way. i do agree with your ‘so what’ sentiment however!
Dear Lars,
You do not need to see the film because it is not out yet but only clips of 10 and 15 minutes were put on youtube. The film is low caliber cheap acting exposing (in their view) how bad is Islam and Mohammad are. You can still see it on Youtube.
What nobody mentioned or noticed (IN MY VIEW) that the film was a trick by some genius by throwing the bait and see the reaction of Moslems worldwide. The west alway claims Islam is violent and have succeeded in proving that Islamic brotherhood and radical Islam are incapable of ruling the countries of Arab spring revolutions (Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen) and thus exposing the brutal reaction of Muslims worldwide to just a stupid flick. Alternatively many Christian films were made to tarnish the image of Christ but nothing happened. So the west won and showed the world that Islam is violent and radical, fullstop.
well said Norman!!! well said
Sorry, but I completely disagree. And a big “why” at that? We do underestimate the big way in which entertainment alters the subconscious of people. I’ve lived for about a decade in the US and watched how in hundres of films the image of Muslims is relegated to despicable ogres capable of thrashing and raping women and killing innocent looking White people. We all also have seen how in films it is ok to massacre Muslims portrayed little above animals. The party marches on and on and on and more killing and mayhem is ok, as long as it is against Muslims. Soldiers are idiots are programmed to kill and all they know and remember about Muslims are these images, which makes it that much easier for them to kill with a clear conscious. That’s what.
But then again, for the sake of humour fatale: “So what?” :)
It’s just so sad that the American media machine is so biased against us since.
Quote from article on Jack Shaheen: The film industry makes films for profit.. It is much easier to hide behind the “wall of ignorance” so long as there is an audience willing to live with that ignorance.
But the systematic way by which films of the sort slash and burn empties all sympathies to Arabs and Muslims alike.
Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/V0Xcz6
My dear bilal,
Yes the media is biased agree but why they are biased because Arabs are doing zilch to make the west respect them. How do want others to respect you and be fair if you do not respect your own people.. Arab citizens are killed by their own rulers by the thousands and the Arab media clap their hands. What the Arabs did, produce, invent and help other world societies in disasters than hot air. Respect to Muslims and Arabs in general is not something you have ready on a tray but it is something that you do that forces others to respect you.
Hundreds of films..? I think that’s a generalization. Can you name some please? I’m not just being contrary; I want this in my arsenal to talk intelligently with some of my Muslim students so we can analyze this and other issues. Thanks
Maggie I do not think our friend Bilal watched one hundred, 50 or even 10 films …mind you some ( not hundreds ) dealt with Christ as a homo….but not a quiver in a cup moved. I am afraid that emotions are high and what bothers me is the size of the anger…. it is justified? Does this lead to the fact may be that what has been said in the film is (party ?) true causing such an avalanche of protests or is it just the Muslim mentality that gets all worked out for a trivial matter about a flick that is low in acting and cinematic production?? I wonder whether somebody can answer this.
VERY WELL PUT !!!!
The only thing I will say is that this needs to reach those that will never see it. How do we educated those back home that do not understand anything beyond their own back yard?
I truly enjoy reading your commentaries so keep writing!
Jacklin
i seriously need to ask this… isn’t the prohet mohamed a messenger of God? he’s a prophet, isn’t he? he was put on this earth to convey to ppl the message of God and Gods words and teachings… so, he’s not God… and the insults were made to a person, a human being , not to God… please correct me if I’m wrong.. THEN WHY is this a big deal!!!!! ppl are dying and chaos is all over the world because a person was insulted??? really???
there are over 100,00 insulting videos of the prophet on youtube, something about May 20th being ” Draw mohamed day ” another video is about his wives… so what ever the muslims are doing is merely fuel for more ppl to joke about islam and be sure that its a religion based on violence and radicalism.
i have respect for all religions but there is no way that GOD wants ppl to kill each other for the mere fact of a stupid youtube video. shame on the islamic community ! shame.
Hey Faris…..I was told that the violence that erupted following the stupid film opened an audience of 30 million viewer …..why because everybody was curious JUST IMAGINE…….before the demonstrations and killings the number was ONLY 500 ..”..he is the link that says it all unfortunately in Arabic
http://johinanews.net/jonews/cat2/25570.html
The ideas here are out of logic. They are even unprepared well.
Just one thing is so needed to be aware of :
(Islam doesn’t need your protection. It needs your representation.)
amer, loved the post and shared it with my classes! Thank you :)
no one can answer me ( why is all this being done for a prophet that is a human being ) cause no one knows what to say! what a truly sad sad act of inhumane killings and sabotage for this crap of a stupid low movie!
the arab nations and muslims all over the world will never gain the respect of ppl around the world again… this is permanent damage, to the image and core of the islamic belief and no one is speaking out expect on blogs and articles… in reality , this is only going downhill… and to be honest, the world will continue to invent, explore and excel in life, while muslims will riot against a 13 min trailer… looking forward to what will happen when the MOVIE is released. sad.
Faris, I am not sure if you are a Muslim or a Christian Arab or something else, but from your name I would assume that you are at least an Arab, and then you must know the answer to your question. Before I say anything I fully agree with the statement of the blog, and indeed rioting is not the answer though expressing disappointment and even anger in a civil manner would not hurt but could convey the Muslim reply to this and the multitude of other offensive films produced about Islam and Muslims in the West.
Violence in NEVER the answer except when defending oneself PERIOD. and Muslims as a whole today are indeed in a defensive position but they should be rational and defend what NEEDS to be defended, this amateur production is not one of them.
To answer your questions, Yes indeed Muhammad (PPUH) in stature beyond any normal human though still a human being. Muslims love and admire him ore than they love themselves or their parents. So, as hard as it to believe for some people, he indeed is off limits! The west radically defend their freedom of speech, we defend the Prophet BUT, I see more harm in rioting then good. and I am totally and completely against it, we have many other peaceful ways to defend our beloved Prophet.What is shocking in this behavior and would like to raise the point that those who rioted are a tiny drop in the Muslim ocean. yet they give us all a bad name. and they FORGET that respecting Prophet Muhammad and not drawing him is an obligation on MUSLIMS and not non-Muslims. this escapes the rioters. What they need to do is find ways to express their anger where it hurts the Americans and the west the same way it hurt us but without the violence. I would suggest Boycotting ALL American products, (nothing America makes that is not made BETTER elsewhere), Toppling the Western puppets in our midst, and truly freeing ourselves from the American domination. Rioting and closing down American embassies in each and every Muslim country the second America attacks a Muslim country. these would be the only time we want to see riots. Not to kill but to close ALL American interests in ALL Muslim countries and PUSH America out of the Muslim World. The brutal American empire is in its DYING days, and we should help topple it at least from our lands. Let America stay in America. Arabs and Muslims should have a ZERO sum game with their own leaders, and decide their own destiny without threatening anyone outside our land, but indeed TAKE CONTROL of our land and our own destiny and those who stand in the way be removed peacefully or otherwise. Imagine a world where the result of (for example) America invading an Arab/Muslim country or America vetoing the Palestinian application for statehood in the UN (Palestine is central issue to all Arab/Muslim countries) America would in the same day be kicked out from ALL Arab and Muslim countries, relations cut-off and ambassadors sent home and Arab/Muslim ambassadors recalled. This would be an act of defending your interest without resorting to any violence and showing America who needs who and teaching America that their interests (as misguided as they are) can NEVER trump our own, and acting in such manner would have its reprecautions, America will take notice and correct its criminal behavior without us using any violence except our freedom to express our outrage by saying GOOD[Freaking]BYE an don’t let the door hit you on your behind. Those amongst us who resist such retaliation for America’s crimes would have be removed from any public office and tried for treason.
I believe in non-violence but in self respect and standing strong in the face of our enemies and indeed (After the Zionist/racist/criminal/apartheid israhell state) America has been the worst enemy we’ve ever had. It is time that we cut off all ties to this monstrosity, but we should do it peacefully and with dignity. and let the world be our witness, and if America objects to losing us as slaves, then let them come and invade us all at the same time, when they are dying and going bankrupt from their evil adventures in Muslim lands.
So freaking what! we have better and bigger things to do. It is TIME to stand up to America but not for it’s stupid citizens’ expressing their ignorance with such childish films and drawings, but for the death and destruction it causes wherever is rears its ugly head in our lands.
Great comments. Do you think that one day Muslims can act like that? As an Arab I am always amazed at how fast we are ready to defened Islam against attacks that matter not, but not raise a single objecting word when the rights and lives of Arabs are trampled and dustroyed which matters much.