Posted on 05/07/2006 10:40:28 AM PDT by Pikamax
Muslim Americans upset over new 9/11-related film By Jonathan Jones, STAFF WRITER
FREMONT At the United Muslim American symposium in Newark, Muslim-American leaders discussed the rhetoric regarding Iran, the war in Iraq, and the image of the United States in Islamic countries. But some also expressed concern that "United 93," a new film about the last moments of the last hijacked plane to crash on Sept. 11, 2001, could stir up anti-Islamic sentiments.
Safaa Ibrahim, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, took her staff of four women wearing a hijab, the traditional Muslim head scarves, to a Thursday matinee.
As a civil rights advocate, Ibrahim said, she wanted to see the movie after reports that several young Muslim-American women in Arizona were verbally assaulted by two people who said they had seen the movie recently.
Ibrahim said she knew the movie would stir up emotions, but she did not expect that all of the members in her group would walk out of the theater in tears.
"We thought it was important to see the movie to find out how it comes across," Ibrahim said. "But it dredged up a lot of emotions. We were watching it as Americans and as Muslims and it hurts us to see our fellow Americans hurt, and see people hurt others, acting in the name of Islam."
At the April 29 symposium, Suhail Khan, associate director for congressional affairs at the Department of Transportation and a former White House aide under President George W. Bush, recalled his experience working at the White House on Sept. 11, 2001.
Today, Khan said he still remembers that day "moment by moment," adding that the movie touches a raw nerve. He said he had not made up his mind about whether it is too soon to produce such a film.
"Five short years after 9/11, we're seeing a movie produced that purports to relive the horrific moments of 9/11 and Flight 93," Khan said. "I haven't made up my mind about that issue honestly. I do feel, obviously, that it will stir up anti-Muslim sentiments. But, I mean, it's hard to make the situation worse."
Ibrahim said the opening scene of the movie, where hijackers are reading the Quran, "sent chills up my spine."
"It only reinforced my hatred and resentment toward Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida and reminded me of how much they've hurt Muslims and scarred our faith," Ibrahim said. "I have so much anger toward these guys. The movie only reinforced that. I understand why it makes others angry. It doesn't feel good to watch what happened and see innocent families die. It's senseless."
But Ibrahim added that the movie also reinforced how much has changed since the events of Sept. 11.
"On 9/11, I was working at a high-tech firm and I wasn't wearing a hijab," Ibrahim said. "Now I'm wearing a hijab and dedicating myself to preventing people from trying to ruin the name of my faith. That day helped us grow and made us more civic-conscious."
Khan agreed: "My sense is that the opportunity is still there to educate non-Muslims. Just as we had hate crimes after 9/11, we also had an outpouring of brotherhood and friendship with non-Muslims who stood by the Muslim community and stood by their neighbors and friends. ... I think you need to look at the positives and educate friends about the realities of Islam."
F 'em with a red hot branding iron!
Here's a nice suggestion for them: Convert to Christianity.
Our fundamentalists dedicate their lives to converting and saving people; Their fundies massacre non-believers. We don't have "concerns" about our image for a reason.
'United 93' doesn't stir up "anti-Islamic" sentiments- radical Muslims do.
What the heck is this trite phrase these muzzies use "feel hurt" what the heck is hurt? Notice the "anger" and "hurt" these people feel. It is not that innocent americans were killed, it is that it makes the muzzie religion look bad. Very telling.
Too f'ing bad if they're offended by the truth-they need to totally renounce that 7th century culture and religion of death if they ever want to be accepted as Americans.
I'll second that.
And I loved Robert Mitchum in that role.
Must suck to be so far behind enemy lines that one has to lie everyday to keep from being jailed our worst. Maybe these Muslims need to retreat to friendly territory. Islamic leaders are making it pretty clear that there is no love in Islam for anyone not muslim.
I'm sorry but I have to say this: are these people really this clueless?
Oh, GOOD. Then she is trying to do something about Radical Islam?
It is such a stupid cult that they have to threaten to KILL people to keep them in it, so one would not exactly expect a Rocket Scientist Society.
Makes me think of the scene in Liar Liar where one of Jim Carrey's clients is again in trouble with the law and wants to know what to do. Carrey tells him "Stop breaking the law asshole". Seems if the Muslims would stop with the terrorism a lot of anti-muslim sentiment would just go away.
"It's hard to make the situation worse????
The situation could be made worse in any number of ways.
For example, they could be put into boxcars whose floors were covered in quicklime, and sent to death camps, but then, many vocal Muslims seem to claim that never happened, so it looks like they have limited imaginations.
He went on to suggest that, perhaps five years after the establishment of an islamic government it might be okay, as long as we revisit the script and maybe tweak it a little.
I couldn't care less that the so called "religion of peace" is upset over this film!!
Well said!!
I consulted mine and it also is pegged at zero, but is trying to reach for minus infinity.
I don't see a problem here. Anyone see a problem?
For some silly reason, I still feel like an infidel.
She was trolling.
Hedging her bets.
That's the exact wrong response.
I guess they should have made the terrorists white Christains....
Hedging her bets?
Nope. Declaring her true loyalty.
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