Muslims should take control of their own image

While I would agree with your views in general, I think the article as written is incomplete. You did not give any specific examples of the portrayal of Muslims in the movie and the reactions of the Muslims to this movie (which I personally have not seen). For all I know, they may have been perfectly reasonable. Before making any sweeping statements about the lack of prudence of the American Muslim community, you must give specific examples.

Condemning terrorism is very important, criticizing US foreign policy while doing it is not as easy as you claim it to be.

And dealing with the popular caricatures of themselves is a different issue. If you were to state that Muslims should not respond to any negative portrayals, I would say that would be extremely naive.

best

Terrorism, i.e., making a political statement by inflicting emotional, physical or any other type of harm to unsuspecting and innocent people is not Islam. Anyone who claims to represent an Islamic cause by blowing up jets and buildings full of innocent people, for example, is not a Muslim.

American Muslims are actively organizing and taking part in clarifying this fact to the public. AMA and ICNA are two such organizations. The reason Muslims have to ``whine`` about negative stereotyping in the media is that THAT is the only image Americans have seen of them in the media.

One of the solutions that I have proposed in addition to the ``whinning`` is for American Muslims to get involved in the media by becoming mainstream publishers, journalists, broadcasters and film makers. We need to understand that in this country you don`t have to be a doctor or an engineer to make money. It is not only OK to pursue a career in acting, directing, reporting and publishing but it pays a lot of money. We have a lot of talented Muslim youngsters in schools and colleges here who need to understand this. One way is to set up investment funds, loans and scholarships as incentives.

If we want to present a positive image for Muslims in America, we`re just gonna have to do it ourselves.

Kazim Saeed:

To Wasiq`s opening salvo I would add this. There are a few who oppose all forms of terrorism--individual, group or state sponsored.

How should they react? Who can judge one to be a terrorist of freedom-fighter?

The second issue you raise about stereotyping can best be tackled from grass roots up. We should learn from the jews. If we follow them, politically we would not be so vulnerable---- indeed if the muslims tap the resources they can be as strong as the jews are in the American political spectrum in another fifteen twenty years.

regards