I just finished watching the one-hour version of Obsession that the Clarion Fund sent out to 28 million people. After reading CAIR's newsletters every day for the last three weeks doing their best to discredit the movie in every way they can think of, I found the movie surprisingly balanced. If anything, I think the film is too generous to Islam.At the end of the film, for example, several of the interviewees make the point that most Muslims repudiate the violence, which in many ways misses the point. A Muslim can repudiate violence, but Islam does not. And besides, there are other ways to wage jihad (by silencing critics and gaining concessions, for example). So I think the film is too biased toward Muslims.
But in a way, thinking of this as a campaign of changing someone's mind (rather than trying to do it in one shot), this movie is a good introduction to the subject for someone who knows almost nothing about it. It would help open someone's mind to learn more. And the movie is visually and auditorily engaging. Please help me in encouraging the Clarion Fund to make this available for purchasing in packs of ten.
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The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) are really trying to destroy this video. In a recent email, I got this:
ACTOR MIKE FARRELL & SHERIFF BACA
JOIN COALITION OF CIVIC & FAITH LEADERS IN SPEAKING OUT AGAINST ANTI-MUSLIM DVD
(Los Angeles - 10/10/08) -- Sheriff Lee Baca and LAPD Captain Mike Downing will join actor Mike Farrell and the newly formed Coalition for Renewing American Democracy to speak out against an anti-Muslim film called "Obsession" during a press conference on Monday, October 13 in Los Angeles.
The DVD, called "Obsession: Radical Islam's War with the West," has been distributed to 28 million households in election swing states, and has been widely criticized as a divisive political ploy.
WHAT: SHERIFF BACA JOINS CIVIC-FAITH COALITION IN SPEAKING OUT AGAINST MASS DISTRIBUTION OF ANTI-MUSLIM DVD
WHEN: Monday, October 13, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Islamic Center of Southern California, 434 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90010
WHO: Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, Actor Mike Farrell, Captain Mike Downing (Los Angeles Police Department), Xandra Kayden (Coalition member, League of Women Voters), Rabbi Steven Jacobs (Coalition member, Progressive Faith Foundation), Rabbi Allen Freehling (Coalition member, L.A. City Commission on Human Relations), Salam Al-Marayati (Coalition member, Muslim Public Affairs Council), Dr. Maher Hathout (Coalition member, Muslim Public Affairs Council).
The coalition will also release a statement, signed by more than a dozen religious, civic and law enforcement officials, voicing their "deep concern over the recent distribution of a deeply divisive and anger-provoking DVD" which undermines "our common and cherished beliefs by inciting fear and furthering ignorant stereotypes."
The statement from the Coalition for Renewing American Democracy reads, in part:
We, as members of civic and religious organizations along with law enforcement, come together united against hate and extremism. We believe that the best way to counter political and religious extremism is through cooperation and coordination. Those who divide our pluralism along the lines of religious or political views only further the cause of extremism. They profit from the fear generated from propaganda while we are on the front lines of pursuing effective public policy to eradicate terrorism.
We have come together to express our deep outrage over the recent distribution of a divisive and hate-provoking DVD called "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" to residents across the nation.... Invoking fear and anger in American voters is never the way to address the real problems of extremism and terrorism, and in a city as diverse and complex as Los Angeles -- at a time of great economic uncertainty -- this sort of hatred and blind tarring of a people and a faith is painful and dangerous.
America stands for the core values of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, pluralism, and equality for all. The Coalition for Renewing American Democracy seeks to work with a diverse group of faith and civic leaders and communities to renew America's promise by engaging elected officials and community leaders to promote security and guard against discrimination.
Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council is an American institution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of Muslim Americans.
From this article:
What can I personally do about this? I write letters but I feel they fall on deaf ears. I pray and truly hope our nation's politicians step out of their ivory towers and stop playing their political games and take this seriously. — Diana
Raphael Shore(the producer of Obsession): One of the most common reactions that people have after watching the film, "Obsession: Radical Islam's War against the West" is, "What can we do about it?" and I certainly empathize with this sentiment. When we became clear on this problem of radical Islam, we decided to make a film. I think that the most important thing that can be done for America and for the West is to educate our people to the fact that there is a threat. For that reason, one of the most important things that we can do, is to spread this message through purchasing the film at www.obsessionthemovie.com and creating your own screenings, and by giving it to your friends, or by disseminating books and literature and web links so that people can be informed. America can win this war that has been imposed on it, only if it is clear that there is a war going on. Then we'll have a chance to have the willpower necessary to come up against this determined enemy.
What can people do? Here are some more ideas:
There are six practical things that you can do. There are many other things that can be done, but this is a start. We would like to hear from other people their ideas of what can be done, so we can build up the website and offer more opportunities for people. Email us at activism@obsessionthemovie.com
Another way to help: the film "Obsession" has had some difficulty being received by the Hollywood world, primarily because it is such a "hot potato," and "PC" is uncomfortable with much of the discussion the movie addresses. Therefore, it has been a grassroots effort to get the film to where it is today, and it is with the help of individuals who have contacts with the media, with politicians, with people who can give financial support, that we have come to where we are. We have received tremendous assistance and support. If you can offer any assistance in those areas, please email help@obsessionthemovie.com You can also go to obsessionthemovie.com/donate where you can donate money that will help get "Obsession" seen throughout the world.
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