Middle East/North African Lit discussion
cruise special tours -not books
>
Deck Community Chit-Chat (Interesting Random Things)
Found a bit on why Kayak says TLC misrepresented the show...Quote from this site:
http://www.tnooz.com/2011/12/14/socia...
“When TLC pitched All-American Muslim to advertisers, it was characterized as a fair-and-balanced look at the life of an American Muslim,” Birge says. “However, what was not disclosed was the preexisting controversy surrounding race, religion and specifically the divide between the Muslim and Christian communities in Dearborn, Mich. Dearborn has been a center of controversy for right or wrong; however, that was omitted by TLC when it pitched the show.”
Also on that site, it says Kayak's first blog post was about this issue (it is sorry to say) and that it has been interacting with critics on Twitter. Interesting...
The first sentence makes it seem like they were headed in the direction of the FFA - hey- this shows Muslims as "too normal."
The other part makes it seem like they just didn't know Dearborn had a large Arab and/ or Muslim population, uncharacteristic of the rest of the country. Which is where charges of misrepresentation may occur. But if you want to see how Muslims are living here, it would make sense you'd go there. But as to them not realizing Dearborn was a center of controversy- that's ridiculous. Look at the heat Muslims have taken after 9/11. Any show about them is going to be (considered) controversial. They really should have known that, even if they didn't know much of anything about Dearborn.
Attached is a link to the list of shows currently being aired by TLC. I am curious to know which, if any, of these businesses, pulled their ads from other shows on this network. Why do they feel that it is OK to make a (narrow-minded) value judgment about the content of this show, yet advertising on Toddlers & Tiaras (or as I like to call it the 2024 casts of Jersey Show and Celebrity Rehab) does not cause any concern whatsoever? And that the aspect of the show that appears to be making them uncomfortable is, as Jennifer just pointed out, that the Muslim families portrayed on this show are "too normal". Such a sad state of affairs.
http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/tv-shows....Sorry -- here is the link I mentioned. Got carried away on my soapbox and forget to attach it!
Wendy wrote: "Attached is a link to the list of shows currently being aired by TLC. I am curious to know which, if any, of these businesses, pulled their ads from other shows on this network. Why do they feel ..."Exactly, Wendy!
For Toddlers and Tiaras I always say "Unsolved Mysteries" but maybe I'm more cynical.
Not to side with Kayak or anything---I also think the show's not the best in the world, but I will stick it out because it is a subject that interests me.
Anyway, I was thinking what would make it better and I wonder why it isn't as addictive as some of TLC's other shows (even thought they are often less interesting or more disturbing subject matter). The suggestion someone had of a one hour special... or several hour miniseries might be good, too, if they got multiple families and only covered one issue. I think the problem is that the other TLC shows are basically about one family when they do something like this. But I wonder if the participants or the Dearborn community or TLC thought it would be too intrusive to do it in that style, so TLC had to get more than one family. I mean, there is a severe lack of privacy having cameras all up in your business all the time and it may or may not have contributed to marital issues with Jon and Kate and Little People Big World couple (my opinion only). Maybe TLC's intent was to show a variety of viewpoints in which case multiple families were the plan and due to all the issues and time constraints of trying to get sufficient background on each family and focus on problems and solutions, TLC bit off more than they could chew.
I think they should have done multiple families and one issue (headscarf in America; praying 5 times a day in America; sports and Islam- Ramadan, headscarf challenges; conversions to and from, or whatever else) or one family and all the issues. In the last one, if they followed Suehalia around, they'd get her parents because she lives at home, her job, life decisions, Shadia's wedding, gatherings of family and friends where these individuals can talk to the camera in that one on one way. I also think sometimes background is missing. On the Little People show, someone on the show always narrates or introduces the different pieces of the show so it helps with the familiarity and context.
Or maybe TLC wasn't the right network to handle this topic to answer questions and pick "story lines" most Americans want to know about...
My thoughts on the most recent episode, 6:So Wrigley comes back home and it looks like they are trying to keep him off the carpet (good luck with that!). Sounds like the garage is a possibility- I hope they will fix it up some with temperature control if that is the case... Before this happens, Shadia talks to her mom who tells her Jeff's compromised a lot already and she must do the same. Sounds like practical advice rather than a reaction we would have been expecting based on the discussions going on here with regard to Islam and dogs (and discussion among cast on the show).
Also Nawal gets out for a workout after the baby and shakes the trainer's hand. Twice. Oops. She was nervous about telling her husband. I would hope it's just because it's never happened rather than fear that he would regard it as cheating or something. She asked for a woman trainer. I would have done that myself. The cast discussed the handshake thing. Kind of funny. Nina made fun of it and said if you get aroused by that, you have a problem, a hand fettish. I would certainly respect the wishes of someone who felt this way, even if I thought they were going a bit far. I mean in Christianity, we are warned to avoid the appearance of evil and so I wouldn't go hang out with ex boyfriends (male trainers, or whomever) even if I was dead certain nothing would come of it- I wouldn't want the appearance or possibility. I understand to some degree.
Hassan's death brings to light some issues. They think people will view the death as- look, now they are turning on themselves. Or that it would fuel stereotypes of violence even though violence exists in every community. I thought there was some interesting discussion there.
In all three of these items, though I feel TLC didn't do the subjects justice. I feel that in the case of the Wrigley thing, they kind of jumped around and didn't give a good representation of the progression of events (and in the process didn't do the cast justice).
In the other two things, they didn't really flesh out the issue or given enough context or depth.
Oh, and they did touch on sharia law. It was ok, just not enough detail. They did say that it was religious law in Islam, not to supercede the law of the land, and that Michigan in no way conforms to it. I'm glad they got that in there. I'm glad they had Mr. Jaafar from the police department and Suehalia from the courts to talk about it, I just wish more detail had been given, discussion had, questions from the audience maybe? These are two valuable members of the cast that are probably being underutilized. Maybe they can't say too much due to the nature of their job, but it would be helpful if they could.
I think if this flops, it will be TLC or the particular people TLC put in charge of this project that should take the blame, not the cast or subject. I wonder if they've got experienced people on this, people knowledgeable about Islam or not, or who is working on it? I'll have to take a look maybe. I'm curious now.
This had great potential that is kind of being wasted. It's timely and interesting, but not being done justice - not in a bigoted, stereotypical way, but a quality one.
New episode, 7, is 1/1/12 and it will be about 9/11 and the 10 year anniversary. Should be good unless TLC messes that up, too.
Seems like all the chatter for the show is that it's bad or they are bashing Shadia for banishing the dog she is allergic to. There are so many more issues! I'm disappointed in TLC and people in general. Not to mention Lowes. :)
I haven't had a chance to see the latest episode yet (it is DVR'd and waiting to be viewed), but will definitely keep your observations in mind while I'm watching it. I agree though that it would be better if more context could be provided around some of the issues.
Ok i have been following this discussion since it started and I have to say that it really amazed me. I can not say I was shocked when I first heard the news, I kind of expected that, at least I expected the sponsors will be able to find a stronger and more sophisticated excuse to quit :) I was sooo happy about ur reaction seeing people really care that others within their own community are being subjected to such stupidity gives me hope, though I hope that ur voices and the like could be heard more often over here. I was happy to see that our media did not make a big deal out of it, though I hoped they talked more about the popular reaction to it. I hope I can see the show it self. I went to the network but they do not have full episodes.
Ghada wrote: "Ok i have been following this discussion since it started and I have to say that it really amazed me. I can not say I was shocked when I first heard the news, I kind of expected that, at least I ex..."Ghada, I am guessing if/when you do get to see this show you would most likely be scratching your head and wondering what on earth all the fuss is about since really, the stuff they are doing is pretty mundane daily life sort of stuff.
On a completely unrelated note I just wanted to mention the whole U.S. pull-out from Iraq in time to bring all the service men and women home for Christmas. Wondered if anyone wanted to comment or discuss this situation? I felt a real flare up of irritation when I heard someone being interviewed saying something along the lines that Iraq was going to have to stand on its own 2 feet sooner or later, so now is as good a time as any and the U.S. can't hold their hand indefinitely. Seems to me they are overlooking the fact that due to the U.S. presence in Iraq, the infrastructure there was destroyed (not to mention all the political instability we learned about in Baghdad Burning). And, lots of talk about the 4,500 U.S. service men and women who lost their lives in this war, but not a great deal of talk about the 100,000+ Iraqi civilian lives that were lost. Apparently U.S. lives are far more valuable -- or at least that is the distinct impression I am left with upon watching the media coverage. Don't get me wrong, I think every life that was lost was a tragedy, and my heart goes out to every family who lost a loved one as a result of all of this. But there is little time or attention given to what the average Iraqi citizen has had to contend w/ these past 9 years and there may not be an end in sight if political instability continues. It's all very sad.
I wish we (and by "we" I mean the U.S.) would try to use other levers of power and influence through diplomacy, aid, trade, etc. to exert our influence in the world, and not think of the military as the first option at our disposal.
Sorry for the double post (and for flip flopping between topics), but the current bruhaha surrounding the Saturday Night Live sketch about Tebow and the reaction to the same (link attached) had me asking myself -- should I feel the need to come to Tebow's defense? Am I engaging in a double standard with regard to my reaction to the All-American Muslim issue and not feeling overly worried about the SNL sketch as an "attack on Christianity"? I guess I kind of perceive that there is already such a pro-Christian bias that exists here, that a little skit on SNL is not going to put it at any great risk, but who knows. Maybe I'm not being consistent . . . ?What do you guys think?
http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/...
Just got round to watching the first 3 episodes of All-American Muslim (found them on Youtube).Generally I find "reality" show formats to be frustratingly repetitive. The episodes begin with clips/soundbytes which appear later on, and then are repeated over again several times. Maybe it's a way to stretch out the little material that is of interest, or a way to (over)emphasize certain "hot" issues.
In this particular show, the cast is selective; everyone seems to be of Shiite Lebanese heritage, at least the first episodes that I viewed. So there's no sense of the wide variety of the "Muslim" or even "American Muslim" experience. Certainly the show's focus is limited, in that respect.
During Shadia & Jeff's wedding reception I thought I spotted a familiar face among the male family members greeting the guests as they enter the room -> The actor who plays "Moe" in the Internet Ed and Moe Show (it's on Youtube). I do think that's him, Ali also appears in the clip "A Senseless Act of Violence" on the TLC website.
I have a hunch that the character of "Ed" may even be based on Jeff, Shadia's formerly-Catholic husband in All-American Muslim! (check out Ed&Moe's episode for "Ramadan")
Edited to add:
Has anyone seen the feature documentary Fordson to compare it with the TLC TV show?
Wendy wrote: "Sorry for the double post (and for flip flopping between topics), but the current bruhaha surrounding the Saturday Night Live sketch about Tebow and the reaction to the same (link attached) had me ..."I wouldn't call it a double standard. I'm Christian and not all that concerned about the Tebow thing. He prayed on the field and got teased or something? I know those teasing him are wrong and a little mean. But I have to say, why choose that time to pray right in front of everyone, in teh middle of everything? Was he overwhelmed and wanted to say thanks (sorry, I don't know the circumstance)- that would be about the only thing that I would make an exception to telling him there is a time and place for everything. Was he just trying to make a scene and or statement about his faith? I have no idea, but if that was the case, I'm even less concerned about him getting teased.
Anyway, I guess my lack of concern comes from the fact that it was a Christian display in a majority Christian country. Even though there are atheists and other religions here, everyone here pretty much knows the basics of Christianity. Not the case with Islam here, so that is why I feel like I have to stand up because I have some knowledge of it (I haven't lived in a majority Islam country, but it is in my family culture, if by marriage) and can defend against unreasonable attacks that may catch and spread like wildfire.
okyrhoe wrote: "Edited to add:Has anyone seen the feature documentary Fordson to compare it with the TLC TV show? "
Is that about that football team on the All-American Muslim show? I have to check that out!
I think the variety comes in the degree and differences in their following the Quran or interpreting it. I already think they bit off more than they could chew with so many participants and issues that they don't do them justice. Adding differences in culture, region of origin or branch of Islam (sunni, sufi, etc) would give us less time to get into various "plots" or issues. Or maybe that would help alleviate the repetitiveness. Hard to say.
Jennifer wrote: "Is that about that football team on the All-American Muslim show?"Yes, the head coach is the same individual. I've only seen the trailer and director's interview to "Fordson: Faith Fasting and Football."
I saw the trailer of the Fordson show and it seems interesting. I also watched the first episode of the all american Muslims, I still need to see more before I judge the show all together but so far I share the same concern stressed here that all the families are Shii Lebanese. A more diversity in background would have been interested.
Mod
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedi...
wikipedia and many other websites in the US are going offline for a day to protest a law that is making it's way through the US Congress that would negatively impact internet freedom in the future. They are trying to raise awareness by doing this.The link you provided describes the problems in this potential law.
Mod
Thanks , do you this it matters ?
I don't know what impact this will have but at least Congress will know that people are watching. Sometimes they actually do sneak some bills through with such wording that no one would really know (or guess) the true meaning. This is one of those. It's title implies that it is actually improving internet freedom.There have been several petitions too. I've signed one or two. And the first time this bill came up, it didn't advance.
https://www.google.com/landing/takeac...Here's a link to an article about it ND if you want to check it out.
Mod
From my position I can not fathom the process or the consequences in details , but I can get the idea "protect free and open interenet...free knowlage ", I hope Congress would hear you .
Mod
I don't live in the United States. What's the best way for me to help?
Contact your local State Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or similar branch of government. Tell them you oppose SOPA and PIPA, and any similar legislation. SOPA and PIPA will affect websites outside of the United States, and even sites inside the United States (like Wikipedia) that also affect non-American readers -- like you. Calling your own government will also let them know you don't want them to create their own bad anti-Internet legislation""
I am not sure how to do that or even if it will do any effect .
From what I heard on the news tonight, some legislators are apparently rethinking their positions. While the intent was to limit piracy,The law was written broadly to protect copyright (in my understanding) and could result in many websites being sued or shut down (i.e. YouTube, etc) There is no way to know how it would be used. It's entirely too broad and gives all power to industry. Hopefully legislators are waking up to that. I know that many names on the pro-bill list are not the types who would usually vote in this way. They need to fight for a different type of bill.PS With Congress having only a 11% approval rating, one would think they would pay attention to the actions of so many people and representatives of the digital information industry.
Here's an explanation in a humorous vein by Jon Stewart. Even thought it's very tongue in cheek, it does sort of help explain what the issues are with the proposed legislation. Plus, it's funny.http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed...
This song takes me back to many years ago to my golden years in secondary school in Egypt, listening to it brings a lot of joy to my heart.So here it is for all my GR friends especially the Egyptians :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKjo5y...
Mod
..."
Thanks :) it is funny , but why did he make fun of Wikipedia ?
Ghada wrote: "This song takes me back to many years ago to my golden years in secondary school in Egypt, listening to it brings a lot of joy to my heart.
So here it is for all my GR friends especially the Egypti..."
Thank you dear Ghada , that was so sweet ! :D I love this song , I love Dalida , she sings for Egypt from her heart!:) - and I loved the pictures :D
ND -- I don't think he was making fun of wikipedia per se, just making the point that none of us can live w/out it. I think he was making fun of how much everyone constantly goes to wikipedia for answers.I liked the song you posted Ghada -- the pictures were amazing! ND, can I come visit you soon please???? Can you guys tell us non-arabic speakers what the song was about? The music is pretty, but I'm curious to know what she was saying. It sounded (to my ear) a bit like Indian music. Is that just me, or are there similarities?
Mod
The song (Ahsan Naas") = the nicest poeple , Translation in here , she is singing for several cities of Egypt in one song , I love Alexandra part ! in the end she sings for Cairo ,for Shobra where she was born .
Indian ? ..No ,I did not feel it , maybe someone else can get that .
Did you know Dalida ? heard her in French ? she has only one album in arabic (dedicated to Egypt) but very popular until today.
Oh wow . . . I had not heard about Dalida, but just read about her on wikipedia. What a sad and tragic life she led :-( So sad that she committed suicide, and it seems everyone she knew also committed suicide, almost making it seem inevitable for her. The lyrics for the song (translated to English) made me smile. My in-laws visited Egypt several years ago and I remember when they came back they kept saying how Egyptians are "the nicest people" they had ever met. I guess this song just confirms it :-)
I'm no expert on Indian music, so am probably completely off-base on that. It just sounds kind of exotic and different to me in the same way Indian music does, but is more likely ignorance on my part as to other genres of music.
Mod
For Dalida , here is anther song for Egypt in French edition , but the title was kept in Arabic , you can see her performance , Salma ya Salama and in In Arabic
and BTW ,I'm no expert on Indian music either !
Dalida brings so many memories from my childhood in Lebanon in the late 70's & early 80's. She was immensely popular, not just in the local media. In fact I associate her songs and TV appearances with the French TV5 station and Radio Monte Carlo that we'd tune in to, whenever the situation (functional power grid) permitted it. Her LPs were on permanent display in Beirut record shop windows.
As a young teenager, Dalida wasn't exactly to my taste. But her music was everpresent, or so it seems to me today, as I recall those times. I remember her mostly for her upbeat dance songs; they were a welcome respite from the street battles and the constant electricity cuts. When the city blacked out, battery-powered radios came to life; we'd listen to whatever was playing, all day long.
Later, after she died, and when I was old enough to appreciate Dalida's style better, her songs made me nostalgic for those difficult yet sweet times.
In west Beirut during the war there was an underground bar scene near the major hotels, kept afloat by the stream of foreign journalists covering the crisis. Some of these bars still survive today; they've kept their dated names - "Captain's Cabin" "Rock Inn" "Guys" "Goldfinger" and Dalida's Tico Tico. The neighborhood record shops have disappeared, though.
She was an icon of her time, with the body of a goddess, a glamorous stage presence that masked her inner turmoil, and she possessed a versatility in her performances, generating Arabic, Italian, & French hits as well as excelling in renditions of varied musical genres, from island folk songs to sirtaki to Kurt Weill.
Dalida I believe has influenced contemporary female performers. I see her in Annie Lennox, Ute Lemper, Celine Dion, Mylène Farmer, and Madonna (compare the dance steps of Dalida with Madonna).
Although I'm not that familiar with fashion history, I'm willing to bet that the current success of Lebanese & other M.E. designers such as Elie Saab, Georges Chakra, Reem Accra, etc. whose gowns are worn by Hollywood stars on the red carpet can be traced to the timelessness of Dalida's on-stage elegance.
ND Salma ya salama was our Favorite song when we reach home after our school trips :)
Mod
Thank you so much for your post !:D I did not know that she sang for Lebanon , her song is beautiful !(Do you know any other songs for her beside the ones in the egyptian album?)
I love "Suis Malade"even though it is a very sad song - you speak French fluently I believe ?
Dalida vs Madonna was very interesting !
Wendy , Here is anther one in English money .. money
Ghada ,
True :) but like you my most favotrite one is Dalida - Helwa Ya Baladi
I am a strong fan of Dalida... I love all her songs about Egypt especially Helwa ya Baladi. It is one of the songs that make me feel more and more homesick whenever I listen to it. It is loved by a lot of Egyptians who live abroad too. Dalida, for me, is an example of singers who could rarely be repeated again.
okyrhoe -- I loved reading your post about how this music evokes memories of growing up in Lebanon. Music can alwasys make memories so much stronger it seems.ND -- thank you for the video in English. It was very Las Vegas :-) She is quite glamorous! Thank you to all for introducing me to a new voice I had not heard before! I think you know someone is a great talent when their music translates into multiple language, as Dalida's clearly does.
Mod
Wendy , I am glad you liked her , yes she is glamorous yet tragic figure !
Arte TV has a Arab Revolution(s) page with news, videos, interviews, related to politics as well as culture from the MENA region (you can filter by country at the "Show By" tab at top right).
I just signed up at www.postcrossing.com. A friend of mine did this and is getting postcards now. It soundedcool and thought maybe some of you all may be interested. I just wrote my first one. Had a heck of a time finding postcards at the store, though!
Jennifer wrote: "I just signed up at www.postcrossing.com. A friend of mine did this and is getting postcards now. It soundedcool and thought maybe some of you all may be interested. I just wrote my first one. Had ..."This sounds like fun. I may give it a try. I'll have to find out what international postcard stamps are and get some.
Mod
No, I think the season of episodes that aired is now finished and I haven't heard anything about a second season. What do you think of it from what you have seen so far? I'm sure you are probably wondering what on earth could have been controversial about it since it's just a glimpse of the lives of some pretty normal people doing pretty normal stuff every day.
Mod
I actually think the complete lack of anything controversial was what bothered that wingnut from Florida. I saw him interviewed on CNN and he said something to the effect that it was misleading because it was portraying Muslims as being like other "regular Americans". It's hard to know where to even start when trying to combat that sort of ignorance. It's really sad that Lowe's and other advertisers allowed themselves to be bullied by someone with that mentality.
That kind of ignorance is almost unanswerable. They tend to be totally certain of their beliefs. Very scary in addition to sad.
Mod
http://www.eturbonews.com/24397/and-t...
Mod
http://www.eturbonews.com/24397/and-t..."
wow! Spain never sleeps!
i had no idea NYC had become so boring lol.
Middle East/North African Lit
Books mentioned in this topic
Sunset Oasis (other topics)Baghdad Burning: Girl Blog from Iraq (other topics)
The Blood of Flowers (other topics)
Granada (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Clinton Bailey (other topics)Joseph J. Hobbs (other topics)
Miral al-Tahawy (other topics)
http://notanotherpoliticalblog-j.blog...