‘Aliens in America’ provides crackpot with excuse to hate Muslims
Someone posted a comment on my review of TV’s “Aliens in America” that I suppressed because it’s jaw-droppingly bigoted and I didn’t want it posted without being able to respond to it. I guess I could have just deleted it and been done with it, but you know how I like to scrutinize nutcases.
The TV show, you’ll recall, is a sitcom in which a Muslim Pakistani boy comes to live with a nerdy American high school kid and his family. The pilot episode was hilarious, episode 2 was somewhat disappointing, and episode 3 was back on track. It was episode 3, called “Rocket Club,” that prompted someone to post this:
first we never had to worry about presenting muslims on t.v. until after 911. who give a hoot. now that they are climbing out of the proverbial closets, it is time for american to wake up. while not all muslims are terrorists, all terrorist are muslims. (don’t go there about tim mcveigh). tonight’s episode on the rocket fiasco and the cops taking the computer, then the families computer, and the commentator saying something about our “rights” being taken away, then to the effect of all the “wrongs in america”…why do you think these liberal hollywood writers i.e. backed by the left wing democratic agenda, try to make the U.S. bad and the muslims good? pull your head out the ground while you are watching “pushing daisies” and start paying attention to what the real agenda is. watching people kiss people through body bags is “imagination”? this show the true genius of the American public. if you don’t get it by now, read Laura Ingraham’s book. or do you do that anymore. learn something for the country’s sake!
First, let’s talk about what happened in this episode. The boy, Raja, buys a bunch of supplies at the hardware store to build a model rocket. But to the skittish store manager, he looks like a possible terrorist buying bomb-making materials. The cops come to talk to Raja and his host family and demand access to Raja’s computer so they can see what websites he’s been going to.
That’s when the host family’s nerdy son, Justin, speaks up. He doesn’t want them taking the computer because then they’d see that he, Justin, has been looking at porn on it. Feverishly trying to come up with a way out of this, he dimly remembers something he half-heard in civics class once — something about the Constitution, and unreasonable search and seizure, and civil rights, and so forth. So he speaks up and says — quite rightly, of course — that the cops can’t take the computer without a warrant.
The line our correspondent refers to, about all the “wrongs in America,” comes at the end of the episode when everything is settled and they finally do launch their model rocket. Justin, who is also the show’s narrator, says this: “As we launched our rocket that day, it reminded all of us that for all our country’s faults, it’s still a place where amazing things can happen.” And then the rocket veers off-course and smashes into the face of an evil high school cheerleader previously established as needing a good comeuppance.
So, yes, there is an acknowledgment that America has flaws, accompanied by the affirmation that it’s still a great country. Somehow, our correspondent only heard, “America sucks, and Muslims are better than us.”
Now, as to her specific comments. (She didn’t post a name, but her e-mail address has “mama” in it, leaving me to infer that it’s a woman writing.)
first we never had to worry about presenting muslims on t.v. until after 911. who give a hoot.
Who give a hoot? Well, the 4.5 million Muslims in the United States might, or the 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. Or, for that matter, even Christians like me who have little interest in the Muslim faith but who sometimes find it interesting to see unfamiliar cultures on TV. Sure, sitcoms about large, dumpy husbands and their hot, thin wives are still fresh and exciting, especially when those sitcoms focus on such invigorating topics as the wife not wanting to have sex, or the in-laws being meddlesome. But every now and then, I like to see something a little different.
now that they are climbing out of the proverbial closets, it is time for american to wake up.
If you weren’t aware that Muslims existed prior to 9/11, I’d say that’s more a reflection on you than on them. They weren’t exactly hiding.
all terrorist are muslims. (don’t go there about tim mcveigh).
Mmhmm. Also, all fat people are Americans. (Don’t go there about Luciano Pavarotti.)
The American Heritage Dictionary defines terrorism as “the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.”
By that definition, we must include, just off the top of my head, Timothy McVeigh, Theodore Kaczynski, fundamentalist Christians who bomb abortion clinics, the Ku Klux Klan, the Jewish Defense League, and Cody Judy.
While it might be accurate to say that the Muslim terrorists are the ones who pose the greatest threat to Americans, it’s obviously not accurate to say they’re the ONLY terrorists. But I suspect our contributor is using a much narrower definition of the word “terrorism.” I suspect her definition actually has the word “Muslim” in it.
why do you think these liberal hollywood writers i.e. backed by the left wing democratic agenda, try to make the U.S. bad and the muslims good?
That’s a pretty serious misreading of “Aliens in America,” a show whose theme song is “What’s so funny about peace, love, and understanding?,” a show whose whole purpose is to find a funny, satirical way of discussing Islam in the United States, and to look for humor in the way some people freak out when they encounter people from other cultures. It’s no wonder our correspondent didn’t like it: It makes fun of people like her!
I think the only way you could watch “Aliens in America” and come away with a “U.S. bad/Muslims good” message is if you watch it while wearing your “I hate Muslims” glasses.
Also, “U.S. bad and the muslims good” makes it sound like they’re two totally separate groups. As mentioned, lots of Americans ARE Muslims. What about them? Are they only half good? Or does being Muslim negate whatever goodness potential they had by being American? Wouldn’t their Americanness be so awesome that it would outweigh their icky Muslimness?
pull your head out the ground while you are watching “pushing daisies” and start paying attention to what the real agenda is. watching people kiss people through body bags is “imagination”?
What “Pushing Daisies” has to do with any of this, other than that I reviewed it in the same post as “Aliens in America,” I have no idea. But to answer Crazy Muslim-Hater’s question, yes, people kissing through body bags is imaginative, given the circumstances of the story.
this show the true genius of the American public.
Indeed, it do show it.
if you don’t get it by now, read Laura Ingraham’s book. or do you do that anymore.
Really? The woman posting the ranting, semi-literate diatribe is going to accuse ME of not reading? That’s disappointing.
learn something for the country’s sake!
I’m not familiar with Laura Ingraham. She’s a conservative radio host (goodness knows we don’t have enough of those) who has written three books. It’s presumably the most recent, “Power to the People,” that the writer refers to. I don’t know what Ingraham says in the book about Muslims, but I hope this lady’s point of view isn’t representative of it.
October 18th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
When I first saw the name Laura Ingraham, I thought of Laura Ingalls and wondered why she wanted you to read “Little House on the Prairie”.
October 18th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Reading comments like these from this woman makes me even more embarassed to be a Republican these days, what a sheltered person.
October 18th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
You know what I would love to see? This lady and the crazy water lady in some sort of half-brained duel of ideas. Perhaps Tim Nasson could join them, and the trifecta would be complete.
October 18th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
I also thought of Little House on the Prairie. Guess it’s a different world out there nowadays. You have heard what Coulter (the other conservative female media person) says about Christians vs. others, right? Looks like some popular figures are wanting to return to the good ol’ days of KKK-mentality.
October 18th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
I am the woman that wrote the poorly executed letter about “alien’s in america” i should have not ranted and slowly wrote so i did not come off as the MORON that i seem to be. I APOLOGIZE SINCERELY.
when i brought up the other show about “pushing daisies” this was a letter i meant to send to the CW channel. the ongoing sentence was copied and pasted and missplaced. sorry again. there were 2 separate issues and that i copied and pasted this was a mistake. the laura ingraham comments was also missplaced.
the combining of both letters was in ERROR and i did not edit. i was shaking with irritation and screwed up.
i do not hate muslims. i apologize to muslim americans everywhere. i sounded like a fool. i am a Christian and i don’t hate anybody. i am not a bigot but my writing was most sincerely incorrect. i have a problem when i get into one of these “irritating” moods and my mouth/brain are jumbled and obviously i made less sense and a mess of things. i have NOTHING against MUSLIMS. what i do have is the media trying to MINIMIZE the TERRORISM we are facing by making it a JOKE by turning what could have been a hilarious sitcom into a thought provoking one, of which i must say, you made me re-think. i am aware of muslims prior to 911. i have muslim neighbors who are lovely people. just since that terrible date has the attention been directed to the muslim terrorists that committed the atrocity. how can this show do anything with showing a rocket hit a cheerleader, put muslims or anyone in any good light. that isn’t funny somehow although i do understand how bigoted they were not to allow the sister on the squad. I AGREE. this show is intentionally trying to again “soften” the aggravation of the citizens of this country who feel threatened by terrorism. yes, i know about the japanese internment camps and how that should NOT have been. please i am not sheltered. i am not a bigot, i am not an idiot, just bad a expressing myself and should have more aforethought.
again i apologize for not putting my thoughts down clearer. my main point was, the liberals in hollywood keep putting out garbage to keep us numb to reality.
i find that many shows are trying to again “soften” what i consider things of evil. yes i have a sense of humor. and i get satire, funny, and bill maher. i am not stodgy. werewolves, satan humorously owning souls (another comedy?) dead people talking to people, psychic reality shows, etc. do not amuse me.
do i make sense now? if not then, i just disagree with the whole thing. i do not like the “aliens in america”. he is cute and any other time in history probably would be better. the real terrorists are loving our complacency. i believe AMERICAN MUSLIMS may feel the same way.
p.s. how dare you put out my email or do you only do that to people you are upset with. are you inciting your own revenge? you said on your site you will NOT publish my email. you lied. as a Christian that is not right.
October 18th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Actually, the part about your e-mail address is a good point. (I’m glad you made one, anyway.) I used it because I had no other way of identifying you … and, yes, because I figured it would irritate you. I forgot about the assurance that comment-posters’ addresses wouldn’t be published. I’ve removed it.
October 18th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
“now that they are climbing out of the proverbial closets”
What proverb ever involved a closet?
October 19th, 2007 at 5:59 am
I think her e-mail is still showing up at the bottom of the post.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:31 am
licia – that rocket hitting the cheerleader did not mean to put anyone in a good OR bad light. It meant to give a snotty character a comeuppance through an accidental mishap. Your claim to have a sense of humor is somewhat undermined by your failure to understand this. Of course, many people do not care for physical humor of this type, but your comment indicates you do not even understand the comedic point.
October 19th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
There is a different between entertainment media and information media. Although shows like 48 hours and Dateline can leave you confused as to what group they fall into. To hold entertainment media to a standard that should be reserved for information media make no sense to me at all. I don’t watch entertainment with the intent to become informed. I watch it laugh, cry or just plain entertain me. Unfortunately I know plenty of people who believe violent Muslims and African Americans (please forgive my obvious attempt to be PC) represent their respective groups but completely dismiss the idea that violent Christians represent all Christians. There is no way to talk to those people rationally.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
I hope licia doesn’t ever see the latest episode of South Park (in which Muslim terrorists take over the country’s imagination and perpetrate imaginary attacks) . She’d freak right the hell out.
October 19th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Huh… From your summary it sounds as if Hollywood is talking about the constitution and actually being for it…that does sounds rather revolutionary. Of course they were making a statment against the President, but when the president has supported anti-constitution laws-I’m afraid I side with Hollywood.
I also think it could be a helpful show just to remind people not to return the US to the Japanese internment camps of WWII…we need to be able to identify terorist behaviors and not potentially terrorist skin colors.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
licia said: “this show is intentionally trying to again “soften” the aggravation of the citizens of this country who feel threatened by terrorism”
Its OK to feel threatend by (muslim) terrorism, but not to feel threatened by all Muslims because some are. It is the unilateral fear directed at Muslims (and even those who appear to be Muslim) that this show is trying to soften.
Production Crew Member
Aliens In America
October 19th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
i get it. i get it. i get it. all. yes and the southpark episode would bother me if what you are saying is true. my husband said it was just plain lame. i like southpark. so i don’t have a sense of humor? but when i say the Christian themes in southpark irritate me, does that now make me some type of bigot? i see the humor. and to Paul Norman who knows me so well..you are correct, i do not like physical humor where someone gets hurt. AMV and the crotch slams don’t make me laugh. you make me laugh. a comeuppance through an accidental mishap? i see the humor. it was to make the cheerleader look like the bigot she was…yes it was humor, but i read into it exactly what Poly Tek said. was comeuppance getting your head blown off is funny in a comedy episode. see my point? why do you all mis-read what i wrote? put your own spin on of course. forget the first email i wrote…get it out of your head .i already explained. now, re-read. i can’t change your opinion, this is my opinion. i did not call you names, or stupid, or dumb and i get every flippin thing you all are writing. i did hear that radical muslims want ALL of us to be muslims…now that scares me. you?
Poly Tek…i am not threatened nor fear muslims. i get the show for goodness sake.ok one more thing….another thought here ok?
there are 3 EX muslim terrorists, one that is now a Christian (not sure if all of them are) that will explain it all to you if you look up 3xterrorists.com. maybe YOU will see it through the eyes of a muslim terrorist who has change HIS lifestyle and they don’t soften a thing.
peace and love to all
October 19th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
i should have said….3 ex muslim terrorists walk into a bar……………………
October 19th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
If I’m reading you right, licia, you are against “Aliens in America” because it attempts to show Muslims as non terrorists, and therefore numbs us to the reality that there are Muslim terrorists in the world? And/or because it also pokes fun at people that think all Muslims are terrorists?
I don’t see the “numbing” effect. Realizing that not all Muslims are terrorists will in no way make me–and any other viewer who actually does appreciate ‘thought-provoking’ television–forget that there are Muslim terrorists. And I think the stereotype that all Muslims are terrorists should be done away with, anyway.
October 20th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Here’s something weird. Licia Daulby says “i have a problem when i get into one of these “irritating” moods and my mouth/brain are jumbled and obviously i made less sense and a mess of things.” I assume that she was actually typing her response on the computer instead of using a dictation machine or something that transfers her words to the computer. (If she was using a dictation machine, it didn’t check for spelling or grammar errors.) If I am wrong about the dictation machine issue, my whole argument falls apart, just so everybody knows that I understand this.
The average person speaks at about 300 words per minute so I can understand when a person talks before he thinks. 300 wpm communication overrunning a person’s cognitive capabilities, to me, is understandable. A high-end typist can type at about 80 wpm. So this data shows that, assuming Licia to be a high-end typist, her cognitive capacity was overrun at 80 wpm or less.
October 20th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
amp:
numbing – maybe it’s like watching 300 thousand murders on t.v. by the time one is an adult these days, so if you see a dead body laying on the street, it is not as alarming as it was when i was 8.
this show is not what i consider “thought provoking”. a bit of thought, but hardly “provoking”. it’s juvenile as well. how about a comedy that doesn’t contain sexual inuendo or ethnic issues? can they do that anymore?
October 20th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Quote: “Radical muslims want ALL of us to be muslims…now that scares me.”
Do not radical Christians want all of us to be Christians? Is it not their wish to evangelize the whole world and win everyone to Christ? That scares Muslims.
Members of each group want the rest of the world to be just like them, and they fear that the other group will destroy their beliefs and way of life.
October 20th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Granted “Aliens in America” has only aired a couple times, but there has yet to be a murder. (I’m going with Involuntary Manslaughter for the rocket thing–supposing the cheerleader is actually dead.) You were arguing against “Aliens in America”–or so I thought–when you made the numbing comment. How is the show, specifically, “numbing” us? And to what reality is it “numbing” us?
About your second point, ethnic differences are a huge issue right now. Look at you and your whole tirade against the show for painting Muslims in a good light. Why should ethnic differences be off limits? There is some sexual innuendo on the show, but I would say it is far, far less than the other sitcoms on tv right now.
What exactly is your qualm with the show? I really don’t understand. You seem to be against the show because it paints a Pakistani Muslim as a peaceful person. I truly truly do not understand why that is so wrong. Should we be afraid of all Pakistanis? All Muslims? Why? What good would come of it?
October 20th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
So nobody else is a little miffed that her e-mail address was posted contrary to what is posted and she didn’t even get an apology? All she gets is something to the effect of ‘I wanted to irritate you and your address has been removed’ [not real quote].
Everyone has a right to an opinion, even a stupid one, so I don’t have a problem with her ideas. I do have a problem with blatant breaches of privacy by a public figure without even a hint of contrition.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:57 pm
I can spot at least three “hints of contrition”: he told her she had a good point, he told her he had forgotten the policy, and he fixed the problem. When your email address (johndoe237@hotmail.com) gets posted publicly, then you can be miffed. For now, you should probably just accept the fact that Eric made a mistake and fixed it as soon as he was notified about it.
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:00 am
licia said: “there are 3 EX muslim terrorists, one that is now a Christian (not sure if all of them are) that will explain it all to you if you look up 3xterrorists.com. maybe YOU will see it through the eyes of a muslim terrorist who has change HIS lifestyle and they don’t soften a thing.”
Actually if you do further studies and research the stories they give, they were fabricated or have lots of holes that do not make sense. Furthermore, if you have kill hundreds of people, you aren’t walking around freely no matter what changes you made unless you are hiding somewhere that is protecting terrorists or you have valuable information in current efforts to fight terrorism (which neither appear to be the case).
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:04 am
Just to follow up, I’m not saying that there is no threat of terrorism. What I am saying is we should evaluate everything for what it is and not paint everything with an industrial spray painter and end up going off the deep end. We need to be intelligent and aware of what things really are instead of cherrypicking things for an agenda. Our agenda should be about being informed and intelligent. Not fearmongering and McCarthyism.
February 6th, 2008 at 7:49 am
“werewolves, satan humorously owning souls (another comedy?) dead people talking to people, psychic reality shows, etc. do not amuse me.
do i make sense now? if not then, i just disagree with the whole thing.”
WHAT?!?!?! You certainly do not make sense! Keep writing, I love to have a good laugh. I especially love the inclusion of ‘If you understand me, you know I’m right, and if you can’t, you’re wrong.’ It’s a device employed by many of Eric’s angry letter writers.