Don't say that I didn't warn you:
If you are sitting next to someone who irritates you on a plane or train...
1. Quietly and calmly open up your laptop case.
2. Remove your laptop.
3. Boot it.
4. Make sure the person who won’t leave you alone can see the screen.
5. Open your email client to this message.
6. Close your eyes and tilt your head up to the sky.
7. Then hit this link: http://www.thecleverest.com/countdown.swf
2. Remove your laptop.
3. Boot it.
4. Make sure the person who won’t leave you alone can see the screen.
5. Open your email client to this message.
6. Close your eyes and tilt your head up to the sky.
7. Then hit this link: http://www.thecleverest.com/countdown.swf
Whether or not you picked up on the general idea of the instructions or not, after viewing the timer it becomes obvious what the goal of the activity was. It seems as if this is nothing more than a harmless joke that has no dire consequences (other than getting you arrested if you actually do it in a public place); however, this kind of activity is a serious problem that Muslim Americans face. This website attempts to evoke a humorous response from you, playing off of the relationship we have with Muslim Americans and terrorism. Some people can take this activity as a joke, but others will find this activity to be a harsh reminder of tragic events that will ultimately strengthen their disdain for Muslim people and Muslim culture. People will associate death and destruction, terror and fear with this message and their response to Muslim Americans will be negative. This sort of website only places fuel on the Muslim American fire that is defaming their culture and beliefs. With websites like this in existence, it’s hard for people to sort out the fact from the fiction. Comical websites like this only enable harmful stereotypes to flourish and ultimately leave a culture branded a pariah.
I like the fact that you are making a connection between jokes people make about Muslim Americans and the actual situation. It reminds me of the Jim Crow cartoons that exaggerated the physical features of black-Americans just to make them appear inhumane.( the cartoons with the really black faces, bulging eyes and wide orange lips.)
ReplyDeleteThere is always a little truth behind just kidding, so websites like these are definitely conveying a subtle message about Muslims in general. And it's unfortunate that life is the way it is and makes it easy for people to judge others because of the actions of a minority.
Jews are money-centric,
Americans are fat,
Africans all have AIDS and are poor,
The French don't bathe,
and to top of the list of stereotypes,Muslims are terrorists.
It's ridiculous that people judge based on generalisations, especially in the case of Muslims, but then again what makes one believe in such a stereotype that they become apprehensive of random people. I think it's either hate or fear - and I am not sure of either, it could possibly be a bit of both; they're two powerful emotions.
I’ve been hitting on the same issue in my blog posts about the Park51 mosque. Americans are so easy to group Al Qaeda and all Muslims together. Not only does this cause racial profiling, it also gives others ammunition to revoke rights. The simple activity you outlined is just another example of how much of a problem the issue has become. A turban is now a reason to be suspicious. A burqa could be understood as a reason to be very cautious. This discrimination towards Muslims became full blown fear after September 11th. By continually grouping together terrorist groups with Islam, Americans have undermined our own justice and freedoms, which we all love and support. Most people don’t even recognize how their own prejudice has changed them. We rationalize our fear by saying that there could be a chance that anyone Islamic could be a part of a terrorist group. This is just wrong. The bias towards Muslims is great, but has been seen similarly in the past. African-Americans experienced extreme racism. Hispanics are now facing issues with being labeled as “illegals.” Hopefully, America can find a way to bridge the gap and dispel some of the prejudices against Muslims, because, after all, we should be judged for who we are, not what we seem to be.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, let me acknowledge your creativity in this post. I found it to be a catching way to start your post. The example of the website put your post into perspective and gave readers the chance to experience exactly what you were discussing. I will agree that some people would not find this website funny, for various reasons. One being, as you said, it evokes a reminder of the harsh reality of death and destruction. On the other hand, people do not see humor in this because it is stereotyping Muslims into a category of terrorists. I think that though this website, along with others like it, make generalizations about Muslims and furthers feelings of judgment, there are websites like this surrounding any kind of religion, race, ethnicity, sex, class, etc. I don't find this website to be particularly argumentative because any generalization can be found on the internet. Any group of people can be ridiculed online. It is unfortunate that this website creates more feelings of resentment but can you blame people for trying to evoke humor out of a horrible situation. Overall I think this is a minor set back in the relations of Muslim Americans and other Americans, a setback that cannot be stopped.
ReplyDeleteI just followed your instructions and maybe it was because I am sleep deprived and overly anxious, but that timer scared me a whole lot! I know that if the person next to me on a plane were to open their laptop and play that prank I would most definitely burst into tears. Since 9/11 I have had severe anxiety about flying. Every flight I get on, I seem to find one person that "definitely has a bomb". I have to admit, usually the so called terrorist that I have imagined is not white. I am not proud to say that I use racial profiling, but I think society and the media have driven me to be subconsciously racist when it comes to terrorists. Do not judge me for my preconceived judging of others but I am ignorant and American society does not do anything to quell my racist profiling. People try to make things humorous and I enjoy a good sense of humor, but there has to be a stopping point. People around the United States think it is okay to use racial slurs if they have an ethnic friend. They say “oh it’s straight, my buddy doesn’t care.” But honestly people, it should stop. There is no need to have the negative energy that surrounds racist comments towards blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, Jewish people, or any religious or ethnic group for that matter. Inappropriate comments just fuel the fire of inequality.
ReplyDelete