All-American Muslims, a TLC show, has created something of a firestorm of controversy. Those objecting to the show, which follows American Muslims in their daily lives, claim that it is propaganda, obscuring the supremacist nature of sharia. Supporters are happy that it shows Muslims as ordinary Americans with a diverse array of tastes and beliefs. Viewers get to see the hijab wearing as well as the tight tee-shirt wearing Muslim girl around town.
However, not everyone is happy. The “conservative” Florida Family Association has encouraged viewers to email advertisers to voice their concerns. Lowes has since stopped advertising during the program, and put out a statement, saying “While we continue to advertise on various cable networks, including TLC, there are certain programs that do not meet Lowe’s advertising guidelines, including the show you brought to our attention. Lowe’s will no longer be advertising on that program.”
Babak Darvish, a Traditionalist Islamic website, has dismissed the reaction against the show, saying “If that’s a cover for radical Islamism, then the Cosby Show was a beard for the Black Panthers, and 7th Heaven was a Trojan horse for the Phelpses.” A petition has been set up to “defend our American values,” and call for advertisers to support the show.
Personally, as a defender of free speech, and as someone interested in the truth (which means I want to hear different opinions and see different sides), I see no problem with the show — which is about people, not ideologies. Indeed, seeing modern, pluralistic Muslims — who want the separation of mosque and state — is no bad thing at all.
Moreover, we have seen far too many attempts to prevent people airing their views in recent years. True, most of this behavior has been aimed at anti-Islamists, but we either believe in free speech or we don’t, and that means defending it for those with opposing views.
