Well, you can't say it's not getting attention. That's the whole purpose, right? Attention that will hopefully turn into ratings. If that is the goal here then mission accomplished. If you wanted to provide some more unrelatable characters to the (obviously not annoying enough) reality show soup, then "bravo". But if the intent of this show was to educate people on what it's like to live Islam as an American.... Epic fail. 

 

Other Muslim critics of the show have already beat me in expressing outrage at

 the lack of diversity on the show. Which is especially weird because a recent Gallup study says that Muslims are the most racially diverse religious group in America. By the way, one of the largest ethnic groups within Muslim America is... you guessed it, indigenous African American Muslims. In this program highlighting All-American Muslims, we're all but ignored. It is also a fact that many American Muslims are converts to Islam. You would think this would be an interesting angle to point out to viewers, especially in light of the fact that many see Islam as the religion of foreigners or immigrants. Not interesting enough I guess. The only American Muslim convert they cared to find is one that said openly to Anderson Cooper, "I converted to please my wife's parents." Allahul musta'aan - God help us. 

 

I suppose I'm also miffed about their almost concerted effort to advocate for irreligious Muslims. It's as if they are doing their part to further the conversation about who should get to speak for Islam and who deserves to be defended. It fits the fancy of many in the West that not only the learned and religious minded Muslims should be the representatives of the faith. In their mind any Muslim should be able to carry Islam's banner; even if their faith is all folded up. But in my mind, any objective look at the Muslim American predicament would show that it is not the irreligious Muslim that is most in need of advocacy here. It is the Muslim woman who dresses as her Lord commanded her to that get's the most flack in this country. Not the one covered in make up and wearing tights. It's by and large the Muslim men who call to Allah that are on the watch lists of law enforcement agencies in this country. Where's their voice?

 

I can almost hear my opponents now. Some may say, "lighten up brother." "At least we're seeing Muslims on T.V. and their not being arraigned! The show is getting attacked by our enemies from all sides. Now you want to pile on too?" The answer is sadly, yes. Keep in mind, I have long wished for a finely polished, yet honest, accurate and positive portrayal of American Muslims on T.V. or in movies. But let's face it, this ain't it! There's so much that this show get's wrong, it's almost like some kind of bizarro version of the kind of program I had in mind. I guess, I'm not the glass is half full kind of guy when it comes to representing the religion. If it comes down to me having to settle for some clueless Arab girl with her cleavage all busted out, wearing what looks like a 'crescent and cross' necklace, I'd rather we not be represented on T.V. at all.  

 

  

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