Jimmy's Essential Question Response

Jimmy
1/7/07
JUA



With major differences and growing tensions between American and Middle Eastern societies, how does American entertainment affect the way that middle easterners view our country?

In my research, I concluded several things but it is impossible to find facts as the responses are just based on opinion. We visited the Islamic Society of Boston while on our JUA. We were givin a tour of the place and we learned a lot about Islam and it was very interesting. I got a chance to ask the leaders some of my questions. The conclusion that I came to was that many people deffinitly view our entertainment offensive because in other cultures they live a humble life and try to keep themselves pure and spiritual. When they see the things we put out on tv they find it rude and offensive not just to their religion and culture, but also themselves. It effects them personally and this makes it a personal thing along with their culture and religion. We also touched on other things that corresponded with my question. We addressed other issues such as the war in Iraq and the growing tensions with the middle east because of this conflict. During my research I encountered something interesting. While many people in our group had other questions involving the war in iraq, the question I asked actually had a lot to do with other problems such as the war in Iraq. Entertainment was actually a very small part of the big picture of why they hate us. To middle easterners, this is what America looks like. We invade their countries, take control of their lives and oppress them even if its for their own good. We tell them what to do and then while they are trying to see what good we are actually doing, we mock their religions and their cultures by insulting them with movies and entertainment for our own laughs. Does this look like a nation that’s really looking out for other people. We choose the way people look at us. It is not because they believe in different things then us, it is how we show them what we think about their cultures and religions. At this point in time, we look like a country that cares about nothing but what is good for them. We are better then everyone else and we don’t care, they aren’t people like us so why should we care. Lets make fun of them and laugh about it, that will really solve our problems. To me, this is what we are viewed as by other countries and is the reason that they hate us. Many people think that they are the ones who are crazy, blowing up children with bombs and killing them selves for some rediculous cause, but they know nothing about the real culture and people and focus on the few who do those evil things to justify their actions. Why do they hate us? Just take a look at the way we treat and portray middle easterners and I think you will see for yourself how obvious it is.