A documentary that is aimed to deconstruct common misconceptions and stereotypes about Muslims in America succeeds in confirming stereotypes about documentaries and reality shows. Namely, the outcomes of the shows are decided before production begins. In fact, the desired outcome is probably part of the pitch to get the programs funded. In the most recent example, Michele Malkin busts Morgan Spurlock, director/producer of the smash hit “Super Size Me,” and his new documentary/reality TV show called “30 Days.”

Malkin cites Debbie Schlussel, who was asked to appear on the show,and who says the outcome of the show was decided before production began:

A show summary sent to me before taping said: “This process aims to deconstruct common misconceptions and stereotypes. . . . Our character will learn firsthand about Islam and the daily issues that . . . Muslims in America face today. The viewers will witness our character emerge from the immersion situation with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Muslim-American experience. . . . The potential is great for this program to enlighten a national television audience about the Muslim American experience and increase their compassion, understanding and support….

I asked the show’s executive producers–all of whom worked on “The Awful Truth With Michael Moore,” a cable TV show–how this could be a documentary when they had decided the outcome in advance. Wasn’t it possible that Mr. [David] Stacy [the show’s main character] would come out seeing that there isn’t Islamophobia to the extent that the Muslim community claims? Might he see that there is disturbingly strong support in the Detroit-area Islamic community for terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah–a fact regularly documented even in the normally pliant Detroit media?

No, the producers told me. “Morgan wants the show to demonstrate to America that we are Islamophobic and that 9/11’s biggest victims are Muslims.” With this in mind, I agreed to be filmed only with final approval of my appearance, which I never gave. Thus I will not appear in Wednesday’s show.

When I met David Stacy, about halfway through his 30-day experience, I was amazed at how uninformed he was. This new “expert” on Islam never heard of Wahhabism–the extremist Sunni strain of Islam that dominates Saudi Arabia and informs the terrorist-breeding madrassa schools throughout Arab and other Muslim lands. He was unfamiliar with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. He did not believe me when I told him that Hezbollah had murdered hundreds of U.S. Marines and civilians in Beirut and elsewhere. He seemed mystified to learn that President Bush shut down American Islamic charities, like the Holy Land Foundation and Global Relief Foundation, for funding Hamas and al Qaeda.

Hat Tip: Patterico

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 26th, 2005 at 12:55 pm by Insider and is filed under Media, Politically Correct ... and stupid. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.