islamicate

Speaking of The Domestic Crusaders...

It is so refreshing to see Muslims on screen and on stage. It is more refreshing to see Muslims' stories on screen and on stage.

The My Name is (Not) Khan Saga Continues

I recently published a criticism of the film "My Name is Khan," and of MPAC for honoring the film. I was negligent in providing MPAC's response. In the interests of being complete, attached are three documents. The original letter criticizing MPAC; MPAC's response; and the response to MPAC. To be clear, I have not seen the movie, so cannot comment intelligently on this debate. However, it is important for me to show the diversity of thought in the Muslim-American community and the fact that we do have debates. I applaud both groups for having the courage to discuss this publicly and civilly.

MPAC_Open_Letter.pdf

MPAC_Open_Letter.pdfMNINKResponse.pdf

MNINKResponse.pdfMNINKLetter(MPAC)Supplemental.pdf

New Rumi movie?

Ali Eteraz is teasing about a new Rumi bio-pic, run with Qatar Foundation and Rumi Foundation.

Looks really good, but some questions:

1. Will it seriously deal with the fact that Shams-i Tabriz was most likely an Ismaili? I can't imagine the Qataris would be too happy with that.
2. Why do we need a non-Muslim playing the part of Rumi? Are there not enough good Muslim actors? I think the Iranians might object. Even Mel Gibson went with a no name for Jesus to make it seem more real, and that movie seems to have done OK.

Interview with producers of #FlyingWhileMuslim

From Neem Magazine. Below is the list of interviewees:

Anthony Shadid - Pulitzer Prize Awardee and Washington Post Journalist; Amy Goodman - Democracy Now! Host; Brigitte Gabriel - Author, "Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America" and American Congress for Truth Founder; Robert Spencer - Jihad Watch Director; Arwa and Sumia Ibrahim - Profiled at JFK; Raed Jarrar - Profiled at JFK and won a court case against Jet Blue; Talat Hamdani - Mother of Mohammed Salman Hamdani; Robert Steele - Former CIA Agent; Reginald Shuford - ACLU, Senior Legal Officer; Dalia Hashad - Amnesty International, Director of the USA Program; Moustafa Bayoumi - Author, "How Does It Feel to Be a Problem: Being Young and Arab in America"; Aisha Al-Adawiyya - Women in Islam; Hussein Rashid - Blogger http://www.islamicate.com, and more.

Yes, it is an unfortunate use of the word "moderate" in the text.

RD Posting: Allah Made Me Funny

My latest piece at Religion Dispatches is a reflection on the film "Allah Made Me Funny."

Full Battle Rattle

A friend of mine sent me this link about a movie that deals with the virtual Iraq we have created in the US. I'm serious. We have built an Iraq in the US to train our soldiers to go to Iraq. Fighting them over here so we can fight them over there so we don't have to fight them over here.

Films of Hope

Better for your brain than the stuff you get for free in the New York Times.

Allah Made Me Funny

It is a movie! For real! Masha'allah!

Youssef Chahine is Dead

via Hawg Blawg, I see that Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine is dead.

I haven't seen his earlier work, but I am a fan of al-Massir (Destiny). It's protagonist is Ibn Rushd, and it's a reflection of the rise of authoritarianism and the loss of knowledge. There are a couple of sub-plots that I really appreciated in the film, including mystical authoritarianism, which people don't often associate together, and the power of music to represent freedom.

Youssef Chahine

Pakistan, Peace, and the Arts

Got an email today about a group in Pakistan that is attempting to bring about peaceful change through the arts. The group is ALAAP, and their peace declaration is an interesting read.

art, Literature, Music, Pakistan, Poetry, peace