Has anyone seen this sadly clueless video as a so-called response to Geert Wilders' stupid and bigoted presentation about what he says Islam is?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpiccERJaFk
I came across it and I feel the need to express how wrong this is for a variety of reasons.
I consider methods like this to be "pendulum swinging," in which we go back and forth with the ever-paramount "let's talk about your race/religion/ethnicity/culture, etc." mentality, and pick each other's scabs just to make a point. I don't agree with it when Wilders does it, and I don't agree with it as a response to Wilders. The time has come to stop justifying being more obsessed with how "the other" acts than how we ourselves act as a way to try and mitigate dysfunctional behavior found amongst us rather than just deal with it and change it.
Now, I know the purpose of the above clip was to show that religion can be painted in a negative light rather than bash Christians or Jews. Still, let's not pretend that there is not usually a hidden desire to "equal the playing field" with such methods.
However, all that aside, it should be noted that all the Biblical verses in this video come from the Tanakh (the Old Testament), which is the Jewish holy book. Yet they use Christian fundamentalism to prove their point. Whoever made the video doesn't understand the difference between the two religions. Smiting Amelekites in Jesus' name? Hello? Anyone home? That's like claiming American white nationalism in the name of the Magna Carta.
Clearly just because someone says something it doesn't mean it's right, but that's what happens when you hear the opinion of an idiot and then stop listening. Some Christian fundamentalists have misinterpreted the Jewish law book to suit their own purposes and think that laws specific to Jews during a one-time-deal are relevant to Christians for eternity; and "defenders of Islamophobia," with their own ignorance about Judaism and Christianity, hear these fundamentalists preach their skewed misappropriation of Judaism as if it were Christianity, and in turn buy into it. Oh, and of course, EVERYONE claims to be doing this in self-defense. Meanwhile ... back-and-forth we go, which is exactly why people on both sides should just BE QUIET, quit talking about each other's religious affiliations because because their views are shaped by militants on both sides. How about we just get to work changing how they and we act? Regardless of who may mean well, the fact of the matter is that most people talking about "the other," don't know what they are doing and wind up only perpetuating more misunderstanding and propaganda, and thus cultivating more animosity between groups, rather than soothing tensions and defending themselves.
Here is some advice to anyone else thinking about making a video like this. If you're gonna go out of your way to make a point, at least do your research so you do it right. Ya know?
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