Newsweek, September 16, 2012
Newsweek kicked off the week with an unfortunately named cover story, "Muslim Rage," timed to address the anti-American protests erupting across Muslim countries in the last week. It is written by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, an outspoken critic of Islam, who escaped an arranged marriage in her native Somalia by immigrating to the Netherlands.
In it she argues that those Muslims who believe "blasphemers,"—such as the makers of the anti-Islam YouTube video that helped to spark the recent burst of violence, as well as herself—deserve punishment are not a minority. From Newsweek:
The Muslim men and women (and yes, there are plenty of women) who support—whether actively or passively—the idea that blasphemers deserve to suffer punishment are not a fringe group. On the contrary, they represent the mainstream of contemporary Islam.
Although the author ultimately argues for patience on the American side, the piece, which is accompanied by a photo of anguished looking, angry Muslim protesters, immediately set off a debate on how Americans view the Muslim world and how the United States should react to the ongoing protests as well as in terms of a longer-term strategy in the region. Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the Jerusalem Fund, a Washington-based non-profit for the Palestinian cause,told Politico he thought the cover was joke and the imagery "is extremely unhelpful."
When Newsweek tweeted out its article it suggested readers discuss the cover story using the hashtag "MuslimRage." It also seemed to tweet its excitement about "#MuslimRage!" in another tweet: "This week's Newsweek cover, on newsstands & the iPad today: #MuslimRage! Ayaan Hirsi Ali writes on how she survived it."
Want to discuss our latest cover? Let's hear it with the hashtag: #MuslimRage.
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) September 17, 2012
The legions of Twitter decided to react with their own non-violent, humorous social media protest of sorts. The tongue-in-cheek tweets smartly showcase the silliness of grouping all Muslims into one lump stereotype—minus the rage.
You lose your nephew at the airport but you can't yell his name because it's JIHAD. #muslimrage
— Hijabi Girl (@HijabiGrlPrblms) September 17, 2012
There's no prayer room in this nightclub! #muslimrage
— AssedBaig (@AssedBaig) September 17, 2012
Not only did I trip and fall, but I didn't even land facing the Qiblah! #MuslimRage
— Rami Salamé (@ramisalame) September 17, 2012
I'm having such a good hair day. No one even knows. #MuslimRage
— Hend (@LibyaLiberty) September 17, 2012
The magazine is standing by its cover. Its public relations director Andrew Kirk told Politico that the cover "accurately depicts the events of the past week."
Leave a Comment:
Great article, lousy title, worse hashtag...turned into a great one. How much do ya love Twitter?!
If you believe the social world of tweets negates the power of a Magazine like NewWeek, and the learned and eridite expostion of a Muslim woman critiquing the backwards and violence filled history of the Islam religion, and its current disordered state, you are dumber than you look, O'Donnell. You wish to know someting about this religion and its followers, than examine facts like just how many patents are applied for in Muslim nations compared to the Western and Asian nations, or the average income levels and attainment of education success (including literacy) by both men and women in those Muslim nations. And you wonder why they rage?
Very disappointing that Last Word is helping to prompt Islamophobia. It seems the RW Christian Fundies subtle messaging has invaded the Last Word. Glad to see Rula on at the end, but you should not have cut her off and must have her back to explain the BS that is getting put out by Newsweek.
Your other guest is a huckster. Here is a story about how she acquired her current husband, Niell Fersonson, yep, the Harvard professor who wrote that hack piece that ended up on Newsweeks cover a few weeks ago.
If you'd like to understand more about the making of the movie, read this
Yep, Pam Geller, John Bolton and the rest of the gang are involved in this Islamophobia Industry.
Muslims are not trying to impose Sharia Law on us, nor are they scary. Hope your show does some honest research before you let more Islamophobes have a platform to spread their fear on your show.
Islam is systematically taking down all of our embassy's and the USA is at fault? If they had a way to get their millions of "radicals" over here, I guarantee they would be over here in a heartbeat beating the living carp out of us while we just sit here and take it until after the elections.
wwwwww