OPINION: "Documentary" About the Muslim Relgion Prophets From Government Funding and Public Television

Submitted by David P. Dillard (United States), Dec 19, 2002 at 10:45

OPINION: "Documentary" About the Musslim
Relgion Prophets From Government Funding
and Public Television

Daniel Pipes, Director of the Middle
East Forum and noted newspaper
columnist, has published a thought
provoking review of a documentary aired
on Public Television and supported
by United States taxpayers money. His
review contains very important
critical comments about the content of the
film having to do with its inaccuracies
and lack of objectivity. More
importantly, Daniel Pipes pointed out
that the United States Federal
Government took some time off from
its War on Terrorism to provide funding
for this film and that has been prime time
airing material on PBS, the public television
network.

------------------

PBS, Recruiting for Islam
by Daniel Pipes
New York Post
December 17, 2002

What would be the best way to
convert lots of Americans to Islam?

Forget print, go to film. Put together
a handsome documentary with an
original musical score that presents
Islam's prophet Muhammad in the most
glowing manner, indeed, as a model
of perfection. Round up Muslim and
non-Muslim enthusiasts to endorse
the nobility and truth of his message.
Splice in vignettes of winsome
American Muslims testifying to the justice
and beauty of their Islamic faith.
Then get the U.S. taxpayer to help pay
for it.

Show it at prime time on the most
high-minded TV network. Oh, and screen
it at least once during the holidays,
when anyone out of synch with
Christmas might be especially
susceptible to another religion's appeal.

--------

[After a well thought out discussion
of the inaccuracies of historical
fact and the biased stacking of
information provided in the presentation
as well as discussion of the legal
and ethical issues of government
funding and public television
presentation of such a religious propaganda
piece, Daniel Pipes comes to this
conclusion about the film:]

--------

The U.S. government should
never fund a documentary
whose obvious intent
is to glorify a religion and
proselytize for it. Doing so flies in the
face of American tradition and law.
On behalf of taxpayers, a
public-interest law firm should
bring suit against the Corporation for
Public Broadcasting, both to
address this week's travesty and to win an
injunction against any possible repetitions.

---------

The full Daniel Pipes article
may be read at the URL above.

This web page describes the video
as a product for which you can pay just
under $30 to purchase from WGBH in Boston:

The promotional description of the
film includes these comments:

A historical biography of Islam's
Prophet Muhammad, MUHAMMAD:
LEGACY OF A PROPHET is told by a
diverse group of American Muslims
and rounded out with commentary by
some of the world's greatest scholars on Islam.

PBS provides this website for discussion of the film:

One of the sponsors of the film
has this comment of a web page they have
created to enable responses to
discussion questions about the film
through the use of a web questionnaire form:

Southern Regional Council is proud
to be a partner with The Islam Project
in promoting interfaith dialogue built
around two documentary films about
the Islamic faith and Muslims in America.
Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet
and Frontline: Muslims are airing
nationwide on PBS on December 18 and 19,
2002.

Diversity Central has issued a press
release regarding this film at this URL:

The United States Department of State
has this press release about the program
on its web page:

U.S. Public Broadcasting to
Show Documentary on Life of Muhammad
Community groups will hold
discussions about Islam at time of broadcast

The Department of Justice has
also publicized the film via a press release
on its website

Community Relations Service

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
SERVICE DIRECTOR SHAREE M.
FREEMAN TO ATTEND WORLD
PREMIER OF MUHAMMAD:
LEGACY OF A PROPHET IN
DEARBORN, MICHIGAN

This very positive review of the
film has been posted on the internet

TELEVISION / HOWARD ROSENBERG
A visual, thoughtful examination of Islam
Even though much of it was shot prior
to Sept. 11, "Muhammad: Legacy of a
Prophet" is as timely as documentaries get.
By Howard Rosenberg

Another discussion of the film has been
published in the Houston Chronicle:

American Muslims tell how
Muhammad has touched their lives
By ANN HODGES
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle TV Critic

The film was promoted in highly
favorable terms on this "Arab
Civilization" web page:

Almaraya.net

The bottom line is that it is
very hard to find critical review of this
program outside of the very
important article published by Daniel Pipes.
Elsewhere, including the
United States Federal Government,
the coverage of the film appears to be
that of uncritical acclaim. It would seem that
some effort is needed to create a wider
dialog about the issues raised by
Mr Pipe regarding the objectivity of
the program's content and regarding
the ethical and legal issues of promoting
a religion with government funds
in its production and on a television
network that I also believe receives
government assistance.

Sincerely,
David Dillard
Temple University

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