Unit 1, Issue 3

"Do Media Represent Realistic Images of Arabs?"

I believe that the first point to this question would be if Arabs, and their image, are stereotyped through the eyes of society. To this questions I would say yes. I believe in many different ways - some good and others bad - it is in our human nature to stereotype people based off our own experience with them. As for the Media, I believe the media plays a crucial role in what is portrayed and most frequently believed. 

Through the reading, I believe the Media does not represent REALISTIC images, but rather images of past experiences with Arabs. The US, or society, has fallen short in exposing themselves learn the specific qualities of the Arab nation. As Jack Shaheen has stated, "Arab in American popular culture is often portrayed as a Muslim, even though Arabs represent a minority of Muslims, and that Muslims live on five continents and represent different languages and histories that defy "lumping" all of them together" (p. 49). Americans may automatically link Arabs as being Muslims because it is the trending stereotype that has been predominately portrayed in America. Through many different religions, race and ethnicity have been stereotyped into being one type. People may thing Christian and imagine the white race, or think Buddhism and imagine Chinese. This is because those religions may have originated in those parts of the world or because it is the stereotyped image that has been displayed. The impact of the terrorist attack of 9/11 also had a negative influence on the image Arabs held in the US. Even if some sort of discriminatory act was help against Arabs before that day, we cannot ignore the fact that it had a very negative but extremely powerful impact on our nation. Were measures taken to the extreme? Yes, I would say so. In many cases, certain comments or actions taken against Arabs, or Middle Eastern looking people, were very unnecessary, but on the other hand, to American's Arabs represented a threat and harm. 

As Beckerman defended his "yes" answer, I felt like saying that they are able to get their message across or have an influence through blogging just wasn't strong enough. Although many ideas and heart felt words are seen through many blogs, being able to really understand what a person represents contradicts itself. They will get to know ONE out of entire group of people, and even though many may hold the same beliefs, frustrations, and feelings, it does not give enough voice to speak for the nation as a whole. 

Stepping into talking about "the Other", I believe there will always be an "other" under any situation we face. We categorize others out of fear of the unknown. Because of this fear, we find the need to defend ourselves and seem like the stronger person...we carry that fear of simply not understanding them. Out of being comfortable and secure where we are, we don't give in to wanting to learn or even try to know, and in many other cases it's simply not possible to understand them. Everyone was made differently, whether it be by culture, gender, race, ethnic group, religion, etc., and we all stand strong to what we believe in.