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Carol Swain and Marium F. Mohiuddin discuss how much is about religion and how much is about power or hatred for the west
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Welcome back -- rated debate will violence continues in the Middle East over an anti -- film how much a bit of this film is really it's about religion and how much of it.
Is about power or hatred for the west.
And that's a subject for the panel today joining me from Los Angeles is -- -- -- of the dean.
And here in New York award winning author Carol -- hike the most recent book -- people.
A call to reclaim America's faith and -- welcome to you about.
Thank you.
Mary I wanna start and the great -- and I start with you because I like the start of the person who's not in studio just to bring you went to the into the into the fold it's sort of a combined moment.
-- so basically.
Is this protest about religion or is it something else what do you think.
I think.
In general home all the protests are -- complicated.
Then we can even imagine there's so much that goes into it is simply say that it's about religion is.
Simplifying the fact that the book by the people of the problems too much there's so many geo political problems -- You know cultural problems religious problems.
And on a whole would have to say it's a religious issue means that.
This is some impacted by the religion or that is something that was the people.
Believe -- -- it's not specific as being with the network of Islam has been condemned by almost from the us.
-- so this film and this has been debated deal is that is it about this film or was -- the original.
Storming of the embassy in Libya and the killing of the ambassador is that was that really sparked by this film -- was it something else.
We'll come right now what we know and Amal indicators is that the only thing that information that we have is that it was sparked by this film the film wasn't really powerful -- very.
I mean honestly discussing him with -- and an insult to their religion and it was created to insights.
Insight this kind of reaction when you look at from how it was -- to how the actors were due to how it was dubbed over there wasn't attention.
Behind this film.
My support and then also that the film that -- -- in the film it's a video.
But -- -- was released a year ago and then -- was doesn't -- Arabic and then these reactions happen.
Is I think that this is done for his audience to create this problem.
Now cool cool or what organization of one group helped to spur on that still being debated SOB.
Research but to.
To say that it's just the film to say that it's just the religion is is too simple -- too simple of an answer to what's really going on there and the problems.
And what the countries are going to -- -- -- what do you think I mean is this about religion or is it something on a different level here.
I believe that there are people say about manipulating.
The and then claiming the people.
And you cannot we -- the religious element that's involved.
And what's very frightening for many of us is that people in the Islamic nation -- They seem to be trying to impose.
There -- use point us.
All the people of other nations.
It's totally inappropriate.
But -- AM to try to sense other nations.
I don't believe that.
Anyone should deliberately try to inflame the Muslim people.
But at the same time they need to understand that in other nations we do have constitutional rights we believe and free speech.
And we had the right change agent creative I would put.
And if -- Muslim people will receive billions of dollars of federal aid from the United States.
If they can't understand that and accept that then I think we need to cut off the money and bring out people back home.
Yes so the -- I would wish I had that happen.
Who -- Islamic nation and who are you speaking of because I'm Muslim and -- American.
I can't I don't think that I can be lumped into that category so -- about an abundance of -- bizarre.
Man and your friend -- -- I don't but I don't see you protesting in writing that is a big difference but -- -- something one reason I agree and that.
The people were protesting and rioting are very small number of people when you look at them.
I mean estimate -- -- of Muslims living in the world is from one billion to 600 million and how many are protesting.
What tens of thousands.
I hardly think that that accounts for.
Let them -- -- for the American Muslim was not out there protesting -- were all standing here just this week our organization.
The most from public affairs council had a press conference.
For the Coptic church of Los Angeles to see that we stand against -- -- -- and I don't see how this can be a general blanket and label overhaul Muslims and -- Islam nation I -- last time I checked that wasn't in this combination.
A case excuse me the Muslims of the Middle East because I thought that was the topic yeah tell and it's really wanted to and it happens -- made that.
If we don't want to give them billions of dollars of US aid.
The -- at the same time we need to be educated and -- him to understand that in the way as did other nations we have constitutional rights.
And one reason why Muslims in the US may not be -- it -- -- in protest thing.
Is that I mean clearly they.
And they -- RT.
And it wouldn't -- make sense for them to do that and I don't believe I US government should be apologizing.
And -- that's in the they'll make up because.
Part of America is about freedom of speech freedom of association jury tomorrow religion and what we need is book.
Muslims to be condemning the violence against Christians and Jews that -- taken place in the Middle East and we need the president to be in the -- and then not apologize -- -- only half a -- man.
I -- I'm sorry but the thing about the film was done to incite violence.
And any kind of hate crime he or any kind of hate speech.
Should be condemned and the -- -- to say that we Muslims don't understand that Americans that constitutional rights is such an oversimplification.
Of the situation that there.
Do they understand our rights probably not they're not Americans and they don't live here.
You have to understand it to these countries where this all started were under dictatorships for thirty to forty years they're now at a process -- they're changing.
An evolving and and getting these rights -- things out there were denied for decades.
They lived in fear and to say that this isn't a simple thing that's what they need to understand this you're right.
They need education they need to be education of -- this was not a government -- -- movie in America that we do have freedom of expression and I both strongly believe in our first amendment rights but.
Doesn't limit to how much that that's going to try to limit but there should be a conscience.
A cautious as.
Way of thinking that.
You can't sit -- but just in California alone we've passed a law that you cannot talk about.
About certain countries on campus about Israel ExxonMobil -- that's -- I don't have yes -- -- have freedom of speech -- -- that got to bring of the fact that you've got a lot of art and film in this country that -- a lot of -- them mainly christianity got the book of Mormon that.
19 Tony Awards on Broadway it's opening up in Los Angeles you've got.
It's the stories -- you but that -- Michigan we just talked about that that's certainly not only -- that christianity but it also.
-- -- very core element of christianity so I mean.
You don't see these protests in in America over these kinds of films is a different understanding of what is because -- freedom of speech it is sort of the -- interchange.
Why do we see this right Islamic countries.
So yeah but I think you have I don't really good point yet -- -- Right you -- but the point because that was this country and those are those countries you can't compare -- apples and oranges but we can't compare the his status of the two but to add to that as well I just thought of political -- morning where it showed some Muslims protesting peaceful protest.
And in the political cartoon showed.
Journalists and media not filming I think -- that's where the writers have something to be said about what's going to be on camera and what's not on camera.
I mean there -- thousands of Libyans who came out at at some several that's helped to save the ambassador.
And pulled it out of the embassy and then there was thousands who protest the next day you think.
This is not who we are.
But how much media played -- that get.
I have I have to wrap it up right now -- thank you very much both for being here and you know we're probably not talk about this much more again thank you very much.
Got -- -- being the communication coordinator Muslim Public Affairs Council Los Angeles and carols playing.
Author and a columnist and give a commentator and Vanderbilt University professor and -- they're -- of people call tough call to reclaim America's faith and promising to -- -- here.
The right -- will be --
