I went to see the movie “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West” at the Drexel Gateway on Wednesday and it may have presented a lot of heat and light but not much food for thought. The movie was carefully put together to scare the viewer with the sheer scope of jihadist movements and the angry rhetoric used as propaganda to whip up supporters. I don’t think this is news to anyone, we get this info every day on the news and the net and in movies, we get it. OK, so new scary movie.
The presenter at the start disclaimed that it was about all Muslims, and someone in the movie said similar in the middle of the film. However, this slipped away almost immediately as it descended into statements like “this is what Muslims teach their children.” Also disturbing was a section that claimed self-examination of the U.S. and what of our actions may further aggravate extremist sentiments was “wasted time” and a distraction from needed action. So we shouldn’t think, we should merely react? Isn’t this itself an extremist message?
I was encouraged by the Muslim Student Association’s presence and the civil tone of the discussion following the movie. This is a campus of people who think and consider and do not merely react. I remember following 9/11 there was a huge effort by the OSU President and all faculty and staff to assure there would be no violence on campus due to passions gone astray. If there is a resolution to this clash of cultures, it must involve the mind and not just instinct.
Neal HicksColumbus, Ohio
