The Clarion Fund, a tax-exempt non-profit organization, is responsible for the distribution of the film. As a tax-exempt group, Clarion Fund is not permitted to promote candidates or sway voters, but a Web site run by Clarion had an article explicitly endorsing Republican candidate John McCain. Considering that swing voters are the target audience, the delivery of the DVD itself is questionable, especially in a climate where deep suspicion, anger and even hatred is becoming more evident at political rallies.
In terms of the actual content, there are a number of problems. The so-called documentary begins with a disclaimer that says it is about “Radical Islamic terror, an ideology fuelled by religious hatred. It’s important to remember most Muslims are peaceful and do not support terror.” However, the images, video clips and statements that follow completely contradict the disclaimer. Images of Muslims praying at Mecca flash across the screen as questions are raised about what percentage of the Muslim world supports “radical Islam.”
Daniel Pipes suggests that 10-15 percent of Muslims support militant Islam, but an even larger number is anti-American and anti-Zionist. Another interviewee reiterated this point and said the number of Muslims who support “radical Islam” is as big as the population of the United States. In addition to such gross, unsubstantiated exaggerations, it is notable that the word “obsession” in the film’s title incorporates the Islamic star and crescent symbol followed by an AK-47.
The most absurd assertion in the film is the dubious connection of “radical Islam” with Nazism. Depicting the similarities between gestures or propaganda of militants with Nazis does nothing to prove that the ideologies are even remotely similar. Nazi propaganda was inspired by the writings of American Edward Bernays, the originator of modern public relations, and commonalities in propaganda efforts can be seen all over.
The film goes even further and states that the threat posed by “radical Islam” is greater than that of Nazism. Comparing the Nazis, an expansionary superpower, to a number of fragmented non-state groups would be laughable if this entire matter was not so dangerous.
Essentially, “Obsession” homogenizes people who are Muslim into one singular identity while trying to simultaneously unify multiple ideologies; suggesting that groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and al-Qaeda adhere to the same ideology and are part of the same movement is fundamentally wrong. The emergence of these organizations occurred in different social situations and there are differences in their motivations. Although the film tries to dismiss it, the animosity toward the United States depicted in “Obsession” cannot be disconnected from American foreign policy intervention and continued military presence in the region.
It is obvious that the filmmakers and promoters are seeking to create suspicion towards the American Muslim minority. This, in turn, could lead voters to push for even greater militarization and domestic surveillance, and it’s sad and frightening that something like this brainwashing film strip could slip into the hands of the people most likely to influence this election. Propaganda, fear and xenophobia are being used to swing America this year, and that seems horribly familiar.
Rajeev Ravisankar can be reached at [email protected].
