Do the organizations that sponsored "Obsession" really expect Muslims not to be offended? And that if we are, as one person's letter blatantly implied, we are radicals, too?
In a society where Islam is misconstrued and misinterpreted and plastered on the news as a blasphemous religion, how can we not be offended that on our campus our religion is being associated with violence?
You tell us Muslims to speak up and condemn it. Well, here we are, and you're not listening. Instead, we are criticized about the backlash.
I'm not ignorant to the fact that radicals used Islam as justification for their violence, but apparently these organizations are ignorant to the fact that their posters, intentionally or not, promote stereotypes.
Why? I'm sure the majority of students saw them, but the majority did not attend the event.
So, what impressions are they left with? That Islam, radical or not, wants you dead.
The issue is not freedom of speech; it's the way some chose to implement it. The goal should be to educate our peers about mainstream Islam, which is an objective of Islam on Campus.
But for every step forward they take to counteract these stereotypes, they are forced one step back with films like these.
Please forgive me for being offended if my religion is associated with violence. Apparently, that constitutes no reason to be offended at all.
