Picture this, you (or worse yet, your child) switches on the TV on Sunday morning to get an eye-full of graphic videos and violent images on one of the top local stations–during religious programming. Islam and Muslims were, unfortunately, misrepresented with sweeping generalisations and demonised with sly insinuations (in my opinion).
I don't condone the actions of any extremists (as were shown in those videos and images) nor does the vast majority of Muslims the world over; therefore, this shouldn't be viewed as a defence at all. But here are my simple objections:
(1) I don't want to think that this particular station believes that we, and the children of the nation, have become so desensitised to blood and gore that such images can freely be shown on regular TV with a mere "supervise your children" disclaimer a second before the video starts (especially on a Sunday morning);
(2) I refuse to accept that the station is joining in with the rest of the world (it seems) in promoting and pushing an Islamophobic agenda. I'd like to think that, had the station known the content of this morning's programming, it would not have been aired;
(3) It is reckless to make generalisations about any group of people. Not once was it said, "These are the actions of extremists," rather the issue was represented as if Muslims were generally bloodthirsty maniacs: "Gee, let's take a group of extremists from a religion, show up their apparent crimes, and paint all the members of the religion with that brush."
Why can't people understand that the vast majority of 1.4 billion Muslims on the face of the earth are regular, peace-loving, run-of-the-mill individuals that live mostly mundane lives?
Programmes that contain such rhetoric is counterproductive insofar as national unity and harmony goes, and it is definitely the antithesis of religious and racial tolerance, which is the core of Trinbagonian spirit.
Abu Safiur Rahman
El Socorro