OMD Ministers Make Statement About Anti-Islamic DVD
We, the undersigned Unitarian Universalists ministers, chaplains and student ministers of the Ohio-Meadville District, wish to express our shock and dismay at the recent distribution of the inflammatory DVD “Obsession” in the newspapers and mailboxes of those of us living in Ohio, Pennsylvania and other so-called “battleground” states in this election year.
The kind of propaganda and hate speech found in this anti-Islamic DVD incites fear of an insidious nature. The weak disclaimers with which the film begins and ends, that peaceful Muslims are excluded from condemnation, does nothing to counter its violent images, the web of untruths woven around those images, or its fantastic and illogical claims of links between Nazism and Islam. We stand in solidarity with our Muslim sisters and brothers to protest the indiscriminate distribution of malicious propaganda. We reject the politics of hate and fear.
Unitarian Universalists are well acquainted with the harmful effects hate speech can have on some members of our society. On Sunday, July 27 of this year, an unfortunately mentally ill individual was prompted by common forms of media hate speech to develop a belief that liberals, including religious liberals were destroying our country. Inspired by this belief, he opened fire on a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Knoxville on Sunday morning during a children’s musical performance, killing two adults, wounding many others and traumatizing an entire congregation and its children. While the shooter was certainly mentally ill, the violent acting-out of his illness was aided and abetted by the proliferation of hate speech in our society.
With such a recent memory of the effects of hate speech in our society, as Unitarian Universalists we are compelled to question why these DVDs are being distributed to residents in the so called “battleground” states during this presidential campaign. Why these places? Why now? At this obviously anxious time in our collective lives as Americans, we strongly object to this overt attempt to influence voters.
We Unitarian Universalists have long upheld the values of tolerance and inclusivity. We consider diversity to be a genuine blessing! Our core principles call us to honor the inherent worth and dignity of all people. We believe that honoring that worth and dignity includes honoring our diverse religious beliefs.
Nearly 500 years ago, a Unitarian reformation theologian, Francis David, articulated it well when he said “We do not need to think alike to love alike.” And the Hadith of Bukhari 2:6 states "None of you has faith unless he loves for his brother [or sister] what he loves for himself."
It is our hope and prayer that all Americans may learn to live in the spirit of these words
Signed:
Rev. Lynn Acquafondata
Rev. Wayne Arnason
Rev. Steve Aschmann
Rev. Mark Belletini
Rev. Colin Bossen
Tom Brodie, Chaplain
Rev. George Buchanan
Rev. Daniel Budd
Ellen Carvill-Ziemer, student minister
Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer
Rev. Peggy C. Clason
Rev. Rose Edington
Jeremy Elliott, chaplain
Kathleen Fowler, chaplain
Rev. Cynthia Heilman
Rev. David Herndon
Rev. Mel Hoover
Rev. Christine Jone-Leavy
Lorie Lerner, ministerial intern
John Henry Martin, Jr., ministerial intern
Suzan McCrystal, chaplain
Rev. Greg McGonigle
Rev. Eric H. Meter
Rev. Mary Moore
Rev. Chris Neilson
Rev. Michael D. O'Kelly
Rev. Kathleen Rolenz
Renee Zimelis Ruchotzke, student minister
Rev. Arthur G. Severance
Rev. Elizabeth Schuerman
Rev. V. Elaine Strawn
Rev. Rod Thompson
Rev. Joan M. Van Becelaere, district executive
Rev. Kenneth Watts
Rev. Maurine (Renee)Waun
Evan Young, student minister
District UUs Organize Against Anti-Islamic DVD
Friends,
A recent Sunday edition of the Akron Beacon Journal included an obviously expensive, professionally-produced anti-Islamic DVD titled "Obsession." One of our OMD ministers who viewed the DVD frankly called it "hate-filled" and "lie-filled." It was also included in newspapers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Canton, Toledo and other cities in Ohio; and, apparently, in still more cities in "battleground" states in the presidential election. The Cleveland Plain Dealer did not carry the DVD.
Many Unitarian Univeralists in the OMD have already expressed outrage that something which blatantly violates the principles of religious freedom and tolerance could be distributed in our community, and put into the hands of our children, under the label of "advertising". They are writing the newspapers which distributed the DVDs to let them know how they feel.
This is a non-partisan issue. Our congregations and the district are able to express their disgust with this kind of reactive messaging without any risk to their non-profit status. I believe that we are called by our values and principles as Unitarian Universalists to speak out against those who would promote intolerance and fear in our communities.
With blessings,
Rev. Joan VanBecelaere
District Executive
Ohio-Meadville District of the UUA
Some district congregations and the Ohio Council of Churches are organizing around this issue and leading protests. Your congregation can too. If you need assistance, please contact the district office at office at ohiomeadville.org.
CENTRAL OHIO LEADERS STAND TOGETHER AGAINST HATE, PROPAGANDA
Leaders say distribution of ‘Obsession’ DVD seeks to increase anti-Islam prejudice
(COLUMBUS, OH, 9/24/08) – On Thursday, September 25, a diverse group of central Ohio leaders will hold a news conference to take a stand against the spread of hate and fear in our community by decrying the distribution of the “Obsession” DVD in newspapers and mailings to the public.
Speakers at the press conference will include the executive director of the Ohio Council of Churches, the president of the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio, the president of the Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), Christian clergy, and a Muslim Imam.
WHAT: Press conference with diverse central Ohio community leaders taking a stand against spreading hate and fear via the anti-Islam “Obsession” DVD
WHEN: Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ohio Chapter, 1505 Bethel Rd., Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43220
CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio President, Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, 614-560-0272, amobinuddin@cair.com; CAIR-Ohio Staff Attorney, Romin Iqbal 614-451-3232, riqbal@cair.com.
The Obsession DVD puts together violent clips of horrific scenes taken from different areas in the Muslim world and presents them as the norm. It plays on fear and ignorance and claims that these incidents are part of an ideological goal to take over civilization. Frequent references to Nazi Germany are made. It is a propaganda piece that seeks to blur the difference between violent radicalism and mainstream Islam.
Twenty-eight million copies of this DVD were distributed in more than 70 newspapers in presidential election swing states across the country as a paid advertising insert, including to hundreds of thousands of people in central Ohio.
People are now also receiving the DVD in the mail. Some estimate the cost of distribution to be tens of millions of dollars, funded by the Clarion Fund, a shadowy group whose website does not give information about its board of directors, staff or even a physical address.
“We are grateful for the support of the community as we stand together against bigotry and the spread of hate against any group,” said CAIR-Ohio President Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin. “Through education and dialogue, we need to address the damage done by the distribution of this hateful propaganda.”
For more information, please see: www.obsessionwithhate.com
AP: Muslim group seeks probe of 'radical Islam' DVD http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iEsmhiNuC1Aio2bPql9Iw1z6I3ywD93COGEG1
ISLAM-OPED: ‘Obsession,’ the Radical Right’s War on Islam http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=25488&&name=n&&currPage=1&&Active=1
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
