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6
The script and visuals of the film
consist of a carefully crafted Muslim
piece of political propaganda meant
to counter today's very hard facts of
worldwide Muslim terrorism. It was
also a deliberate revision of ancient
I was very interested in the article
history designed to further Arab
"To Reach Out Or Not" in the Dec.
political ambitions.
20 issue (page 16).
The most egregious of these dis-
As an active board member of the
Jewish Community Council of
tortions was the attempt to re-
enforce an Arab claim to Jerusalem.
Metropolitan Detroit and a frequent
A history of Muhammad's allegorical
attendee of events sponsored by the
visit to Jerusalem is depicted that is
American Jewish Committee, I was
a pure pipe dream. The claim is
supportive of both organizations'
based entirely on one line in 17 Sura
participation in the private showing
(chapter) of the Koran. The chapter
of the PBS documentary
Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet.
recounts the story of a dream
Muhammad had where he takes a
The film contains nothing objec-
tionable to the Jewish community
midnight ride (al-Isra) on his flying
and was an opportunity to bring
horse (al-Buraq), which had the face
of a woman, the body of a horse and
members of all three monotheistic
the tail of Peacock. The narrative of
religious communities together. Of
the Koran in 17 Sura describes it as
course, there should be comparable
meetings featuring Jewish content.
follows:
"Glory be to Him, who carried His
A person was quoted as saying "the
servant by night fi-om the Holy
other side" of Arab America "is a
Mosque [in Mecca] to the further-
real threat to Jews." I find this to be
mosque [al-masjid al-Aqsa], the
very far from experiences that I have
encountered in a long list of situa-
precincts of which we have blessed."
"The furthest mosque." That is the
tions with Arab Americans.-I have
only phrase upon which the whole
always been treated warmly with a
myth of Arab claim to Jerusalem is
great deal of respect. I have noticed
made! There is no reference whatever
that other Jews around me have had
to Jerusalem in the whole Koran!
similar experiences.
The other revision revolves around
Even if one chooses to hate these
the Treaty of Hudibaya. A historical
groups, it is counterproductive. The
revision is made to obscure
sheer number of Arabs, Arab
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's fre-
Americans and Muslims requires
quent references to Hudibaya when
considerable effort on our part to
he addresses only Arab audiences.
naturally accommodate each other's
Arafat's implication is always, "Don't
goals.
worry. I am not really making peace
While no one can justify the acts of
with these Jews. Remember the
Sept. 11, or the terrorism continuing
Treaty of Hudibaya."
in Israel, we must have dialogue and
The basic facts of this treaty are
understanding if we ever want a better
that Muhammad was unable to
world with less conflict.
defeat the Quarish tribe. He there-
Harvey Bronstein fore made a 10-year treaty with
Southfield them, which, after just two years, he
canceled, having marshaled enough
forces to annihilate the Quarish. The
comparison to current Israeli-Arab
negotiations is easily made, but more
easily negated, by the film's historical
revisionism.
The worst thing about this film is
As I watched the supposed PBS doc-
its visual success. Television stations,
umentary Muhammad: Legacy of a
disinterested in the true story, might
Prophet, I had the feeling I was view- well make it a perennial event,
ing The Lion King or some similar
lulling the world into yet another
Disney production. FOX News
Arabian fable from which we will all
Watch called the presentation politi-
suffer unless a concerted protest is
cally dishonest and a shrieking
made.
example of why the federal govern-
Jerome S. Kaufman
ment should get out of funding pub-
Bloomfield Hills
lic TV and radio.
Dialogue Key To
Getting Along
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`Muhammad' Not
A Documentary