Humor Not Stereotypes Please!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-edcartmultimediagallery,0,5944816.cartoongallery

 E-mail l  Print l l RSS l Text Size

I was disappointed that a cartoon in the Tribune exacerbated some of the worst stereotypes of Muslims there are (6/10/09). In failing to clarify any context to the caricatures displayed, the cartoon risks implying that this is a parody of Muslims at large. Contrary to that implication, most Muslim marriages are monogamous and entered into with a commitment to kindness, compassion, and love. For example, a well-recorded statement of the Prophet Mohammed teaches the Muslim community that ‘the best of men is the one who is best towards his wife.’ Furthermore, the cartoon gives the wrong impression that all Muslim women cover their faces when in reality the vast majority do not. The cartoon perpetuates harmful ignorance rather than provides comic relief.

Copyright © 2009 CAIR-Chicago