September 18, 2006
Aleikum Salaam: Muslim Team Eliminated on 1st "Amazing Race" Episode; Allah Not With Them
I watched CBS' "The Amazing Race," last night, to watch the parade of politically correct teams, including the amputee tri-athlete chick, the lipstick lesbian, the flamingly gay couple--but most importantly, the first Muslim team, Bilal Abdul-Mani and Sa'eed Rudolph.
Over a week ago, we profiled them here on this site. Their goal was to show America that Muslims are peaceful and not supporters of terrorism. But, alas, before they had the chance to murder nuns, blow up 5 churches in the West Bank, and burn the Pope in effigy, Bilal and Sa'eed were eliminated. They were the first team axed from the show, as they came in last after the first set of challenges.
I'm wondering how long it will be before the evil Zionists who control the media and Hollywood will be blamed for orchestrating Bilal and Sa'eed's quick defeat and departure from the show. Faster than a Hymietown [New York] minute, I'm guessing.
I'm kinda glad they lost so quickly, not because I wish this Muslim team ill, but because now I will not have to watch this show--which above all features the uncomfortable, endless bickering between couples that comprise the teams. Since I was watching only to see how the Muslim team is portrayed, I won't be watching anymore.
But the other reason I'm happy they lost is Bilal and Sa'eed's endless shoving of their religion down viewers' throats. Would they allow Christian Evangelicals to do this on the show? No way! I had to start my Allah-meter ticking. During their half-hour reign (including commercials and segments split between 12 different teams), I counted the following utterances by them:
* "Allah Hu Akbar" ("Allah is the Greatest")--4 times
* "Al Hamdilallah" ("Praise Allah")--3 times
* "Bismillah" ("In the name of Allah")--1 time
* "Insha'allah" ("If it's the will of Allah")--1 time
Then, there was one impromptu Islamic prayer session at an airport.
Despite all of this, Allah was not on the Muslim team's side.
There have been many Jewish and Christian teams on "The Amazing Race." Yet, not one of them engaged in the wear-it-on-your-thobe-sleeve (and everywhere else) display of their religion, the way the Muslim team did. It was beyond annoying. It was antagonizing. And it was distracting.
This was not a documentary on Mohammed or on Muslims in America. It is a physical adventure reality show game. People don't watch these shows to be held captive by Islamic fundamentalists--we have that all over the world every day, in real life. Americans watch these shows for a light escape from reality--and in the case of "The Amazing Race," also for a sort of travelogue and adventure mixed in.
Still I have to say a couple of the remarks by other teammates--which I'm sure will be hurriedly diagnosed as "Islamophobia"--were memorable:
* "The Beards are here."
* Airhead Cheerleader #1: "Do Muslims believe in Buddha?" Airhead Cheerleader #2: "I don't know." [DS Hint: No, That would be Buddhists, the frequent victims of Islamic terrorism.]
You have to wonder what would have happened had the Muslim Team not lost, last night. Did the show alter the challenges to meat the halal dietary laws that religious Muslims keep? I'll bet they did. In past seasons, sooner or later, you must eat a non-halal meat item, to go on in the game.
Last night, it was pickled fish eyes--which don't need halal certification. But I'd wager money that this would not have been the case this season, out of respect for Islam (the show has never been altered to accommodate potential kosher, vegan, lacto-ovo, or raw food contestants).
Regardless, Bilal's and Sa'eed's goal in being on the show was not met. In their online interviews, they talk about their main reason for doing this: changing the image that American's have of Muslims.
Given what Muslims have done before and since 9/11, and especially over the weekend, I doubt these two in-your-face Muslims changed a thing. Still, we'd love to ask Bilal and Sa'eed to specifically condemn the violence against Catholics, this weekend, and against everyone else over the last several decades.
Don't hold your breath for that to happen.
Posted by Debbie at September 18, 2006 09:09 AM
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Comments
If there's a Jewish team, they'll win, and then, boy! Watch out!
ACTUALLY, AS I WROTE HERE:
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2006/09/forget_survivor.html
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL JEWISH TEAMS, AND ONE OF THE FIRST SEASONS WAS WON BY THEM.
DEBBIE SCHLUSSEL
Posted by: AmericanJewess ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.debbieschlussel.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 18, 2006 10:14 AM
As Debbie said, I guess it wasn't "Insha'allah".
I don't watch these shows, but what disqualified them? Was it because they failed their flight test or because they couldn't build an effective IED?
BTW, Islamists have been violence-prone to Catholics and everyone else for 1,400 years...and counting.
Posted by: Thee_Bruno at September 18, 2006 10:26 AM
Disturbing. I'm filing this one under "Amerabia."
Posted by: Jeremiah at September 18, 2006 11:35 AM
The network would NEVER pit a Jewish team and a Muzlum team on the same show. After the Jewish team defeats the Muzlum team, the Muzzies would go on a rampage, scream "Allah Wackjob", and burn down the network.
BTW, those two "beards" in that pic look like a couple of Islamic Froot Loops.
Posted by: Thee_Bruno at September 18, 2006 12:27 PM
It's like you were reading my mind. I said almost the same things to a friend I was watching it with and I'm sooooooo glad they are off the show and off tv. VERY OFFENSIVE. What' next for Survivor: Jews vs Moslems vs Christians vs Hindus????
Posted by: Seymour Paine at September 18, 2006 02:33 PM
I agree it was annoying and I couldn't believe how "in your face" it was. The editors obviously could have toned it down, but did not. I don't think I could have watched the whole season with them on it.
I disagree with you that there haven't been any "in your face" Christians. I think it was last year they had this team where the woman on the team must have said "praise Jesus" or "Thank you Jesus" or "praise the lord" about 50-100 times throughout the show. Also in the family version there was one family that seemed over the top.
Most Christians wouldn't even realize this though as it is a common phrase I'm sure they hear or say at least 10 times a day. I grew up in a Christian school in the southern baptist area of Alabama and I can tell you it is at least twice as bad as what the Muslims threw in our faces Sunday. It seems that anytime someone would cross the street without getting hit by a car it's "thank you Jesus"
Both are overly ridiculous. I'm not anti-religion, but come on, take some satisfaction that you made it across the street on your own and using your own free will that you say God gave you.
Posted by: Digger at September 19, 2006 01:23 AM
I'm pretty much a one dimensional boxing (and hard core non-football fan),but one Jewish/Mormon
football relationship which could benefit these
kinds of shows caught my attention.While playing for the San Francisco 49rs,all pro (Jewish)tackle
Harris Barton and (Mormon/Brigham Young descendant)Steve Young had a Hebrew thang goin':"On Shyam"(Hebrew for "kick their ass"...whoops..."On two").
Posted by: jaywilton at September 19, 2006 11:38 AM
Chuck and Millie from season four billed themselves as the Dating Christian Virgins as their team dynamic. They were pretty in your face about that those facts during that season.
Posted by: mykay at September 20, 2006 08:46 PM
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