On the chilling, unforgettable day of September 11, 2001, four attacks coordinated by Al-Qaeda led to the demolition of the World Trade Center in New York, and the destruction of the Pentagon. “The building began to sink” recalled Eric Levine, an American who was on the 65th floor of the World Trade Center. As a result of the raid, 2,996 people died and infrastructure damage came close to 10 billion. Since Al-Qaeda is a terrorist group from the Middle East, the attack distorted the image of many Muslim and Arab Americans. In part as an attempt to pacify hatred and bias towards Muslim/Arab Americans, some media, most notably popular TV Dramas, started to depict Muslim/Arab Americans in a more sympathetic light– in hopes of challenging the negative
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Contemporary historian Evelyn Alsultany has been at the forefront of documenting and commenting on the seemingly ‘sympathetic’ and ‘inclusice’ representations of Muslims and Arabs in TV drama episodes. Most helpful to this paper is Evelyn’s uncovering of various episodes of The Pracetice, NYPD Blue, and Law and Order. In episode 8 season 7 of The Practice, titled “Bad to Worse”, for example, the storyline is about an Arab university professor in the U.S. (who is portrayed as a good man, and clearly innocent and harmless) is suing an airline company for preventing him from being able to fly. Ms. Dole, one of the show’s protagonists, is given the choice to take on the case in defense for the airline company. The airline has the slogan of “We Don’t Fly Arabs” and strive to be known as the safest airline in the world. Although Ms.Dole believes that what the airline is doing is wrong, she takes the case anyways to further her career as a lawyer. During the case, Mr.First, a lawyer who is protecting the rights of the University Professor, questions the actions of the airline …show more content…
: “Do we really stand for liberty?... Or are they just credos that we trumpet when we’re not running scared.” This scene, on a larger scale, is questioning the morality of our actions towards Arab and Muslim Americans, and sheds light that although America preaches ideals of equality and freedom, the actual manifestation of these values are lacking. Ms.Dole takes to the courtroom for her closing comments, emphasizing: “Since 9/11, the people want justice. People want revenge. But mostly, people want security.” Again, this craving for a secure life is a strong argument for those in favor of limiting the Civil Rights of Muslim Americans. Dole’s position is also a clear representation of the fear that Americans had after 9/11. According to an FBI report, hate crimes against Arabs increased by 1600% after 9/11, and the Arab-American-Anti-Discrimination Committee submitted their findings on the treatment of Muslim
Contemporary historian Evelyn Alsultany has been at the forefront of documenting and commenting on the seemingly ‘sympathetic’ and ‘inclusice’ representations of Muslims and Arabs in TV drama episodes. Most helpful to this paper is Evelyn’s uncovering of various episodes of The Pracetice, NYPD Blue, and Law and Order. In episode 8 season 7 of The Practice, titled “Bad to Worse”, for example, the storyline is about an Arab university professor in the U.S. (who is portrayed as a good man, and clearly innocent and harmless) is suing an airline company for preventing him from being able to fly. Ms. Dole, one of the show’s protagonists, is given the choice to take on the case in defense for the airline company. The airline has the slogan of “We Don’t Fly Arabs” and strive to be known as the safest airline in the world. Although Ms.Dole believes that what the airline is doing is wrong, she takes the case anyways to further her career as a lawyer. During the case, Mr.First, a lawyer who is protecting the rights of the University Professor, questions the actions of the airline …show more content…
: “Do we really stand for liberty?... Or are they just credos that we trumpet when we’re not running scared.” This scene, on a larger scale, is questioning the morality of our actions towards Arab and Muslim Americans, and sheds light that although America preaches ideals of equality and freedom, the actual manifestation of these values are lacking. Ms.Dole takes to the courtroom for her closing comments, emphasizing: “Since 9/11, the people want justice. People want revenge. But mostly, people want security.” Again, this craving for a secure life is a strong argument for those in favor of limiting the Civil Rights of Muslim Americans. Dole’s position is also a clear representation of the fear that Americans had after 9/11. According to an FBI report, hate crimes against Arabs increased by 1600% after 9/11, and the Arab-American-Anti-Discrimination Committee submitted their findings on the treatment of Muslim