September 14, 2008
Obsession: Radical Misinformation and the Political
War against Islam
The recent free and mass
distribution on the film Obsession: Radical Islam’s War against the
West, Prompts fear, hatred, and disgust among Americans Muslim and
non-Muslim Alike.
Fort Myers, Florida September
14, 2008, A movement imbedded deep within the political right has
organized the mass distribution of a film entitled Obsession:
Radical Islam’s War against the West. On September 14, 2008 the
Clarion Fund, a New York based organization funded the distribution
of 28 million copies of the film to be handed out as a tool to
educate America about Islamic Terrorism.
The timing and targeting of
political swing states associated with the free distribution of this
highly controversial film is alarming. It’s also of interest that
the promoters of the film have handed out millions of copies at both
the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National
Convention.
In the opening moments of
Obsession the film makers make the claim that not all Muslims are
radical, but the film never suggests that Islam does not promote
violence, killing, or terror.
Rather, the film implies by
omission that it indeed does. The entire documentary is filled with
random unrelated people, eras, and situations; lumping more than a
hundred years of history into a two hour hate speech.
While many of the situations are
factual, the context is completely omitted. The films entire purpose
is to promote the idea that imbedded within Islam, is a message of
hate and violence. It implies that there is a dictate to destroy all
challengers to Islamic Ideology, and that Islam preaches a message
of world domination.
The facts are simple; the film
contains within it numerous verified false claims and obvious
errors. Some easy examples are the incorrect translations of Arabic
documents into English, mislabeling Arabic television with Iranian
or Persian television, events and scenarios placed out of context,
as well as testimony given by at best questionable talking heads.
At the heart of Obsession, is the political
drive to move voters in a particular direction. The film claims that
America and its citizen’s, men, women and children, are sitting in
the cross hairs of a Global and Violent Jihad. The creators and promoters of Obsession have done
a masterful job in packaging this idea, and have held countless
seminars and public viewings to promote the film. While they do not
mention names, they always push the idea that “Radical Islam” is the
defining issue for this upcoming election.
With no exception every news
agency who supported, aided, or abided in the distribution of this
film owes America an apology. Their names and respected
organizations have implied that this film is reputable, while in
reality, it is at best questionable. As respected news agencies they
should have known better.
Even the film’s most passionate promoters have conceded that
there is some deception in the editing. "Yes, there is some
selective editing, “said Obsession distributor Tom Trento, a Lake
Worth businessman and the nationwide director of watchobsession.org,
as reported in the Saint Petersburg Times last year.
As American we have the right
to receive honest information. We should dismiss and be horrified by
the actions of both the creators, and distributors of this film. The
political motives are obvious, and the message of hate and fear is
apparent.