Without a doubt, mass media has been instrumental in the liberalization of information and a vehicle to highlight the public’s sentiment. As much as it reports public opinion it also molds it because of its prevalence and pervasiveness in modern societies. In issues related to ethnic and ethnonational sentiments, this relationship is made even more sensitive by the human interest of issues.
Lewis (2001) reflects that “the negative image that Muslims and Americans have of each other is one that has been cultivated and reinforced over a period of time that it has become difficult to trace the origin of the sentiments.” The conflict was featured by “American television reality show 30 Days, where a devout Christian David Stacy, who had expressed negative sentiments about Muslims, to live in a Muslim community for a month” (Doggart, 2005). “The thirty-day anthology documented Stacy’s experience living as a Muslim in the United States and a turnabout in his views about the religion. A review of the source of Stacy’s sentiments indicates that his views were highly influenced by 9-11 and subsequent stories about Muslim extremists linked to terrorist movements.” (Lewis, 2001).
Similarly, Lewis’s (2001) investigation about the prevalence of Muslim “rage” is said to root from what has been seen as a deliberate and insensitive treatment of Muslim and Middle East sentiments. These include land settlement issues after World War II, conflicts during the Cold War, economic embargoes and even the comic portrayal of Muslims and Arabs in entertainment programs. Lewis believes that issue has been made personal and used in propaganda to justify military and political action against the United States featured in popular local or state-controlled media organizations.
Imai (2006) believes that the media should not be considered as an impartial source of information since they are vulnerable to the motivations of the state, its management and the personalities that deliver the news. Furthermore, by accepting that the conflicts are due to ideological differences, Khouri (2007) points out that many of the issues are most critical in the Middle East. The suggestion that conflicts are based on ideological difference suggests little levity for compromise or co-existence. Therefore, the idea of a “clash of civilization” promoted by the mass media preempts the development of real solutions. This is not to say the there are no ethnicity or culturally based conflicts. However, there should be the realization that they can be considered as an encompassing explanation to the enmity that has developed between Muslims and the United States.
In issues related to ethnic and ethno-national sentiments, this relationship with the media is made even more sensitive by the human interest of issues. At the same time, mass media is an enterprise, economic or otherwise and therefore has its own agenda and motivations. In conclusion, there should be the realization that regardless of how truthful the media is, it presents a limited perspective of an issue.
References
Doggart, S. (2005). Muslims and America. 30 Days, Season 1, Episode 103. FX Network.
Imai, K.(2006). “Culture, Civilization, or Economy? Test of the Clash of Civilizations Thesis”. International Journal on World Peace Vol. 23 No. 3-29.
Khouri, R. (2007). Six Years after 9/11.
Lewis, B. (2007). “The Roots of Muslim Rage: Why so many Muslims deeply resent the West, and why their bitterness will not easily be mollified”. Free Republic (2001).
Shrestha, N. and Gray, K. (2006). “Clash of Civilizations or Cartography of U.S. Global Domination”. International Journal on World Peace Vol. 23 No. 3: 33-44.