Image Credit: TLC
The cast of TLC’s upcoming All-American Muslim reality show spoke out at TV critics press tour about their goals for the show — and their security concerns. “We’re happy TLC is giving us an opportunity to showcase our lives,” says Suehaila Amen, a member of one of the five Michigan families followed by the new series. “It’s not that we’re out to preach or educate, it’s about seeing the real life of these five American families.”
Added Mike Jaafar, a deputy chief for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Dept: “I’m not from Mars. I’m born and raised in this wonderful country. I’m not in this to be a Hollywood star. I’m very interested in the message … my partner, who’s a Christian, said it best — ‘people fear what they don’t know.’”
Critics asked how the cast felt when the recent Norway shooting was initially speculated by the media to be a Muslim terrorist attack. “When some nut does what they do, it’s devastating. When they assume its a Muslim family, it is what is is,” Jaafar said.
Though the show is trying to break down stereotypes, there are worries about the cast’s safety. “We addressed the security concerns,” Jaafar said. “TLC has a great security plan in place. I have a lot of great bothers and sisters in blue, and I’m not concerned.”
I want to see this show.
Its way past due a reality series was based on the real life lives of families who happen to include Muslim members. Islam is the 3rd largest faith in the world and its time the US public sees what its like for the vast majority of them. To see members of this religion as only terrorists is like seeing the Norwegian man who murdered those people as a typical representative of Christians and Norway. Lets not generalize and see each of us as individuals. I hope and pray the persons who participate in this show are safe.
some people don’t care about Muslims or Christians or Mormons or any religion and don’t have to. No, I won’t be watching. What I do care about is preserving our constituion and being free to speak whenever I want, wear whatever I want, pray, not pray, etc. That’s what America is all about. There is no “Islam capital of America”. There’s only one, and that’s Washington DC.
will never watch this because it wont be eye opening for me. glad to see these Muslims are not radicals. would be disrespectful if they were anti-american. either way the show probaly wont be good, its on TLC.
I think this will be awesome. I saw some photos recently of a friends traditional muslim wedding, and it was amazing. I am intersted in learning, and I think others should be open too…
Look up some videos on YouTube about Sharia Law and you’ll change your mind real quick.
Why dont you read books on it and base your judgments on real research instead Youtube and google.
It’s better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove to be one. You sound so ignorant. Rednecks are always worried about muslims bringing shariah to America, but see no problem in forcing western ideologies on muslims. You want to pray or not pray, etc, because it’s “america”. Well I dont want to drink until I can’t stand and sleep with a million men or have same sex relationships, or be disrespectful to my parents and family, or do whatever I want monday through saturday then go to church on sunday to be “forgiven”. What if all muslims formed their views about americans based on MTV Real World, would be kinda stupid huh. Who owns TLC? I highly doubt this show will reflect muslims or Islam in a faborable or even educational light. TLC stopped being The Learning Channel a long time ago.
Hey Fed Up – you highly doubt this show will reflect muzzies in an educational light? Me too! I doubt we will get to see the stonings and beheadings… Bunch of moon god worshiping idiots!
It really depends on who they’ve cast, meaning if the people are likable and interesting. If they are too “American” than what’s the point? I’ll give it a try though.
If people can make money off of something then they will. A television show can never teach you anything real. If you want to learn about Islam then befriend a Muslim. I’m a Catholic and my husband is a Muslim. The most important thing that I’ve ever learned is that PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE. , No matter the race, religion, nationality, etc., we are all equally as different as we are the same.
Does he beat you? Did he make you drop all of your past friends? do you have to bow down to his mommy and sissy? Does his extended family give you the loos? Do you children have freedom or do they abide by his “law”? Did he name his children after his parent? haha…. Why would you sell your soul for did his family? guess you are controlled to believe this is what you want!!!!
I am definitely going to watch this.
I’m kind of looking forward to this show. These families live in Dearborn, Michigan (a huge Muslim community is there), which is about 30 minutes from where I live. So there are a lot of Muslims in my community and where I go to school (in Detroit). Plenty of the Muslims I know are good people, so I’m eager to see the families on this show and how they are portrayed.
yes, desensitize us from the realities of their murderous ideology! Sickening!
totally agree with you! i think these families probably want peace and safety along with the rest of us but i’m wondering what they would choose if they were MADE to choose. radical islam or the american way of life? and are they content to cont. living this way or do they have a hidden agenda to convert other’s to islam much like they are required to by their political/religious way of life?
Exactly. Has anyone ever heard of a terrorist cell? They live in your community and their children go to school with your children. I am not comfortable around anyone that covers their face.
In an effort to desensitise us, THIS!!! I won’t watch and I don’t find it funny…
HOW ABOUT YOU DO A SHOW ON THE REALITIES OF THIS ideology, hmmm? That would be eye opening…a series on the radical, rampant terrorist around the globe!!! Responsible for murdering 17,000 in the past 5 years throughout the world! There’s no humor in what’s happening in Detroitabad, or Dearbornasam. Do a service for our Nation and the world and expose them for what they are…
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!! I AM from Dearborn and I’ve seen first hand who these people are and what they’re like to live amongst! Myslef and many other Dearborn natives are outraged by the fake image this show is going to portray. Fordson highschool is a JOKE. They need to show episodes of their kids disrespecting our local law enforcement with their arrogant and entitled attitudes, poisoning their neighbors pets, chasing down and stalking people who might have cut them off while driving, starting fights in public, etc …oh, and let’s not forget the FREE RIDE ON TAXES. These people are anything but American, and they’re hated for a REASON.
I shop at many thrift stores along Gratiot in Clinton township & the muslim woman are there all the time. I have never had one of them even look at me or say hi. They have never spoken a word to anyone & don’t look at anyone. They are very self centered rude people & I think they don’t want to be in America but trying to recreate their own country in Dearborn. As far as the lady on the commercial I would fall down on the ground if I actually hear a human voice come out of any of them! They are very unAmerican & weard. Boycott this show so they don’t get anymore American dollars they don’t deserve.
Great! Exciting
It would be more instructive for Americans to learn about Islam by watching al-Jazeera in English. Then you would see “serious, mainstream” Muslim media endorsing the murder of Egyptian Christians and discussing the “fact” of witchcraft at Gitmo and the ongoing problem of the Israelis training rats and squirrels to attack Muslims. I think we would all learn a lot.
will not WATCH PROGRAM this is a “slap in the face”
to us “REAL AMERICANS” !! These muslims are the ones who are the “anti-americans” HATE. movement
around the world…..and you think they
are living here because they reallyy want to and that they love our country
and they love us AMERICANS……NO
WAY……they are here to war against “us “on our on land ….they are here
with HIDDEN. agendas…. They are waiting for their superior leader to say the WORD….and they will be in their
Attack. mode they have been strategicly placed around. the U.S. They
put on a f”ake facade ” of niceness. ,and blending in american society to connection us thinking their GOOD PEOPLE. they are stealings our jobs. and our education opportunities. that US Americans should have. ,this is our country. that we LOVE !! americans are
being without these opportunities because they are minority? ? according
to Who?? …..Not Me….If. you….” TLC” are TRUE AMERICAN. corporation …..DO NOT JAM THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM down the throat of us TRUE,Real Americans who has suffered enough!!!
Amen to that! I don’t know why we are expected to trust a group of people who we welcome to our country only to have them turn their backs on us. This is not to say that everyone of the Muslim faith is this way but really, how can you tell? I don’t want to be fooled again, we should have learned our lesson after so many innocent Americans were killed by these people on 9/11.
If you want to portray muslims in an honest light, reveal the rules for sex with 9 year-olds, the literacy of muslim women, their birth rate. Read the history of Mohammad – I would not watch any show celebrating their way of life. Am blocking TLC completely from my home
I am going to ignore some of these bigoted comments.
As a Muslim-American, I hope this show portrays Muslims in an honest light. I also hope viewers don’t come to see these Muslims on TLC as official representatives of the billion-plus Muslims around the world, but instead give you a little insight into how we’re just like everyone else—we’re not one big stereotype, but we’re all human.
You are NOT like everyone else – don’t ever forget that fact.
these people are nothing but a bunch of racist liers!!!!! i am a muslim women from dearborn who married a white man. the entire community SHUNNED me including your cast members TLC. Dont be fooled by the dearborn community, THEY HATE THE SO CALLED “WHITE MAN”. i had to move out of state because of the abuse and threats towards my family. So F**k u suehala, shadia, mike and angela!!!!!!!! children in that race are taught early on to HATE! They use the U.S. for their assistance but deep down they are full of race. SHADIA go have cofee w you dearborn girls. They bash u every chance they get!!!!!!!!
EXACTLY. Right from the horses mouth!!