It's My Country Too: Muslim Americans
Encyclopedia
It's My Country Too: Muslim Americans is a 2005 documentary film
directed
by Clifford Bestall and produced by Ruhi Hamid. The film follows the journey of the South Asian rock music
band Junoon during their tours to America and the lives of Salman Ahmad
and Muslims in the United States
, and the Muslims for Bush
pressure group.
On March 3, 2005, Salman Ahmad appeared on the documentary which aired on BBC television
documentary
strand This World
.
, a US citizen of Pakistani origin, asks fellow Muslims what it’s like to be Muslim in post-9/11 America.
In the run-up to Election Day, Salman Ahmad tours America
, performing with his band Junoon and talking to America’s Muslims. More than half the world’s Muslim population lives in the western world which is a testimony to the fact that there is no “clash of civilisations”. In fact, Islam is more in tune with the Republican than the Democratic party as 55% of American Muslims vote Republican. But, since September 11th, Muslims have been victims of a constant barrage of media insinuation, and even outright attacks on Islam and its adherents. Will this change the way they vote?
Under attack, Muslims have been forced into making choices. Previously apolitical Muslims have come to realise that they can no longer sit on the fence. Salman talks to wealthy, conservative Arabs and Pakistanis, who have donated huge sums to the Republican Campaign. He also sees victims of racial profiling and The Patriot Act, and those who abhor the war in Iraq, take to the streets on behalf of the Democrats.
Salman concludes that the perceived clash of cultures between the Western world
and Islam
is in fact a split deep in the American
psyche. While the Muslim community is finding its identity, America is fighting for its very soul.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Clifford Bestall and produced by Ruhi Hamid. The film follows the journey of the South Asian rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Junoon during their tours to America and the lives of Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
and Muslims in the United States
Islam in the United States
From the 1880s to 1914, several thousand Muslims immigrated to the United States from the Ottoman Empire, and from parts of South Asia; they did not form distinctive settlements, and probably most assimilated into the wider society....
, and the Muslims for Bush
Muslims for America
Muslims For America, is a pressure group dedicated to introducing American Muslims into politics and ensuring US foreign policy is "written with an understanding of Islam." According to its website, Muslims For America aims to work with the Republican National Committee, in setting up American...
pressure group.
On March 3, 2005, Salman Ahmad appeared on the documentary which aired on BBC television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
strand This World
This World (television programme)
This World is a BBC television documentary strand, shown in the United Kingdom on BBC Two, and occasionally internationally on BBC World. The subject matter is mainly social issues and current affairs stories from around the world....
.
Synopsis
The film follows with the journey of the Pakistani rock star Salman AhmadSalman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is a Pakistani musician and former actor, who used to be a member of Vital Signs but left after their debut album due to creative differences. He went on to form Junoon, South Asia's biggest and longest-lasting rock band. While still enjoying the success of Junoon, he was involved in...
, a US citizen of Pakistani origin, asks fellow Muslims what it’s like to be Muslim in post-9/11 America.
In the run-up to Election Day, Salman Ahmad tours America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, performing with his band Junoon and talking to America’s Muslims. More than half the world’s Muslim population lives in the western world which is a testimony to the fact that there is no “clash of civilisations”. In fact, Islam is more in tune with the Republican than the Democratic party as 55% of American Muslims vote Republican. But, since September 11th, Muslims have been victims of a constant barrage of media insinuation, and even outright attacks on Islam and its adherents. Will this change the way they vote?
Under attack, Muslims have been forced into making choices. Previously apolitical Muslims have come to realise that they can no longer sit on the fence. Salman talks to wealthy, conservative Arabs and Pakistanis, who have donated huge sums to the Republican Campaign. He also sees victims of racial profiling and The Patriot Act, and those who abhor the war in Iraq, take to the streets on behalf of the Democrats.
Salman concludes that the perceived clash of cultures between the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
is in fact a split deep in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psyche. While the Muslim community is finding its identity, America is fighting for its very soul.