Jon Stewart is a “mensch”

by Sheila Musaji

The American Muslim community is facing a great deal of bigotry that seems to be coming at us from all sides.  It is important to step back a little from the focus on that particular aspect of reality, and also look at those fellow Americans who bravely go against this tide of bigotry and stand for justice and impartiality.

Jon Stewart and the Daily Show specialize in satire and irony - but also do a better job of discussing “real” news than any of the actual “real” news programs. 

Whether he is reporting on political issues like Gaza, the Wall Street crisis, the Israeli-Palestinian impasse, or the last election campaign, Jon Stewart and The Daily Show, 
a comedy “fake” news program have consistently done a better job of reporting than the mainstream news media.

A 2007 article by Megan Bolen had some ideas about why this might be so:

First, the quality political satire of comedians and parodists such as Stewart and Colbert give airtime-and often longer segments of airtime-to topics largely unmentioned by any other media. On February 12, for example, Colbert devoted The Word to a story buried or unreported by almost all other news: the latest Defense Department report that evidences Defense Undersecretary Douglas Feith’s “pre-war report fabricating a link between Saddam and Al-Qaeda Putting AlQaeda in Iraq may have taken some imagination back then, but thanks to inappropriateness [Feith] made it a reality.” Colbert provided three-plus minutes of time to a crucial story of precisely how and who manipulated intelligence. Trust me: go google this report, and you find the briefest of coverage, beginning with a confusing and mealy-mouthed AP version, with most stories headlining Feith’s self-defense rather than the critical report.

Second, because of the fair-use shield of parody, these court jesters can report on politician’s lies and corruption, as well as launch major critiques of media and press failures to hold politician’s accountable.

Stewart is a brave and decent man, and the fact that he has not taken the easy road by pandering to the all too common anti-Muslim sentiment in our society is something that needs to be applauded.  He is certainly more courageous than even some of our elected representatives who seem to have forgotten that they represent “we the people”, and that “the people” includes American Muslims.

Jon Stewart’s Daily Show - a few clips relating to Islam and Muslims:

-  on Pres. Obama’s religion — April 9, 2009

-  Moment of Zen - Michael Savage on Islam — May 7, 2009

-  On nuclear security summit logo — April 14, 2010 — [see also Nuclear Security Summit Logo Is Proof of What?, Sheila Musaji]

— On South Park death threats from the extremist group Revolution Muslim — April 22, 2010 —[see also South Park Cartoon and the Muslim Lunatic Fringe, Sheila Musaji]

-  on NASA and Muslim outreach, NASA’s logo,  and mosque protests across U.S. — July 7, 2010

-  Interview with Akbar Ahmed on “Journey Into America” — August 5, 2010  [see also Review of Journey Into America]

And, on the increasingly contentious issue of the planned Cordoba House in NYC Stewart has consistently looked at the issues being raised in a genuinely fair and balanced manner.

-  Municipal Land Use Hearing Update, “hallowed ground”, how far would be acceptable, “why there” — August 10, 2010

-  Weekly Recap on Gingrich’s “Saudi” statement, Muslim “takeover” — August 13, 2010

-  on Pres. Obama “weighing in” on issue rather unclearly, and attacks on Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf — August 16, 2010

-  on Congressman Gohmert’s “terrorist babies” claim — August 17, 2010

- on “sensitivity” to the locations meaning and Fox News “guilt by association” — August 19, 2010

- on FOX failing to mention that co-owner is tne they accuse of ‘Terror Funding’. Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, one of the biggest shareholders of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.  Hysterical segment on whether FOX news is stupid or evil.— August 23, 2010

- “Mosque of death” segment also includes an item on the Murfreesboro mosque — August 25, 2010 

-  on the International Burn the Qur’an Day September 8, 2010

Go to this page at Comedy Central and leave a comment thanking Jon Stewart for covering issues involving Islam and Muslims in such a remarkably fair way.  You can also leave a comment at the Daily Show comment section here.  Be sure to select The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.  You can also send a letter to The Daily Show, 1775 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.  If you prefer to call, the number is 212 468 1700.