WHAT YOU CAN DO To Respond to Obsession DVD!

by Sheila Musaji

updated 10/11/08

Familiarize yourself with the issue, read MPAC’s analysis - Responding to Obsession - Truth Over Fear, MPAC http://www.mpac.org/truthoverfear/case-studies/index.php or 9/18 updated and expanded version at http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/expoing_obsession_truth_over_fear/0016721 

Resources:  Resources for Responding to “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War With the West” DVD Mass Distribution to 28 million Americans. 
History of Obsession: Radical Islam’s War With the West
Who is behind Relentless, Obsession and The Third Jihad? for a background on those responsible for the production, mass distribution, and promotion of the film. 
In-Depth Summary & Analysis of “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War on the West” for a point by point discussion of the film. 
What You Can Do to respond to Obsession.
Americans are becoming indifferent to Obsession
November 2008 - Jews on First has published a very comprehensive and detailed rebuttal:  Rebutting Obsession: Historical Facts Topple Film’s Premise That Violent Muslim Fundamentalists are Nazis’ Heirs, Expose its Fear-mongering by Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak, Eli Clifton, Jane Hunter and Robin Podolsky.

  There is more information available on the Obsession With Hate website at http://www.obsessionwithhate.com/  and on the Obsession Watch website at http://www.obsessionwatch.org/ If you are able to help with research to expand and update these efforts please contact TAM.

Take action

If you received one of these DVD’s with your newspaper, write to the paper asking them not to promote anti-Muslim hate.  Erik Ose of the Huffington Post has a complete list of the newspapers distributing this, if your paper is one of these, please contact them.

Write a thank you letter to the newspapers that have refused to carry this insert:  the Greensboro News & Record in North Carolina.  Contact: http://www.news-record.com/ — The Saint Louis Post Dispatch  (9/23/08)  Contact:  Jen Wood, the Post-Dispatch’s vice president of advertising .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  and the Editor at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) — The Star-Banner in Ocala, Florida (9/30/08)  Contact:  Allen Parsons, Publisher .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  Melody Day, Advertising Sales manager .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) — The Detroit Free Press.  Contact: Letters to the editor: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Caesar Andrews, Executive Editor, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) — Cincinnati Enquirer.  Contact:  Editor .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) — Cleveland Plain Dealer.  Contact:  http://www.cleveland.com/contactus/

The President of Interfaith Alliance National, Rev. Welton Gaddy has issued a statement on the distribution of this DVD. (9/23/08)  You can thank him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The President of the Triangle Interfaith Alliance (Raleigh, NC) has issued a statement on the distribution of this DVD. (9/23/08) You can thank him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Statement of Concerned Scholars about Islamophobia in the 2008 U. S. Election Campaign - Please read this statement, and if you are a scholar who agrees, sign on to the statement.

Statement from American Religious Leaders in Response to Mass Distribution of ‘Obsession’  - Please read this statement and if you are a religious leader or clergy person, sign on if you agree.

Please thank every journalist who has written a positive or even-handed article about this issue.  Usually they only hear from those who are complaining.  (If you know about other journalists and articles, please send a note to TAM and we will add them to the list.)
Meg Laughlin, Senders of Islam movie Obsession tied to Jewish charity  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Del Stone, Putting lipstick on propaganda doesn’t change it  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Rev. Roger Ray, Documentary on terrorism uses flawed logic to stoke fears .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tom Hastings, “Obsession” smells: It’s propaganda,  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Richard Silverstein has written many articles exposing Obsession on Tikun Olam site http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/contact/
Erik Ose, Pro-McCain Group Dumping 28 Million Terror Scare DVDs in Swing States  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Bill Thompson, Playing to Our Fears  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tony Norman, Obsession: a Dismal DVD    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tim Townsend, Post-Dispatch refuses to distribute DVD    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
James M. Wall Has Your Newspaper Put a Hate DVD On Your Front Porch?

Contact the promoters of Obsession and let them know that you respectfully ask that they cease to promote this film, and review its contents for authenticity rather than emotional appeal.  Obsession Watch also has a list of the promoters and their contact information.

.  Web-Site http://www.aish.com/  Contact:  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

.  Web-site http://www.cufi.org/site/PageServer  Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

.  Web-Site: http://clarionfund.org/  Contact:  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

.  Web-site http://www.emetonline.org/  Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

. Web-Site: http://floridasecuritycouncil.org/  Contact:  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

.  Web-site http://www.honestreporting.com/  Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

.  Web-Site: http://www.terrorismawareness.org/  contact: http://www.terrorismawareness.org/contact.htm

.  Web-Site: http://www.wordoflifenh.org/index.htm  Contact: 603-228-8112 ,PO Box 2214 Concord, NH 03302

- Citizen Education Program.  Web-Site: http://watchobsession.org  contact: 916-473-1772

Military Religions Freedom Foundtion (MRFF) is asking that given the current massive distribution of Obsession, and Gregory Ross’s statement that the film is being used by the Navy, MRFF is asking those in the military, or working on or near military bases, to be on the look-out for any screenings or promotion of this film by the military. If you see this happening, or even suspect that it’s happening, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) immediately and let them know about it.

9/6/08 A “Statement from American Religious Leaders in Response to Mass Distribution of ‘Obsession’ “ was released today.  If after reading the statment, you wish to sign, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your full name, title, affiliation and contact information.

Check back with this resource as it is updated regularly.  And, if you have any additional information or resources please email them to the TAM editor.