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Old 02-07-2013, 07:20 PM #24
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Am I the only person who thinks it's a positive step forward to try and promote awareness and tolerance of other religions and cultures in a very head-in-the-sand country that doesn't know how to deal with the concept of 'Johnny Foreigner' whether they be from a Muslim country or over the English channel?

Let's face it, there is a huge Muslim population in the UK now, there are mosques in every major city and certainly in my experiences in life I've come across far more practising Muslims than I have practising Christians. If there were a larger Jewish population in the UK, I'm sure they'd be afforded a similarly appropriate broadcast. Perhaps Channel 4 even intends to do this kind of thing for all major faiths followed in the UK, I don't know. I completely understand why people are viewing this as incendiary but would it hurt to try and view it as a way of getting to understand Islam rather than fearing it and anyone who follows it? Ignoring the fact there are Muslims in the UK and holding the bigoted view that Islam = terrorism (which is promoted in certain media outlets; I'm not accusing anyone on here of holding that view but it's certainly out there for all to see) is not solving any problems and personally I commend Channel 4 for at least DOING something.

This is public perception that they're doing it to cause a stir. Looking at it in an unbiased way - they are providing welcomed content for a cross section of their viewing public, and it will reach people who may not have otherwise listened to an Islamic call to prayer. We have such a wide range of documentaries covering niche topics on Channel 4, why is this any different? :/
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