On Faith panelist and Sufi rock star Salman Ahmad sings the theme song for the new CW TV comedy "Aliens in America." The song, "What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding," was written by Nick Lowe. Salman sings the...
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All Comments (19)
trailer zelda Twilight
May 8, 2008 8:41 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on May 8, 2008 20:41
trailer zelda Twilight
May 8, 2008 8:41 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on May 8, 2008 20:41
hi kids- another critique on the show-
im pleasantly surprised at the level of maturity on the show-
this time it was about teenage sexuality-
there was a hot girl, whose "torture flirting" was causing some pain to the young protaganist-
when she tried to flirt with raja- the excahnge student- her attmepts failed to get the expected response- the second time he remarked that she was embarrassing him with her attentions and that her only value (to herself) was her sexuality.
but that wasnt all- he didnt just judge and point out the negative- he then told her about the other positive things she possessed, like her intelligence and even gave her an example of her own smarts-
she saw herself as something other than a hot girl, and tried to do a science project with the 2 - changed to 'smart girl clothes', viewed herself differently and seemed to change ehrself on the inside too.
the main boy (whose crush on her was longlasting) eventually decided to kind of abuse her feeling of safety with them, asked ehr to o to a museum, where he blew it by trying to kiss her.
she immediately reverted back to being a kind of mean hot girl-
(then the subplot of his sister stepping into the hot girls 1st tier position- long lusted after and when achieved- she got bored with it)
and the sub sub plot of the mom trying to make everyones wardrobes over with disastrous results.
it was a little slice of life commetary on superficialities, and the ways it manipulates our behavior to go with the crowd and also the importance of sticking to ones inner values in spite of pressure-
the best part for me was the end when the boys played a video game together, and raja related that he was tempted, and he is a human boy and not a robot- and has weaknesses like his american counterpart- but his training and developed philosophy gave him a wise base to react to his own sexuality.
another winner, and im again surprised at the quality of the writers.
October 23, 2007 12:26 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 23, 2007 12:26
i watched aliens in america for the 2nd time-
this time it was a little deepr-
raja joined the rocket club and was picked up by the police for buying fuses and such at the home depot-
then other stuff happened-
at the end, after rajas computer was seized by the police- the police decided to seize the computer of the american host family-
(complete with perky cheerleader)
that was the interesting point- when the rights and freedoms of the american family were encroached upon-
then it became personal and real
identifiable to the audience
symapthetic to the viewers
it was a good deal deeper and poignant than i had expected from a sitcom
kudos to the writers
peace - to any who belatedly wander in here
October 16, 2007 3:52 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 16, 2007 03:52
“As it states in the Quran: ‘Oh you who believe, stand up firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even if it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor; for God can best protect both. Do not follow any passion, lest you not be just. And if you distort or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that you do.’” (Quran 4:135)
October 10, 2007 2:50 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 10, 2007 02:50
well i just watched the vaunted sitcom tonight.
it was not exactly laugh out loud funny, but it wasnt turn the channel dull either.
it was, a sitcom.
there was a misunderstanding, a sub-plot misunderstanding- a lesson learned and the neat resolution at the end.
in other words, a sit-com.
the characters were developed enough for me to care about their fates, there was no evidence of any preachiness one way or the other-
it followed everybody hates chris, another show about an on the social fringe young teen.
its not a sociological study of the habits of the teenaged pakistani- just a sweet little sitcom.
actually i look forward to the day when the bizarre characterizations of muslim that americans accept blindly as really representative,
become fodder for a sitcom and people laugh at the ridiculousness of the caricatures presented as reality.
but that day is far off i fear.
but this is a start.
peace
October 9, 2007 2:19 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 9, 2007 02:19
humor is an excellent way to bind people together in friendship and understanding.
i havent seen this sitcom, but ill go out of my way to see it now.
as alam commented, its hollywood, they can do anything.
so im happy to see ONE somewhat poitive (at least human) portrayal of a muslim in american media.
images are a powerful medium- that is why they say that a picture is worht a thousand words-
if people leave their viewing of this show with the feeling that muslims are just people with the same hopes and dreams anf fears as anyone ahywhere and we are all in this big blue ball together, and we all want the same things in life, acceptance, love, peace, a home, family, security- then i say bring it on and bring more of it on.
and if it encourages kids to be tolerant and accepting of those who are different than them, lessons that were certainly taught in my school to my benefit, then hooray for that!
because america is a place where i can walk down the street right now (and will in a few minutes) and hear greek, and spanish, and korean, and arabic, and urdu, and turkish, and ukrainian, and yiddish, and even some english and feel conmfortable and happy in my neighborhood and want to see my neighbors succeed in their lives because their success is my success-
BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 6, 2007 4:10 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 6, 2007 16:10
from Victoria's posts-
"i see these kids all over the place."
"i see these kids all over the place."
"i see these kids all over the place."
"i see these kids all over the place."
"are you kidding with that?"
"are you kidding with that?"
"are you kidding with that?"
"are you kidding with that?"
Victoria- I don't know what you're on, but get to the point and quick.
October 5, 2007 7:58 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 5, 2007 19:58
hey jamal, WELCOME TO NEW YORK!!!
you'll see it all here.
October 5, 2007 3:08 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 5, 2007 15:08
again jamal, i dont know if you just hit the shores of america, but flag burning is not exactly new or even isolated events here.
what is your point anyway?
are you saying that queens s a hotbed of flag burners? or musims? muslim flag burners?
do you even have a point?
does that mean all the white college kids in the 60s that burned draft cards and american flags are anti-american becuase they didnt want to go off and die for some rich guys at michelin tire company?
or is your point that freedom of expression is only for a select few?
or is your point thank god we live in america where we can express our displeasure publicly
and assemble to peacefully protest?
or is your inisinuation that since i live in queens and am a muslim, i must be responsible or at least in cahoots with some people who burned a flag at a college 2 years ago?
or maybe you woulds like to address the VETERANS that came back and burned the flag?
peacably assembled and criticized the policies of my government.
like ron kovic,(ANOTHER new yorker) who most know from the movie born on the fourth of july-
that movie wasnt made to help tom cruise make a house payment, but to tell the story of a man who served his country well, and to this day is one of the most active anti-war protestors in america???
or is your point that you really have done nothing with your life in any sort of service to america or americans and you hope that by posting some youtube video it will somehow discredit the years of my life that i HAVE spent in actively HELPING the veterans while you yourself spend your time posting videos on blogs?
also, your last comment- clearly you are kidding- doesnt make sense.
'are you kidding' is an american idiom
a rhetorical question that doesnt require an answer, and means basically that what you are saying has no validity, and you must be making a joke (which is what 'to kid' means, to tease or joke or make a pun, and need not be taken seriously.
to say a statement, 'you have been kidding' i guess means you think im making a pun?
but clearly i was speaking in earnest, as my own experiences cited couldnt really be mistaken for a pun, but were clearly a serious recounting.
so, the idiom would be- "you're kidding".
which expresses incredulity.
not you have been kidding.
but its an american thing.
so anyway jamal, what HAVE you been doing with your life?
October 5, 2007 3:06 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 5, 2007 15:06
"how can you know it was queens?
it said new york"
Read:
"On June 8, 2005 the Islamic Thinkers Society publicly desecrated and ripped up an American flag on the street in New York City during a rally at 74th Street and 37th Avenue in the borough of Queens. This event, which they called "Operation: Desecrate American Flag" was videotaped by the Islamic Thinkers Society and can be seen on the Internet. Their five-minute video begins with a man speaking in English, "Just to show where our loyalty belongs to -- you see this flag here? It's going to go on the floor [sic]. And to us, our loyalty does not belong to this flag, our loyalty belongs to Allah ... ." Another speaker refers to the mandate for "Islam to dominate over all other religions, to dominate the world, even though the non-Muslims may hate it."
The Islamic Thinkers Society is a radical Islamic group based in New York City that seeks the goal of restoring the Islamic Caliphate to create what they call "an ideal Islamic society." They are located mainly in New York City, United States. They have gained controversy for their close ties to terrorist incidents in the United States after September 11, 2001. ITS calls on Muslims to oppose the United States, Christianity and Western society and culture.
ITS is suspected of being an American offshoot of the London-based Al-Muhajiroun, a group that celebrated the 9/11 attacks, referring to the hijackers as "the Magnificent 19," and posted a burning picture of the Capitol on its website. The Islamic Thinkers Society also used to fly the Al-Muhajiroun flag and distributed Al-Muhajiroun tracts.
Observers such as the Intelligence Summit have called the Islamic Thinkers Society a Fundamentalist Islamic group.
When they still called themselves Al-Muhajiroun, they held an event at Queensborough Community College, also sponsored by the Muslim Student Association, during which a Muhajiroun speaker said, "We reject the U.N., reject America, reject all law and order. Don't lobby Congress or protest because we don't recognize Congress! The only relationship you should have with America is to topple it!"
"well imagine that- i live in queens in new york- astoria to be exact- and i see these kids all over the place."
Clearly you have been kidding-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8fI5Z5GrqM
October 5, 2007 5:51 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 5, 2007 05:51
are you kidding with that?
im sorry "jamal" you must have been born in the 70s.
how can you know it was queens?
it said new york
that appeared to be an anti-zionist flag burning, personally ive never burned a flag- but have seen countless burned - o yes - it as the vietnam war-
o yes, i also volunteered at disabled american veterans for a couple years, AND took personal care of wheelchair bound vets-
and ran a program feeding 100 people a day in the late 80s- a great many who were homeless vets-
what have YOU done with your life?
October 5, 2007 12:10 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 5, 2007 00:10
"well imagine that- i live in queens in new york- astoria to be exact- and i see these kids all over the place."
Whats really happening with Muslims in Queens NY:
Muslims publicly desecrate an American flag on the street during a demonstration in Queens and yell Allau Akba.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OYOvcZBEyY
October 4, 2007 9:08 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 4, 2007 09:08
well imagine that- i live in queens in new york- astoria to be exact- and i see these kids all over the place.
maybe its ramadan, maybe ive entered the twilight zone- but there they are.
or maybe its just new york, where eventually you'll see everything.
and teenagers certainly know more than i knew in their age too- maybe even more than i know now....
October 4, 2007 4:30 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 4, 2007 04:30
@VICTORIA
Yeah, I am serious. I was born in Pakistan, 30 years ago, came to this country 10 years ago, and I have not seen such Muslim boy character in my entire life. I just went beack to Pakistan, and many boys and girls in my extended family in Karachi, and could not see this attire or stupid attitude. Teen agers there know more than I knew in their age.
Anyways, its Hollywood, they can do anything
October 4, 2007 2:18 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 4, 2007 02:18
i just watched the video and it is positively too cute-
anonymous, what country do you live in?
i was born in the USA and there are more boys in my neighborhood in this attire than i have fingers and - (hint- i have 10)
are you serious?
well, now you can definitely say you know of at least 10.
live and learn.
i thought elvis costello sang that song.
keep on rockin in the free world jacob
October 4, 2007 1:03 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 4, 2007 01:03
i havent seen the show, but i made the comment to my husband that when a group gets stereotyped into an american sitcom- it's definitely a step towards inclusion.
theres a comfort level in humor-
i think ill watch it
October 3, 2007 11:20 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 3, 2007 23:20
I watched the trailer on youtube, and it seems to me that the program is stereoptyping Muslims in America. I don't know if this is a good thing.
I have never seen, nor do I know of any Pakistani Muslim boy character coming to USA and living with the attire that is shown in the tv.
This is ridiculous
October 3, 2007 8:35 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 3, 2007 20:35
You just don't get it..
“I look forward to a time that it’s not necessary to sing this song. In the meantime -here it is:”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YLgcTHtBVM
Sung by the GREAT NICK LOWE at 7 World Trade Center right next to the big hole in the ground.
October 3, 2007 1:56 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on October 3, 2007 13:56