DVD on radical Islam stirs up controversy

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - With mere weeks to go before the presidential election, different groups are hoping to sway voters.

One group has garnered headlines for trying to sway voters by mailing out millions of DVDs on radical Islam.

By now, many folks have seen or at least heard about the film called 'Obsession,' by a group billing itself as the Clarion Fund.

Some people have called the film hateful propaganda and a ploy to swing voters.

Newschannel 3 sat down with a history professor from Western Michigan University to see what he had to say about the film and the controversy.

The film 'Obsession' begins with a message that the movie is not about peaceful Muslims, but WMU professor Bruce Haight admits that the message is hard to catch.

"It would be easy to miss if you blinked," said Prof. Haight.

Haight has taught and written about Islam for 40 years as a historian, and after watching the film's opening montage of terrorist attacks, he says if people only saw that, their impressions would be sealed.

"They said most Muslims aren't this way but here is the evidence," said Prof. Haight.

However, Haight also sees positives in the film on radical Islam, especially when the film's personalities stress udnerstanding.

"If people saw this video and came away with the conclusion that the speaker had what's the solution, hope and education, there wouldn't be a problem would there," Prof. Haight said.

But critics like the Council on American-Islamic relations say the DVD is propaganda, aimed at making everyone scared of Muslims by painting them as violent.

Prof. Haight is quick to point out that for most Muslims, jihad is not about war.

"Classically in Islam, the goal is not to go out as a warrior, conquer others and force them to be Muslims," Haight said, "the goal in Islam is that you have this internal jihad, you try to become a better person."

The Clarion Fund, which made and sent out the DVD, says they want voters to make an informed decision, and Prof. Haight definitely sees how the film could influence votes.

"If you're terrified of what's happening," Haight said, "you might conclude, better to fight, I don't think that's an unreasonable judgment to make on people's parts."

Haight does hope the film can engage people locally, to get them to know their Muslim neighbors.

"We ought to be getting to know them better," Haight said, "and if the film is right, what you can do if you're not a Muslim (is) help people who are Muslims who are moderates."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has asked the IRS to investigate whether the Clarion Fund violated its non-profit status by distributing the DVD.

Newschannel 3 attempted to contact the Clarion Fund on Wednesday, but did not hear back from them.

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