Editor analyzes context of ‘Newsweek’ controversy

By Madi Alexander, Web Editor

Newsweek published a provocative story Sept. 17 about the “MUSLIM RAGE” that is plaguing the Middle East.

The cover depicts a protesting mob of angry, bearded Arab men—a completely inaccurate representation of the population. Newsweek then tweeted “Want to discuss our latest cover? Let’s hear it with the hashtag: #MuslimRage.”

The best summary of the reaction on Twitter came from @Arab_Fury: “Muslims just hijacked @Newsweek’s hashtag. Pun intended. #MuslimRage.”

Thousands of Muslims mocked the hastag by expressing the real rage they feel every day. These are some of my favorite:

@LibyaLiberty: “I’m having such a good hair day. No one even knows. #MuslimRage”

@LSal92: “Lost your kid Jihad at the airport. Can’t yell for him. #MuslimRage”

@iron_emu: “Ramadan in Iceland when days are 23 hours long. #MuslimRage”

@AllWeAskFor: “Shawarma with no garlic sauce? #MuslimRage”

That last one is the cold, hard truth. A shawarma without garlic sauce is just wrong.

Joking aside, the best tweet about the situation came from Reza Aslan: “Memo to those few violent MidEast protesters, this is how you fight Islamophobia. You make fun of it. #MuslimRage.”

Violent protests reinforce skewed beliefs and reflect poorly upon the rest of the Muslim population. If you want people to understand your religion as peaceful, don’t try to express that through violence.

It isn’t just me who is frustrated by the response. I’ve seen responses from my friends about how their “rage” is motivated by the irrational, misguided responses in the name of Islam.

These extremists have, in a sense, hijacked the religion for their own purposes.

Maybe the title “MUSLIM RAGE” would have been appropriate if the majority of the populations in the Middle East were protesting, but that’s not the case.

The people expressing “MUSLIM RAGE” represent an insignificant fraction of the overall Muslim population.

Just like the extremist Christians who bomb abortion clinics and murder doctors who perform abortions don’t represent all of Christianity, stone-throwing Muslims don’t represent all of Islam.