By now, most people have probably heard about Farfur, the fundamentalist Islamic Mickey Mouse-like character who promotes violence and hatred on the Hamas-affiliated Al Aqsa TV network. But have you seen him? In any case, this is both a complicated story and a simple one. It's simple because it's wrong. Indoctrinating children is hard to justify, particularly when that indoctrination involves, say, violence and hatred. But it's a complicated story, partly because Farfur was pulled off the air for review, and partly because he's just part of a long tradition of this kind of thing. There are also, just for the purposes of argument, plenty of examples of pro-American propaganda through the years that use children's entertainment as a vehicle. There are racist Bugs Bunny cartoons that reinforced negative stereotypes about African-Americans, Japanese, and Germans, and there's even a famous Disney propaganda cartoon in which Donald Duck plays a Nazi munitions worker (and says "Heil Hitler" all over the place). Is it always reprehensible? Is it effective? Might this kind of thing backfire? Are there any gray areas when it comes to teaching children to hate--or, at least, hatefully express their national/religious identity?
[Ben Greenman's acclaimed new book of fiction, A Circle is a Balloon And Compass Both: Stories About Human Love, is now available at bookstores.]
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 14)
31. Ok so these people do have a voice - i agree with that - however - these people do not like how we do things or how we dress yet they try to do things like we do - hell their version of our mickey mouse looks pretty good - and using a character like that to teach children things is the same thing we do here - however we use them to TEACH our children things - we teach them to be children - not to hate people --- i don't get it - this is just wrong -
Selene at 7:08AM on May 10th 2007
32. A horrific show of insanity by mentally defunct insurgents,attacking one of the most integral part of american culture and its most valuable citizens, our children! The display of ignorance,hatred and violence marks their foreheads with the sign of the beast,forever damned!
Fran at 2:20PM on May 9th 2007
33. I learned all I needed to learn about Islams savagery on 9/11. Liberals and hippies, a terrorists best friend. Maybe you could tell all those people from 9/11 that give there families died because thast fat cow Rosie said so. Now I need to deal with all my ailments from that day. ISLAM IS BARBARISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTCsurvivor at 4:46AM on May 12th 2007
34. As an American who lived in Israel during the Intifada, this comes as absolutely no shock. Unfortunately, these people exist in the world. I am all for people having the right to have their beliefs. However, those who are raised to be bloodthirsty and full of hate...well, that goes above and beyond. It just saddens me to see this, as well as people such as XbrianX, who is out of his element and does not properly understand Zionism. The U.S. supports Israel for all the right reasons, most of which is the obligation to protect it's citizens.
GS at 2:24PM on May 9th 2007
35. Hmmm....looks like a case for the Disney Trademark police. You know, the same group that sniffs out Mom & Pop bakeries who dare to sell cakes adorned with unlicensed Disney decor. Yup....Disney will send in their elite stormtroopers, kick some Hamas butt, and when the smoke clears, "Disney World al Arab" will rise from the ashes!
Linda at 2:24PM on May 9th 2007
36. i would personally enjoy eliminating everyone of those arabs. They are not worth wasting the air they breath..If I were president for one day there would not be one arab left to praise allah.
frenchie at 2:37PM on May 9th 2007
37. When the Americans felt occupied (some call it a civil war) by the british, they turned to violence. I am sure that there is alot of anti british propaganda from that period. I do not agree with this child indoctrination but i also do not agree with the people who think only "fanatic muslims" take part in this. From Sopranos to fox's 24 to that guys voice at the airport who reminds you that the threat level is orange our government and society also take part in propaganda.
saeed at 2:30PM on May 9th 2007
38. This is more frightening to think about than the possible attacks on Fort Dix because this deals with brainwashing the future killers in the middle east that will grow up hating us. The response that GEO (Post#11 had about the democrats having a goofy character to get their message out) only shows our own countries divisiveness. When we are talking about the freedom and future of America, it is not Demorcrat or Republican.. it is American! Until we wise up and realize that, the terrorists and their children's videos are the winners. That is what frightens me.
JD at 2:34PM on May 9th 2007
39. You are kidding, right? That kind of anti- American and anti-semitic propaganda goes on every day in every arab and muslim country. It is underreported here partly because the arab leaders won't give access to reporters who report negatively about the arabs and partly because it doesn't fit into the warm and fuzzy multicultural midset of those who refuse to acknowledge that Israel and America and the west have the same dangerous enemy. If you don't identify your enemy he will win.
eric at 2:38PM on May 9th 2007
40. Just wait until Disney decides to sue.
William Schmidt at 2:36PM on May 9th 2007
41. Haha, I actually thought it was funny. Honestly, the children in audience of propoganda such as this will find there own way just as those of us whom have grown wise to the misconception of religion itself!...
Jeremy at 2:39PM on May 9th 2007
42. The children say murderers invaded their land. We invaded, bombed, and killed Iraqi civilians in their own homeland. Yes, they are justified to call us murderers.
Bush says we will not leave their homeland without "victory." More killings of Iraqis in Iraq. That's wrong.
Ronald Williams at 2:37PM on May 9th 2007
43. watching that made me sick to my stomoch. It's a shame of what there teaching there kids. it's wrong and people over there do have a voice. they need to speak up for there kids. stand by them and teach them the right way to live and learn how to love one another.
angel at 2:37PM on May 9th 2007
44. What garbage...It's no wonder the Israeli's built a wall to keep these heathens at bay...
Mike at 2:40PM on May 9th 2007
45. This is really disturbing they are raising children to be military based and full of hate. What kind of culture teaches their children these horrible values. At least in the USA we have the pretense of fighting for peace.
Megan at 2:39PM on May 9th 2007