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 5 of 14)
61. The Israelies are like those who stole a camel. when the original owners of that camel knocked their doors they started yelling and ranting and asking for the help of others. I want to say one thing; Palestine is for the Palestinians as is Germany for the Germans, France for the French and Russia for the Russians. You cannot steal Palestine then minimize it to Mickie Mouse or call a fighter a terrorist. This is how Billions of men, women, boys and girls all over the world understand Palestine. A Family coming from Poland cannot become at gun point a Palestinian when the Palestinian who descended from the Canaanites lives in exile for good
Don Harrison at 4:42AM on May 22nd 2007
62. Aside from how weird it is to put something like this in a children's program... wouldn't Disney have some issues with this as, I don't know, maybe copyright/trademark infrigement?
Maryann Treppiedi Jacobs at 3:06PM on May 9th 2007
63. This video is not as shocking as the many Americans who actually are supporting these radical Muslims and their fanatical belief in the violent religion of Islam. It is the many ignorant Amercian Muslim Sympathizers that are really shocking. Its so shocking to see the extent of ignorance and stupidity of so many Americans even after they have witnessed for themselves on national televised media showing Osama Bin Ladin and so many other radical Islam extremist proclaiming that they will not rest till the whole world is controlled and are under the leadership of the Islamic world. Even!!!! Even after they have seen all these insane maniacs on TV stating their murderous belief and intentions towards the west and to all who are not of the Islamic faith; these stupid American liberals still find some way to blame our president, our leaders, our nation, and even our people for the monsterous crimes carried out by these insane radical Muslims. This is so incrediblely stupid and I have to pinch myself every so often to realize that the amount of stupidity pervading the brains of these imbeciles are actually true.
Stunlock at 3:06PM on May 9th 2007
64. uhm.. This is certainly not for kids.. Why the heck would parents want their kids to grow up with this s**t going through their heads? If i grow up to be a parent, i would lose sleep over this.. I feel so stupid that the world is coming to this.. Oh my gawd.. *sob* Oh my gawd.. I want all those stupid freaks that promote this evil to be struck by lightning! Oh my gawd.. those poor poor little kids!
Yuki at 5:57PM on May 9th 2007
65. jEWLESS, IT SOUNDS AS IF YOU LIKE THIS KIND OF PROPAGANDA FOR THE CHILDREN. wHAT COUNTRY DO YOU LIVE IN?
JON REAS at 3:10PM on May 9th 2007
66. Wait till disney's lawyers get ahold of them.
No what's sad about this is the fact that there are children and adults who still feel they have to wipe out another race to be pure. There is only one judge of my actions and I'll meet Him at the pearly gates.
uncwrite1 at 3:16PM on May 9th 2007
67. Dear HEAVENLY62,
You sound like one of the friendly liberal people that wants to take all my money & give it to someone else. Being a minority in America isn't that bad of a deal. Have you ever been to other countries to see the way they live & how they treat each other??? On a world scale, being poor here isn't really poor. Racism is a worldwide thing, not just in America. Every country has it in some form. You should feel blessed that you live here!
timbob at 11:36PM on May 9th 2007
68. I seriously disagree with #56. You can not be tolerant of a religious belief that is intolerant. Islam is intolerant of all other religion that is not of Islam. "DEATH TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE NOT OF THE ISLAMIC FAITH."
As for your statement "Violence never brings peace." is always correct. It depends on the parties involved in the struggle. Violence never brings peace can only be applied to "peaceful and tolerant" nations and religions. It can not be applied to intolerant and murderous religion with the intent for world domination solely under it's rule; which is specifically the Islamic faith's agenda.
If there is a murderer and a pastor on an island, peace can never be achieved unless either the murderer is converted or the pastor is killed. Plain and simple.
Stunlock at 3:17PM on May 9th 2007
69. I meant to say that it is not always correct.
Stunlock at 3:19PM on May 9th 2007
70. The muslims that are here are constantly trying to tell us they are a religion of peace. It is a lie, they want nothing more then to destroy us. We are in a war that most of us don't even realize. When are we going to see this and stop letting them come into our country? Why do we need to be tolerant of every religion and peoples? Our constitution was made to protect our rights, the muslims want to destroy our rights. Our liberal justices have misinterpeted our constitution and let this happen, our government is not going to help us with this, as American citizens we need to let our voices be heard. We need to fight back, lawfully and peacefully
e lopez at 4:05PM on May 9th 2007
71. I agree one thousand percent that all may practice the religion of their faith. But that should only be applied to religion that does not promote violence and is also tolerant of all other religion. Islam does not fall within this criteria. Islam promotes violence and is violently intolerant of all other faiths. We as a nation should not tolerate a religion that promotes violence and is intolerant. Being tolerant to intolerance is 100% idiotic.
Stunlock at 3:28PM on May 9th 2007
72. Another reason to finish the job in Iraq and wherever else these crazy sons of bitches threaten our existence! Some of you dont get it! Whether you leave all of the middle east you will always be the infidel and thier job is to kill the infidel! There is no common ground! As long as I am a christian...I will forever be thier enemy and thats them talking!
Steve Anderson at 3:31PM on May 9th 2007
73. islam is the enemy.
david at 3:31PM on May 9th 2007
74. this is bull!!!But what can i say we have bush this is why i control my kids t.v. and internet...
i could never teach my kids racism , this stopped in my family's last generation"and god created man equally"how could you teach your kids this !we are all gods creatures you must humble your self .Even though i personally am not christian or support the butch administration i do know human morals and know how to love my children ...what a low blow to use mickey in this i hope disney does something about this ....this video makes me mad sick and sad.specially when you here kids going on suicide missions in the name of allah....
worse how can a parent live with him /her self after putting your kid through this !
GARGOYLE661 at 3:33PM on May 9th 2007
75. The Daffy duck cartoon was used a satire to condemn the nazi party and also to criticize Adolph Hitler. Disney certainly can not be condemned for using a cartoon for education purposes. Also let it be known that the Disney cartoons, before TV's were distributed, were mostly viewed by ADULTS prior to the start of movies they were about to watch. The content of the cartoons is meant to entertain the youngster's and also to inform the adult audience.
I have a total disregard for commentators who like to pick apart Disney, of all things, to support their arguments!
matt from san antonio at 3:35PM on May 9th 2007