"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." — Malcolm X

Recently, the Muslim world has been outraged by a trailer for a film posted on YouTube that portrays Islam's Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in an abhorrent manner, to put it mildly. I heard almost nothing being said about the film itself, but had seen the fallout of its posting being repeatedly shown on the television and discussed on the Internet. The crux of the media's representation of the Muslim world's outrage was "There those violent Muslims go again...why are they so petty?"

What has not been shown by the media at all is the true character of the Prophet Muhammad, and how starkly it contrasts to the one portrayed in the inflammatory trailer. It is the responsibility of the media to report stories in a fair and impartial manner, however, as far as I see, the portrayal of the outrage of the Muslim world has been anything but.

If any person takes at least five minutes to learn about the true character of the Prophet Muhammad, they would quickly realise that this film could never be accurate.

They would learn of his kind, gentle, honest personality and his preaching of tolerance to others. They would learn of his reverence to Jesus son of Mary and his followers. But no, the ignorant masses would rather watch a video that fits in with their preconceived notions of The Prophet, and continue to spread fear and hatred for Islam.

It is my hope that this wrong will be corrected and offer another side of the story. The side that shows how grotesque this film is and why Muslims have a right to be outraged.

Ismail Barton

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