'Obsession' attracts protest
About 80 people came to the screening of a film warning about dangers of radical Islam Wednesday - but not all were there for the same reason.
"Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" was screened for an audience of about 60 students in the Bovee University Center Auditorium.
Another 20 people gathered at the UC to protest the film and its depiction of the Muslim faith.
"Contrary to popular belief, 'Obsession' does not have a political agenda," said Karyn Leffel, North American representative of on-campus screenings for the movie. "The purpose of 'Obsession' is to unite all people and make them aware of the problem."
The film, the screening of which was sponsored by the CMU chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, discussed how radical Islamists view the idea of Jihad, how children are influenced by the ideas of Jihad at a young age and the role of propaganda in Arabic media.
It featured testimony from a former Palestinian Liberation Organization terrorist, the daughter of a martyr and a Palestinian journalist, among others.
The movie also proposed a link between the propaganda and ideology of Nazi Germany and radical Islam.
Creating a 'bigger divide'
R. Graham Beyer, who was among the protesters, said the "Obsession" has been banned from other college campuses.
"It was seen as a threat of increasing violence against minority students," the Paw Paw freshman said. "We feel like movies like this create a bigger divide between the U.S. and the Middle East."
Flint junior Brandon Bowser also protested the screening.
He said the war against terrorism is different from other wars in which the U.S. has fought in.
"It's a faceless enemy," he said. "The war against terrorism is a war against a mentality."
Protesters carried signs with sayings such as "Unite in love not in hate."
About 10 minutes before the movie was scheduled to start, the protesters moved inside the UC.
CMU Police Officer Tim Prout asked them to discard the signs or go back outside, saying CMU has a policy forbidding anyone from protesting inside campus buildings.
Eva Hales handed out fliers inviting students to join a new registered student organization, Students for a Democratic Society, and get involved in the anti-war movement.
"We wanted to show up and let people know there is a liberal answer to YAF," the Clare sophomore said.
After the film, Leffel led a question and answer session with the audience.
YAF president and Topinabee sophomore Dennis Lennox II said he was happy with the turnout and outcome of the event.
"The vast majority of students came to watch the movie and learn," he said. "There were some behaving inappropriately, though."
YAF members passed out fliers to the audience with ways for people to be further involved in raising awareness about terrorism.
"We want people to be aware of the problem that's facing us," Lennox said.
bkieda@cm-life.com
