Stereotyping Disscussion

After reading the readings, especially the Arab as Enemy piece, I would say most equate stereotyping as discriminatory or negative. And in this sense, post 9/11 it most certainly is. Going step by step through the speeches and words used previous to the State of the Union address, it only laid the foundation for hatred to brew and classify all those who are Muslim as "evildoers." Also, regarding the underlying messages images present, I would say that is true for any add or picture, especially considering that a photo is one still moment in which so much lays behind it. It is not necessarily all discriminatory messages and stereotyping in all cases is not necessarily bad. By definition stereotyping is a exaggerated generalization about a group of people and so it is understood not everyone fits into it, but it created on some basis of truth.
Also, after watching those two video clips, I really was amazed at how I missed a large majority of discrimination in film towards Arabs. I know now that Disney movies have multiple underlying means, but in Aladdin it never occurred to me how much they push the stereotype of Arabs. And then at the same time, I do not think it is wrong to show Jasmine almost getting her hand cut off for stealing an apple because in actuality that can happen in some countries. So are we to avoid every situation in which a given event may be applied to a whole culture? That would be very difficult, which is why I think that more education needs to take place in regards to these films. Or as silly as it sounds, put out a disclaimer that actions we are about to witness do not occur on an everyday basis in this culture. And at the same time we have to recognize that not every culture is perfect, so just because soem are portrayed poorly, again does not mean that soem portions are not true.
I feel as if we have taken many steps toward inmprovement, evident through prominent African American actors who are go to stars or even Arab actors that are known for there work. And although we have a ways to go, it will come only with time.