1. 2/21
When you think about the Middle East, write down the first 3 words that come to mind.
Where do we get these images of the Middle East?
How accurate are they?

2. Find the lie…
The wars being waged in the Middle East are about religion.
Most Muslims are from the Middle East.
The words “Arab” and “Muslim” are synonyms.
Most people in the Middle East hate Americans.
The Middle East is one big giant desert region.

5. Put the following words into one of the two categories
U.S.
Texas
Islam
Iraq
hamburgers
country music
Osama bin Laden
desert
oil
camels
George Washington
Middle East

6. Put the following words into one of the two categories
good
love
murder
Superman
stealing
freedom
charity
Hitler
torture
respect
kindness
evil

7. Put the following words into one of the two categories
U.S. or
good
Texas
murder
Superman
country music
Osama bin Laden
oil
torture
respect
camels
George Washington
Islam
love
Iraq
hamburgers
stealing
freedom
kindness
desert
charity
Hitler
Middle East or evil

8. How easy was it for you to put all of those words in the correct categories?
I’m guessing that it was fairly simple and did not take much time, correct?

9. Put the following words into one of the two categories
U.S. or
evil
Hitler
desert
freedom
hamburgers
love
George Washington
respect
oil
country music
murder
Texas
Superman
Osama bin Laden
torture
camels
Islam
Iraq
stealing
kindness
charity
Middle East or good

10. Now, how easy was it?
For most of you, this was probably much more difficult, correct?

11. Whether you mean to or not…
We all have preconceptions about different topics.
It is easy for us to associate good with the United States.
But, when we try and associate good with the Middle East, we have to move beyond those split second, unconscious thoughts.
We have to slow down and actually think.

12. ALADDIN LYRICS
Arab American groups were offended by the original lyrics for the Disney movie “Aladdin.” Here are the original lyrics.
Oh, I come from a land
From a far away place
Where the Camels roam
Where they cut off your ear
If they don’t like your face -
It’s barbaric, but hey, its home.

13. The point of this lesson is to better understand how something many of us simply see as funny can hurt others, even though that is not our intention.
Many movies, even those fun Disney movies “of your youth” can have cause unintended pain.
Do we need to just “get over it.” Of course, if it happens to someone else.
Imagine how a caveman would feel if some insurance companies used slogans in their commercials like “so easy even a caveman could do it.” Get the point.

14. Where the caravan camels roam Where it’s black and immense
When the groups complained to Disney studios they were told to “get over it and have a sense of humor.” the Arab groups felt this was a double standard. When the movie was released on video, Disney had changed the lyrics to this:
Oh, I come from a land
From a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where it’s black and immense
And the heat is intense -
It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.

15. Aladdin Is this an accurate representation of the Middle East?
What is accurate and what is not?