The Council on American-Islamic Relations, which ordinarily is critical of the representation of Muslims and Arabs in films and on television, has congratulated Fox Television for last Sunday's episode of The Simpsons , in which a Muslim family moving into Springfield faces prejudice. (Homer suspects them of being terrorists while Bart befriends a boy who is bullied by classmates.) The CAIR letter, sent Wednesday, said that the episode, titled "Mypods and Boomsticks," one of four entire Simpsons shows posted online at http //tinyurl.com/6jgq4y, "brought to light how Americans can work toward mutual respect and inclusion by getting to know their neighbors." CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said, "Fox and [ Simpsons creator] Matt Groening are to be congratulated for tackling the disturbing phenomenon of Islamophobia."

04/12/2008