Radical Islam could be as dangerous as Nazism, according to a film screened before hundreds on campus last night.
Conservative talk-show host and syndicated columnist Dennis Prager followed a showing of Obsession: Radical Islam's War against the West with a speech at the third annual Israel Awareness Event, which drew a crowd of about 800 to the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
The film portrayed scenes of Nazi propaganda that were compared to modern Islamic fundamentalist themes. However, the agenda of the jihadists was portrayed in the film to be even more dangerous because of its religious aspect.
Prager described the documentary as a "powerful film" that should be viewed by every American college student.
He said that many universities are to blame for downplaying the significance of Islamic terrorism and described them as "morally confused."
He added that instead of a pursuit of truth, America's universities pursue a political agenda.
"If intellectual honesty cannot prevail, there is no hope for society," he said.
Prager also commented on the recent uproar over cartoons originally published in a Danish newspaper portraying the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. He said that it would be appropriate if moderate Muslims displayed the same kind of anger over murder in the name of the Quran as they had over the cartoons.
The film highlighted the global reaches of Islamic terrorism, displaying images of terrorist attacks around the world. It said that those responsible are a minority group within Islam but one that is gaining increasing power.
"Islam has been hijacked by a fanatic group," said an Egyptian woman interviewed in the film. "Muslims are also their victims."
The film ended with a call for moderate Muslims to speak out against what it called the hate being perpetuated in the Arab world and for the West to support those individuals.
Victor Feinman, a student at Temple University, felt the film was "powerful and moving" and brought "awareness to viewers of just how bad the situation is."
Feinman frequently listens Prager's radio show and said that he is a "great speaker."
He also agreed with Prager that universities today practice an "indoctrination of students" backed by a political agenda.
