Is Cracked.com the Ground Zero mosque of magazines? (part two)

So who is Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa?

Originally a psychologist treating the victims of political torture, or as he says “treating people who grew up idolizing their leader only to be tortured,” Mutawa took a break from this grueling work and pursued a degree in business. His life, like everyone else, took a change after the attacks of 9/11: radical Muslims had perpetrated an attack not just on Americans and the West, but also on Islam itself. “Everyone in North America thinks of 9/11 as 9-1-1, or the emergency call number, but for me it had a different meaning,” says Mutawa. “Nine times eleven is 99 [as above, God’s holy characteristics] and if read in Arabic, 911 looks eerily similar to the word ‘Allah’ or God. Someone had tarnished the name of Islam, and I wanted to go in and help rebrand it.”

Oh, dear. Well, OK. Another Muslim putting the “I” in “Islam.”

It gets better:

President Barak Obama praised THE 99 at the 2010 Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship, taking place in April. The American president heaped praise on Naif al-Mutawa, whose superhero comic book, “THE 99” – ubiquitous at the summit – features Islamic themes. The President said that Mutawa had borrowed a page from Obama’s Cairo playbook by introducing Superman and Batman to their Muslim counterparts. “And I hear they’re making progress, too,” said Obama.

Cue Glenn Beck voice: “Isn’t that fanTAStic???”

Look: I don’t pretend to know what goes on within Cracked.com’s inner sanctum. (Back in the 1980s, I worked at Canada’s largest publishing company, which was part of Conrad Black’s massive holding company, Hollinger. About once a week, at least one of our magazine subscribers would melodramatically call in and cancel, accusing us of taking sinister orders from the country’s most famous “evil right winger.” But I’m pretty sure Lord Black had no idea he owned us; he definitely did not send us editorial memos.)

So I hate to get all Jesse Ventura on you, especially considering that Dr. Al-Mutawa – if his official biography is to be believed – has helped a lot of genuinely suffering people. (His official website even includes a moving, exquisitely written eulogy he delivered at a friend’s funeral.)

I still can’t quite make out how Dr. Al-Mutawa morphed from clinical psychologist to comic book impresario. That’s my problem, I guess.

And who knows? Perhaps he’d have gotten a “shout out” from President Bush instead of Obama, if The 99 had come out a couple of years earlier.

So forgive my paranoia, if that’s what it is. But when an otherwise cool website suddenly publishes an uncharacteristically flimsy, even gullible apologia for Islam (and two million people read it) — I wonder.

When entrusted with the images iconic heroes who represent “truth, justice and the American way,” are partnering with those who share the faith of unrepentant terrorists and their millions of supporters throughout the West – I care.

I’ve heard too many Muslims preach “tolerance” and “understanding” while insinuating themselves into all aspects of American life, from beloved comic books to, well, hallowed ground in New York City.

I wish I had a brilliant finale for this post besides, “Muslims! Stop touching our stuff!” But that’s all I’ve got, ten years on. I’m sick of it, and tired.

Maybe you can do better in the comments.

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