Jim Axelrod touted a Muslim Cub Scout den "dedicated to the idea of helping others erase their prejudices" on Saturday's CBS Evening News. Axelrod spotlighted the unit's adult leader, who contended that "there is a natural overlap between Scouting and Islam." The journalist also featured two clips from President Obama's February 2016 visit to a mosque in Baltimore, Maryland, where he "met a group of young Muslim Cub Scouts." One such young scout lamented during the report that "especially what's going on now with media portrayal of Muslims, we need to put ourselves out as...normal people." [video below]
Axelrod led into his report, which ended the newscast, by quoting "a line out of the Cub Scout Oath — a pledge to 'help other people at all times' (this is actually from the regular Boy Scout Oath. The Cub Scouts have a Promise that contains a similar line: "to help other people.") He continued by trumpeting the "troop (sic) dedicated to the idea of helping others erase their prejudices."
The correspondent noted that the Cub Scout den's adult leader, Abdul Rashid Abdullah, is a "Roman Catholic turned Muslim and U.S. Army veteran." He continued by zeroing on how "kids like Mohammed Kadri [say] he often has to explain that Muslim Scouts aren't any different." After playing a clip from Kadri, he continued with another sound bite from Abdullah, who explained what he meant by the "natural overlap between Scouting and Islam."
Later in the segment, the CBS journalist quoted a recent statistic from the liberal Brookings Institution, which found that "61 percent of Americans view Islam unfavorably." He hinted in his next sentence that this was a faulty viewpoint: "Anfel Bouzid says Scouting is helping to change people's misconceptions." Bouzid was the young person who lamented the supposed "media portrayal of Muslims." Axelrod concluded his report by promoting how Abdullah, a "self-described Scout geek, says these young people can change the world — Scout's honor."
Since a talking head bemoaned the "media portrayal of Muslims," it should be pointed out that this isn't the first time in recent months that the press has hyped Abdullah's Cub Scout unit. Petula Dvorak fawned over the youth members in a December 2015 article for the Washington Post: "[They] confront...Islamophobia. By working. By achieving. By being American kids." A month later, AFP's Leo Mouren chronicled how the Scouts visited the Civil War battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
The full transcript of Jim Axelrod's report from CBS Evening News on April 30, 2016:
JIM AXELROD: We end tonight with a line out of the Cub Scout Oath (sic) — a pledge to 'help other people at all times.' Recently, we met a troop dedicated to the idea of helping others erase their prejudices.
AXELROD (voice-over): At first glance, this looks like any other Scout meeting. But hang on: take a second look.
ABDUL-RASHID ABDULLAH: To see American Muslims' Scouting experience.
AXELROD: Abdul-Rashid Abdullah runs a [Cub] Scout den in northern Virginia for 125 Muslim boys and girls.
ABDULLAH: We sing the National Anthem; we do the Pledge of Allegiance; but, at the same time, we opened up with the al-Fatiha — the opening prayer.
AXELROD: This Roman Catholic turned Muslim and U.S. Army veteran says Muslim Scouting has been around for decades. Even so, kids like Mohammed Kadri says he often has to explain that Muslim Scouts aren't any different.
MOHAMMED KADRI: When you see a Muslim as a Boy Scout, people don't really know how to react and everything.
AXELROD: Abdullah says there is a natural overlap between Scouting and Islam.
ABDULLAH: Look at the last point of the Scout Law: 'A Scout is reverent' — someone who gives homage to God, respects God — but also respects others. And that's what Islam says.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: You're not Muslim or American. You're Muslim and American.
AXELROD: Earlier this year, President Obama met a group of young Muslim Cub Scouts on a visit to a U.S. mosque.
OBAMA: You're right where you belong. You're part of America, too. (audience applauds)
[CBS News Graphic: "Attitudes Towards Islam: Unfavorable, 61%; Favorable, 37%; Source: Brookings Institute"]
AXELROD: A recent poll found 61 percent of Americans view Islam unfavorably.
Anfel Bouzid says Scouting is helping to change people's misconceptions.
ANFEL BOUZID: Especially what's going on now with media portrayal of Muslims, we need to put ourselves out as — you know, just we're normal people.
ABDULLAH: When I put on the Boy Scout uniform, it says 'Boy Scouts of America.' It does not say, 'I'm a Muslim. I'm a Christian. I'm Jewish.' It says, first and foremost, I'm a Scout.
AXELROD: The self-described Scout geek says these young people can change the world — Scout's honor.
