The British are certainly more courageous to deal with Islam on TV more head on. Muslim Driving School is yet another creative series the BBC (BBC2) has aired recently to open up a rare window into the life of Muslim (Asian) women in the north of England. I really like the idea of using driving school as a way to talk about issues British audiences wouldn't want to learn about otherwise. It's a lighter approach to tackling some topical issues like arranged marriage, gender dynamics, a woman's agency, etc. True, it's a bit of a cliche to equate driving (it's quite explicit in the show's narrative and not just an imagined metaphor) with empowering these women and setting them free, but I still believe it's a brilliant idea to get non-Muslims watching and learning about some aspects of Muslim culture they wouldn't be exposed to otherwise. It's just unfortunate that here in the US, Americans are deprived of such visionary ideas that could very well mend some of the dramatic rifts setting Muslims and non-Muslims apart. Muslims are only seen in the newsmedia connected to terrorism, violence, and the chaotic Middle East. It's time American television producers wised up to the need for alternative portrayals. There's much talent out there and we know that TV networks have heard from successful writers with great ideas, but they keep turning them down. It is a risk, I know, but I guess it's even riskier to do nothing or worse to keep harping on that tired jaded stereotype of the Muslim as the dangerous other. The latest Gallup Poll this past January revealed that close to half of Americans hold an unfavorable view of Islam and about two-thirds admit knowing close to nothing about Islam and Muslims. It's time to change these disturbing statistics, and both news and entertainment media have a central role to play.