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Dracon II
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Communist Party of Apolyton
Jan 1970
time: 15:29
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quote:
It does seem strange to me that you assume that the first reaction a group of people to a film that they didn't like would be an increase in support for terrorists |
I thankyou for pointing out a possible area of ambiguity in my argument. Allow me to clarify my position to prevent furthur confusion. I was not implying that being offended by the cultural bias of a text necessarily results in an increase in support for extremism or an increased tendency towards political violence (any more than a text implying that the founding fathers favoured big government would necessarily lead to greater membership in and support for libertarian militia groups or cause Oklahoma style political violence). I was simply saying that such a text could quite seriously offend and, in the case of a biased film on the Crusades, lend some credence to some of the prejudices of terrorist groups. Muslims are of course not constrained by a choice between complete support for Western Governments and complete support for Terrorist Organizations, such a dichotomy never occurred to me when I was formulating my arguments... simply due to the sheer absurdity of it.
quote:
Rather than simply not pay to see it |
They wouldn't have to see such a film in order to be affected by it. Just because you didn't see a prejudiced film doesn't mean you won't be affected by someone who saw it and believed it. Again, to avoid confusion, I am not stating categorically that westerners are ignorant of history and would be driven to prejudice because of a film. I'm just saying that the film wouldn't do anything to help. Racism against Muslims is a reality... it does not represent a majority of opinion (no more than terrorists do), but it exists and it can be problematic.
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That's why these kneejerk reactions are amusing. |
It was a knee jerk reaction to be concerned that the film COULD be prejudiced yes. But that is not unreasonable.... Hollywood is capable of distortions and playing favourites. I was proceeding from the possibility that the film could be biased... note my first post.
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When I saw the preview for this movie my stomach turned somewhat... I mean, right when we should be doing everything we can to keep Muslims calm and not alienate them, we release a hollywood film about the crusades. Unless they portray the crusades as a pointless slaughter and as a war of opportunism and intolerance masked as spirituality... I'll be very disappointed. |
You'll note that I am reflexively describing a kneejerk reaction. It was not intended as a point of debate. I can see where your thoughts could proceed from the point about keeping Muslims "calm"... but my point was not about keeping them out of terrorist organisations but assuring them that they are not targets of prejudice and that (if they are in a country where they are a minority) they are part of a multicultural society that respects all cultures. I was making a commonsense point about geopolitics as well: to win wars in the middle east, and against Islamist extremism, it is necessary to distance oneself from religious or ethnic interpretations, and to avoid the kinds of connotations that suggests that it is somehow a "clash of civilizations"..
I hope I have clarified things (somewhat) for you. Sorry for any confusion.
Last edited by Dracon II on 18-04-2005 at 12:14
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molly bloom
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Lundenwic
Oct 2001
time: 15:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Dracon II
Don't deny it. You were there. You just want to escape the war crimes tribunal in Mecca.  |
Given how the Saudis treat gay men, you betcha.
From Yahoonews:
" Gay Saudi men sentenced to jail, flogging
Thu Apr 7, 8:23 PM ET Community - Planet Out
Patrick Letellier, PlanetOut Network
SUMMARY: More than 100 men in Saudi Arabia were sentenced this week to imprisonment and flogging after being arrested in March for "deviant sexual behavior," says the Human Rights Watch.
More than 100 men in Saudi Arabia were sentenced this week to imprisonment and flogging after being arrested in March for "deviant sexual behavior," the Human Rights Watch announced today.
The men were arrested for dancing and "behaving like women" at a private party in a rented hall, according to Al-Wifaq, a government-affiliated Saudi newspaper. The paper claimed the men were attending a gay wedding.
"Prosecuting and imprisoning people for homosexual conduct are flagrant human rights violations," said Scott Long, director of Human Rights Watch's LGBT Rights Program. "Subjecting the victims to floggings is torture, pure and simple."
Two weeks after their arrest, 31 of the men were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to a year, and to 200 lashes each. Four men were sentenced to two years imprisonment and 2,000 lashes. Seventy others, initially released without sentencing, were summoned back and sentenced to a year in prison.
Homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia and is punishable by imprisonment, corporal punishment or death. "
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18-04-2005 10:21
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