Hollywood Ignores Terror to Ask Why They Hate Us
by Lewis Fein
Will we ever see a worthwhile film about the fight against Islamic terror? Forget stories about emotionally tortured soldiers who return home to abandon their combat fatigues for civilian armor and take to the streets to protest American war crimes while government agents illegally wiretap these men (and women) of conscience. Films of this nature – pictures that gloss over totalitarianism but reflexively attack any pretense for American military involvement – are a political cliché. But we will never see a film that depicts the complexity of this struggle – opponents may suggest that the contrasts are too stark – because, despite the many nuances a director could provide (including the tenacious way Islamic extremism can overrun a people, alongside the reluctance of Western civilization to acknowledge the gravity of this threat), there is still an obsession with that most absurd of all questions — Why do they hate us?
Think about that question for a moment. The question is itself an insult to every woman forcibly enslaved, beaten, subjugated or mutilated by the tenets of an ideology that commands silence among the very people, in Hollywood and elsewhere, who wouldn’t for a second countenance the same respect for Nazism. Try to imagine an intellectual give-and-take between, say, Leni Riefenstahl and Steven Spielberg, with the former explaining the Final Solution as (her own self-flagellation for her celebration of Adolf Hitler notwithstanding), the result of usurious interest charged by a minority of Jewish bankers. Thus, the mass deportations, summary executions, gassings — the use of industrialized murder can be an academic dispute in which answers may differ, but all are a response to the same question, Why do they hate us? Please.
And yet, we entertain this question when discussing Islamic extremism. We, the American people, are somehow to blame for every grievance the Muslim world has against us; we are the authors of our own destruction, all evidence to the contrary be damned. Even when Islam plagiarizes the tenets of the Third Reich, substituting “Zionist” for “Jew” (and reverting to medieval forms of sadism, in lieu of Josef Mengele’s scalpel), there is silence. Oh yes, there is nuance: criticism of American foreign policy, condemnation of Israeli “war crimes” and all manner of outrage about our effrontery to a religion and culture of such exoticism. Again, please.
Failure to produce a decent film about this dispute is the equivalent of moral amnesia where some Hollywood lackey doesn’t care who wins or loses but whether “they” still hate “us.” No wonder the entertainment industry has high hopes for President Barack Obama, since he has an aversion to the blunt talk that, frankly, can embolden our enemies but also encourage those who need our help: women, minorities, nonbelievers, Jews, Christians — all those who support science, reason, suffrage and individual faith in parts of the world veiled by ignorance and theocracy. To these citizens, President Obama might as well say, “Shut up”; and to these dissidents, Hollywood already says, “Who cares?”
If we can muster the courage to acknowledge this threat, then we might give those who need our assistance real hope. Anything short of that is a cheap campaign slogan.
Know Hope, the propagandists tell us. I’ll know it when I see it on screen first.
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44 Comments
Redstate – February 2nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
"Trent,
Your a big part of the problem. Why would they hate Switzerland when they are content to sit by and let the Middle East carry on it’s evil ways."
Evil ways?
"Wake up. Everyone deserves freedom, not just people of European descent."
I'm not sure about that, but doesn't it seem suspicious that certain people in our government are determined to "bring freedom" (code word for "destroy your country") only to those Middle Eastern countries that dare not bow down to Is-rael?
Let's see, Bush didn't seem to have a problem with the lack of freedom in a military dictatorship in Pakistan. Bush sold a democracy called Taiwan down the river by opposing their entry in to the UN in order appease COMMUNIST CHINA. Bush opposed the democratic government of the Palestinians, choosing instead to destabalize them (and thus give is-rael an excuse to take over more land)
Is-rael has NEVER RECOGNIZED the Palestinian state, yet wants everyone to recognize THEM. Don't you think the Palestinians deserve freedom?
Judging by the last election, we need to work on freedom right here in the US….unless you think choosing between two CFR candidates is "freedom."
Well, if this graphic novel ever gets adapted to film, the war is On.
Let’s see, Hollywood depends on Saudi financing to make films. Do you think they are going to piss off the Saudis by telling the truth?
When Americans wake up and stop going to see Hollywood drivel, then there will be change.
The question points to gender divides.
You see that question posed on the View, or Oprah, constantly. Being liked is a huge deal for single women, since it forms the support network and so on. Married women have other things to deal with, and don’t care as much. Men don’t care as much either.
Men and married women would respond “How can we make them fear us” to the problem of terrorism. Problem solved. Single women of course lose power culturally and politically if fear is induced in terrorists so use the social structures and power close to hand — the fear of social ostracism and status characterizing the “Mean Girls” world where people marry late if at all.
This is the demographic reality of Mark Steyn’s observation of late marriages and low birthrates, and what City Journal’s writer Kay Hymnowitz called “New Girl Order” of young women being single most of their lives.
Why do they hate us? Blind obedience to a seventh century cult.
United 93
“Will we ever see a worthwhile film about the fight against Islamic terror?”
Will we ever see a movie about the attack on the USS Liberty? The King David Hotel terrorist attack? The Lavon Affair? The Irgun? The Stern Gang? The ethnic cleansing carried out by our “ally”? Jonathan Pollard?
How about where women are FORCED TO SIT AT THE BACK OF THE BUS? That happens in the country that is our “special ally.”
http://haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=801449&contrassID=19
If we didn’t have that “special ally” what would be the reason to hate us? I don’t see any of this hate focused on Brazil or Switzerland. What makes us different? One thing – that we stick our noses in a very one-sided way in a fight that isnt’ ours.
Media Rookie, good to see you here as well. Before The Infidel hits, I have a collection of my blog work coming out soon called: ‘ProPiganda: Drawing the Line Against Jihad’, mainly featuring Pigman and could be called a poster book, along with some essays on Islam, Jihad, Mohammed and Muslims. I’m going to be promoting it all over within a few weeks, be on the lookout.
So, what is your dog in this fight, “Fein”? How about the Palestinians who are the victims here. Imagine if China came to the US and started building colonies in the US. You think they wouldn’t come under attack????
Islamic terror? What’s that? Islam is a religion of peace. Hollywood ignored some terrific stories in the communist era- the Alger Hiss story would have been great. Ivy league liberal who knew everybody who was anybody in the Democrat party from Eleanor Roosevelt to Dean Acheson is accused of being a Soviet espionage agent by a fellow agent named Chambers. Hiss’ liberal defenders call Chambers a homosexual in an attenpt to discredit Chambers. Hiss sat next to FDR at Yalta when the president met with Churchill and Stalin. The Rosenberg atom spy story would have been a good movie. But even then Hollywood was busy attacking not the communists but the anti-communists. Some things never change.
Trent,
“Fein” was Anglicized from “Jew Bastard” at Ellis Island. Makes it easier when filling out forms. Thanks!
On February 21 a movie titled “Taking Chance” will be shown on HBO. It’s the true story of 19 year old Chance Phelps’ journey home after being killed in 2004 in Iraq. Lt. Col. Michael Strobl volunteered to escort Chance home to be buried in his hometown of Dubois, WY. Kevin Bacon portrays Col. Strobl. From the previews I’ve seen, it seems very pro-American and military. I hope you check it out.
http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/
MHR –
Good point. Some other subjects they will NEVER make movies about: Christopher Newsom and Channon Christian torture and murder…Zebra killings….
That question, “Why do they hate us?” Everyone knows the answer that the left is fishing for. “They” whoever they we are referring to doesn’t really hate “us” they hate the Republicans. No one could possibly really hate the left. Asking the question is indicating that if the Right would just stop being so gosh darn right wing and start agreeing with everything the left says, the world would magically transform into a peaceful socialist utopia.
Just typing it out like that makes it obvious, even to leftists, how absurd that is.
Why they hate us – BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE USA ARE PEOPLE THAT KNOW THE TRUTH AND ARE NOT AFRAID TO VOICE IT
AND
CONTRARY TO AMERICAN LIBERALS, WE HAVE GUNS AND WILL USE THEM TO COMBAT THE COMING MUSLIM VIOLENCE.
Why do they hate us and why do we hate ourselves?
It’s all about social justice* on a global scale. Not about moral rightness vs. wrongness, but loser vs. winner: The loser is always right, the winner always wrong.
Western civilization (visualized as the white man) is still the winner, by a huge margin. Therefore any efforts to resist it, however violent and murderous, are excusable, and any efforts to defend it, with military force, are contemptible.
*justice meaning equality
They hate us – cuz the majority of Americans are not like trent. We know the truth and will, in the end, act as Real Americans on that truth
The trents of America, if these radicals are truly Americans, are allowed a voice, but in the end are castigated and discarded by their inaction and for their LIBERAL VITRIOL AND HATE.
The trent types of this country continue to sidetrack Real Americans at times, but when the time comes, Real Americans will take care of business
They hate us for this non-wavering knowledge and actions as shown in the past and will be on display in the future.
tehstupid has spoken and now the radicals have contributed to the discourse that is the ignorant part of freedom
They hate us cuz we continue to tolerate the ignorance of these types.
They would not hate us but RESPECT us – if we would alleviate the ignorant and weak such as tehstupid and trent
I have lived all over the world and the ME types are the meanest and most straight forward – you earn their respect by deed or you earn their hatred by the weanie actions and philosphy
But, this is why America is the greatest nation – not only do we allow the ignorant to live, but allow them to prosper and occasionally hold power – i.e. – jimmy carter and bhobama
Great article. And funny to see people like “trent” come out of the woodwork to show us what sensible people are up against in the US when it comes to dealing with middle east violence and islamic fundamentalism. The funny or sad thing about it is that most of the people who are the most virulently anti israel or anti-us foreign policy end up acting as pawns, advancing the very values that they supposedly abhor. Islamic fundamentalism – Hamas/Al Qaeda/Iran stands against any type of freedom (of the press, of religion, of expression, etc.), for the brutalization of women who don’t bow down to serve men, barbaric treatment of minorities (christians and jews especially). Many anti-US/anti-Israel activists claim that they are standing up for western values when they support poor little hamas or other islamic movements, yet they ignore what these movements stand for.
We need hollywood to take off its rose colored glasses and look at what I think this conflict really is: a battle between western values (individual freedom, equality) vs. the barbarism of islamic fundamentalism. Yes, the fight gets messy and western values are sometimes compromised in combat. But if you believe in western values, this must be an important issue.
And Trent, Israel hasn’t recognized a palestinian state because there isn’t one, and hasn’t ever been one historically. “palestine” is a term given by Romans (relates to “philistines”) – not an arabic term. Israel has, however, offered the palestinians statehood before, but was turned down by arafat (see the 2000 camp david meetings – arafat walked away from the chance at a palestinian state).
Great article.
For the record, I am a democrat and support Obama – being a democrat and holding “progressive” values around diversity, individual freedoms, protections for minorities, etc. means one has to support the US and israel in this fight.
Battles are never pretty, but to stand against the US/Israel/western values because islamic fundamentalists (like Hamas) are effective at evoking world sympathy when they use civilians as shields for their terror attacks is to stand against the very “progressive” values that liberals purport to support. This shouldn’t be a democrat vs. republican issue, liberal vs. conservative issue.
It should be viewed as a right vs. wrong issue.
And islamic fundamentalism is wrong. hollywood needs to wake up to that and explore the incredible opportunities for interesting film/tv content that exist within this conflict.
How about this proposal? Three films on Islam and Europe: the first set at the fall of Constantinople, 1453; the second about Sulimein’s last campaign in 1566; and the last about the defense of Vienna in 1683. Imagine three grand war epics about the battles in southern and central Europe between Christian Europeans and Moslem Turks. What an opportunity to investigate the history of Islamic conquests and heroic European defense. Alas, I can imagine them, but I’m no film maker.
This is kind of an obstuse article. There are moderates and extremists in any system of belief. In this case the extremists are the minority and the intelligent course is to court the moderates while alienating the extremists. Politicians, Obama included, have spoken out against the oppressive tendenices of extremists (nevermind this is completely undermined by the fact that we court and arm Saudi Arabia – probably the single most backwards country in the Middle East). But we do have to be careful not to paint all Muslims with one brush and we have to be sensitive to the fact that the Middle East does not belong to us – it is not our problem alone to deal with. When we act unilaterally in a multi-lateral world that’s when we step in the proverbial dog-doo. Plus we’ve already tried that road and if you ask me it hasn’t worked out ideally.
MR,
The one thing I keep hearing from people when they first learn of my work is that while they may not be into comics, my book will be an exception. There’s a vacuum in pop culture when it comes to artistically taking on jihad in this post 9/11 world, so anyone who does so, honestly and with no apology, will get more praise and even more condemnation than it may warrant, because of that default.
Joe Weldon – February 2nd, 2009 at 2:25 pm
“Bush simply did HIS JOB…you know, what the UN and Bill Clinton SHOULD’VE done with Iraq and Al Qaeda.”
Bush’s job is to take orders from the UN? If so, we should be invading Isr – ael! They are in violation of the UN, refuse weapons inspections of their illegal weapons program, are illegally occupying land, conducting ethnic cleansing, etc….
Why would it be Bush’s job to take orders from Is – rael and invade countries that are no threat to the US?
Growltiger – February 2nd, 2009 at 2:42 pm
“Anybody know what “your comment is awaiting moderation” means.”
It means you used certain filter words that they want to make sure you aren’t telling the truth about before letting the comments appear.
Well, considering that the short film, “Fitna”, made by Geert Wilders was banned at YouTube and LiveLeak within days of release and Wilders is now facing trial in Europe for producing a “hate inspiring” work, it shouldn’t be surprising that no filmmaker wants to go there.
I won’t even mention the example of Theo van Gogh.
excellent!!!
a call for ignorance! ignorance is strength! hail amsoc!
asking why they hate us is insulting? is this because we have never done anything wrong and they hate our freedom? is because you think we are spreading democracy and we spend trillions out of the kindness of our heart?
art of war?
“Why do they hate us?”
OSWEET: Your comments reminded me of a fascinating documentary I saw last year. A weel known journalist (Friedman) traveled around the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Countries for several months asking just that question.
In the end he said that what it boiled down to was the deep anger and resentment at the material, scientific and political success of Western culture comapared to Islamic Culture. The fact that Western culture is richer, more sophisticated and much more powerful than the Middle Eastern cultures is a direct contradiction of everything promised by Allah in the Muslim world.
Their religion promises total victory and domination of all Infidels – something constantly promised, but obviously undelivered. As long as the West stands prosperous and independent it will be seen as a slap to the face of Islam. Our continued success threatens the very core of their beliefs.
Old Tom – February 2nd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
“The palestinians are currently controlled by Hamas, an organization which is dedicated to the total destruction of Israel.”
Which seems only fair since Israel is dedicated to the destruction of the Palestinians.
“Hamas has no interest in negotiating anything, except to buy themselves more time to infiltrate and build up military attack positions in palestinian civilian neighborhoods which are adjacent to Iraeli territory.”
It is Israel who continues to STEAL LAND from the Palestinians. Look at the West Bank. Why won’t Israel go back to their legitimate borders and allow a Palestinians state?
“Given the above situation, what should the U.S., and by extension, Israel’s, response be?”
What business is it of the US? Why is it worth one US cent? It sure isn’t worth one US life. But it has cost us plenty of both. The costs are enormous (especially when you consider the opportunity costs, lost allies, all the MONEY we pour into this tiny nation of rich ingrates, etc…) and we are getting NOTHING for all this. Why? Well, because we allow Israelis to directly set our foreign policy. Their instruments are people like Wolfowitz, Perle, and others.
Seems to me we should be on the side of freedom fighters.
BTW, Israel was an ally of Apartheid South Africa. This is fitting since they are an Apartheid nation as well. But why did Israel escape any condemnation for that, hmmmm? Think about that.
Joe Weldon – February 2nd, 2009 at 3:31 pm
“Thousands and thousands of Arabs and Muslims kill eachother for the last several decades, and the UN couldn’t care less.”
ISRAEL broke the cease fire.
And we have tehstupid, as ever living down to expectations. Here’s his latest subliterate, dimwitted hooting:
“Bloodthirst has been one of the defining characteristics of the rightwing of this country for decades…”
Yeah, especially getting us into WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Kosovo. Oh wait, we’re talking about Wilson, Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, and Clinton- all Democrats. Whoopsie! Lousy stupid facts.
“Ignoring your own bloodlust and violent politiics just makes you look psychopathic.”
This ironic ignorance thing you do, tehstoopit- is it on purpose, or just an idiot savant style gift?
“The rightwing capacity to make statements while ignoring their own positions and statements is truly fascinating.”
Odd- I find the left wing capacity to make statements as dumb as yours, while being blissfully ignorant of history, not so much fascinating as sad and pathetic.
TEHSTUPID says-
“2. Bloodthirst has been one of the defining characteristics of the rightwing of this country, especially the last eight years.”
Really? When the leftwing of America is reponsible for legalizing and demanding millions of American deaths through it’s pro-abortion policies, especially in the last three decades?
Wouldn’t it become just as much a cliche if you made movies with Islamic terrorists? I mean, I understand that Hollywood is sensitive to making movies with bad Arabs – but I don’t think many out there think the Islamic terrorists are good guys. I also don’t think many out there are still asking ‘why do they hate us’?
Few movies that present bad American soldiers have made money. And the larger point is what good would a slew of movies showing bad Arabs and virtuous American soldiers do. I guess it could stroke our egos or something. But, seriously, American soldiers are respected by most of us. I would actually question the committment of our government to soldiers that come home [but that's a different topic].
James – February 2nd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
1. As late as 1948 there were no people labelled as Palestinians. There was no Palestinian people. They are an Arab ethnic group.
The Palestinians are the real Jews. The modern people calling themselves that are actually largely Khazars – Eastern Europeans.
And…
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/palestine_1020bc.jpg
“2. Gaza and the West Bank were under Egyptian and Jordanian control respectively until 1967.”
Indeed, the Palestinians have been denied a homeland for far too long.
“3. Israel existed as far back as 3000BC or so with Jews running the place.”
SOME country existed. So what? Many countries have existed. Doesn’t mean a thing. At best you have a millenia-old claim by a group that has little tie to the original inhabitants. Pretty weak.
“The 1964 PLO original charter did not even call for a Palestinian state. Instead it called for the destruction of the Jews.”
Because their land was stolen.
“6. The Jewish temple in Jerusalem existed long before the Muslim Dome of the Rock. Who has claim to this land? Who has a longer history in that land?”
So long as we can kick all the non-Whites out of Europe, right?
Three Kings, The Kingdom, Raid on Entebbe, Munich, The Delta Force, Not Without My Daughter. Just off the top of my head.
Why ask why they hate us? Because that’s how you write. If you’re looking for your basic America-hatin’ al Qaida “bad guy,” and you don’t give him a motivation other than just wanton destruction and “death to America!,” you’ve got a shallow caricature as your main antagonist.
If you’re happy with one-dimensional cliches, then by all means, get your funding together and shoot that film. You can remove any and all nuance you like to fit your view of the world, or what you think Hollywood should be creating. You have a model, the last eight years have shown us what thinking in black-and-white terms gets us. Get cracking on that screenplay, you can ask Kirk Cameron for his mailing list.
It appears that this is a recurring theme on this blog, many contributors seem to have a preoccupation with these mythical Islamic tentacles that fund/control Hollywood filmmaking. I hope this very simple explanation might remove some of your irrational fears. But it also seems that this article served no purpose but to toss red meat out there and have a good ol’ fashioned Librul Hollywood Bashin’, so I’ll reserve hope.
They tried to make one (“Path to 9/11″). But, it upset Bill Clinton so they banned it.
(Yes, I know it wasn’t banned by law, but just try and find a legal copy of it.)
Joe Weldon – February 3rd, 2009 at 2:27 am
Trent,
“Hamas is STILL firing missles into Israel NOW – after the Israelis just pulled out.”
Shows how very little you know. Hamas didn’t fire those rockets! Another group did – probably another group controlled by Mossad so Israel has the excuse to continue their ethnic cleansing campaign which is what this was from the beginning.
“Did Israel break another cease fire in the last few days I didn’t know about?”
They never began one. To Israel, a cease fire means putting out a press release at most while they carry on doing exactly what they were doing before. They just want others to not put up a fight.
Clearly, folks who set off suicide bombs on school buses, in shopping malls, and in offices seem to have a burr in their saddle. Ditto lobbing bombs across the border, cutting off heads and fingers, dragging dead bodies across the road for the camera. All this is a sign of a discontented group. Stabbing Theo Van Gough to death for his views is kind of over the top but hey, these guys are angry at us and obviously anyone who has a contrary opinion.
BTW-when Theo was murdered, where was the outrage among civil libertarians, and all those other rights types. There was more OUTRAGE expressed on Prop 8 than by this little murder. Priorities.
Also, when the Islam crowd dances at the sight of the twin towers coming down, I am sensing a bit of hostility. Hmm, perhaps a bit of anger management is appropriate?
If these guys need therapy, by all means, lets send over every liberal mental health type we have here in the USA. That will solve two problems at once, no?
Otherwise, the Marine base up the road has the interim answer. Unpopular with the libs but very effective.
James, why not link the story?
Remember the case of the two Brit soldiers who were caught red-handed making false-flag attacks in Basra? Most of these “attacks” are fake attacks. Just ask “who gains”?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/so-what-were-two-undercover-british-soldiers-up-to-in-basra-508324.html
Is it too hard for liberals to go to a computer and google Osama Bin Laden’s fatwa against America and the West? They hate us (cue drumroll)… BECAUSE OF THE VERY POP CULTURE THAT HOLYWOOD IS PUTTING OUT. The very pop culture that Bin Laden feels is corrupting muslims. No small irony that the military that is fighting these murderous jihadists wouldn’t be doing so if their chief critics in popular culture didn’t put out anti religious swill worldwide disguised as entertainment. Talk about biting the hand that’s holding back the suicide bomber. Gotta love it.
That’s one of the many, many modern pretext’s that bin laden and his fellow scumbags use, that WE are the reason we’re being killed, and that some on this board believe that crap is pathetic, since in reality, Islam
has been killing infidels through its jihadists for a thousand years before America or Israel or Hollywood existed. It’s Them, NOT us, and it will be them Or us in the end.
blacklist – February 3rd, 2009 at 4:38 pm
“…BECAUSE OF THE VERY POP CULTURE THAT HOLYWOOD IS PUTTING OUT….”
Exactly. I’m conservative and I think most conservatives are on OBL’s side with that. This degenerate art is what is destroying America.
It is the Muslims who are conservative/traditional while it is the Joos who foist this degenerate crap on the rest of us. So, why do we all a Joo-run media to tell us we should side with Israel? MTV is run by Sumner Redstone (a Joo) and not “Muhamed.”
I think, and maybe it’s just me, that the reason they hate us (among other things) is that we put a man on the Moon forty years prior to the latest Hajj stampede.
Annual fatal stampedes are rare among Western infidels. I think that’s telling. I also thinks it’s telling that whenever you read about a bombing at a Mosque on a Muslim holy day, that it’s always a Muslim that did it.
Who knows though. Maybe I’m just an intolerant Reich-Winger.
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