Thanks to the blogosphere, I’ve found out about an amazing cinematic project that will be established in Jordan. It is the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts (RSICA) based in Jordan’s Red Sea resort town of Aqaba. I first heard about this great project on Laith’s blog and it really made my day knowing that such a highly needed institute would be established in Jordan. Kudos to all those behind it.
However, the announcement of this project is already creating controversy in the blogosphere. The reason stems from a statement by veteran filmmaker Stephen Spielberg, who will be involved in the project:
When His Majesty the King approached me on the subject of a Jordan-based, world-class film school serving every country in the Middle East, including Israel, I immediately saw the importance and significance of such a venture for the people and the future of the region. I knew as a trustee of USC and a member of the school’s Board of Councilors that the university had the exact expertise he needed for this incredible initiative.
Source: [University of Southern California]
Some were not happy about having Israelis involved in the project. One anonymous commentator on Ameen’s blog said:
I read what blogger Laith Majali posted about the film school and it said the school is also open to Israelis. Imagine, sitting next you will be an Israeli who is an IDF reservists and who may have killed or maimed an Arab few kilometers away from the film school. And then we in Jordan will help him make films about evil and terrorist Arabs. This is like Israeli film schools admitting skinheads and neo-nazis. Will we go along with anything if the price is right?
Another commentator on Laith’s blog said:
"… world-class film school serving every country in the Middle East, including Israel" The New Middle East? You can count me out.
Another commentator on Laith’s blog going by the name of Shlomo said:
Thank you. I can’t [wait] to learn filmmaking in Jordan to make films about terrorist Arabs.
Regardless of the controversy, I see this project as the materialization of the dreams of so many aspiring Jordanian and Arab movie makers. I am excited.
option 1 : one state solution. a secular democracy and a south-africa type solution and a truth and reconciliation committee. but i think this is science fiction since I am afraid the zionists are far more evil than white poeple ever were or could ever be. we see it everyday.
No Thanks,
Thanks for your honest answer. Re: refugees returning home, where is home? Meaning do you believe in the one state solution or two separate states? Do you believe that Israel should return to pre 1967 borders? Or do you belive that all Jews need to leave Israel?
What’s your solution?
And yes, I would sit down and try to dialogue with members of the KKK as much as I hate them. But you’re right, I wouldn’t want to attend a film school with them.
HATE = ETHNIC CLEANSING.
END HATE AND LET THE NON-JEWISH REFUGEES GO HOME.
“when does the hate end?”
That’s a question you aske when you wish to pretend that this is a complex argument between two equally powerful adversaries. But Samer this is not about irrational hate, this is about 3.5 million non-jews who are rotting in refugee camps because jews think they are lesser humans and are not worthy of a land those expelled few years ago called home. Please do not play this grossly insensative Western game and pretend that you don’t understand the root of the conflict and that this is some sort of Arab-Hates-jew and nothing more.
How come its Arabs who are the ones with low self esteem and often lacking in dignity when jews are the ones who know what they want and control the game. When was the last time Jews invited Skinheads or KKK for dialoug and sat down and made films together? NEVER. You know why? becuse jews have dignity and we don’t. And what study did you rely on to arrive at the conclusion that a film school will bring peace and understading? Whatever happened to returning land? whatever happened to ending the misery of refugees? Just make films and the refugees would go home? Make a nother film and the occupation will end? Are we being naive? Or are we jumping through hoops to rationalize something that is evil and sinister and utterly selfish. How will a film school in Jordan attended by Israeli soldiers will end the occupation? Do you know of any precedent in history where Neo-Nazis and Jews made films and then there was love? I mean why should the zionists give anything if there is ZERO pressure? If they can waltz in the Arab world and make business deals and go to school with us WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THEY WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING UP? I want one historical precdent where a supremacist ideology, be it the facists, nazis, serb, or any ethnic cleansing bastrds who ever gave anything up because they felt loved? if any, your gesture of kindess would illiminate any need on their part to give anything up. And then what will we do with the refugees? After all, we talk all the time about Jordan not being the alternative homeland for the refugees and then with our naivate we show the israelis that we love them and they need not worry about the refugees. This is not how you make peace and end hate.
“I don’t get it. Whith the blood of Lebanese and Palestinian women and children and innocents on their hands, we will welcome Israeli murderers to study in Jordan. Shameful”.
I can understand why you’d feel this way but with that said, when does the hate end? And wouldn’t a film school maybe be a start.
If Israelis and Arabs are never willing to sit down together, even in a creative environment like a film school then how will there ever be peace?
I don’t get it. Whith the blood of Lebanese and Palestinian women and children and innocents on their hands, we will welcome Israeli murderers to study in Jordan. Shameful.
I see your point Hamzeh. I guess I’m one of those who believe that an online controversy is an indication of an upcoming off line one;-)
Less than 5 comments that are posted on two tightly coupled blogs hardly constitute a controversy. Let alone a controversy worth blogging about.
But that’s just my opinion.
I think I can safely say that “Shlomo” is a mere internet troll. I would think twice before quoting him in a post.
Very disappointing. These people do not realize, that Arab-Israelis, might be the ones concerned in that case, as many of them already attend Jordan’s universities.
I don’t think that a Jewish Israeli, would risk his life to come to Jordan, people would stone the guy to death.