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.
Judging by the responses here, it doesn’t seem like this film institute is such a good idea. I mean the part about letting Israelis attend. Which I gather is the point of it all. To bring Arabs and Israelis together.
Perhaps then Mr Spielberg should pull out of this project as his involvement must also certainly be offending all of you. In fact any American who is involved should also bow out as some of you seem to hate us as much as the Israelis. Why be involved in a project with people who hate you?
Although, sadly I stll think this might have worked.
I agree with Outsider 100%. When we are going to be a democratic nation, recognized for its positive role in the world? What the Jews did to Israel, what the Japanese did to Japan…etc is outstanding! What did we do except filling the world with hate like anti-Zionazi.
Israel, 2 days ago, sentenced an Israeli settler who killed 4 Palestinians four consecutive life terms. Nasrallah and Hizballah are calling to release a killer, Samir Quntar who killed childern (whether Jews or Arabs-doesn’t matter). They glorified his crimes. See the difference?
Learn something anti-Zionazi, remote-control and Bob.
hey Outsider. you describe paletinians as “xenophobic” . i think this is funny. do you know of any invaded people who are friendly to the invaders?
WHERE ARE YOU OUTSIDER? YOU DID NOT ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. CAT EAT YOUR TOUNG? OR DID YOU JUST WANT TO SHAKE HANDS AND HUG AND CALL THAT PEACE? Screw you and all Zionazis dude. Friggin supremacists.
And just to be fair to Outsider and to prove my point to others here are two questions to Outsider. I can look in my crystal ball and predict the answer (since I have been in these debates for over a decade until I got sick of debating)
QUESION I:
Outsider, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says in Article 1: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
Outsider, do you accept that Jewish rights do not supercede non-jewish rights and as such non-jews who have been expelled have the same right of return as jews?
QUESTION II:
Outsider, do you accept Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that stipulate:
“(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”
If so, what aspect of the UDHR gives you the right to prevent expelled non-jews from returning?
Not from my decades of expereince with dialouging with supremacist jews, Outsider will now engage in racist acrobatics to rationalize what is obviously an immoral act. Then we will be locked in a debate for another 100 years. What Outsider is really doing is waiting for someone to agree with him. This person will be then called a moderate, embraced, and then nothing will move forward.
Duh! I meant that you use your F16s and Merkavas and Apaches to kill Gazans defending their homeland with Ak47s
We are sick and tired of your talk-peace-but-shoot-women-and-children style of dealing with Arabs. The fact is you are a sophisticated supremacist. Unlike the KKK and Skinheads, you learned the value of speaking peace while achiving your objectives by any means necessary.
I do not wish to argue and inflame our discussion. In sum, my point was that we, as Jews, want peace. But we need peace with Arabs who are devout to their religion and culture. After the sad experience, making peace with those who associate themselves with America, Europe, or Russia is counterfeit-not real. We need Arab friends with sturdy identity so peace is gifted and perpetual. I can’t wait to shake hands with new friends.
Anti-Zionazi-we don’t use Ak-47s no more. We don’t live in 1948. Update your info.
Outsider: Here is an example of your brevery and humanity.
BBC: ‘Million bomblets’ in S Lebanon
Last Updated: Tuesday, 26 September 2006, 16:09 GMT 17:09 UK
Explosives expert prepares to detonate cluster bombs in Majdal Sellem, south Lebanon
There are three times more live devices than previously thought
Up to a million cluster bomblets discharged by Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah remain unexploded in southern Lebanon, the UN has said.
The UN’s mine disposal agency says about 40% of the cluster bombs fired or dropped by Israel failed to detonate – three times the UN’s previous estimate.
It says the problem could delay the return home of about 200,000 displaced people by up to two years.
The devices have killed 14 people in south Lebanon since the August truce.
…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5382192.stm
I am a member of the South Lebenon Army. Remember us Outsider? We fought and sacrificed for Israel and you let us down. You dumbed us in an isolated village and treated us like lepards. The fact is no matter what Arabs do for you, we are just useful idiots. Many members of the SLA returned to Lebanon and accepted punishment than to stay in Israel. Lessons learned: to all Arab traitors, you will be alone and you will face an ignanomous, miserable end.
“I moved to Israel to spend my most cherished years in one of the toughest and most rigorous armies of the world”
HA HA HA HA! a tiny country called Lebanon just kicked your Hebrew a*s and their boots are still stuck there, as a reminder. Funny you call the IDF tough and rigorous. Anyone can kill and maime civilians and that’s your specialty. You were at your best in Lebanon. Remind me never to recommend Georgetown U to anyone since it produces criminals like you. You are a terrorist militia since the definition of terrorism is to kill civilians for political ends. Yes dude, don’t flatter yourself. Tough my a*s. Shooting at civilians with Ak47s in Gaza is cowerdly. You are such cowards. I watched the AlJazeer special on your invasion of Lebanon. Were you one of those elite unites who were crying like children when the resistance fighters surrounded you? count your blessing coward. you could have been compost in Lebanon.