I haven't seen the film Hidalgo, so I don't know if the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) is correct that it "may contain scenes and dialogue that would serve to stereotype Muslims and Arabs and create a negative impression of Islam in the minds of moviegoers." Judging from my own interactions with CAIR's Ibrahim Hooper, as well as the lingering unanswered questions about CAIR's ties to Islamic extremism, however, I would tend to give the film the benefit of the doubt.
Twostellas, who sent me this Arab News piece about CAIR's tangle with Disney, had the best comment of all on this matter: "CAIR better be careful, they are now messing with an organization more ruthless than their own."
"..create a negative impression of Islam.."
The negative impression of Islam was created by Islamic terrorists, not Disney movies. Mr. Hooper would do much better to condemn Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the PLO. Fat chance...
Go for it, Mauschwitz! Give CAIR the kicking it deserves.
Someday I hope to see Saudi Arabia turned into a Disney theme park: "Islamoland".
Hm. From the promos I've seen, the movie would more likely create a favorable impression of Arabs -- or at least, the Arabs of the time of the story of the film, early in the 20th century, I think. You know: exotic locales, beautiful veiled women (who let the hero see them unveiled), desert chieftains in colorful robes being magnanimous to strangers, and so on. Of course, to show such things is to indulge in the dreaded "Orientalism," which is supposed to be dreadfully exploitative and stereotypical. I feel sorry for Middle-Easterners, Arabs and otherwise: they can't really feel good about the impression their modern aituation gives people -- bomb-wielding, fanaticism-spouting, militaristic, envious and just plain unpleasant; yet they aren't allowed to feel good about anything beautiful in their culture either, lest they "give in" to Western imperialistic Orientalist stereotyping.
Hey, the actions of Muslims, Arabs, and the text of the Koran have all combined to create a negative impression of Islam. So, what is CAIR fighting over?
Mr.Hooper,you have no decency to face the truth.
You live in America,which you eat,drink and all
that freedom and on top all of this,you complian.
Shame on you Mr.Hooper,why don't you Mr.Hooper,
go live in Saudia Arabia,and compare your life.Mr.
Hooper, you are two faces.Read your Quran,and see
the hate inside of it.
Now that Mel Gibson has completed his "passion of the Christ' movie, he should do one on the life and times of muhammad.
I bet it would be a real "Killer".
Nathan, you may be talking about a movie about the life of Mohammed in a somewhat lighthearted way, but I think that if someone with the money, the knowledge, and the courage were to give an accurate portrayal of Mo's motivation and actions on the silver screen, it would do what must be done; that is, create a firestorm of controversy (free advertising that would promote widespread attendance) and information that has hitherto been available only to a few diligent scholars.
I've just finished analyzing Hidalgo for an essay I'm writing. I sat there and basically had no choice but to make checklist of Orientalist stereotypes because the film is THAT blatant in its represetation of muslims and Arabs.
Considering how terrible Hollywood has been in representing different cultures and groups over the years (muslims especially) I wonder how anyone could automatically give any company the benefit of the doubt.
Jonah B:
I haven't seen the film. I don't know. And I hold no brief for Disney.
But why do you post to a long dead thread and give no examples of these "Orientalist stereotypes"?