A movie about an American soldier who fought against Islamic jihadists made students at the University of Michigan feel unsafe, and so the screening was canceled. Imagine if the people that Chris Kyle fought against showed up at the University of Michigan — would students feel unsafe then? Would they approach the jihadis and give them hugs and assure them that they were against “Islamophobia”? And if they did, what would the jihadis do in response?
“Paddington Bear” is the replacement film, which is fitting for these cosseted, coddled, comfortable, self-deluded children.
“Univ. of Michigan cancels ‘American Sniper’ screening: ‘Made students feel unsafe,’” by Derek Draplin, The College Fix, April 8, 2015 (thanks to Lookmann):
University: ‘While our intent was to show a film, the impact of the content was harmful, and made students feel unsafe and unwelcome at our program’
A scheduled movie screening of “American Sniper” at the University of Michigan was abruptly cancelled Tuesday after nearly 300 students and others complained the film perpetuates “negative and misleading stereotypes” against Muslims.
“The movie American Sniper not only tolerates but promotes anti-Muslim … rhetoric and sympathizes with a mass killer,” according to an online letter circulated among the campus community via Google Docs that garnered the signatures.
The signers were mostly students, but also some staff, as well as the Muslim Students’ Association and the president of Students Allied for Freedom and Equality, a Palestinian solidarity group at UMich.
The online memo, titled a “collective letter from Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) and Muslim students on campus,” accused the public university of “tolerating dangerous anti-Muslim and anti-MENA propaganda” by showing the movie, the highest grossing film of 2014.
It follows U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, who served four combat tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom and was awarded two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor, two Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps commendation, according to his official Facebook page. But the protestors see him differently.
“Chris Kyle was a racist who took a disturbing stance on murdering Iraqi civilians,” the collective letter stated. “Middle Eastern characters in the film are not lent an ounce of humanity and watching this movie is provocative and unsafe to MENA and Muslim students who are too often reminded of how little the media and world values their lives. … The University of Michigan should not participate in further perpetuating these negative and misleading stereotypes.”
The film was set to be shown Friday on campus, but the letter – which asked for its cancellation – was successful.
“While our intent was to show a film, the impact of the content was harmful, and made students feel unsafe and unwelcomed at our program,” stated The Center for Campus Involvement, which oversees student activities and is run by university employees, as it announced its decision Tuesday on its various social media accounts, including Twitter and Facebook.
“We deeply regret causing harm to members of our community, and appreciate the thoughtful feedback provided to us by students and staff alike.”
University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald confirmed to The College Fix on Tuesday the movie was cancelled.
“The Center for Campus Involvement … did hear concerns from students,” Fitzgerald said, noting he did not have further details at the time.
The Center for Campus Involvement did not return multiple phone calls seeking comment, but its official Twitter account noted “Paddington Bear,” a PG-rated movie about a stuffed animal’s misadventures, will be shown instead of “American Sniper.”
“We have elected to pull the film from this week’s program and screen another movie in its place that we believe better creates the fun, engaging atmosphere we seek, without excluding valued members of our community,” the center stated….
“We in the Center for Campus Involvement and the UMix Late Night program did not intend to exclude any students or communities on campus through showing this film,” the center’s announcement stated.
“… UMix should always be a safe space for students to engage, unwind, and create community with others, and we commit to listening to and learning from our community in the interest of fostering that environment. … We will take time to deeper understand and screen for content that can negatively stereotype a group.”
Jay Airahs says
Let me say up front I have not seen this film.
Although I don’t particularly trust Muslim Student Organizations on university campuses, I do wonder if in this case there may be some truth to the claim that — “Middle Eastern characters in the film are not lent an ounce of humanity”
Hollywood does have a habit of exploiting the masses to make a buck.
If anyone who has seen the movie and knows otherwise feel free to comment.
Jay Airahs says
I might add that given the focus of the topic the plot might not have allowed the luxury of the showing humanity of Muslim civilians in particular.
Beagle says
Yes, Kyle spent all his time on overwatch or with other troops.
Update: UM relents after Harbaugh weighs in.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/04/09/jim-harbaugh-fires-back-after-university-of-michigan-cancels-american-sniper-screening-over-muslim-stereotype-protests/
Alex says
Hi Jay,
I have seen this movie and I can tell you that your doubts are correct.
At one point in the movie, Kyle’s friend tells him that he bought his wedding ring in Bagdad. So Kyle replies back: ” Really? You bought your ring from savages?”
So he technically called all Iraquis savages. That was very insulting, and not only to Muslims but to Middle Eastern Christians too. I didn’t get what was the point of this hateful message. For this reason, I did not enjoy that movie.
So in a way, I do think that the movie was promoting hatred. And correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that Kyle was strictly fighting jihadists– I mean he was fighting the Iraqui baathist army at one point, no? I wouldn’t call them jihadis– they were just Iraqui soldiers.
Peggy says
How is this movie different to countless movies made about Americans going to war? Americans are always made to look like the good guys and the other side bad and a lot of cases really bad. How about shows like 24? How many times have the Russians been portrayed in a very bad way? After Balkan war the Serbs have been made to look genocidal, but put all this aside and it’s really important to remember one thing, DRAMATISATION.
No movie is 100% accurate because they have to dramatise to make it interesting. Everyone knows that this is NOT A DOCUMENTARY but a dramatisation based on events.
They have never had to not show one movie where the Russian or anyone else was made to look really bad. Stopping this movie speaks volumes.
Alex says
Hi Peggy,
You’re right, it’s just a movie. However I just don’t see what’s the point in promoting a movie that is calling all Iraqis savages, thus promoting a message of hatred. I’ve rarely seen a movie where the main hero says something hateful and racist and is applauded for it– other than this one. I haven’t seen many Westerns but I heard they do the same thing with Native Americans, which is sad.
As I’ve stated before, this wasn’t an insult to Muslims but to all Iraqis: Chaldeans, Assyrians, Kurds, Yazidis, etc. What did they do to deserve such hatred directed towards them? Absolutely nothing. They are simply guilty of being born in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Champ says
Bravo, Drakken!!! Great comment and sooo true.
somehistory says
How often have Native Americans been referred to as “savages” in movies made in the U.S.? I can’t tell you how many times I recall hearing John Wayne and Richard Widmark …and countless other actors…say the word in regard to whatever tribe was being sought and fought. Although I had ancestors who belonged to one of those tribes, I have watched many of these movies. I cringe at some of the language and some of the wrong things said about American Indians, but would not try to keep others from watching them as it is a choice for each one to make.
It isn’t because the movie makes muslims feel “unsafe” that they are protesting. It is a way of getting their *way(…putting the muffler on the American public. What other group has so affected the general population in this way? muslims complain about a movie because there are a lot of muslims in it that are portrayed as being in conflict with Americans and no one gets to see it.
That is the point.
Michael Copeland says
“Savages”:
Islamic State issued a booklet “The Management of Savagery”.
Hillary Clinton described the Benghazi killings as “savage”.
The shoe fits.
Alex says
Hi “somehistory”,
I would protest this movie too and I’m not Muslim. The reason is because it is promoting a message of hatred, calling all Iraqis savages. The same way that I would protest a Western movie calling all Native Americans “savages”. This is just a public display of racism, hatred and bigotry. It wasn’t insulting Muslims but rather the whole population of Iraq (with all its religious & ethnic groups), who did nothing wrong.
somehistory says
Alex,
Whether we like something or think something is accurate or not, is not why these people are protesting and saying they feel “unsafe.” If you don’t want to watch it, or think it is unfair to other “Iraqis” is your choice and your opinion is your right to possess.
The point is this: muslims aren’t protesting that it is “unfair” to innocent Iraqis or that the man called them “savages.” They just don’t want any thing negative to be said about muslims or islam. If this movie was all they had protested, and they had not spent years trying to muzzle the truth of islam being revealed, had not caused schools across the country to cancel things pertaining to other religious beliefs, had not gotten to the point of indoctrinating young kids with school texts lauding islam and its fake ‘perfect man,’…then it wouldn’t be so obvious just why these now would be objecting to a movie.
Perhaps if they were vocal…to any degree…about islam making them feel “unsafe” when practiced to the full extent of beheading, being burned alive, kidnapping and raping children, stoning for leaving the cult, stoning for being raped, etc., After all, they claim that more muslims are killed by muslims than are Christians, Jews, and others… then one could see they might have a point other than they just don’t want any criticism of islam as they don’t want more people to be aware of the ultimate goals…to subjugate and control the entire population of earth to the wild beast from satan.
Sam says
That is how we Americans lost our God given freedom. “Not to hurt the feeling of others” Which really means “Don’t say anything” We are done!
Alex says
Hi Sam,
No, you are free to watch and agree with this movie if you want, but I’m also free of protesting its message of racism and hatred towards Iraqis. So we both still have freedom.
Jim Mellender says
Perhaps the University could show some of those lovely decapitation films instead? The one on the seashore featuring 21 Christian Copts is especially nice, and would make everyone feel warm and snuggly.
Nimrod says
Dehumanization always happens in a war. Simply because the movie depicts the dehumanization doesn’t mean that the movie is advocating for it. I think you’re confusing depiction for advocacy, but I still haven’t seen the movie yet so I can’t say for sure.
noellsq says
The Muslims want us to believe that they are sensitive and are afraid the movie will bring bad vibes on campus toward Muslims. I am a person who is fairly open minded and I feel that their is a definite problem in this world at least in the west. They come to a country who opens their hands to them and then what do they do? Well lets look at England as an example rapes are increased by several folds but to a Muslim this is condoned by the Quran. They suck up government money for aid and health. They do not care if they lie or cheat as the Quran says it is all right. They do not want to assimulate but want you to change to there standards. They want special dietary foods for their children and insist on it. I heard that Jews have dietary restrictions but bring their own lunches so why can’t they?
cs says
Consider the following:
Yes, I think it is wrong one think like that, even been enemies.
But, the guy is at war, over stressed, and perhaps a bit crazy exactly because of this. Also it may be a correct representation of an actual average person. So the film may have been accurate there. It was designed not to entice bad feelings, but to show some rejection towards the hero.
Having said that, I don’t think the representation of the Iraqi people is that unfair, I think it is quite accurate, and it is not a caricature, as other films have been doing.
It is an interesting film, technically very good, but kind of shallow. It is not an Apocalypse Now or something on the same level. It is not bad though, worth watching.
voegelinian says
“there may be some truth to the claim that — “Middle Eastern characters in the film are not lent an ounce of humanity”
Hollywood does have a habit of exploiting the masses to make a buck.”
Only two problems with Jay Airahs’ speculative eructation, there:
1) Hollywood is overwhelmingly PC MC, and has shown this by consistently making movies that, whenever the themes revolve around issues of terrorism and the Muslim world, tend to
a) make sure to have sympathetic, nice, decent, intelligent Muslims as characters
b) often have Muslims initially blamed for a terror plot or event, then it turns out it was really evil white Western guys who did it — thus showing how Westerners tend to blame Muslims unfairly, yada yada.
2) Jay is right — Hollywood does tend to pander to the masses — but they do it for money mainly, not for ideoloogy — and so they know where the safe bet is to make money — and they thus have guessed apparently correctly that the majority of the Western audiences are PC MC and don’t want to see an Islamo-realist movie (yet…).
voegelinian says
I also have not yet seen the movie; but I would fall off the balcony if this movie was not PC MC with PC MC assumptions and givens oozing out from between the lines at every turn. I say this because, as Debbie Schlussel (who has seen the movie) rightly says, the Hollywood establishment would not have praised this movie as they did (including Rosie O’Donnell!), if it were genuinely Islamo-realist; and also because Clint Eastwood, its director, has a pretty bad track record with libtard themes in his movies.
See this discussion at Gates of Vienna for more evidence & analysis on this account:
http://gatesofvienna.net/2015/04/the-mentally-damaged-men-of-islam/#comment-416193
Lookmann says
The issue here is the West’s kowtowing to Islamic Supremacism, unabashedly, of course.
In this context one has to agree with the points you made.
At long last, you wrote something sensible, LL!
voegelinian says
“Univ. of Michigan cancels ‘American Sniper’ screening: ‘Made students feel unsafe,’” by Derek Draplin, The College Fix, April 8, 2015 (thanks to Lookmann):
Lookmann says
April 9, 2015 at 10:50 am
…
“At long last, you wrote something sensible, LL!”
What a silly, childish statement Many on Jihad Watch — even the FOPs (Friends of Phillip) — would agree with me that my comment above is not the only sensible comment I’ve ever written out of the literally thousands of comments I have penned here at Jihad Watch for over ten years.
Some examples, chosen more or less at random:
1) Ten years ago, when “Paolo”, a commenter I don’t see anymore (though, like me, he could be back under another nickname) worte a comment implying that the Italian Muslim Adel Smith was an anomaly in Italy, I responded (as “Dr. Pepper”) by asking him to back up his claim. When instead of doing so he (twice) got all prickly and defensive, I finally responded with a lengthy and detailed and useful comment (the overall thread related to an article about Italy and Muslims, so it was not off topic, lest someone quibble about that).
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2005/08/ny-times-wrings-its-hands-about-italian-intolerance-of-muslims-after-they-plotted-to-blow-up-the-loc/comment-page-0#comment-80077
(For more on my time commenting as “Dr. Pepper”, see my series on my blog “The Pepper Archives” — http://hesperado.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-pepper-archives-5-imaginary-maginot.html )
2) As “LemonLime” a posted two comments on a JW story about the lurking PC MC in FOX news (a problem which JW has featured many, many times over the years — yet another indication (out of many other indications one could adduce) of the fact that PC MC is not merely a “Leftist” problem — another sensible point I have made many times):
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2012/03/fireworks-over-iran-on-the-glazov-gang/comment-page-0#comment-869070
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2012/03/fireworks-over-iran-on-the-glazov-gang/comment-page-0#comment-869079
(Ah, going back over Memory Lane — http://www.jihadwatch.org/2014/07/french-police-foil-jihad-plot-targeting-eiffel-tower-louve-nuke-plant/comment-page-1#comment-1087342 — as the time nearly a year ago when I was being attacked by Angemon and Phillip Jihadski (one protracted session out of dozens and dozens of times they attacked me while there were only tumbleweeds and crickets from the JW regulars pretending not to notice) for daring to argue that the Dar-al-Islam is a real (bloody real, literally) geographical entity, however ragged it might translate due to Western Colonialism and the map-drawing consequent upon that, and all the other JW regulars did nothing to defend me, even if only on that excruciatingly relevant point (which makes one wonder: are Mirren, gravenimage, Wellington, et al., perfectly fine with the Counter-Jihad robustly promoting the notion that the Dar-al-Islam has no geographical reality at all, as the perennial Lebensraum of Muslims following the supremacist expansionism of their Islam for centuries right up to our bloody present…???).
3) Nearly a year ago, when I presented a detailed and informative argument for how Leftism is not merely “relativistic” but actually is absolutist; it tends (especially amongst its more extremist factions) to harbor a counter-absolutism to the order of Graeco-Roman Judaeo-Christian civilization:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2014/09/nyu-prof-myles-standish-beheaded-too-were-all-as-savage-as-the-islamic-state/comment-page-2#comment-1127121
As I said, there are thousands of comments where these come from. One may just do a Google “Advanced Search” specifying the JW url and add my various nicknames (the reader will find probably a few hundred under my latest name, “voegelinian” alone).
voegelinian says
Not to mention, another sensible comment of mine, just the other day:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2015/04/muslim-cleric-blames-radicalization-on-islamophobia/comment-page-1#comment-1220790
(Remember, children, “sensible” is not the same thing as “It conforms to my subjective opinion which I haven’t bothered to back up with an argument yet, but apparently feel it suffices for me to snarkily just say that ‘At long last, you wrote something sensible, LL!’…”)
voegelinian says
Once I see the movie and analyze it for my blog and post the link here, watch Phillip Jihadski ignore the analysis, or (at best_ respond with the erudite counter-argument of “Jackass! Fuck you, you Jackass!” while his many friends here pretend not to notice and next time a holiday rolls around wish him the best, etc.
Jerry says
They postponed the screening until ISIS beheader is released.
Renee says
Ok, if that is how you see it, then Westerns should also be abandoned. And most other movies stereotyping women. Oops, I just heard a door slam. Freedom walked out.
cs says
Regarding the feel “unsafe” that is utterly cynic comment, like they do here in Britain.
You have been so Islamophobic to investigate my house, you do not trust me and so on. But once they investigate a house, and find malicious evidence, they complain they investigated at the first place, instead of admitting their own bad intention.
So this unsafe is pure balls, they are the dangerous on the campus, only instigating hatred. I wonder why people is still buying this crap, instead of isolating them.
Edgar Allen says
Many normal people, who follow the news closely, feel very unsafe when the see a group of Muslims in traditional gab, long beards, scowling faces saying ALLAH AKBAR. That’s because they justifiably associate that shout with killing, beheading, suicide bombers. Such examples are plentiful on the web, and have saturated people’s minds.
So, because Islamic prayers JUSTIFIABLY make people unsafe, we should ban all such public displays of such prayers.
What are the chances that the Leftists will agree to this totally justifiable fear?
As much of a chance of finding a moderate Muslim, anywhere.
voegelinian says
Just be sure to remember, however, that the robustly aggressive and candid displays by the front-line soldiers of the Umma are, in great part, calculated to make us focus only on them, and contrast them with all the other Muslims who seem harmless, friendly, and unremarkably assimilated into Western values — such that we lower our guard with regard to the latter, precisely by tensing our muscles at the former.
pumbar says
As a dhimmi Brit I must say that I am appalled by this. I think you all need to read “America alone” by mark Stein again.
Renee says
Hi dhimmi Brit, how does it feel to be halfway under Sharia law?
Debbie says
The university subsequently decided it was mistaken to cancel, and reinstated, offering an alternative film: Paddington.
http://publicaffairs.vpcomm.umich.edu/statement-regarding-american-sniper-movie/
Mirren10 says
Good. A little bit of sanity.
They’re offering **Paddington Bear** as an alternative ? But Paddington is a kufr bear, and therefore najis !
Somehow the mind boggles at a bunch of mohammedans goggling at old Paddington. Pass the marmalade sarnies ! 🙂
Jay Barney says
I’m surprised they didn’t offer instead “The Battle of Algiers.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-7j4WVTgWc
Davegreybeard says
It’s an excellent movie, I highly recommend it.
Tommo says
I also enjoyed it. The film wasn’t banned in the UK although there was adverse comments mainly.from the peace loving Arabs and naive students who have yet to come to terms with how their freedoms are guaranteed on a daily basis.
Keith says
Peace loving Arabs, are they the ones that can’t afford an AK47 or are to scared to adorn themselves with a suicide vest?
Jack HOLAN says
Now that the University capitulated on this one the next one to disenfranchise them or make feel whatever will be a time period movie with Jews ruling Jersalem and the Temple fixed long before Mohammed was even thought of let alone Al Aksa’s exitence. Thiis may object to on the ground that it minimizes their claim to Jerusalem. Perhaps they will object to a movie-documentary showing the slaughter of Christians based upon the tenents of the Qu’ran. This will show them again in negative picture. Will the Administration be weal-kneed and surrender all values and integrity to an obviously organized political group. They are excellent at using the system and if that fail they regress to a more intimidating stance first demonstrateing, then disturbances to deprive others of their rights and to scare the officials into closing something lawful down for safety reasons.
Joseph says
This movie is only a preview of what is coming to America if Islam is not stopped now.
Chris Kyle; May you rest in peace
Champ says
Hmm, how could the “religion of peace” make them feel unsafe? ..sarc!
Michael Copeland says
The film “made students feel unsafe”.
Is there a right to feel safe?
“You people will never be safe”, warned the muslim killer of Lee Rigby, “ We are forced by the Koran, in Sura At-Tawba…” That sura, or chapter, overrides and “abrogates” all the peaceful verses elsewhere in the Koran, because it is the latest complete chapter. “Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them”, it commands (v.5), and it is part of Islamic law.
That should make the non-muslim students feel really safe.
duh_swami says
A Mahoundian played Jesus in ‘The Killing of Jesus’…Now that’s scary.
Frightened me so much I couldn’t sleep for days. I felt very unsafe.
When I complained and demanded a ban, they told me to GROW UP,
and not to be a wuss and a coward…
Well, I earned my cowardice all on my own, I didn’t need to attend university and go to the ‘Coward 101, classes…
mach37 says
Students have no rational reason to feel “unsafe” in the US simply by watching a movie; that is paranoia. They would have a reason for feeling “unsafe” if they go to the middle east, become jihadists, thus targets for snipers.
particolor says
“Instil fear into the Enemy” ! Islamic Law !!..Works Too !! 🙁
Les says
UM and most all university campuses are run by Typical Liberal Facist Marxist anti-Christian Muslim loving hate mongers. Higher education is nothing but Communist style indoctrination with a campus full of self absorbed useful idiots.
Sergio says
I’ve seen the film and all of the atrocities that the Muslim characters commit are 100% based on undeniable historical facts. For instance, using a child to carry a bomb is an infamously popular tradition both in Palestine and in the African regions controlled by Boko Haram. I guess the film showed too much of the truth and the Muslims students couldn’t handle it.
Undaunted says
So much for the Michigan “fight” song… “Hail to the victors valiant, hail to the conquering heroes…”
Pussies.
particolor says
I think it Hailed on them ?
Tommo says
Most of criticism in the UK of the film came from those who admitted not having seen it. Students will take sides on what their huggy friends think which is about as far removed from the reality of war as its possible to get.
wallace says
Paddington is a kufaar bear and as such is not a suitable alternative.
James Felter says
I saw American Sniper with a friend who is a medically discharged (blown up) special forces enlisted officer with several tours in Iraq.The movie was spot on to his experiences, including multiple encounters with torture chambers discovered while clearing buildings, children pushed into suicide attacks by their parents, innumerable IED attacks, and both heroic and treacherous Iraqis. His only quibble with the accuracy of the movie was that a couple of shots showed troops more bunched then any experienced unit would allow itself to deploy, probably under cinematic pressure to achieve visual continuity by keeping everyone introduced to viewers in the same camera field.
My friend has a bleak opinion of Islam. He believes that Islamists will pursue persistent and escalating attacks on the west until they provoke a holocaust against Islam. Savagery will eventually be answered by savagery. He thinks that Islam might have a meaningful reformation after its adherents have to perform the haj by approaching the Kaaba as a theoretical point beneath a plain of glass.
Charles Martel says
I’ve read the book and seen the movie twice. What our military does to protect these squeamish college students is nothing short of incredible and noble. No one wants war, but if we’re there to fight these “barbarians” then we should be committed to win. Most people today have no sense of history and see the past as irrelevant. Coddled college kids should be seeing “American Sniper” as well as seeing “Unbroken” and reading that book. “Killing Patton” is another great read. Wake up America, the Islamization of Europe has begun and will soon becoming here. I encourage you to read up on Islamic doctrine. Jihad Watch is a great place to start as well as the materials provided at Dr. Warner’s CSPI. “Shariah Law for Non-Muslims” is available on-line for free and even a college student could read and understand it.
pongidae rex says
The Western invention of ‘protected groups’ of people who, by law, may not be offended or confronted with unpleasant truths or facts of life, is a legal abomination. We are allowing ‘protected groups’ to define what is permissible in Western civilization, as well as standards of conduct, work ethic and educational achievement. The results are disastrous, not only for our society but for the protected groups as well.
Steve B says
But isn’t Paddington Bear, an anthropomorphic bear, also an insult to the religious sentiments of Muslims and should also be concelled?
Keith says
I wonder if that would be a good argument against planning applications for any mosques.
Sorry Mr Planning officer but I object to that mosque being built because it will make me feel unsafe.!!
You could follow up with a description of burqua clad females and men in pyjamas carrying his most faithful AK47.
That should be enough to get any planning permission denied but then I woke up.
mortimer says
Were the students at U.Mich. who felt ‘unsafe’ jihadists or jihad-supporters? Were those who love jihad the ones who protested the film?
If jihadists feel ‘unsafe’ in America, is that a bad thing?
mortimer says
Chances are that students protesting the film were from the Islamic student organization which are typically hotbeds of jihadist sympathy.
Their attitude? ‘No one may express opposition to jihad.’
tilda says
Amerophobia.
Beagle says
Good news, Harbaugh weighs in and American Sniper back on.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/04/09/jim-harbaugh-fires-back-after-university-of-michigan-cancels-american-sniper-screening-over-muslim-stereotype-protests/
I read American Sniper, but have not seen the film yet. Chris Kyle does call his enemies “savages” several times. But in the context of SEAL life this is nothing. SEALS choke each other for fun and ruthlessly insult each other.
Kyle’s enemies do savage things and he spends virtually no time dealing with other people.
Thank God for people like Chris Kyle. When life gets crazy dangerous only men (and some women) of action can deal with it. But comparing him to pampered and cloistered college students is ridiculous and fruitless. Their worlds, fortunately for the college kids, do not overlap. Yet.
To be clear, I would not do well in his SEAL world either. I am not wired like that. But I am smart enough to appreciate and thank God for him and his brothers in arns.
Westman says
This has been a lesson for the University of Michigan. After a brutal massage by media and students they have relented. American Sniper will be shown as originally scheduled. Coach Harbaugh was the visible faculty member who opposed caving to muslim demands. Paddington will be available for uber-sensitive souls, but wait! Isn’t watching representative images haram?
Does this relenting mean that of 43,000 students, 300 cannot wag the dog? And that young college students are waking up to the reality that there is only one Chameleon Islam that brings peace nowhere?
Gordon Miller says
Now ,it seems, Muslims can decide which movies we can see. Folks, we’re losing our fundamental rights, “not with a bang, but a whimper.”
Beagle says
Apparently celebrity football coaches trump Islamic grievance theater.
See updated story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/04/09/jim-harbaugh-fires-back-after-university-of-michigan-cancels-american-sniper-screening-over-muslim-stereotype-protests/
DavidHume2015 says
I think “Babe” or “Charlotte’s Web” would have been a better replacement choice!
FredvanH says
What about that other great movie: “I like to shit where my fellowmen have to eat”.
Jerry says
As disclosed by a special forces officer:
We are the ones who have to do unspeakable things to evil people
so that innocent people could sleep peacefully in their beds at night
and wake up whole the next morning.
Ricky Black says
Islam makes 4.6 billon people feel unsafe, maybe Muslims should stop killing people and Hollywood wouldn’t make movies about people fighting back against Muslims.
katnis says
Well said.
Shame on the UofM for their appeasement. The students twisted the purpose and intention of the movie. I doubt any of them have even seen the movie.
noellsq says
If it is true the students need to go to a safer country. Maybe they should move in to Willy Wonka’s factory.
I think they are just full of it
FredvanH says
Cheeeldren, considering and labeling themselves “anti-fascist”, who would enthusiastically sympathize with fascists who in turn consider them subhuman filth, are not cosseted, coddled, comfortable or self-deluded. They are DEGENERATE.
Arthur says
The student reaction seems to parallel our contemporary western culture well!
Students afraid to watch a film portraying reality choose to watch a children’s fantasy instead.
People disgusted by jihad violence prefer to believe Islam is a religion of peace.
When the reality of evil is too much, just pretend it isn’t so. It works until the violence breaks through your dream and you wake up in pain. This is not a strategy of the surviving fittest.
I saw the movie–it was great! Whether Kyle called Iraqis savages or not, the movie seems an accurate representation of the reality of conflict in Iraq. The one Iraqi depicted who helped American troops watched his son savagely murdered, and then was killed by his compatriots. That’s simply the truth.
Renee says
Who will stand up and stick to their guns these days?
So sorry to hear that universities are not a safe enough place to show a movie, because of potentially dangerous students. A movie is not dangerous, people are!!!
noellsq says
I think they should show the pictures of what Muslims are doing in Africa,Middle East and everywhere they have a few. Please show them the decapitations and hangings. I am tired of the world sucking up to these animals including the spineless POTUS and his minions who care nothing of this country only themselves and their partyI
Peggy says
I saw the movie and didn’t think it was inciting violence against the Muslims. It was showing a war zone and what happens in a war zone.
Now I would love to know how safe do the Jews and Christians feel when they put so much hate on their televisions telling their fellow Muslims that Jews are pigs and should be killed. Saying such rubbish as the Jews dring the blood of Christian children etc.
They should examine themselves first and keep their heads down. They are the last people on earth who should have any right to complain about hurt feelings.
Peggy says
Maybe they would feel safe if the theatre showed some of the movies they make like the ones where they call Jews pigs and say that Jews drink the blood of Christian children.
Maybe they can show some of their children’s shows where the kids say how much they hate Jews and proclaim how it is good to be a martyr.
Those are really fuzzy feel good shows they should have shown instead of this move. No insults to anyone there.
Valine, Hannelore says
I found this statement on the University website:
Statement regarding “American Sniper” movie
Statement from E. Royster Harper,
University of Michigan vice president for student life
April 8, 2015
It was a mistake to cancel the showing of the movie “American Sniper” on campus as part of a social event for students.
The initial decision to cancel the movie was not consistent with the high value the University of Michigan places on freedom of expression and our respect for the right of students to make their own choices in such matters.
The movie will be shown at the originally scheduled time and location.
We recognize, however, that some students are uncomfortable with the content of the movie, and appreciate that concern.
Therefore, the university also will show an alternative movie, “Paddington,” in another location on campus at that same time and date to provide our students with additional options that evening.
Larry A. Singleton says
UNIVERSITIES IN AMERICA
Indoctrination U: The Left’s War Against Academic Freedom and The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America by David Horowitz
Ivory Towers On Sand: The Failure of Middle Eastern Studies in America by Martin Kramer
Until Proven Innocent: Political Correctness and the Shameful Injustices of the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case by Stuart Taylor Jr. and KC Johnson (Another book explaining how our universities are totally out of control and taken over by liberal fascists. This is a mix of Edward Humes book about Prosecutorial Misconduct, Mean Justice and Horowitz’s Indoctrination U. and how our universities have purged all signs of conservatism and common decency.) From the chapter on The Assault on Excellence: “The modern university is the culmination of a 20-year trend of irrationalism, marked by an increasingly totalitarian approach to highly politicized issues. Students are subjected to mandatory gender and racial-sensitivity, (diversity), training akin to thought reform. Faculty members and administrators are made to understand that their careers are at risk if they deviate from the accepted viewpoint….Meanwhile, professorships increasingly look like self-perpetrating sinecures and university presidents and boards, (not unlike corporate boards), look increasingly like fearful faculty puppets.” There has been a total downsizing in academic standards; to make way for unqualified liberals totally lacking in the traditional academic disciplines which they have made no secret of ultimately wanting to eradecate. “The over-riding goal: do whatever it takes to choose diverse or feminist candidates regardless of qualifications.”
The War Against Boys: How Misguided Feminism Is Harming Our Young Men by Christina Hoff Sommers (Go to Amazon and read the Preface to this and the Introduction to “Taken Into Custody” by Stephen Baskerville; Your days of believing you live in a free country will disappear when you finish this book.)
Plunder: How Public Employee (Teachers, city and county, cops and fire…) Unions Are Raiding Treasuries, Controlling Our Lives and Bankrupting the Nation by Steven Greenhut
“Indoctrinate U.” Watch This Documentary!!! (You Tube Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHyvRHrYYBA
Politicizing Scholarship to Question Israel’s Existence [incl. Richard Falk] (Campus Watch)
http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/14663
The Least Free Place in America (You Tube video-Prager Univ.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJaM8IOev7E
Free speech on campus Pat Condell (You Tube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XPHIfgFwsY&feature=em-subs_digest
A solution in search of a problem: the university diversity scam (Prager University/Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=857671457609045&fref=nf
(Related: “Plunder: How Public Employee Unions Are Raiding Treasuries, Controlling Our Lives and Bankrupting the Nation” by Steven Greenhut)
Kelly File Special: Who’s Teaching Our Kids? Part I (and II thru VI) Liberal Bias In The Classroom. (You Tube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VXwqn3FM1o
Part II Anti-Americanism In The Classroom.
Part III Protecting Free Speech On Campus.
Part IV Problem Of Political Balance On Campus?
Part V How Do We Fix Our School System?
Part VI Disadvantages Of Elite Education.
Subscribe to Jihad/Campus Watch and the Middle East Forum/Quarterly, Family Security Matters, Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Gatestone Institute, FrontPage Magazine, American Thinker, The Clarion Project, Cross Muslims, Palestinian Media Watch, Muhammad unveiled, Religion of Peace and read Raymond Ibrahim, Andrew Harrod, Efraim Karsh, Frank Gaffney, Patrick Poole, Caroline Glick, Bat Ye’or and others.
Jew Hatred on Campus
http://www.jewhatredoncampus.org/news/jew-hatred-campus-initiates-conversation-cornell-administration-about-anti-semitism
Islamophobia: Thought Crime of the Totalitarian Future by David Horowitz and Robert Spencer (Booklet)
Slavery, Terrorism and Islam, (and Holocaust in Rwanda), by Peter Hammond (This is an Ass-Kicking little resource of 276 pages.)
Infiltration: How Muslim Spies and Subversives Have Penetrated Washington by Paul Sperry
MESA and IIIT: Islamists Infiltrating Academia by Cinnamon Stillwell
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2014/10/mesa_and_iiit_islamists_infiltrating_academia.html
UCLA’s Embarrassment: Prof. Abou El Fadl by Daniel Pipes (FrontPageMagazine)
http://www.danielpipes.org/15340/khaled-abou-el-fadl
The Arab Muslim Slave Trade Of Africans, The Untold Story (You Tube)
Millions of dollars are being poured into universities:
Prince Alwaleed donated $20 million to Georgetown University as a gift to support and expand its Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (CMCU) and donated $20 million to Harvard University to create the University-wide Islamic Studies Program. Furthermore, the prince donated $10 million to the American University in Cairo and $5 million to the American University in Beirut.
‘How Saudi Publications on Hate Ideology invade American Mosques’ -Testimony of Freedom House director before Senate Committee (Militant Islam Monitor)
militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1245
Jihad & Terrorism Studies Project September 26, 2002 Special Report No.10 Friday Sermons in Saudi Mosques: Review and Analysis
http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/736.htm
“Incontrovertible evidence” that Saudi government officials helped 9/11 hijackers financially and logistically (Jihad Watch)
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/12/incontrovertible-evidence-that-saudi-government-officials-helped-911-hijackers-financially-and-logis.html
Full Story NY Post
http://nypost.com/2013/12/15/inside-the-saudi-911-coverup/
Jack HOLAN says
U of M might not know that their benign student organization MSA=TERRORIST GROUP according to the UAE who classified them as such
voegelinian says
From the Leftist rag Salon (unfortunately tapped into, and confluent with, the broad PC MC mainstream):
The Guardian’s Lindy West (also a contributor at the Daily Dot) reminds us that Kyle was “a racist who took pleasure in dehumanizing and killing brown people.” Kyle’s only regret was that he didn’t kill more.
http://www.salon.com/2015/02/05/american_snipers_muslim_problem_how_clint_eastwood_embraces_chris_kyles_toxic_ideas_partner/
The mainstream Hollywood actor, Bradley Cooper, who played the sniper Chris Kyle, however, has a different take on the man — and as the reader can see (and reasonably surmise), Cooper’s grasp of Kyle the man involved months of research, not only reading, also watching hours of videotapes, and talking with family members and friends of Kyle:
“And for me, and for Clint, this movie was always a character study about what the plight is for a soldier. The guy that I got to know, through all the source material that I read and watched, and home videos—hours and hours—I never saw anything like that. But I can’t control how people are gonna use this movie as a tool, or what they pick and choose whatever they want. But it would be short-changing, I think. If it’s not this movie, I hope to god another movie will come out where it will shed light on the fact of what servicemen and women have to go through, and that we need to pay attention to our vets. It doesn’t go any farther than that. It’s not a political discussion about war, even…It’s a discussion about the reality. And the reality is that people are coming home, and we have to take care of them.”
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/14/bradley-cooper-responds-to-lefty-anti-war-criticism-of-american-sniper.html