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Hi Drew and CASI subscribers Drew, thanks for the interesting article. The view that a film is unacceptable can be interpreted in 2 ways: 1. The film is offensive. Therefore it should be banned/stopped etc or 2. The film is offensive. Therefore we should publicise that it is offensive far and wide, without infringing on the right of people to see or distribute the film. There's an important distinction. Interpretation 1 is a blatant stand against free speech, with which many people (including myself) would not want to be associated. Interpretation 2 is fine. However, too often, when movies are protested, the protestors fail to clarify or even understand this distinction. Protesting a movie is VERY DANGEROUS, because it can backfire. Doing it without clarifying the above difference in interpretation, especially in the US, almost always results in increasing the movie's popularity, and ridicule for the protestors. In addition, protesting movies in the US is usually associated with religous fundamentalist right-wingers; be aware of this stigma if you're going to protest against a movie. The movie that Drew has described does sound offensive, though I haven't seen it and cannot be sure. It might be worth protesting it or publicising its racism, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE think and plan such a campaign VERY VERY carefully. Drew, please note that I agree with the principal of what you're saying (unless you're in favour of interpretation 1), but just pointing out the strategic and tactical difficulties involved in protesting movies. Sorry to be a damp squid. Regards, Nathan -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://welcome.to/casi