Movie Critics or Rampant Fundamentalists?

I’ve been to some bad movies in my life. Although, having watched 5 minutes of the 13 minute trailer on YouTube of a movie that has, apparently, set the Arab world on fire even before it is ever premiered, I have to admit, I might not have seen any dumber or less professional.

On those rare occasions when I wanted something different in a movie, or was perhaps even insulted by its contents – I would make myself a promise, usually forgotten, not to waste money seeing that director or that actor again.

I have actually never gone out on a rampage following a movie; never burned a flag, never attacked a US embassy – or any other consulate, restaurant, or, in fact, buildings in general. I have never murdered anyone based on what I saw on a screen – or off the screen, if we are discussing murder.

Out of curiosity following the vicious and barbaric attack on the US Embassy in Libya (and Egypt and Yemen…), I went to YouTube to view the clip. Besides the obvious opinion that it was so pathetically done, is the more incredulous thought that four men were murdered supposedly in the name of this movie?

I can understand anger, even hatred. I have been angry; I have felt such hatred at certain times in my life. And in that instance when the anger rages and the hatred burns, something inside me knows it has to be turned. It will, in the end, do me more harm than the person, people, or action that initiated it.

And that is where the reality comes forward. No one really believes that the Americans in Libya were killed because of a movie – even one that insults their beloved prophet. The true reason likely lies deep in connections to Al Qaida, 9/11 and recent US anti-terrorist activities.

But what I find interesting here is that the motive of the movie was given, and accepted by much of the world. They really believe that we would accept this as the reason. In that, they are correct – they’ve done it before, after all. The Danish cartoon. Salman Rushdie’s writings.

They COULD have killed and rioted, burned flags and buildings because of a 13 minute trailer to a movie, because of a book, because of a cartoon. That this time they didn’t, doesn’t change the culture that could have.

And so, once again we return to the constant discussion – of their culture versus ours. Of their morality versus ours. Of their worshiping death and martyrdom versus our choosing life.

This is the fundamental truth behind the Libya attack,

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