Debbie Schlussel: The Terrorism Oscars, Part II: Christmas vs. the Homicide Bombers
I've been detailing, for some time (here and here), my objections to the pro-homicide bomber movie, "Paradise Now," which is nominated for this weekend's Oscar for best foreign language film.
I "debated" the film's producer, Berro Beyer, on Al-Jazeera (if you can call his listening to my answers, then giving his rebuttal after I was already off the air, a "debate").
As I've said before, the film is objectionable for so many reasons: the map of hate, no Israel, no Jews, forwarding the myth that Jews poison Arab water to ruin sperm, glorifying homicide bombers, never showing their victims, etc., etc., etc. For an EXCELLENT review of this movie, read Irit Linor's review, "Anti-Semitism Now," in Israel's Yediot Achronot. ("An exciting, quality Nazi film.")
Another film, nominated in the same category as "Paradise Now," is "Joyeux Noel." It comes out in theaters around the country, today. It is an excellent film. If there is any justice in Hollywood--and there isn't--"Joyeux Noel," not "Paradise Now," will win the best foreign language film Academy Award. There is no starker contrast at the Oscars than these two nominated films.
"Joyeux Noel," a French film, is about Christmas Eve and Christmas during World War I, when French, German, and Scottish forces at battlefields all over Europe put down their weapons and celebrated Christmas together. It is a beautiful film, a film about honor and decency, and respect for Christianity. You don't have to be a Christian--I am not--to love this film.
I'm sure the French who made this film wanted it to be a parable for the battles of war we are fighting today. But, today, we are not all Christians (or even Judeo-Christians) on all sides. We are fighting a religion that is now dominated globally by fascism and extremism.
Unlike the warriors in "Joyeux Noel" (including a Jewish German commander), who sang "Silent Night" in unison, it's not like we should put our arms down for one night with them and sing the Shehadah (the oath of martyrdom that one says to convert to Islam). It's not like the enemy puts its own weapons down against fellow co-religionists, with Islamo-fascist brother fighting Islamo-fascist brother during the height of Ramadan.
It's not like there are set battlefields, today, between men in uniform. No. Today, the warriors are dressed in plain clothes. They blow themselves up, murdering innocent civilians who are also not wearing soldiers' uniforms.
The enemy of today is the "hero" of "Paradise Now." That is exactly the reason that it should not win an Oscar. And exactly why the warped, elitist minds of Hollywood will give it that dubious golden-statued award.
The self-anointed culturatti--who claim they are peaceniks--will celebrate not the Christian men who put down their arms for a night to celebrate Christ's birth. They will instead celebrate those who blow innocent people up to celebrate Mohammed's growing domination.
Posted by Debbie on March 3, 2006 09:44 AM to Debbie Schlussel