THE IRANIAN
News
"Peacemaker" degrades Iranians
ACTION ALERT -- Oct 9, 1997
FROM: THE PERSIAN WATCH CAT -- An Iranian-American Anti-discrimination
Website
SUBJECT: SPIELBERG'S DREAMWORKS STUDIO TURNS PEACEMAKER
Courtesy of Iranian Anti-Defamation Alliance Email: IADA@aol.com
THE PEACEMAKER from Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Studio, which is being screened nationally and internationally, contains hate provoking swear words against Iran and against all Iranians by reason of ethnic origin. Unfortunately, the use of this type of degrading terminology continues to fuel the fire of misunderstanding, and hostility toward Iranian-Americans.
Evidently, in one scene, while tracking a truck with the stolen nuclear bombs, the hero of the story says: "It's five miles from fucking Iran."
A few moments later, referring to a captured scientist: "We educate half the world's terrorists."
By casting a very serious suspicion on the integrity and loyalty of hundreds if not thousands of sorely needed foreign born students, scientists and technologists in America, is this movie advocating a form of educational and professional apartheid in our society? Dreamworks, should remember that immigrant students have contributed greatly to American science, technology and society.
If DreamWorks is attempting to express its anger or frustration with respect to events of the international political arena, we ask them to note that this form of expression leaves innocent bystanders as victims. Furthermore, this type of production undermines the foundation of American society as the great melting pot.
The concern of the Iranian-American community continues to be the ill-aimed demonization of Iranians and Iranian culture. Unfortunately we, as members of and contributors to American society, face the social consequences of these dehumanizing and anger provoking products of the 'entertainment' industry, everyday.
We ask Mr. Steven Spielberg and the director Mimi Leder to:
1. Revise the explicit & insulting lines of the Peacemakers' script for video publication. 2. Consider the consequences of using fiction and film as the medium for education and the forum for debate of real day issues. Does this promote understanding and critical thinking or does it help foster paranoia and hatred among this country' citizens? 3. Publicly apologies to Iranian Community. 4. Affirm their commitment to discuss their misperceptions and lack of sensitivity with respect to people of Iranian Heritage, with Iranian-American groups. They may notify the Iranian-American Anti-Discrimination Website (email: pwcat@hotmail.com) and the Iranian Anti-Defamation Alliance (email: IADA@aol.com) of this commitment.
We ask the Iranian-American Community at Large to please contact: Mr. Steven Spielberg and Ms. Mimi Leder, please be polite but firm: DreamWorks Studio 100 Universal City Plaza Bldg. 477 Universal City, CA 91608 Phone: (818) 733-7000 C/O Mr. Mike Vollman (Field Marketing Director) Phone: (818) 733-6892 Fax #: (818) 733-6995 Email: mvollman@dreamworks.com Web page: //www.pepsi.com/main/nav/master_fspeacemaker.html
Pepsi has sponsored this movie on its website: You can visit Pepsi at //www.pepsico.com/
Let Pepsi know that their sponsoring The Peacemaker, effects your decision to be a Pepsi Consumer by emailing Pepsi at: webmaster@pepsi.com
Thanks, The Staff the Persian Watch Cat An Iranian-American Anti-discrimination Website URL: //www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/1813/ Email: pwcat@hotmail.com
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