The Kaaba is one of Islam's holiest sites.
In his new film "2012", director Roland Emmerich reinforces a double standard by depicting the destruction of numerous Christian landmarks while sparing Islamic ones.
The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican and The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican all meet untimely fates in Emmerich's latest end-of-the-world extravangza.
However, The Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure that is the focus of prayers and the site of the most important pilgrimage in Islam, was spared.
And this double standard was not, it turns out, an oversight or mistake.
A deliberate act
In an interview with Sci-Fi Wire, during which the director admits he is "against organized religion", Emmerich discussed his thought process:
"You can actually let Christian symbols fall apart," explained Emmerich. "But if you would do this with [an] Arab symbol, you would have a fatwa."
Emmerich admitted he wanted to depict the destruction of the holy Islamic building, but that his co-writer Harald Kloser talked him out of it.
"Well, I wanted to do that, I have to admit," Emmerich told Sci-Fi Wire. "But (Kloser) said, 'I will not have a fatwa on my head because of a movie.'"
In short, Emmerich believed a fatwa, a death sentence, would be placed on someone, possibly himself, had he destroyed The Kaaba in his film.
This news is undoubtedly a surprise to anyone who has seen Emmerich's films and assumed he only feared coherent plots.
Reinforcing a double standard
His fatwa fears, warranted or not, reinforce the mindset in this country that it's alright to attack Christianity, but one must be tolerant and should placate all other religions.
In Emmerich's world, and those like him, destroying Christian landmarks and symbols is good, wholesome entertainment. Destroying an Islamic landmark, on the other hand, would be insensitive and could result in dire consequences.
He shouldn't be able to have it both ways.
Either all religions are fair game or none of them are fair game.
If Emmerich can't handle that, maybe he should try something radical like making a movie that doesn't depend on the destruction of treasured landmarks via expensive special effects.
Of course, considering he is the man that brought us Independence Day, Godzilla and The Day After Tomorrow, that might be beyond Emmerich's skill set.
What do you all think? Why is it permissible to attack Christianity in this country, but not Islam or other religions? Why are stories like this one and the one about the father of 9/11 victim being unable to erect a plaque stating his son was murdered by Muslim terrorists becoming so common?
Comments
I believe there is alreay a fatwa on producer Emmerich head because he has dared to think of blowing the Kabba muslim holy shrine. The fatwa people are searching for his ass just the thought of blowing the kabba is a fawta by in itself.
So Emmerich run mother-fker, runnnnnnnnnnnnn and dont expect the christain or the west to save you for you cant have it both ways.
"So Emmerich run mother-fker, runnnnnnnnnnnnn and dont expect the christain or the west to save you for you cant have it both ways."
Quite untrue. Any true Christian would come to Emmerich's rescue regardless of his disrespect for famous Christian shrines or religion in general..
"What do you all think? Why is it permissible to attack Christianity in this country, but not Islam or other religions? "
I believe it is because as Christians we worship our God, not "Golden Calf's" and we are more tolerant. We are asked to go forth and tell everyone of the Love of our Father, not to kill them for believing differently than we do.
The Left is vile. Thx for documenting it!
according to me no one has the right to detroy any holy place let it be of any religion if some one is doing that he dsnt belong to any religion..islam dsnt teaches to kill any one or to destroy a holy place if some one is doing that he is not a muslim..he might be known as a muslim but in reality he is not eg:terriost.
Will people grow up? The church is it's members , Jesus ' enemies killed him and yet he forgave them. The blowing up of Christian landmarks in a film is nothing to worry about if you truly understand the Christian message as practiced by Jesus himself. Write something more important and something that is rooted in real life, for example wars in the world or poverty, or is that boring for you?
That's right. It's okay to attack the only TRUE religion -- the church of Jesus Christ -- which isn't a "religion" at all, but rather a relationship with a living Person.
Nothing and no one represented by that ugly box is alive. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, was resurrected from the dead by His own power. He is alive forevermore.
As such -- and quite ironically -- He is the only One these pagans will face someday PERSONALLY and answer for their rejection of His substitutionary death on the cross.
Emmerich should get his priorities straightened out. Fatwa is the least of his worries.
Jennifer, love your enemy. It amazes me how you right like you do without telling anything about the love of Jesus. Get your Christian message right!
Also jennifer, Jesus predicted that persecution of his followers and his church would increase , you really think this film is that troubling compared to other things in this world? I believe not.
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