TEXAS, 29 August 2004 — Following the Sept. 11 attacks, the US-Saudi relationship took a drastic turn in every field and a great deal of deliberation between the two countries took place. On one side, the United States blamed the Saudi school curriculum for embracing and advocating hate and animosity toward the Christians and Jews. Saudi Arabia took strong steps to correct any sign of deficiencies in its school curriculum. On the other side, however, I would assert that part of the blame lies with Hollywood. Yes, Hollywood has played a significant role in vilifying the Arab-Muslim culture in the minds of the American people.
A few months ago I was watching previews for the new movie “The Day After Tomorrow” and, being an action and special-effects movie enthusiast, I began counting the days until the movie opened in theaters. The day came and I prepared myself for a night of entertainment. I did not anticipate the disappointment I would soon feel.
The movie is directed and produced by Roland Emmerich and obviously distributed in the US by 20th Century Fox, since their FOX logo is plastered all over the movie. For those who did not see the movie yet, the movie’s premise is global warming leading to a radical climate shift and a new ice age that leaves scientists worldwide in fear. A five-minute segment of the movie shows a global warming summit taking place in India, where delegates from all over the world are in attendance. In the front row of the summit, and among many delegates from all over the world, there were two actors portraying Saudi Arabians, wearing what is supposed to be a representation of the Saudi dress (it is, of course, inaccurate and far from what the traditional Saudi dress looks like). The movie continues to specifically show the head of the Saudi delegation confused and mystified with what the American scientist is explaining about the global warming depicting him as ignorant and unaware of what is happening all around.
Not only is this movie cheesy and over-the-top, with scientific facts blown out of proportion but, the movie, and Hollywood, are continuing to worsen the relationship between the two countries. At a time when the two countries are jointly trying to resolve any differences between them, Hollywood continues to seed hate and disgust. Emmerich’s point with “The Day After Tomorrow” is not just to entertain but also to play politics by running a public relations campaign against Saudi Arabia.
Several Hollywood movies, such as The Siege, Executive Decision, True Lies, Voyage of Terror and Terrorist on Trial, portray Arabs as terrorists, villains, perpetrators, hijackers, kidnappers, murderers, fanatics and militants. Arabs, including Saudis, are becoming the latest in a long line of ethnic groups and nationalities cast in stereotypical bad-guy roles. The new cinematic enemy is the Muslim extremist. Even though “The Day After Tomorrow” is not of the same scale of defamation and stereotyping as that depicted by others, it still worries me.
I came to the United States nearly 14 years ago to pursue my graduate education and came close to the American people. I was made aware of the substantial differences between what is projected in the US politics and what the American people stand for. The American people are not necessarily a reflection of the American politics or the mind of Hollywood. I am concerned that those who have not had the benefit of getting to know the American people first hand may be enraged by this kind of portrayal. Just imagine someone in the Middle East watching those movies, which humiliate and degrade Muslims in general and the Arabs in particular. They will inevitably learn to hate the American people without distinction. It is something that Hollywood needs to recognize.
Prince Bandar ibn Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to the US, asserted that the “US-Saudi relationship remains strong and has been so since the relationship was established with President Roosevelt”. The latest poll from John Zogby showed that 91 percent of Saudis say they have no quarrel with the American people. Ninety-five percent believe that Bin Laden’s actions are not consistent with their values and ninety-four percent feel his actions have harmed the Kingdom and its people. Saudi Arabia has cooperated with the United States on every front in the war on terrorism.
I think it is time for the United States to acknowledge that Hollywood itself remains part of the problem instead of part of the solution to international terrorism. If the United States wants to fight terrorism, it should take steps to publicly condemn and end Hollywood’s pervasive cinematic practice in order to prevent hatefulness and cross-cultural tensions from infecting both regions’ next generation of leaders. If this will not happen today or tomorrow, then I am optimistically looking for the day after tomorrow.
— Alaeddin Hamed Shuror is a Saudi writer and a senior management analyst at the office of the city manager, Budget in Fort Worth, Texas.
