Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

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Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Coito ergo sum » Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:02 pm

After receiving threats and two suspicious letters Tuesday, the National Archives of Canada cancelled the screening of a controversial documentary that critiques Iran’s nuclear weapons program, a move that has organizers questioning the national library’s autonomy.

The Free Thinking Film Society’s showing of Iranium prompted so many complaints — some of them from the Iranian Embassy — that staff thought it necessary to close the entire building at 396 Wellington St. in Ottawa, just steps from the Supreme Court of Canada and Parliament Hill at 4:45 p.m., said archives spokeswoman Pauline Portelance.

“Once we started to receive threats from the public and threats of public protest, we deemed the risk associated with the event was a little too high,” she said.
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada ... z1BWN4EUWt

Fargin' pussies. :lay:

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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Gawd » Mon Jan 24, 2011 8:30 am

So you are willing to demonize the Iranians because they want a nuclear program like many other countries have? Sounds like "blood libel" to me. And FYI, the National Post is an Israeli mouthpiece, just try reading some of their "news" sometimes about how wonderful Israel is.

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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Coito ergo sum » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:54 pm

Gawd wrote:So you are willing to demonize the Iranians because they want a nuclear program like many other countries have? Sounds like "blood libel" to me. And FYI, the National Post is an Israeli mouthpiece, just try reading some of their "news" sometimes about how wonderful Israel is.
1. Demonize? I haven't demonized anyone. I just think it's a pussy move to not show a movie because a bunch of people threaten violence.
2. I don't believe Iran wants a nuclear program like many other countries have. The evidence indicates that they want a nuclear weapons program that they have specifically undertaken not to have.
3. It sounds nothing like "Blood Libel" to me. All we're talking about here is Canada showing a movie critical of Iran. I'm not suggesting that pro-Iran movies should not likewise be shown. Show them all anyone wants. What I object to are threats from people that want to kill other people for showing a movie, and to people caving in to such threats. Blood libel is when the Jews sacrificed Christian children for Passover and other religious rituals, and some other iterations
4. I don't care if a movie is shown by an Israeli mouthpiece or a Saudi mouthpiece or an Iranian mouthpiece. That doesn't mean they don't have a right to show the movie free from violence. That's what you folks don't seem to understand - free speech means anybody can express their ideas, even mouthpieces.

If you favor the folks who threaten other folks with violence to shut them up, then it's no surprise you support Muslim causes against the West. That's what your side is good at - blasphemy laws - threatening people with beheading who insult Islam - rioting outside newspaper facilities because of cartoons - rioting in India over reprints of editorials about Muhammad - threatening schoolmarms with death for allowing Muslim children to name a teddy bear "Mohamet" -- rioting over every perceived slight - etc.

One day, you folks will have to learn that in a free country, people get to opine things you don't agree with it, and while you can argue back and tell them to shut up, and picket and demonstrate - you can't kill them or threaten to kill them. Is that really so fucking hard to fathom?

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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Gawd » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:24 pm

Coito, free speech does not mean you can libel and shout hate propaganda at others, which is exactly what many people in the Western world, Israel, and the National Post (owned by a ethno-nationalist Jew nonetheless) do to demonize the Iranians. And this is blood libel against the Iranians because your side is spreading false information about how the Iranians are so evil when you don't have a shred of evidence and it is all based on your need to dictate others. There is no evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and even if it does, tough luck to your side and your blood libel.
Last edited by Gawd on Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Rum » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:26 pm

Gawd wrote:Coito, free speech does not mean you can libel and shout hate propaganda at others, which is exactly what many people in the Western world do to demonize the Iranians. And this is blood libel against the Iranians because your side is spreading false information about how the Iranians are so evil when you don't have a shred of evidence and it is all based on your need to dictate others. There is no evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and even if it does, tough luck to your side and your blood libel.

:funny:

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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Gawd » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:27 pm

Rum wrote:
Gawd wrote:Coito, free speech does not mean you can libel and shout hate propaganda at others, which is exactly what many people in the Western world do to demonize the Iranians. And this is blood libel against the Iranians because your side is spreading false information about how the Iranians are so evil when you don't have a shred of evidence and it is all based on your need to dictate others. There is no evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and even if it does, tough luck to your side and your blood libel.

:funny:
There is as much evidence of that as there is of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, right Rummy? Ironically, Iraq under the Americans have way more weapons of mass destruction than it did with Saddam.

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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Coito ergo sum » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:53 pm

Gawd wrote:Coito, free speech does not mean you can libel and shout hate propaganda at others, which is exactly what many people in the Western world, Israel, and the National Post (owned by a ethno-nationalist Jew nonetheless) do to demonize the Iranians. And this is blood libel against the Iranians because your side is spreading false information about how the Iranians are so evil when you don't have a shred of evidence and it is all based on your need to dictate others. There is no evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and even if it does, tough luck to your side and your blood libel.
Libel, yes, I agree - that requires a false and defamatory statement about an individual that causes that individual tangible injury. It's not libel to make a movie about the nuclear policy and ambitions of Iran, and the leadership of Iran are also public figures and subject to a liberal range of criticism of their practices.

"Shouting hate propaganda" is most certainly part of free speech. If Muslims can demonstrate and shout for the beheading of those who insult Islam, then I daresay it's o.k. to make a movie about Iran and be critical of it.

Some folks might demonize the Iranians. I haven't seen it, and even if they are demonized, tough shit. Demonization is fair game. Nevertheless, demonization is not at issue here in any case. We're talking about a movie being shown that is critical of Iran, not "Iranians." It's not a racist rant - it's an opinion.

This is not a blood libel about Iranians. This is about how the Iranian government has undertaken not to have nuclear weapons as a matter of international law, and they are violating that undertaking. It's about a movie critical of Iran being silenced by murderers threatening violence.

Whether there is or is not evidence is not the point. There is evidence, but again - that's not the point. People are allowed to make movies. Fuck off with your censorship.

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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Gawd » Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:06 am

Coito ergo sum wrote:
Gawd wrote:Coito, free speech does not mean you can libel and shout hate propaganda at others, which is exactly what many people in the Western world, Israel, and the National Post (owned by a ethno-nationalist Jew nonetheless) do to demonize the Iranians. And this is blood libel against the Iranians because your side is spreading false information about how the Iranians are so evil when you don't have a shred of evidence and it is all based on your need to dictate others. There is no evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and even if it does, tough luck to your side and your blood libel.
Libel, yes, I agree - that requires a false and defamatory statement about an individual that causes that individual tangible injury. It's not libel to make a movie about the nuclear policy and ambitions of Iran, and the leadership of Iran are also public figures and subject to a liberal range of criticism of their practices.

"Shouting hate propaganda" is most certainly part of free speech. If Muslims can demonstrate and shout for the beheading of those who insult Islam, then I daresay it's o.k. to make a movie about Iran and be critical of it.

Some folks might demonize the Iranians. I haven't seen it, and even if they are demonized, tough shit. Demonization is fair game. Nevertheless, demonization is not at issue here in any case. We're talking about a movie being shown that is critical of Iran, not "Iranians." It's not a racist rant - it's an opinion.

This is not a blood libel about Iranians. This is about how the Iranian government has undertaken not to have nuclear weapons as a matter of international law, and they are violating that undertaking. It's about a movie critical of Iran being silenced by murderers threatening violence.

Whether there is or is not evidence is not the point. There is evidence, but again - that's not the point. People are allowed to make movies. Fuck off with your censorship.
Shouting hate propaganda is certainly not part of free speech. I guess you've missed the Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks movements.

And if "Demonization is fair game" to you, then I expect you to fully back me if I demonize Jews.

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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Pappa » Wed Jan 26, 2011 11:35 am

Anyone care to post some links to the evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons?

Just out of interest I searched this long document for the word "evidence" and nowhere in it does it state there is any.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Iran
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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by JimC » Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:33 pm

Pappa wrote:Anyone care to post some links to the evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons?

Just out of interest I searched this long document for the word "evidence" and nowhere in it does it state there is any.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Iran
Even if the evidence is dodgy (and I'm not convinced), Coito still has a valid point - stopping a film being shown by threats of violence is totally repugnant...
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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by JimC » Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:35 pm

Gawd wrote:Coito, free speech does not mean you can libel and shout hate propaganda at others, which is exactly what many people in the Western world, Israel, and the National Post (owned by a ethno-nationalist Jew nonetheless) do to demonize the Iranians. And this is blood libel against the Iranians because your side is spreading false information about how the Iranians are so evil when you don't have a shred of evidence and it is all based on your need to dictate others. There is no evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and even if it does, tough luck to your side and your blood libel.
"I didn't do it, but if I did, I have every right to, so beware..."

:roll:
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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Pappa » Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:40 pm

JimC wrote:
Pappa wrote:Anyone care to post some links to the evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons?

Just out of interest I searched this long document for the word "evidence" and nowhere in it does it state there is any.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Iran
Even if the evidence is dodgy (and I'm not convinced), Coito still has a valid point - stopping a film being shown by threats of violence is totally repugnant...
Yes... very much.
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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Coito ergo sum » Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:12 pm

Gawd wrote:
Shouting hate propaganda is certainly not part of free speech. I guess you've missed the Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks movements.

And if "Demonization is fair game" to you, then I expect you to fully back me if I demonize Jews.
I don't have to back your views. But, I do recognize that demonization of Jews is covered by free speech rights in the US. You do it enough, so I wouldn't think that would come as a surprise.

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. ~Voltaire

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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Coito ergo sum » Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:18 pm

Excellent: Canada's unfortunately named "Heritage Minister" has directed that the film "Iranium" be shown despite the threats! http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada ... story.html

Round of applause to Canada!!!
In its diplomatic note to Tehran, the government said Canada is a free country and that freedom of expression is a core value that won’t be compromised.

“This movie will be shown, the agreement will be kept and this movie Iranium will be shown at Library and Archives Canada. We will not be moving it to a different facility, we’re not bending to any pressure,” said Mr. Moore on the CBC’s Power and Politics.

“People need to be kept safe, but we don’t back down to people who try to censor people by threats of violence.”
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada ... z1C9AYG4GD
:clap:

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Re: Canada Cancels Showing of Film Critical of Iran

Post by Coito ergo sum » Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:23 pm

Pappa wrote:Anyone care to post some links to the evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons?

Just out of interest I searched this long document for the word "evidence" and nowhere in it does it state there is any.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Iran
The hour-long documentary by California filmmaker Raphael Shore takes aim at Iran’s policies, including its pursuit of nuclear weapons and support of terrorist groups Hezbollah and Hamas, eventually warning viewers that Iran could pose a nuclear threat to the world. The United Nations Security Council has already made four resolutions against Iran on their nuclear arms program, said Professor Houchang Hassan-Yari, who teaches at the Royal Military College of Canada.
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada ... z1C9B1RWb8

Maybe the documentary describes evidence. Naturally, Gawd, without seeing it, calls it "demonization" and "hate speech" no matter what it says - because, if it's critical of Iran, it's "demonization and hate speech."


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