American Views Abroad

 
German-Turkish politician Cem Ozdemir who is a Green Party member of the European Parliament reviews the Turkish film Valley of the Wolves in Der Spiegel. This film has received wide attention in the German media and in movie theatres. Ozdemir claims the movie's goal is to divide and provoke. He writes:

'The criticism I levelled at Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten --- that it consciously published the Muhammed caricatures to provoke and divide --- is the same criticism I have for the person who made Valley of the Wolves. Even thought the film uses images and events that happened under the watch of the Americans, it is not about justified criticism of the United States or even education. It would be easy to ignore the film as a run-of-the-mill, cliched action movie and just move on. But anyone who produces this kind of film is trying to do more than just entertain --- they are trying to echo and bolster racist ideas while clouding dialogue.'

His complete review can be read in English at http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,401565,00.html.

The World Council of Churches issued a sharp statement denouncing the US-led war in Iraq and accused Washington of 'raining down terror' and apologizing to other nations for 'the violence, degradation and poverty our nation has sown.' reports the Associated Press. The Council ---- more than 350 mainstream Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches ---- said they had 'grown heavy with guilt' for not doing enough to speak out against the Iraq war and other issues. The complete report can be read at
www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022106T.shtml.

'So, war, which is about rape and murder, is an act of hatred and aggression towards women. It's Mother Murder,' writes Jennifer van Bergen at www.counterpunch.org/vanbergen02202006.html.
- posted by Gloria @ 10:40 AM