wfn.org | "The Siege," an NCCCUSA Interfaith Relations

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

Statement

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2252
 Or Rev. Dr. Bert Breiner (numbers below)
Internet: carolf@ncccusa.org; Website: 
http://www.ncccusa.org

110NCC11/5/98    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FILM "THE SIEGE" FEEDS FEARS & PREJUDICES, NOT 
UNDERSTANDING

By the Rev. Dr. Bert Breiner*
Co-Director for Interfaith Relations
National Council of Churches

In order to build a strong nation at home and peace 
throughout the world, it is necessary to build a sense of 
community based on mutual understanding, tolerance, and 
respect.  In a complex society of many cultures and 
religions, this requires both goodwill and wisdom.  The new 
film "The Siege" demonstrates neither.

"The Siege" presents a scenario in which Muslim terrorists 
from the Middle East threaten the United States.  The 
threat is of such magnitude that martial law is declared in 
some areas and Muslim and Arab Americans are rounded up -- 
a scenario reminiscent of the internment of Japanese 
Americans in camps during the Second World War.

Following the Oklahoma City bombing, both the media and the 
general public displayed an alarming willingness to assume 
that this was the work of Middle Eastern or Islamic 
terrorists.  Mosques throughout the country received direct 
threats of violence in the days which followed.  Other 
minority groups besides Muslims and Arabs were also 
frightened by the threatened backlash.  In the light of 
this, it would not seem "wise" to use the powerful medium 
of the film to feed once again such fears.  

Of course, the film is fiction.  The prejudice and fear 
which resulted in earlier threats of violence to American 
men and women, however, is not fiction.  It is a fact of 
recent memory.  The intention of those responsible for "The 
Siege" would appear to prey upon the fears and prejudices 
which surfaced so readily following that painful and very 
home-grown tragedy.  Anyone who claims to be unaware of the 
inflammatory nature of such a scenario displays ignorance 
of the realities of the world in which we live.

We are speaking about men and women who will be affected by 
this film.  The fears and prejudices which many people 
already have of "Muslim" or "Arab" terrorists will be 
heightened by the strong and powerful images of the film.  
The fears of those of our neighbors who are either Muslim 
or Arab will become proportionately more intense.  Who 
could find value in playing on such emotions and causing 
such pain to men and women who seek to live together in 
peace and harmony?

We look for creativity from our artists.  Is there not 
action and excitement enough for creative artists to 
explore in building a world which we wish for our children 
to inherit?  This is the true challenge of the film to all 
of us.  If our artists cannot be creative in the struggle 
for a society of mutual understanding, tolerance, and 
respect, can our churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples 
be creative?  Will men and women of goodwill be creative 
enough to capture the hearts and minds of people in order 
to build a world where a film such as "The Siege" would be 
incongruous?

-end-

* The Rev. Dr. Bert Breiner is an Episcopal priest who 
served a parish in Philadelphia, lectured at the 
interdenominational seminary in Malaysia, and taught Islam 
and Christian-Muslim Relations as a recognized lecturer of 
the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. His PhD 
thesis was Abraham in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He 
is an adjunct professor at Hartford Seminary and is 
regularly invited as a guest lecturer at New York 
University and Audrey Cohen College. Dr. Breiner's 
interests include Judaism, Islam and Christianity; 
spirituality; Islamic Law; Christian theology of other 
faiths; the interaction between religious communities and 
between religion and secular society; religion and human 
rights. Currently active primarily in Christian-Muslim and 
Christian-Native Traditional dialogue, he leads workshops 
and discussion groups, lectures widely to secular groups, 
church and mosque groups and at mixed gatherings, and has 
taught in a number of languages.

Contact Information:
(W)   212-870-2560
(H) 212-647-9225
(Beeper) 917-781-3614

Or write c/o NCC Interfaith Relations, Room 870,
475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
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