President Obama said today Sony Pictures made a mistake when it pulled a film depicting an attempted assassination of North Korean dictator/goofball Kim Jong-Un.
Well, Mr. President, from my vantage point, Sony’s bigger mistake was making the film in the first place.
http://politicslive.cnn.com/Event/President_Obama_Press_Conference?hpt=hp_t1
The film and the reaction from North Korea has been the talk of, well, the world. “The Interview” was supposed to be released. It stars Seth Rogen and James Franco and it’s about a plot to kill Kim Jong-Un.
Sony pulled the picture, cancelling its release after North Korea launched a cyber attack in response to the film. Yes, the crazy Stalinists in North Korea were angry.
Why in the world would anyone be surprised? And why would anyone doubt North Korea would respond with a cyber attack that has done considerable damage around the world?
Why, also, wouldn’t Sony have anticipated this kind of unpredictability from the leader of a reclusive state known to do just about anything to make a point?
Obama said American filmmakers shouldn’t be pushed around by nations angry over their work.
That’ a fair point.
But don’t filmmakers have a responsibility to exercise some judgment in choosing the topics — and individuals — they seek to portray?
They made a “comedy” about an attempt to kill a living, breathing leader of a nation that has acted rather dangerously before.
Therein lies Sony’s mistake.
I’m going to disagree with this one, Mr. Kanelis.
We should never respond to words with sticks and stones and we should never capitulate to those who do. Satire is as old as any medium it appears in, this is not a new problem.
It’s a fundamental American belief that the freedom of speech – of expression – of art – is sacred. Artists and journalists have purpose. They are here to make points, to show the world something new or something old through a new lens. We lose that purpose if we ever compromise that value.
We fail. A lot. People use that sacred trust to do terrible things, but what terrible things would come of trying to regulate it?
This movie was probably not worth the fuss, but we should protect that value with passion and zeal – even if it’s over an ill-conceived and bone-headed stoner flick. Our resolve should never, ever falter.
We are here for a purpose, no matter what kind of fits are thrown.
The value in this conflict is displaying that concept. Knowing that we will not compromise art to please any sitting leader. To show that our values mean something to us. To show we have something inside of us that is worth more than any fear can diminish.
Would you have deprived us of Chaplin’s Great Dictator?
Well put. And to think I was simply going to ask John if he thinks miniskirt-wearing rape victims should have known better and deserve what they get as well.