American Sniper: anti-Muslim threats skyrocket in wake of film's release

[n2doc]

American Sniper continues to draw record-breaking audiences as it barrels into its second weekend in wide release, but a group representing Arab-Americans says the rate of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim threats resulting from the Oscar-nominated war film has already tripled.

Citing what an executive for the group told the Guardian was a “drastic increase” in hate speech on social media, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee wrote letters this week to actor Bradley Cooper and director Clint Eastwood to ask them to speak out “in an effort to help reduce the hateful rhetoric”.

The film, which was nominated for six Academy Awards including best picture, depicts the story of Chris Kyle, the famed US navy Seal notorious for the highest known single kill count in US military history. But its all-American depiction on screen has drawn heavy criticism from combat veterans and viewers alike – and especially about viewers themselves, many of whom have emerged from theatres desperate to communicate a kind of murderous desire.

A quick search on Twitter leads down a rabbit hole of anger.

“Great fucking movie and now I really want to kill some fucking ragheads,” read one tweet, in a set of screenshots that quickly went viral after being collated by journalist Rania Khalek for the online publication Electronic Intifada. “American sniper makes me wanna go shoot some fuckin Arabs,” read another.

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http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/24/american-sniper-anti-muslim-threats-skyrocket

[Fred Sanders]

1. 'American Sniper' is hate speech. It is having the intended effect. No one will speak out against

direct threats of violence the hate speech was intended to generate, certainly not the creators and profiteers.

[bluestateguy]

2. I have a standing policy of not criticizing movies until I have seen them

and I will do that here as well.

The violent threats of course, are unacceptable.

[Fred Sanders]

3. The AAAC has seen it and written a review. Well worth the read.

[piratefish08]

4. its propaganda doing exactly what it is supposed to. i would bet anything that military enlistments

spike way up over the next 60-90 days as well.

Amurka. fuck yeah.

[Dawson Leery]

5. I have no respect for Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper.

Chris Kyle was no saint. The movie leaves out his lack of remorse or any doubt about what happened in Iraq. Don't forget Kyle has a history of lying.

I see why Spielberg dropped out of directing this film. He wanted to portray the other side of this war, the Iraqis who were fighting to protect their homes. That was unacceptable to Kyle's family.

[Demit]

6. I have to say, my respect for Bradley Cooper went down on his choice

to make this movie.