Saturday, April 11, 2015

RPI 'postpones' showing of 'American Sniper'


PHOTO by "CAMPUS REFORM"
The Union Program and Activities Committee at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute postponed a Friday showing of “American Sniper” because of complaints from the college’s Muslim Student Association.
The blockbuster movie – based on the life of Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle and directed by Clint Eastwood – was replaced by “The Theory of Everything.” Rather than part of the regular Friday night movie schedule, “American Sniper” will be shown at a later date as part of an “educational forum” according to the UPAC Cinema Facebook page.
RPI has long upheld the values of respect and coexistence, thus it is only our highest concern that this screening would not create any tensions or hatred among students at RPI.RPI has long upheld the values of respect and coexistence, thus it is only our highest concern that this screening would not create any tensions or hatred among students at RPI. RPI has long upheld the values of respect and coexistence, thus it is only our highest concern that this screening would not create any tensions or hatred among students at RPI.RPI has long upheld the values of respect and coexistence, thus it is only our highest concern that this screening would not create any tensions or hatred among students at RPI,” according to the UPAC Cinema’s Facebook post. “It is our hopes that the educational forum, which will include representatives from the portrayal of multiple identities in the movie, would create a better environment of dialogue and understanding on campus.”
UPAC is a student run movie theater sponsored by the Student Union. The Facebook post says the "education forum" will be held later this semester or early next semester. There is no firm date mentioned.
One person, Andy Thrift, a former Fire Support Sergeant in the U.S. Army, responded to the decision to postpone the filming on the UPAC Facebook page.
“I wonder if you would do the same thing if students of German descent or Japanese descent would have requested to cancel Saving Private Ryan or Letters from Iwo Jima?” Swift wrote. “I'm guessing not.”
UPAC said it has received “numerous emails and even a petition suggesting that the cancellation is censorship, however this is not the case.”
“Censorship is an attempt to bring a subject out of focus; our action is an attempt to bring strong issues into greater focus,” according to the UPAC Facebook post. “We want to hold an educational event that invites members from MSA, the Student Veterans of America, and any other organizations that could take interest in this film to lead a discussion open to all RPI students and faculty members.”
Kyle was made famous by the autobiography: “American Sniper: The Autobiography of the most lethal sniper in U.S. Military History.” The movie was released in November, 2014 and has grossed $540 million, the highest grossing war movie to date. It received six nominations at the last Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Kyle is credited with 255 kills in four tours in Iraq, 160 of those are officially confirmed by the U.S. Department of Defense.
According to the “Campus Reform” the University of Michigan also tried to pull the movie after the school’s Middle Eastern and North Africa Association and the Muslim Students’ Association “condemned the movie as offensive and asked it not be shown.” The Campus Reform website said the college has since decided to show the film along with a discussion.

38 comments:

  1. Politically correct garbage. I wonder if Rpi president Shirley Q Liquor Jackson Lee Obama was behind the decision.. I'm sure she was. Another socialist fool trying to poison the young men and women's minds on our college campuses.

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    1. Actually, this decision was made entirely by the students who run UPAC cinema. At no point did any administration make a decision and only dispensed with advice after it was asked for. As well-functioning and intelligent adults, the students can decide for themselves what precautions to take with a film. American Sniper will be shown later this semester alongside an optional educational forum.

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  2. I am very disappointed; my son graduated from this school and it never struck me as a liberal or political school. Can we stop kowtowing to the Muslims.

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    1. seen Dave and his Ellen look alike out the other day. Let's hope bobby cox doesn't see them. He might run like he did when Crist and Harry confronted him over by genderons in that flashy s10 pickup with the racing stripes

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    2. Prudhomme for mayor

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    3. Who's Dave and Ellen?

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  3. If you do not want to see it, then don't go.
    But do not limit my right to see it.
    Pretty soon, the left will be rewriting history.
    If Japanese Americans were offended by a showing of Tora, Tora, Tora does that mean it should not be shown?

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    1. Politics aside, Tora Tora Tora was just a shitty film period.

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    2. I agree if you don't want to see it don't go . We have thousands of red blooded AMERICAN young men and women deployed to the middle east defending operation enduring freedom, sacrificing every day so we can have the freedoms we all enjoy and take for granted here in our home. Remember who flew into the towers, Do we really give a fuck if we offend them. I sure as hell don't

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    3. Um, I think the people who "flew into the towers" are dead.

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    4. If you really think the US military is in the Middle East to "defend our freedom" I have an ocean to sell you in Arizona. It's Empire building at its finest. Wake up sheep

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    5. If the U.S. military wasn't a global power these radicals would be here and you could try to sell your Arizona ocean to one of your goat fuckin friends.

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  4. Just what about the movie was offensive anyway? It showed the story based on Chris Kyle's book of what his experience was. It never trashed or degraded Muslims. This film should be shown just like any other film on a Friday night in the theater, and not as a part of a forum with no scheduled date.

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  5. I wouldn't even give the College the press. The movie is the top grossing film in years.. If people choose not to see it so be. Ridiculous

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  6. You're a pansy censoring comments Jim. You should get a job with these media sanctuary idiots.

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  7. There's a lot missing from the full story, so maybe you can find the details yourself at: https://www.facebook.com/rpi.msa/posts/625263854274669
    Additionally, when they showed Selma the Union also had an open forum to discuss race relations in America. Because discrimination if you are black is a real issue that's happening now. So in the same way I think it's great that UPAC is planning to have a forum where we can discuss this. http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/5-7-13-1.png
    40% of Americans think that Islam encourages violence more than other religions, this is because of A) The actions of small small small minority and B) How these actions are described in the media, "Islamic terrorist", " jihadist", "Islamist militants". Terrorists don't have a religion.
    There is no religion that tells you to murder innocent people. Islam like Christianity, Judaism etc, we're about spreading peace and love, but just by "business as usual" I.e. continued negative portrayal of Islam in the media, people won't know this.
    Having an open forum where we can discuss our feelings and experiences in regards to this topic is much appreciated and a step in the right direction towards a better understanding of each other's beliefs.

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    1. Blah blah blah why don't you just take your shirt off again

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    2. I can't wait to get a "better understanding" of why the followers of Islam slaughtered thousands in the towers on 9/11. In your next post please explain why in your "better understanding" this was justified, for I'm sure you feel their pain. After you post then proceed to "go fuck yourself".

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    3. Its not a movie about racism, nor is it anti muslim. Its a story about the life, death,and service of anAmerican soldier. Yes he was a sniper, and yes he killed muslim extremists, that makes it factual, not anti muslim. Postponingthe movie so you can have a 'feel good talk' won't change the facts.

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    4. Um. Maybe we can get a "better understanding" of why the followers of Christ slaughtered hundreds of thousands in the Middle East after 9/11.

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    5. Obviously not enough.

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  8. You can defend the religion but where are the millions of Muslims condemning these terroristic actions. They are killing in the name of the religion so it is correct to blame the religion and have a negative view of it.

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  9. Now you censor this, as they say in Shark Tank. Thats why I'm out!

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  10. Hey I am from I guess the OLD Polytechnic from 1972 but we got thru Nam with some radicals but Wisconsin chem burned and we survived! This knuckle under to Radical Muslims is SOO politically correct but so stupid. Soon your country will be over run by these people since they hate everything about us and want to destroy us! It is NOT a religion if they want to KILL those who don't believe their doctrine! Wake up America and especially those of you in College! There is more to our future than drinking and parties although I did that too! Since Shirley took over I stopped donating since she is like a dictator same as Obummer. She should drive herself to work and not have a possee plus less money since we are a small school but she drove a big deal and trustees bought it!!!!

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    1. I could see right away that you're a RPI grad. Hopefully you did better in engineering than you did in English and writing. WOW

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  11. Campus censorship = Head in Sand approach to life. It's typical of the lack of reality on many college campus. Why do we always let the special interests of foreign students take priority of "just face the facts". Like it or not, a college campus should not shelter students from the reality of the life on the street

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  12. "40% of Americans think that Islam encourages violence more than other religions, this is because of A) The actions of small small small minority and B) How these actions are described in the media, "Islamic terrorist", " jihadist", "Islamist militants". Terrorists don't have a religion.
    There is no religion that tells you to murder innocent people. Islam like Christianity, Judaism etc, we're about spreading peace and love, but just by "business as usual" I.e. continued negative portrayal of Islam in the media, people won't know this. " Horseshit! Those perfidious savages choose to teach hatred, choose to preach intolerance of other religions. They choose to persecute other Muslims as well, with no regard for life, any life. Islam has a fundamental flaw in that in prayer Muslims are required to follow an imam, who is to recite passages from the Quran. This is how Islam has become corrupted to the point we have a few million bloody savages running around kidnapping school girls and beheading innocents. Try reading Sura number five, verse number 72 for yourself.

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  13. RPI does whatever it wants to do.

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  14. Carmella wishes the Sniper would aim @#troycrazy. The girl should get out in the sun more - her skin might thicken up.

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  15. Why he's lame duck and not even coming to work daily

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  16. Why is rods new chair bigger than the rest. To match his ego?

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  17. This has Rodney's cop-hating buddy Ben Brucato written all over it.

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  18. When does the grand jury looking into the King Street tear downs release its findings?

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  19. Rodney will disarm all the police and troy and give them pillows that are made out of recycled compost. Working families party puppet at its finest.

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