Ernie: Good answer. Just one little problem. Currently there is a Big Stink in Indiana where a local school board had 2nd graders take part in [ rehearsals for ] a school production in which Allah is praised --that is, to represent Islam. The Christmas part of the production is diluted pabulum in which you could not recognize the allusions to the Christ child unless you were a theologian. Needless to say, local parents, energized by one of their number, went into an uproar. The school decided to pull the Allah reference. The point being that , although Muslims have kids, adults with an interest in what the kids learn may take a very dim view of "infidel" symbolism and cinemagraphic "idolatry." They would --I would guess-- raise a stink of their own, especially the religious police of Saudi Arabia. Yet, a deal has been struck. This is not so simple, the deal itself cuts in different ways and represents a challenge to some entrenched and powerful interests, That is a lot to overcome. So, what explains all of this ? A footnote worth relaying. I have no idea how reliable this is, but some time ago Pat Robertson said that the 700 Club had received a message from a Saudi woman who had become a convert to Christian faith as a result of the show. I cannot tell you if this is the whole story or not, but let's say it is true. Does this mean that the Saudis are "breaking" as far as their current "wall" against outside influence goes ? Why wasn't the 700 Club blocked ? Will Disney be blocked inside the kingdom but operate freely outside ? There are things going on that, I believe, could tell us something important if we knew a number of so-far missing facts. Billy In a message dated 12/16/2009 12:49:13 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
Hi Billy, On Dec 16, 2009, at 12:16 PM, [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) wrote: Ernie: Here's the question-- I sent a copy of the story to my friend with the Islam Today TV show. He pointed out that a lot about Disney productions is --on the face of it-- un-Islamic or even anti-Islamic. Yet a Saudi company sees a market for Disney, if not in Saudi Arabia per se, in their back yard ( nearby countries ). So, if there IS a market, what does this say about contemporary Arab Islam ? Even Muslims have kids. :-) I used to think Elmo was of the devil. Now he has his own chair in my house... -- Ernie P. Three Little Pigs for example. To which we can add Pluto the dog, since Muslims regard dogs as unclean or worse. "Women" -in the form of Minnie Mouse, etc-- don't wear abayas or burqas. And on and on. Yet a Saudi company sees a market for Disney, if not in Saudi Arabia per se, in their back yard ( nearby countries ). So, if there IS a market, what does this say about contemporary Arab Islam ? And even if, for now, there is no airtime for Disney in Saudi Arabia, where films are unwelcome as such, there is bound to be spillover via the Gulf states, presumably Iraq, Jordan, Syria, especially Egypt, etc , as well as expat Arab Muslims elsewhere who buy into the TV service. No small thing since Disney means billions of dollars and vast cultural influence. This is what perplexes me. Billy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In a message dated 12/16/2009 11:47:25 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) writes: > I have no idea at all what to make of this Disney to air for free in Middle East I already told you - the end of civilization as we know it. :-P Disney programming and movies will be available for free in the Middle East following a new deal between Disney's parent company News Corporation and the Saudi Rotana Media Group. Not sure why they think NewsCorp is the parent of Disney -- maybe because Fox has broadcast rights in some regions?!? -- Ernie P. _______________________________________________ Centroids mailing list: [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) _http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com_ (http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com) Archives at http://radicalcentrism.org/pipermail/centroids_radicalcentrism.com/ _______________________________________________ Centroids mailing list: [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) _http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com_ (http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com) Archives at http://radicalcentrism.org/pipermail/centroids_radicalcentrism.com/ = _______________________________________________ Centroids mailing list: [email protected] http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com Archives at http://radicalcentrism.org/pipermail/centroids_radicalcentrism.com/
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