------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 2, 2002
Barring the Gate to a Great Director
It's a mystery what the Bush administration thought it was protecting us from when it denied a timely visa to Iran's leading film director, Abbas Kiarostami. Surely not international embarrassment. The idea that the United States government is incapable of distinguishing between a potential terrorist and a renowned 62-year-old filmmaker who has been here seven times before without incident is not flattering to America's intelligence capacities or its reputation for cultural literacy.
Early last month Mr. Kiarostami applied at the American Embassy in Paris for permission to attend the opening of his latest film, "Ten," at the New York Film Festival last weekend. He was told that no visa could be issued before December because of a new requirement for a lengthy background check on applicants from certain countries, including Iran. Despite appeals from many in the artistic world, including a former French culture minister, Jack Lang, Washington declined to shorten the three-month delay.
Careful visa screening procedures are certainly warranted these days. But it should not take three months to uncover the background of Mr. Kiarostami, the director of thoughtful, introspective films like "A Taste of Cherry," "The Wind Will Carry Us" and "Close Up." Mr. Kiarostami has generally steered clear of controversial political issues, preferring to express himself through his movies.
Visits by other foreign artists have also had to be canceled because of new visa rules, which have now been applied to 26 countries, most of them Muslim. Such blanket restrictions based on nationality alone are counterproductive, reinforcing the notion that America is hostile to Islam in general, not just protecting itself against terrorism.
Copyright The New York Times Company | Permissions | Privacy Policy
--
"We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant
facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies and competitive values. For
a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and
falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its
people."
President John F. Kennedy
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
