July 29, 2010, - 1:35 pm

Have You Seen “The Infidel”?

By Debbie Schlussel

Someone on Twitter, Mickey Makpolo (you can also follow me on Twitter), asked me for my opinion on this trailer, below, for the movie “The Infidel,” which hasn’t been released here (or, at least, not in Detroit) yet. It’s a British movie, which came out there–in the United Kingdom of Islamostan–in April.

I’ve learned never to judge movies from trailers because they’re usually far worse than the trailers. But this trailer makes it look like the movie is mocking both Jews and Muslims and making them morally equivalent, as if somehow Jews treat and are as prejudiced against Muslims as Muslims are against Jews with the open, violent anti-Semitism they express on Western shores. I’m tired of the moral equivalence tack, which is often employed to defend Islamic terrorists, not just Palestinian ones–equating them with their innocent Jewish victims at pizza shops and bars and also their innocent Americans and Westerners everywhere else. Total baloney. And it’s already been done on film, in the horrid “Don’t Mess With the Zohan” (read my review), which essentially said, oh, the Muslims are oppressed as much as the Jews, even though the sheer stats of hate crimes say otherwise.

I’ll wait for the movie to confirm my impression based on the trailer. But like I said, the trailer is usually better than the movie, so it’s probably far worse than my early diagnosis. So, I’ll probably hate it.  Have you seen this movie? If so, what was your impression? Is mine accurate?

theinfidel




Tags: , , , , , , ,


20 Responses

Hi debbie-‘moral equivalence’ today seems to mean agreeing with your enemy that you are evil. I hate moral equvalence, as the scales are NEVER balanced.
I pass on this movie-my life is comedy enough right now.

Douglas Q on July 29, 2010 at 1:55 pm

Debbie, The film played here at the Jerusalem Film Festival a few weeks ago–seeing it in an Israeli audience is quite a different experience, of course. It IS a very funny film with some great lines about Jews and Israelis–at least that’s what it feels like sitting in an all-Jewish/Israeli audience. The ending however,is as you feared. The Moslems are made out to be “people just like us..”

JudyinJerusalem on July 29, 2010 at 4:44 pm

Haven’t even heard of the movie …until now.

ebayer on July 29, 2010 at 5:23 pm

I haven’t seen the movie (in all probability, I never will), but as you’ve noted, it’s produced in the United Kingdom of Islamostan — perhaps, that should be sufficient warning by now.. Can’t expect much of anything coming out of the UK except for more pandering to Fascists and the “progression” towards primitivism (note squat toilets in urban areas, Sharia law, wife beating, female genital mutilation, etc ); virulent antisemitism; and racist, reactionary politics in the name of “liberalism.”

J.S. on July 29, 2010 at 5:39 pm

    JS: Have you ever been to the UK?

    I have. In fact I’ve lived here for nearly 47 years, and I do not recognise the way you describe it at ALL. You really need to listen to the grass-roots people and not so much what’s churned out by people with an agenda one way or the other.

    Our fear of an Islamic takeover is at LEAST as great as yours. Where I live – in Liverpool – we have a hugely diverse cultural spread with a noticeable Muslim population, but an equally prevalent Jewish one. And we have NO issues with either – in fact we have huge displays in the city centre for Hanukkah – clearly a blatant anti-Semitic sign. But Jewish businesses and people have long been a presence in Liverpool and I hope and pray it continues. Where there IS trouble, to be honest, it tends to be between Muslims and Black British. I’m not saying there isn’t race violence – there is, not unlike every other place in the world – but it’s VERY rare to encounter violence against Jews in Liverpool. Naturally, I can’t speak for everywhere in the UK since I know situations vary.

    Oh and, as far as I know, the squat toilets are planned for ONE urban area – singular. There’s no way I’d use them, not in this country. And I think it’s an idea of lunacy, as do all the people I know who’ve expressed an opinion on it.

    As for Sharia courts – we HAVE to allow them since, by the same laws, Jewish courts have operated over here for over 100 years. If we refuse one then we have to curtail the other. But they’re certainly not taking over from our own Courts (which are already far too subject to decrees from mainland Europe and which MANY of us are vocal about in expressing our dissatisfaction).

    Wife-beating is not a Muslim phenomenon – aren’t wife-beaters named after the stereotypical WHITE US male who wears that kind of garment on a daily basis? Over here we call them vests since the crime hasn’t entered our acceptance levels to the degree that we name an article of clothing after it. Wife-beating is illegal – I should know. I had my own ex-husband prosecuted for it. It is not condoned by ANYONE except by those who perpetrate the crime, and it is punished. The only problem there is, for it to be punished, it has to be reported, and many Muslim women are scared to do that. Efforts are in place to try and help, yes. But that is NOT pandering to Muslims. That’s offering help to people who need it. Would you have us totally ignore the women? After all, one more dead Muslim woman is one less terrorist-breeder, right?

    And if you think we condone such barbarity as female genital mutilation, then you’re breathtakingly ignorant of anything beyond your shores. Again, though, efforts are hampered by cultural reticence and ignorance on behalf of the people we most need to get to – the Muslim females.

    We ARE in danger – the whole world is – and I don’t know anyone who’s campaigning for a New Islamic Britain – the very idea is abhorrent to all right-minded Brits, myself included. It really doesn’t help to then read your diatribe. We are NOT blind to what’s going on, and we’re trying our damndest to prevent just what you rejoice in telling yourselves has already happened. We are NOT Islamic. The government is NOT the grass roots popluation. We have, indeed, prevented the Islamic “takeover” of more than one occasion and we will strive to continue to do more.

    Alison on July 30, 2010 at 4:15 pm

      Alison, if I take you at face value as not a Muslim (note that I do this provisionally), I must conclude that you are utterly clueless, which is exactly what most of us thought before you wrote. You claim to see the overall picture, proclaim that there really is a problem, then deny every specific of the problem.

      For example, you acknowledge the parallel sharia courts, but say, alas!, that you can do nothing about them because then you’d have to do something about the Jewish courts. Uh, do the Jewish courts (insofar as they exist) undermine UK law? Nope: that’s against Halacha. But it is par for the course for Sharia. Do you not know this, oh wise one who lectures us here? Why do you think that Jewish courts (insofar as the exist) have not prompted concerns the way Islamic courts have? Anyway, as there are few Jews in UK anymore, and most will be leaving soon because of increasing Jew-hatred (concentrated in the elite stratum and the Muslims), you won’t have to worry long about any Jewish courts. And, if you really cared about equality and justice, you would have dealt with the anti-Semites long ago, rather than inviting them in from Asia and electing them PM and mayor of London.

      You remind me of a Swede who INSISTED a few years ago that she saw no evidence of anti-Semitism or Muslim violence in Malmo.

      But, being British, you must demonstrate your superiority to us hicks in the “colonies.” You can’t do that online with an accent, so you make this snide comment:

      “Wife-beating is not a Muslim phenomenon – aren’t wife-beaters named after the stereotypical WHITE US male who wears that kind of garment on a daily basis?”

      The comment about the shirt is a desperate attempt at wit at the expense of the US. But really, don’t you have some dental work to get done? The suggestion, though, that wife-beating is not a Muslim phenomenon when it absolutely is (and even gets specific mention and approval in the Koran), shows either that you are a liar or an ignoramus.

      I could go on and on, but surely there is no need.

      skzion on July 31, 2010 at 8:53 pm

        @ skzion

        I am neither a Muslim (baptised and confirmed Church of England and attended a Church of England school up to age 18), an ignoramus or a liar. Neither was I trying to come across as superior. I wouldn’t dream of doing so – in fact it’s you who seems do be doing so since you’re the one resorting to name-calling.

        Wife-beating is NOT just a Muslim phenomenon, and for you to say that it is is simply untrue. It is possibly condoned in the Koran – but likewise it’s condoned in the Bible, as is slavery. I used the wife-beater analogy simply because it’s ONLY in the US, to my knowledge, that the garment has that name. It wasn’t done to have a go at your country but, really, even if it was could you blame me after the previous diatribe directed at my own and the people in it?

        In my part of England, as I stated, there is very little evidence of any anti-semitism at all, let alone the virulent, violent sort that was referred to. I have said before, and will do so again, that my own sympathies lie firmly on the side of the Jewish population and of Israel. I did NOT say that it doesn’t happen anywhere in the country, but I have little documentary or witnessed experience of it where I am. And I never said that there was no Muslim violence. What I said was that the violence tends to be between Muslims and British Blacks.

        As for the courts, Sharia courts do not have blanket rights over the UK courts. I have little doubt that they will try and encroach on such grounds but rest assured that there WILL be, at the very least, public unrest should that happen. And I hope you understand that, by “public unrest”, I’m using the stereotypical British understatement here. However, at the moment, it’s still our own laws which prevail – as much as the European courts will let them, which is a whole other kettle of fish.

        It was not my intention to lecture. I was simply reacting to what I saw as a particularly vitriolic condemnation of my country by J.S. Believe it or not, there are still MANY patriotic people over here. We love our country and we damn well want to defend it no matter who issues the insults and blanket condemnations.

        Oh, and my teeth are just fine, thank you. Now who’s being snide?

        Alison on August 1, 2010 at 4:04 pm

          (I just replied below.)

          skzion on August 1, 2010 at 5:12 pm

          Alison, there are a lot of pro-Israel folks in New Zealand, too. However, the bulk of your newspapers are pro-Muslim. Further, demographically, you are dead men walking. Sorry.

          Occam's Tool on August 31, 2011 at 10:09 pm

..haven’t seen it, but it is here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IHYJOU/?ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&tag=23tr45-20&creativeASIN=B003IHYJOU

Nick Fury on July 29, 2010 at 8:46 pm

Does anyone besides me realize this story was done more than 60 years ago? It was called Kingsblood Royal, a novel by Sinclair Lewis about a raving racist who learns he’s 1/16th Black. Remember the joke about George Wallace, may he rest in peace, going to the doctor and being told “Governor Wallace, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that you’re very, very ill. The bad news is you have sickle cell anemia.” That’s alright for a joke. But for a whole movie?

Miranda Rose Smith on July 30, 2010 at 2:11 am

I live in the UK and wrote about the Infidel on my blog a few months ago. Here is what I said:

**************************

I found something very illuminating in the latest issue of the Jewish Chronicle magazine. There is an interview there with the Jewish comedian David Baddiel about his new film “The Infidel” (about a Muslim who discovers that he is Jewish). One question asked is:

What can the film teach audiences?

Baddiel answers: “The main Muslim characters in the film are not suicide bombers or fundamentalists, they are just ordinary people and the film tries to show them as such”.

OK, but the very next question is:

What does being Jewish mean to you religiously and culturally?

Baddiel answers: “Probably the key speech in the film is when the rabbi, played by Matt Lucas, doesn’t let Mahmud in to see his father, who is dying, because he can’t say the Shema. That is the definition of Judaism.”

Obviously Baddiel does not see the irony of his determination to portray Muslims as ‘just like us’, but to portray Jews as religious fanatics.

**********************

The original posting (which the above was just a footnote to is here:

http://edgar1981.blogspot.com/2010/04/anti-israel-propaganda-portraying-as.html

Edgar Davidson on July 30, 2010 at 7:19 am

    Interesting, Edgar. Thanks.

    skzion on July 31, 2010 at 8:21 pm

There is nothing funny nor benign about muzzies. They should be herded up and shot.

As goes Israel - So goes the World on July 30, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    As goes Israel: I disagree. The practice of Islam should be subjected to laws related to treason, conspiracy and racketeering. In other words, we take the core tenets of the cult seriously and prosecute Muslims as if they were politically orientated gangsters. Mosques should be shut down on this basis.

    Naturally, no new Muslims should be imported.

    Recall that Islam allows the Infidel to choose to convert, or pay the jizya, or (implicitly) to flee if they can. Naturally, if Muslims converted, they would need no mosques. We cannot impose a jizya on them. But we can allow them to flee.

    skzion on July 31, 2010 at 8:29 pm

Don’t you just hate trailers that basically give away the entire plot + the ending of a film? After watching this, I now feel like I don’t have to see the movie. I already know the basic premise, and how it turns out.

Apatu Pissen on July 31, 2010 at 4:07 am

I have a secret I need to let everyone know…

I’m a homosexual muslum who’s afraid of my sexual proclivities…

That’s why I spew so much hate…

as goes Israel - so goes the world on August 1, 2010 at 12:45 am

as goes … I admit I’m starting to wonder about you. Not that there is anything wrong with being gay, mind you.

skzion on August 1, 2010 at 10:35 am

Alison, you say, “I am neither a Muslim (baptised and confirmed Church of England and attended a Church of England school up to age 18), an ignoramus or a liar.”

I thought the Church of England was an Islamic institution, what with the Islamo-pandering Rowan Williams and the shenanigans of Prince Charles, “Keeper of Faith” (but not of the faith). One of the noteworthy (and sometimes annoying) attributes of British culture had been a respect for tradition, even when at times the tradition in question was inane (see Monty Python for examples). Has it occurred to you that what has happened to the Anglican system indicates a systematic and grievous problem in UK?

“Wife-beating is NOT just a Muslim phenomenon, and for you to say that it is is simply untrue. It is possibly condoned in the Koran. . . ”

You claim not to be ignorant, but you do not know the relevant passage that is indeed in the Koran, though you are commenting about Islam?

“Men are in charge of women, because Allah has made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah has guarded. As for those from whom you fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High Exalted, Great. (Pickthall, Quran, 4:34)

But it’s not only in the Koran. You will find relevant passages in the Hadith and Sira (authoritative biography of Mo). This is not a footnote: it is part of Islam as actually practiced, just as is honor killing. The issue is not whether such practices are only found among Muslims but that they are standard operating procedure, detailed in such works of Sharia as Reliance of the Traveler.

“. . . but likewise it’s condoned in the Bible, as is slavery.”

You are spouting the talking points. Please supply anything comparable to what I did for Islam. I could deal with slavery as well, but I’m tired.

“As for the courts, Sharia courts do not have blanket rights over the UK courts. I have little doubt that they will try and encroach on such grounds but rest assured that there WILL be, at the very least, public unrest should that happen. And I hope you understand that, by “public unrest”, I’m using the stereotypical British understatement here.”

I’m not talking about “blanket rights.” Please stop with the red herrings. The fact is that, just as with your church, your legal system has already been undermined. Freedom of speech–based in common law–has been mostly undermined. If all this hasn’t produced a determination to act, what possibly could? Your current PM even wants Turkey in the EU!

In other words, the forest is on fire, and the British who are capable of writing a literate paragraph do nothing. Rather, they regurgitate Muslim talking points (without always realizing it) and explain how action is impossible. I am certain that Dickens had a very humorous coverage of this phenomenon, if I could only remember the book.

skzion on August 1, 2010 at 5:11 pm

From what I have heard David Baddiel do on radio and TV, he is a total kapo-type Jew. On the one hand he likes to be “exotic” but not too, on the other he likes to be one of the (islamophiliac)boys.

Omid Djalili is Iranian but has been brought up in UK. He belongs to an islamic sect that is currently persecuted in Iran, the followers are tortured and murdered. But he hates Jews/Israel.

So basically, all you need to know is, who are the participants and you don’t have to make yourself sick by watching even the trailer!

juniper on August 1, 2010 at 6:27 pm

Leave a Reply

* denotes required field