Schindler’s List director says in speech marking 30th anniversary of the USC Shoah Foundation that he is alarmed that ‘we may … once again have to fight for the very right to be Jewish’.

In remarks reported by Deadline, Spielberg said: “Those who can not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. I am increasingly alarmed that we may be condemned to repeat history – to once again have to fight for the very right to be Jewish.”

He added: “The echoes of history are unmistakable in our current climate. The rise of extremist views has created a dangerous environment, and radical intolerance leads a society to no longer celebrate differences but instead conspire to demonise those who are different to the point of creating ‘the Other’… This is happening alongside anti-Muslim, Arab, and Sikh discrimination. The creation of ‘the Other’ and the dehumanisation of any group based on their differences, is the foundation of fascism.”

Spielberg also directly addressed the current conflict in Gaza for the first time, saying: “We can rage against the heinous acts committed by the terrorists of October 7th and also decry the killing of innocent women and children in Gaza.”

  • Immersive_Matthew@sh.itjust.works
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    6 months ago

    From the article.

    Spielberg also directly addressed the current conflict in Gaza for the first time, saying: “We can rage against the heinous acts committed by the terrorists of October 7th and also decry the killing of innocent women and children in Gaza.”

    • livus@kbin.socialOP
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      6 months ago

      Also this was interesting:

      Spielberg has not signed the open letter criticising Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazer’s Oscar acceptance speech.

        • boredtortoise
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          6 months ago

          It was something like they made this movie to reflect atrocities in the past and present, and they refute to be connected to Israel who is committing their acts in the name of all the jewish

        • triptrapper@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          “We stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation, which has led to conflict for so many innocent people. Whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all [are] victims of this dehumanization.”

          • kralk
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            6 months ago

            To add - the media reported only the part which said “we refute our Jewishness”, without the additional context. Hence the controversy.

            • triptrapper@lemmy.world
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              6 months ago

              Yes, I also think it could have been worded a little more clearly. But definitely not Glazer’s fault that he was misrepresented.

    • Deceptichum@sh.itjust.works
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      6 months ago

      But can we decry the genocide being committed by Israel or will be try to downplay it with weasel words.

      • Immersive_Matthew@sh.itjust.works
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        6 months ago

        Right. He got close to calling that out without saying the word genocide which it absolutely is. I am truly shocked that in my lifetime I am seeing the same atrocities committed toward the Jewish people, now being committed by them on others. Really a sad underscore of human nature. I guess what goes round comes round.

        • invisiblegorilla@sh.itjust.works
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          6 months ago

          Yeah this is what bothers me the most, and no doubt fuels the ‘maybe Hitler was right’ tinfoilers. Israel isnt doing the Jewish any favours right now.

          • SoylentBlake
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            6 months ago

            Sacrificing the moral high ground guarantees another turn under the wheel of oppression.

            They could’ve continued deflecting aggression by playing defense, with swift brutal counter strikes, ala the 6 day war.

            But genocide? Indefensible.

            Months of killing innocent’s and now no one wants their picture taken with them. As far as I’m concerned there are Jews and there are Israeli’s and they are not the same thing. The most important people in my life are all Jews, and not a one supports the apartheid regime, and none of them ever plan on going to Israel in the future.

            • Monomate
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              6 months ago

              I hear a lot of people talking about an “apartheid regime” happening in Israel. But I don’t understand what’s the similarity with the South Africa apartheid regime. If there’s no significant proximity between the two, why call whatever happening in Isareal an “apartheid regime”?

              • SoylentBlake
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                6 months ago

                Apartheid means institutionalized and state sponsored segregation and racism.

                • Monomate
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                  6 months ago

                  If by “segregation” you mean a country enforcing its borders and only allowing immigration on strict criteria, then every country has an apartheid regime by some degree. And as far as I know, 20% of Israeli citizens are Muslim, mostly originating from immigration. If we compare to how many Jewish people (if any?) are allowed to live peacefully in the Arab countries, then we can start discussing which countries are actually racist.

                  • SoylentBlake
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                    6 months ago

                    Brother I have huge reservations against the Arab countries as well, believe me. First and foremost and absolutely not last on the list, their foreign domestic worker treatment is modern day slavery, complete with selling the workers without their consent to anyone willing to pay. Selling people IS slavery.

                    Criticizing one peoples doesn’t mean I can’t criticize the other, NOR does whataboutism absolve the other party of its wrongdoings. That’s some disgusting apologist thinking if you ask me. If power can’t justify its actions within its own society without pointing elsewhere…well, that’s a clear sign they’re in the wrong AND they know it. Never in history has other-ing people led to a better world. Division isn’t the answer. Power has argued the same argument for millenia, and it’s still not convincing, and they KNOW it, which is why so much effort is spent discrediting and hiding information contrary and keeping the people exhausted and distracted - all to maintain their grip on power.

                    And borders are imaginary, friend. Humanity needs to individually and collectively grow the fuck up and stop getting riled up over the imaginary. (The following uses “you” as a writing mechanism not ‘you’ personally). Idc about your imaginary friends. Getting upset because your plans changed due to outside factors is another example of childish behavior that needs to be seen as unacceptable. Plans aren’t real. They’re imaginary and can be reimagined. It’s toddler level foot stomping because youve not built fluidity into a closed fluid ecosystem, best case it was unintentional and you didn’t realize, worst case is just despotic laziness and manipulation.

    • Neato@ttrpg.network
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      6 months ago

      Yeah he’s right. That first part can be about America or the world at large, not specifically Gaza.