Yes, God forbid we should "demonize" evil. Unbelievable.

Snort. Soon I imagine we'll be hearing just how brave Spielberg's "interpretation of events" is. Dr. Helen has an interesting take on the self-acclaimed "bravery" of the artistes in our midst here

I think many "intellectuals" are so into the "shades of gray" worldview that they have forgotten that primary colors exist at all. They use what they claim to be their superior understanding of "nuance" as a sign of moral and intellectual superiority.

Here are some thoughts on the whole idea of "nuance" from Arthur Koestler.

I feel sick. Too right about moral equivalence! When was the last time he visited Israel, anyway?

As a sometimes artiste, I've noticed that most are desperate to get a job. They have no intention of standing up to "the Man", because their future employer, the Art Establishment, is the Man.

Once they have a job, most are desperate to keep it. It's very hard to get a job in the traditional arts.

A few artists are important enough not to care or work outside of the old establishment - they're able to stand up to the Man, but if you want a favorable reveiw from the LA Times, the Village Voice or the NYT, you have to spout the traditional anti-American semi-Stalinist rhetoric.

Add to that the fact that some of these actor/artistes were so terrified by 9/11 they spent the following year hiding under their beds. They think their celebrity status makes them vulnerable, and none of them want to be the next Theo Van Gogh. There's just no way they're ever going to criticize the mujahideen.

I think many "intellectuals"...

As if Spielberg were an intellectual. I've always thought of him as a rather obnoxious ten year old. Needless to say, I don't like his movies. I've seen three and swore I would never waste money on another.

Judith, the blogburst link you provided didn't work for me. I went back in the archives and found this one

http://www.hfienberg.com/kesher/2002_09_01_kesher_archive.html#85415470

Oops, looks like that was cut off. I made it into a tiny url.

http://tinyurl.com/7pdlb

Maggie thanks for flagging that. The URL is good except that it ends in php instead of html. My blog switched over a month ago and there are still some loose ends.

Leon W. wrote a negative review in TNR, and David Brooks's column in this week's Sunday Times doesn't look like it takes the side of the film, either.