there are so many things wrong with an american soldier writing as an insider about a country where america maintains military bases that are strongly resented by the majority of the local people except for their dictators, whom the bases aim to protect. this whole idea of “cultural intervention” under the guise of feminism and sensitivity to the other is such racist bullcrap. whenever any privileged do-gooder of the first world asks, “is there anything i can do?” it’s helpful to remind them to take care of structurally exploitative, militarily imposed systems of injustice which originate in their own country and are responsible for the inequities they so lament around the world. but it’s easier to write a “complex” (?) tv melodrama about an american girl forced to wear the abaya in saudi arabia than to figure out and take responsibility for one’s own complicity in this grotesque world order. also particularly telling is this sympathetic cultural ambassador’s characterization of the arabs/muslims she so fervently wants to help as a mob (barbaric hordes anyone?) because they didn’t like what she had to say about them and didn’t really dig the idea of her channeling their voice. hey, brooke eikmeier, if you really want to write about something important and help women’s struggles right here in the u.s. (a valuable opportunity for furthering the cause of women worldwide), perhaps you could tackle the less popular subject of rape in the military. i promise you’ll have the support of this member of the mob.
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Brooke Eikmeier: The fact is the intended series could have been a step in the right direction for all cultures and all women, sparking greater tolerance, understanding and empathy. As of a week ago a show already existed that had made it past all the many hurdles others have stumbled at before. Not only had it been picked up to pilot but the order for 10 scripts was a vote of confidence that it would have had staying power and support at the network. Success was easily within reach to achieve a goal many in the Muslim community want: a series that showed them fairly and with admiration and complexity, that would give opportunities to Arab writers and Arab actors. Blinded by the stereotype the mob had of the typical Hollywood writer, however, those imminent jobs have now disappeared. That is no victory, in any form, for anyone. More here.