Iran outraged by Hollywood war epic

Yahoo News ^ | March 13, 2007 | Staff

[OnRightOnLeftCoast]

TEHRAN (AFP) - War epic "300", a smash hit in the United States for its gory portrayal of the Greco-Persian wars, has drawn the wrath of Iranians for showing their ancestors as bloodthirsty "savages".

The press, officials and bloggers have united in denouncing the film as another example of "psychological warfare" against Tehran by its American arch enemy at a time of mounting tension over its nuclear programme.

"Hollywood declares war on Iranians," said the headline in the reformist daily Ayandeh-No of the film which tells the story of the 300 Spartan soldiers fighting off ancient Persians in the Battle of Thermopylae.

[3AngelaD]

EWWWW. I think I'll watch my DVD of South Pacific again and skip the Speedoes.

[The Pack Knight]

Funny how we take so much from ancient Greece, almost all of it Athenian Greece, yet all the sports teams are Spartans....

We take a few things from Sparta, too. One can find roots of our modern military system, including standardized training, equipment, and uniforms, in the Spartan system. Also, if you look at the mission statement of any of the combat branches of the Army, you'll find the phrase "close with and destroy the enemy", a doctrine that has its roots in the Greek phalanx perfected by the Spartans.

Besides.. who wants to play for a football team called the "Athenians"?

[Rummyfan]

Or the Thebans or... The Thespians!

[Arthalion]

the Spartan culture would be considered more barbaric than that of the Persians

Indeed, and their barbarity is well documented. The Spartans, for example, would immerse newborn children in a highly potent wine for some period. Many children simply died from the exposure, but if they survived, they would be brought before the elders of their village for judgment. Children deemed "unfit", those with deformities, birth defects of any type, or even those who simply became too ill after their wine bath, would be taken up a nearby mountain and hurled off a cliff. Children permitted to live, who later were found to have any type of similar disability (or who were severely injured during their military training...which started at 7) met the same fate.

The Spartans also excelled in the art of the orgy, and bisexualism among their females was the norm. Spartan men who failed in battle rarely returned home, because Spartan society placed more value on victory than family...a husband coming home in disgrace would probably have his throat cut by his wife while he slept, so that she could erase her shame.

Not a nice people, at all.

[3niner]

I guess it time for Iranians to kill the makers of "300", for the crime of depicting their ancestors as "bloodthirsty savages". ;-)

[isrul]

It all makes perfect sense. Their ancestors were vicious barbarians who logically embraced the vicious, barbaric, blood cult of Mohammedanism when it came along.

[isrul]

If they find out the Spartans practiced compulsory homosexuality they'll really freak out. The great Persians bloodied by a bunch of girly men, albeit manly girly men.

[Herkyman]

Oh, the humanity!!!!!!!!!!!! Muslim Outrage....Didn't see this coming (sarc)

[Paul Ross]

Persian culture disappeared when the invading Muslims forced Islam on it with the sword.

Correct.

[infowarrior]

Haven't see it yet. Would have thought that PC Hollyweird would have tamed it down a bit so as to not offend anyone (except Christians, of course).

I've just come back from seeing it, about 2 hours ago. Nothing "tame" about it at all. Bear in mind, though, it's a film adaptation of the 1998 Frank Miller graphic novel of the same name, so isn't historically accurate in every detail.

Why the Iranian government has their turbans in a twist about it frankly, eludes me, although being members of The Religion of Perpetual Outrage may have something to do with it. Was the depiction of the Persians as slaves to Xerxes entirely accurate historically, no, but Asia has been home to despotism since history has started to be recorded. Likewise, the Asian philosophy of the cheap value of human life been a relative constant. Miller portrayed a composite picture in 1998 with the story, and the filmmakers remained true to Miller's composite, nothing more...

the infowarrior

[dhs12345]

Interesting.

Kind of hypocritical of Iran to be complaining after all that they have said about Israel.

Of course, they will continue to do what they do if no one questions what they say. Most of Europe agree with Iran about Israel.

[The Pack Knight]

Not a nice people, at all.

Maybe not, but without them, Western civilization as we know it might have died in the cradle. The Romans weren't too nice either, but I imagine our world would be a much darker place had they not left their mark on it.

[dennisw]

I find it apalling and infuriating that this sawed-off little punk is even allowed in this country, and to top it off, given carte blanche to address the U.N. with his agenda of hate and destruction for the U.S. and his allies. Then again, it's the U.N., with Kofie "The Lost Bushman" Anan as the pivotman in this latest political circlejerk. It doesn't surprise me he is a little man (5'4")in stature and in class. You would think, being so anal about his appearance, he'd at least put a suit and tie on but that's beneath him. No, we get the full monty of his weak spin on the "Mao jacket", and open collar '70's disco look.

He said nothing new or surprising to me; he hates America, he wants us all dead, his claim of nuclear energy for peaceful use is BS, and it's time we stop tap-dancing around with this puke and send in a team to take him out. While we're at it, let's get the rest of the hate mongers and make it a package deal. The last time we pussied around getting a dangerous individual like him, we still find ourselves hunting his ass all over God's abomination, that is, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and those other cesspools of fetid waste. For those who say Bush isn't doing enough or doing it "right", at least he's not getting his chubby polished in the Oval Office. (All that banter about him knocking the bottom out of Condy Rice is bullshit too! Haven't seen a speck of evidence to support that.)