McTiernan developed a Hollywood character that is both humorous and virtuous in ibn Fadlan. Sadly, the film is lurking at movie theaters and is not doing well at all. While Arab Americans were outspoken in their opposition to The Siege , they are generally silent and apathetic when it comes to The 13th Warrior. ADC's Hala Maksoud is one of the few Arab American leaders who has demonstrated a single standard when it comes to fighting discrimination, and she has issued a statement encouraging support from the Arab American community for the movie. It's easy to stand up and yell and scream.
Protest requires little strategic planning and no brains.
Anyone can do it. But few people can stand up and strategically embrace something that is difficult to accomplish. If it's not a Hafli or a wedding, we Arab Americans sometimes can't find the stamina to organize or stand together. There is great shortterm reward in screaming, protesting and demonstrating against something, but the longterm rewards are sometimes too far away to entice community action. We should be out there sending letters of thanks to McTiernan and to Touchstone Pictures for investing in a film that makes Arabs look great in the court of public opinion.