Zero toleration for discrimination. (letters).

Kudos for noting the entertainment industry's sour history of unethical ethnic portrayals in "Reel Arabs" on pg. 2 of the March 2002 issue.

In recent decades, and for far too many years, Arabs and Muslims have been routinely victimized when portrayed in films (and even mainstream documentaries). Those who unknowingly or knowingly write, produce, or direct such racist, jingoist, and racially discriminatory content need to be challenged by those of us in this and affiliated industries.

We should not take our cues from the public. Rather, we should set the non-prejudicial tone for the public in every instance. As American film and video producers, we have a high obligation not to participate in advancing apartheid paradigms or anti-Arab apologist propaganda. Whether we like to admit it or not, public actions and policies are affected by the way we characterize groups and individuals in our ...