Article link: http://www.nzherald.co.nz...on=general



Keisha in Prince suicide bomber rock clip
05.10.2004 By MATHEW DEARNALEY

Teenage actor Keisha Castle-Hughes has appeared in a music video by the rock megastar Prince, which depicts her character seemingly blowing up a crowded airport terminal.

The Oscar nominee and star of Whale Rider flew to Prince's Minneapolis headquarters about a month ago to film the video for his song Cinnamon Girl. She is shown as a school girl of mixed heritage facing taunts from classmates over her ethnicity after a terrorist attack.

Later in the four-minute clip, in which she is filmed against animated backgrounds, she appears to push a button to blow herself up at the airport.

The scene is then wound back, reassembling the airport terminal from the wreckage of a bomb blast, and raising questions about whether the detonation was intended to be real or fantasy.

Keisha's agent, Graham Dunster, is in no doubt, after listening to the song lyrics, that the scene is fantasy and the character played by the 14-year-old star decided against going through with the bombing after reflecting on the likely consequences.

Asked whether he had any concerns that American sensitivities may make it harder in future for his client to travel to the United States, he said: "In the context of the song lyrics, there is nothing to be aggrieved about."

Keisha had simply taken on the role as a professional acting job after Prince decided she was the one to play the part, without requiring any audition.

"I have to assume he has seen Whale Rider - it is huge in America."

Mr Dunster could not confirm Keisha's character was intended to be of Arab-American heritage, as suggested by one US media commentator, saying he believed she was meant to be a "melange" of many young women rather than any particular figure.

But Jewish Council chairman David Zwartz said on TV3 last night that the video seemed to glamorise suicide bombers and gave "a rather superficial" explanation of what motivated them.

Prince is apparently not helping to clarify the meaning, as his publicist has told US media he does not intend expanding on the lyrics.

These include the couplet: "Cinnamon girl mixed heritage, never knew the meaning of colour lines;

9/11 turned that all around, when she got accused of this crime."

Prince is apparently not helping to clarify the meaning, as his publicist has told US media he does not intend expanding on the lyrics.

These include the couplet: "Cinnamon girl mixed heritage, never knew the meaning of colour lines;

9/11 turned that all around, when she got accused of this crime."


but what the heck does color have to do with the actions of a bunch of muslim religious fanatics who attacked the world trade center?

i mean yes it's true they are not caucasian but why doesn't prince acknowledge that their fanatically zealous religious idealogies played a huge motivating factor?

XxAxX said:

Actually, this lyric is right on point. Most Americans don't equate terrorism with the act, they equate it with one's ethnicity or race. If you don't believe me, then just read the newspaper or watch CNN for about 30 minutes and you'll see. I remember on the 4th of July a couple of years ago there was a shooting at LAX. On CNN, the reporters were scrambling to find out if it was a "terrorist" act or not. When the reporter was asked if the shooting was an act of terrorism the reporter said that there are reports that the gunman was of "arabic descent", so it could have been an act of terrorism. If you don't see the point, then you don't see the point. Another example is an article in the USA Today a few days ago about a car bombing conducted by the Israeli government. If you don't see the point, then you don't see the point. I saw a documentary on HBO called "Death on Gaza" that may help some of you'll get the point. I think Prince is saying that these color lines have been artificially established by society, but she doesn't know the meaning of them. I don't find these lyrics offensive, but you are entitled to your opinion.

XxAxX said:

Color doesn't have anything to do with the attack, but it did play a role in how certain people were perceived after 9/11.

Case in point, I have a friend who was called all kinds of things because she "looked like a terrorist". Never mind that she's Indian. Idiots still made assumptions about her based on her appearance.


.
[Edited 10/7/04 8:52am]

YAY!!!!! PRINCE IS COOL AGAIN!!!!

Universaluv said:

Exactly. What saddens me is that so few of us are actually "getting it".

Universaluv said:

Right, just like color plays a role in the way everyone is perceived in this country. I've had numerous friends/girlfriends of various faiths, and ethnicities from different parts of the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa. Their ethnic/national origin, religious beliefs, cultures, outlooks and perspectives are completely different. However, in America they are all clumped in the same category because many of them posses a particular skin color or 'look" only associated with Muslims. We fail to realize that the intra-ethnic variation is often as great as the inter-ethnic variation (Iraq is a prime example). I will speak specifically to Islam...Islam is like Christianity with various sects, similar to our Christian denominations, and like our denominations they have different belief systems. Moreover, we don't consider that the broad labels we use describe a large and diverse group of people from different countries and faiths. Furthermore, many of the countries we recognize as Muslim have Islam as the dominant religion; however, there are citizens in those societies that are not Muslims. Just like everyone in the U.S. is not Christian.

Prince's song makes an excellent point because it addresses our fallacious labelling system and how widespread generalizations are used to identify particular groups of people as sharing the same views/beliefs/character traits (With the U.S. labelling theoies, the late Freddie Mercury would have been a "possible" terrorist simply because he was Persian). Unfortuantely, most people do not realize that these individuals have a wide range of differences, perspectives, and experiences just like everyone else. Everything is not simply either or!!
[Edited 10/4/04 12:39pm]

but what does skin color have to do with 9/11?

is prince really saying that suffering because of racism leads to acts of terrorism?

no doubt racism exists. but to link it causally to 9/11??

XxAxX said:

It's linked to 9/11 because people in with particular physical characteristics were automatically subjected to the stares, people not wanting to board planes with them, being harassed by police, accused of discussing another terrorist plot etc. (Did u not read Universaluv's post about his/her Indian friend?) That is all race based. Most American people have no idea how to tell the difference between particular groups of people. Take Indian and Pakistani people for example. They look the same to the average person but they are completely different. One is Hindu (India/Hindustan) and the other is Muslim(Paksitan). However, there is more variation within those two groups of peple. Some are from India, but they are Muslim and some are Hindu's from Pakistan. Each religious groups has different beliefs that are based on their particular sect and often their social class. However, the media never breaks down the differences that exist between certain people because American people are conditioned to want an easy polarized sound-bite answer that is either a or b, good or bad, right or wrong and it all stems from the black/white, gay/straight way in which we view the world. Good 'ol Americans pick at everyone in a particular group when a problem arises, except when it's Oklahoma city, the 1996 Olympic Bombing, School Shootings, or Abortion clinic bombings. Then it becomes more about a specific individual and not about a group of people with a shared physical characteristic. Non-whites could say that white people have invaded every country, forced Chrisitanity down people's throats, enslaved people, perpetuated genocide, swindled everyone they've come into contact with and their children shoot up schools; however, that is not true of ALL white people. Osama Bin Ladin, Islam and people with similar physical characteristics became interchangeble post 9/11 and that's where the danger lies.
[Edited 10/4/04 13:05pm]

OdysseyMiles said:

no, i get it. i just can't stand the way prince turns everything into a racist issue

i'd rather shed a tear for those who died in the attack of 9/11, not for those who were labeled 'maybe a terrorist' by their neighbors following 9/11

its a very simple naieve and childish statement in the video. In reality he should have shown years of indoctrination by religious clerics, thats where the terrorism comes from. And yes it is naieve to only equate these acts with arabs, there are many christian arabs and many asian muslims, take Indonesia and its terrorist problems. Its got nothing to do with ethnicity just a fundamentalist section of the religion.

I forgive Prince his naievities and his airy fairy cumbaya bollox politics becuase that has always been the way with many rock stars. Prince i appreciate that you have an opinion even though its a bit "teenage girl" and go back to what you do best making great music, preferabbly about fucking.

lust said:

In reality he should have flipped the script and shown the atrocities the West has perpetuated against the majority of people on earth and the ways in which they fund repressive regimes that ultimately lead people to resent this country. It would have been interesting to show how the Palistenians had their country stripped from them because Israeli's claimed it as their own based on biblical doctrine(especially when you consider that the group they took it from had nothing to do with Jews being forced from the area in the first place). Furthermore, showing how the U.S. uses Israel to police the Middle East would have explained a lot of things.

And further more, i do think its fucked up of how certain people were treated in the states and elsewhere due to the fact that to an ignorant redneck cant tell the difference betweena hindu and a muslim and thinks that all muslims are terrorists. Just because all dolphins live in water doesnt mean that all that lives in water is a dolphin. So the video starts with a great point showing keisha being bullied for her religion. But then hey. whats the mesage dont pick on them because deep down no matter how good they are there is a terrorist inside waiting to come out. thats a bollox confused message and could be equally used to argue both trains of thought. SO how should the video have ended. SHe gets jumped by some rednecks on her way to a mosque and they beat the shit out her. she is left in a pool of blood maybe dead maybe not clutching her favorite baseball card of her favorite all american sports man. very strong yet simple imagery that would prove a real point.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

what an unbelievably bullshit response, nothing to do with the video, just picking on me because of my avatar. grow up.

lust said:

i agree with that part. and i think this is what prince is trying to convey

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

huh?

XxAxX said:

You couldn't understand the correlation of color in the song so it doesn't suprise me that u wouldn't get this either. The previous explains why some people want to fly planes into buildings in the first place.

lust said:

I actually did not notice your avatar. I was piggy-backing on what you were saying. My point is that we need a history lesson in this country to understand why some people may harbor resentment. 'Tis all so please do not go there with the anti-semetic/Israel reference. That is very insluting.
[Edited 10/4/04 13:23pm]

DorothyParkerWasCool said:[quote]

lust said:

I actually did not notice your avatar. I was piggy-backing on what you were saying. My point is that we need a history lesson in this country to understand why some people may harbor resentment. 'Tis all so please do not go there with the anti-semetic/Israel reference. That is very insluting.
[Edited 10/4/04 13:23pm]
[/quot
What anti semitic reference? I didnt make an accusation of one.

Right now in the world, there is one religious group that is persecuting all others more than ever before. Nothing can justify it -- not the history of other religions or racism of the past. I won't say that all Muslims are bad (in fact I am a very good friend of a Muslim family), but there are horrible atrocities taking place in the name of Allah and Islam. Don't believe me? Read up on Africa, Sudan, Saudia Arabia, Syria, and many other countries in the Middle East. But everyone wants to talk about appreciating diversity and having tolerance for all peoples. The evils of murder and persecution are not relative -- it's absolutely 100% wrong.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

I Think I love U

You have the floor with my back anytime you feel the need to enlighten

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

no i totally understand what you (mistakenly) call the 'correlation' (look it up) what i disapprove of is your absolute lack of logical thinking and naivete concerning the politcal world.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

And when were the Jews forced from the area? Are we talking 20th century or ancient history? Remember King David? Archaelogical evidence proves that he really was king of one particular country. Do you know what country that was? Israel. And do you know when he was king? 1055 to 1015 B.C. Now, tell me again who removed who from their own land? Israel has been a nation for almost 4,000 years -- if we're going to start giving land back, there's a hundred other nations that are much younger -- perhaps we should start with them and leave Israel alone?

Snap said:

I agree with your point. But what about the atrocities that christians have perpetuated on non-believers throughout history? What about the crusades, or sweatshops that use repressive regimes and are sponsored by corporations that are often run by people whose religious affiliation is Christian? Or the christian president who declared war on a sovereign nation whose former dictator was someone the christian president's father sponsored? What about the numerous Christian President's that have sponsored the invasion/genocide of east Timor, racism in America, sponsor forced migration in the rain forests and islands in the S. Pacific., perpetuate the Palestine/Israeli conflict for selfish interests? It's all relative. Each religion has their own inhumane issues.
[Edited 10/4/04 13:36pm]

Snap said:

right. exactly my point.

religion was the true culprit of 9/11, not racism.
[Edited 10/4/04 13:36pm]

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

ok. you get my point

Can anyone who wants to discuss politics other than the specific statement in the video please go set up a soap box in the politics forum. Personally i wont be joining as it is a waste of time.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

I wouldn't call them Christians -- much of that what does in the name of Roman Catholicism (not exactly "Christianity"), and I wouldn't blame the president's actions on his Christianity -- presidents (as world leaders) are like puppets regardless of their religion -- they act according to other interests as well -- hopefully, ethically -- but sadly, rarely.

edit: anyway, none of this is justified -- i wish we could stop trying to get vengeance for things done in the past... let's go forward with our love
[Edited 10/4/04 13:45pm]

XxAxX said:

I don't think this is an example of "Prince making everything a race issue".
The fact of the matter is that everyone with a heart shed a tear for the victims of 9/11. Very few people were standing up for the Americans who faced prejudice afterwards. That's all Prince is doing here. It's very sad that they had to make a commercial with all those people of different races saying "I'm an American". Apparently, some folks needed to be reminded.

Snap said:

Excellent points!! I wouldn't call them "Christains" either because a true Christian would not condone such behaviors. Most Muslims are peaceful people and they have the same day to day issues as Christians. The average Muslim does not consider taking down the U.S. as part of their religiousity. The anti-U.S. reasoning comes from a leader's own selfish interests just like the actions of the Christian leaders discussed in the previous post. Most importantly, it is not representative of an entire religion.