Bob McCarty Writes

Inevitably, it seems, films about the end of the world generate much discussion — and, often, controversy.

Five months ago, hype about the soon-to-be-released disaster film, 2012 (trailer below), prompted me to publish a piece under the headline, How Would the Governments of Our Planet Prepare Six Billion People for the End of the World? Today, I came across more “buzz” about the film set for release Nov. 13 that prompts me to write about it again.  I guess their PR machine is working, but I digress.

In a Digital Spy report published Monday, I learned that Roland Emmerich, the filmmaker behind 2012, admitted that he feared coming under attack by Muslims — think Fatwa — if he included a scene in which the Kaaba, a cube-shaped building at the heart of Mecca that is the center of Muslim prayers and the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage.  And then I learned more:  In place of the Muslim holy place, Emmerich said he decided to substitute a well-known symbol of the Christian faith — the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro — in place of the Muslim holy place.

Surely, Emmerich knows that Christians around the world will riot in the streets and call for his head on a platter if his film shows the destruction of a symbol of the faith.  Doesn’t he know?

Sarcasm concluded.

Hat tip:  Weasel Zippers