Exceptionally Something

I'm running out of papers!

I’m going to write this one angry. At least it will be honest.

Design by 971grl

Willamette Week dropped a story about the controversial Shen Yun Dance Troupe, and the Keller Auditorium’s decision to go ahead with their scheduled performance.

Good reporting, and good for the Keller. I’m no fan of Shen Yun for some of the reasons outlined in that article. Anticommunist as they may be, I have issues with the homophobia for starters. However, I still support their right to tour, and the Keller’s curatorial voice in hosting them. I’m just not going to buy tickets. If I were programing director, I might make different decisions. I am not, so here we are.

“Max Steele is a champion of free speech” throat-clearing: ✅

Let’s talk about a review that came out on the same day.

Palestine Again

What are you doing this Sunday? Morgan has a film recommendation.

“The Palestine Exception” Looks Back at Portland State University Campus Protests

Morgan Shaunette, whoever you are. Damn. This was trash.

Despite clocking in at a paltry 71 minutes, the film documentary The Palestine Exception thoughtfully covers multiple facets surrounding the Israel-Hamas War protests that became one of 2024’s most divisive social issues.

Yeah… I am doubtful.

The title refers to the old myth of the “Palestine Exception.” Essentially it’s a Marxist-Leninist Dave Chappelle routine where academics cry about how they have academic freedom and freedom of speech except when it comes to criticism of Israel. They do this routine on college campuses, without being punished. It’s “the one thing we can’t talk about” that they are openly and constantly talking about.

So much so that it becomes the only thing I get to talk about half the time. What have we been doing for over a year?! What have I been covering in those Olivia Katbi posts? What has Oregon Educators for Palestine been up to? This is the one exception?! Have you been to a college campus in 20 years?

What were the repercussions for violently seizing and trashing the PSU Library? Can you name a single material consequence for professors or students at PSU? Not scolding, I’m talking expulsions and terminations. How, exactly, were they silenced?

Do you even know about the heinous shit that went down at Reed?

• Letter from the Reed President after SJP held a rally on the Anniversary of Kristallnacht

• Second graffiti of a swastika found at Reed as Israel-Hamas protest and backlash roil campus

• Jewish Student at Reed College Struck by Rock a Day After Vandalism of Religious Symbol

And that was still kid stuff compared to UCLA, Yale, and Columbia.

Shaunette’s review is pretty glowing. The film is a real eye opener.

Watching clips in the documentary of former Harvard president Claudine Gay being questioned by Congress in 2023 alongside House Un-American Activities Committee inquisitions, it’s not hard to imagine “antisemitism” as shorthand for “subversive” the same way “communism” was. While it’s true that attacks on Jewish people have grown in frquency [sic] over the past decade, Exception cautions against conflating the diaspora’s struggle with criticisms of the Israeli government.

My eye is twitching reading that back.

I’ll let the film speak for itself. Here’s the trailer:

Stunning. Brave. Bullshit.

The Curatorial Voice

I was annoyed back when I learned that the Portland DSA helped fund this film. They promoted a Q&A at the Workers Tap and then a screening at Lincoln Hall… on PSU Campus. There’s that damn free speech and academic freedom again.

What pushed me over the edge was seeing them promote another screening at Cinema 21. That’s my neighborhood theater and it’s a gem. I love that place and I’m proud it’s part of the neighborhood.

So I sent a letter last week, which I wasn’t going to publish but I am now angry and I do not forgive or forget.

My Letter

I want to first acknowledging [sic] how much I value having Cinema 21 in the neighborhood. I love your theater and I’m (typically) very proud to recommend it to people.

However, your decision to screen “The Palestine Exception” is not one I can support. I believe it gives a stage to some of the worst actors in “leftist” politics. On which they will continue to spread lies and celebrate their shared ignorance along with the hate born of that ignorance.

This isn’t a request to cancel your screening, only feedback. It’s your theater and you can use it how you'd like. But I know that on Sunday the 26th there will be Jew haters in my neighborhood, traveling past my home, my business, and my temple - on their way to watch a film at your theater. A film that celebrates young people who hate me and casts them as repressed activists and truth-tellers.

One week later some of these people will be protesting Senator Ron Wyden’s book event at the Newmark Theater. Because he is a Jew and he does not bend to their demands. Jews who do not hold the “correct” views are not welcome to speak in Portland these days unchallenged. But it’s clearly the activists who need another evening to celebrate themselves and their struggle. If they could only scream for more violence and occupy a few more buildings maybe they would feel heard.

I honestly don’t remember if Cinema 21 screened “Loose Change” (the 911 truther documentary) back when it toured theaters in 2006. I don’t think you did. You certainly didn’t have a special event with audience questions at the end. I can’t imagine you screening “What is a Woman?” or “Am I Racist?” even though the controversies might bring a small crowd.

Clearly, your theater has a curatorial voice. There are films you don’t consider worth your time, or perhaps worth the controversy. But not this film. This one is worth a special evening on the largest screen.

Again, it’s your theater and you have the right to show whatever you’d like. Cinema 21 has certainly done an outstanding job showcasing Jewish cinema over the years, and I’m grateful for that.

And certainly the antidote for untrue speech is more speech. Censorship is no sort of solution, so I will spend my time trying to educate Portlanders about the lies spread by this film.

But this one leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Your theater was a happy place for me and next week it will host a group of activists who don’t think I should be allowed to travel the streets safely. I know this because so many of them have told me that. They would like to tell me more often, and louder. Sometimes they are stopped from doing so or reprimanded, and that’s what they’ve made a film about.

How bad it must feel to not be able to lie about me and my people to their hearts' content, without consequence.

Maybe they have been censored, but not by me. Still, maybe that’s worth a special evening to consider their so-called plight.

Personally, I’ve heard enough for a lifetime.

Max Steele
אם אין אני לי מי לי

The Reply

Hi Max-

Thanks for your even-handed feedback. Not every message that I received about this film has been that way.

I think I understand your objections and I'm sympathetic to the weariness that accrues when one is continually under siege.

I am, like many people, dispirited by the seemingly intractable predicament in the Middle East. I have my own opinions but I have no solutions. And I won't attempt a summary here.

But I will say that one of the co-directors of the film is someone that I know, and it would be inaccurate and unfair to describe her as a hater.

As for my decision to play the film, the choice to allow the public the chance to view it shouldn't be conflated with advocacy of its content.

Again, I appreciate your message and wish you peace.

Tom

Am I happy with that? No. I’m heartbroken that Tom Ranieri (a Portland treasure) is close friends with a fool like one of the directors of this film. But hey, it’s his theater and I support his curatorial voice. I was being honest when I said the only antidote for untrue speech is more speech.

This is mine.

Finally

All parties involved think it’s reasonable to compare how Antifa and the Jr. Jihadi’s were treated (kid gloves) to the Kent State protestors (shot). They think asking students to decline from screaming at Jews or occupying buildings and setting up checkpoints is reminiscent of McCarthyism.

The film was funded by actual communists. What are we doing?

Between this and Sophie Peel’s recent podcast appearances, I don’t really trust Willamette Week on political issues right now. Maybe they can recommend a good slice of pizza?

I think Morgan Shaunette would be a great fit for the Portland Mercury.

Cinema 21… it’s their right to show what they want. I’m sure they’re getting tons of shit for it, but it’s their right. I guess I’m traveling a bit further to see films for a bit.