Denigrating Slur Used
Honolulu Advertiser - Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Marc Forby, the writer and director of the "Barbarian Princess" movie, claims that he is using the term "barbarian" in the title only to attract more viewers and that he doesn't mean to offend anyone. This is a specious excuse.
In the 19th century, the term "barbarian" was intentionally used to denigrate, demean, mock and injure its intended target, in this case, Princess Ka`iulani.
It was a racial/ethnic slur in the same way the N-word is used by Americans today.A slur is a slur. It is particularly offensive when it is being used to promote box-office receipts.
Shame on Marc Forby and shame on the people who accept his smooth-talking jive.
If Forby cannot grasp that the very title of his movie is a direct affront to Ka`iulani (and all Hawaiians) then and now, how can we think that his movie won't likewise smear the truth?
Leon Siu
`Aiea, O`ahu
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