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Barbarian Princess Movie Title Used To Grab Viewers

Marc Forby, the writer and director of the Barbarian Princess movie, claims that he is using the term “barbarian” in the title of the movie only to attract more viewers and that he doesn’t mean to offend anyone. This is a specious excuse.

In the Nineteenth 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 “n- - - - -“ (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. By Forby’s reasoning, it would be OK to do a movie about Barach Obama and call it the “N- - - - - President” because it would attract more customers.

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