The ‘Menace’ of Lucas

I thought Eric Harrison’s insightful analysis of racial stereotypes in “Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace” was right on the mark. Disappointingly, the May 29 letters did not offer a balanced combination of responses.

Instead, there were remarks like, “The fact that some viewers perceive Lucas’ creations to be ethnic stereotypes in our own world shows how biased they are” and “If you look for only insults, slurs and racism, that is all you will ever find.”

Oh, OK, so Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil should be the motto for passive acceptance of racialized movie characters? Got it.

CRISTINA CHAPARRO LUTZ

Los Angeles

So Eric Harrison and others are just realizing that George Lucas is either a racist-bigot or is incapable of understanding the sensibilities of other ethnic groups or religions in pursuit of the buck. How very perceptive!

In “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” he has openly trashed Indians and the Hindu religion. When Indians and Hindus objected to his false and demeaning depictions, they were ignored both by Lucasfilm and the media in this country. But now that minority communities with greater lobbying and buying power are affected, suddenly it is PC to give importance to the issue.

From the early days, racism and bigotry have been on prominent display in the movies. Only the targets have changed with time.

SANJOY SHOME

Claremont