The Interview, a political comedy film about two journalists attempting to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has been at the center of the latest controversy surrounding the longest standing dictatorships in the world. It all started in June when the North Korean government issued a public threat to the United States in a futile attempt to strong-arm Columbia Pictures, the film's distributor, into canceling the release. Later, in November, a group of computer hackers identifying themselves as the Guardians of Peace hacked into Sony Pictures Entertainment, stealing confidential information about upcoming releases and employment contracts. Earlier this month, the same group warned that it would target movie theaters screening "The Interview." Having initially decided to cancel the release, Sony eventually bowed to heavy criticism from the movie industry as well as public figures including President Barack Obama and opted for a limited release in over 300 cinemas.
The controversy, however, did not end there - it multiplied and took a completely different direction. According to data stolen by the Guardians of Peace, the company was considering Idris Elba, a British actor of African descent, to replace Daniel Craig, as James Bond - Craig has starred in three Bond movies since 2006. Subsequently, conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh protested the decision on air, suggesting a black Briton was "not who James Bond is." A black man, his reasoning went, was simply not suitable to assume a position of power. Many things have changed in the world, but perhaps some things are meant to remain the same. On Saturday, Elba responded to Limbaugh's thinly veiled racism with the following tweet: "Isn't 007 supposed to be handsome? Glad you think I've got a shot!"
Over the past decade, Turkish society has had to overcome similar prejudices. During the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) era, there has never been a shortage of discrimination among the ranks of the nation's self-proclaimed progressives. In hindsight, an August 2007 story published in one of the most prominent secular papers bears frightening semblance to Limbaugh's comments. Rhetorically asking whether Turkey is ready for a veiled first lady, the reporter does not hold back: "Although none dares bring it up, the main problem is that [President Abdullah] Gül's wife wears a headscarf." At the time, the overwhelming majority of international media outlets sung the praises of the opposition and warned that failure to nominate a suitable politician to the highest office in the land could result in grave consequences. Frankfurter Allgemeine, for instance, famously called Mr. Gül "the candidate for conflict." Today, we arguably continue to grapple with challenges of embracing and celebrating diversity. Over the past months, the same commentators objected to the presidential candidacy of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the question of his suitability was related to other perceived problems including his outspoken character and humble beginnings.
The controversy will surely continue until the general election of June 2015, which the AK Party will presumably win by a landslide, and beyond. The lesson? Dealing with people who show determination in the face of naysayers is extremely difficult. We no longer have the luxury of judging people on the basis of morally questionable rules. It is time to change the topic and concentrate on meaningful questions.
