Learn about the history of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, equality and justice by exploring major events in the history of their oppression on this day of the year.
19 August
MONTY PYTHON 'SAVAGE ATTACK ON RABID ZIONISM'
On this day in 1979, Monty Python’s Life of Brian opened in the USA with the character of Count Otto largely edited out. Otto has a Hitler moustache and shouts of "racial impurity" and other Nazi phrases. The Suicide Squad logo, designed by Terry Gilliam was a Star of David resembling a swastika. Terry Gilliam thought it should have stayed, saying, "I thought at least getting the Catholics, Protestants and Jews all protesting against our movie was fairly ecumenical on our part." Eric Idle said, "It's essentially a pretty savage attack on rabid Zionism, suggesting it's rather akin to Nazism."
" هجوم مونتي بيثون العنيف "على الصهيونية المتوحشة
آب 19
في مثل هذا اليوم من عام 1979 ، افتتحت "حياة برايان" لمونتي بايثون في الولايات المتحدة مع إزالة شخصية "الكونت أوتو" إلى حد كبير. لدى أوتو شنب هتلر ويصرخ "نجاسة عنصرية" وعبارات نازية أخرى. كان شعار "Suicide Squad" ، الذي صممه تيري جيليام، نجمة داود يشبه الصليب المعقوف. اعتقد تيري جيليام أنه كان يجب أن يبقى ، قائلاً: "اعتقدت على الأقل أن احتجاج الكاثوليك والبروتستانت واليهود جميعًا ضد فيلمنا كان يمثل على نطاق واسع كل الجماعات الدينية". قال إريك إيدل، "إنه هجوم وحشي للغاية على الصهيونية المسعورة، مما يشير إلى أنه أقرب إلى النازية."
In November 2007 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released a new version of The Life of Brian and included footage that had been deleted from the original. Significantly, those making innumerable false and malicious accusations of anstisemitism have avoided any attacks on Monty Python, despite this massively popular British comedy team distributing what a member called a "savage attack on rabid Zionism, suggesting it's rather akin to Nazism", A year after the release, Israel launched Operation Cast Lead, confirming Terry Jones opinion that “with what’s going on in Israel. Eric [Idle wrote the scene] put his finger on something; it was quite prophetic.” None of the Python team could be allowed into the UK Labour Party.
The Times of Israel reported Python Terry Jones':
'Otto sports a toothbrush moustache [sic], and, in case we still haven’t got the message, his disciples all wear a symbol that combines the Star of David with a swastika. These are "Nazi Jews..."'
Jones insists he didn’t make the cut to avoid giving offence:
“It was a very funny scene, but it wasn’t relevant; it wasn’t part of the story. When I took it out, the film just flowed so much better. I think what it addressed is extremely relevant today, with what’s going on in Israel. Eric put his finger on something; it was quite prophetic.”
"TERRY GILLIAM: There were several key sequences that went. The one that I think was probably a mistake was the 'Otto' sequence...In the end it seemed to slow down the narrative but in retrospect I think we should have kept it. Eric, I think got cold feet because he was now living out in Hollywood and he felt the Jewish producers of Hollywood would take great offence at it. I said Listen, we've alienated the Christians, let's get the Jews now."
ERIC IDLE: I think the main problem for Delfont was 'Otto' which is a pretty savage attack on rabid Zionism, suggesting it's rather akin to Nazism, which is a bit strong to take but certainly a point of view. What happened was when we kept seeing it played - Otto is a character who only comes in at the 60th minute - it wasn't working. In the end I suggested cutting it because I felt that if it came out it would be so much simpler, we'd be racing for the end. It's a funny sketch and if it had happened early on in the film it might have been in..."
The Pythons' Autobiography by The Pythons
Monty Python's satire on the extreme racism of Israel and the Zionist movement