Summary of Controversy about NBC Promotion of �Uprising�

by Alexander Danel

The promotional material of "Uprising" has an assertion that

�the Ghetto fighters held out longer than the entire country of Poland�

Problems with this are:

a) The comparison is unnecessary and demeaning.� Why put down one group to build up another?

b) The comparison is inappropriate.� You cannot compare the two events.

c) The statement deceptively hides Poland's many years of resistance struggle.

d) It is hurtful and does emotional harm to a lot of people.

e) It is just plain false; 28 days is not "longer" than 36 days.

Also, another assertion appears in the same sentence:

�while lighting the torch for resistance in the occupied territories�

The problem with this is:

a) The torch was already lit.� Poles started resistance long before 1943.

Historical revisionism is occurring, and NBC is a participant.� The unfortunate suggestion that Ghetto fighters were somehow �better� than the country of Poland has now appeared repeatedly:

a) First floated in e-mail to discussion groups.

b) Repeated on NBC�s web site for �Uprising�.

c) Repeated as a theme in NBC�s advertising of �Uprising�.

d) Repeated within the film itself.

e) Repeated by New York Times.

The effect of repetition is understood by the filmmaker.� In �Uprising� he presents a scene where two Nazis discuss the importance of repeating a lie over and over until it becomes accepted as truth.� These Nazis are discussing the making of a film.� What an ironic role model for Mr. Avnet to follow.