N E W S
A Dysfunktional Flop

April 14, 2003
USE

The film Dysfunktional Family, by Miramax, is flopping in the box office. It opened in over 600 theatres and made only $1,000,000 in its first week. The film is expected to be out of theatres soon.

Miramax, the creators of Dysfunktional Faminly, finally responded to inquiries by SMART on April 3, 2003, about the racist scene where a Sikh man is called bin Laden. The response was not a positive one. They stated that they had all the rights to the freedom of expression, and the film would not be altered.

Manjit Singh of SMART said that they have sent a response back to Miramax stating that given the disproportional amount of backlash against Sikh Americans after 9/11, simply because of their appearance, this film perpetuates that idea and puts the community at risk.

On April 3, 2003, California Congressman Mike Honda (D-15th district) and 12 other members of Congress urged Miramax to make edits in the film on grounds that Griffin's comments will inflame anti-Sikh sentiments and possibly spur hate crimes. Honda wrote, "We ask that you remove the objectionable portions of the film from the preview trailer and the full-length feature immediately," in a letter to Miramax head Harvey Weinstein.

Ek Ong Kaar Kaur of SikhNet informs the community that letters were sent on behalf of the Sikh Community by California Democrat Mike Honda, Vice Chair of the APA Caucus; New York Democrat Joseph Crowley, Co-Chair Caucus of India and Indian Americans; and New Mexico Democrat Tom Udall. In the letter, the US Congressional Representatives expressed their concern that the film Dysfunktional Family would add to the climate of hate crimes against Sikh, Muslim and Arab Americans.

SikhNet started a letter writing campaign for individuals to write to their congressional representatives about the film Dysfunktional Family.

In addition, US Congressman Joe Wilson from South Carolina, Co-Chair for the India and Indian American Caucus, and Tarlochan Singh, Chairman of the National Commission on Minorites for India also sent letters.

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