"There's no way the director would have been allowed to shoot in Iran (where the real Soraya lived), so he filmed in Jordan. Interesting side-story: Jordanian villagers got so caught up in the lights and cameras that some wanted to be the first to hurl stones at the actress who played Soraya. Am I the only one who finds this revealing about human nature?"

Now, here's a sample of the debate:

* "This violent-lemming culture of the Middle East is truly primitive for the times we're living in, and is counterproductive towards the goals of democracy. Mindsets need to change, and regimes will fall on their own." – Jesse

* "Jesse, I wish I could say you were absolutely right! However, i am Canadian and have witnessed mob mentality here and in the U.S. Take for example the riots of Los Angeles in the early 90's, the 1968 Democratic convention, the riots (celebrations?) of winning sports teams in their cities. I know here in Canada some universities are rethinking their orientation days because of the problems they have faced with crowd mentality. We are reminded of Pavlov and Milgaard's experiments on human nature to follow with suggestion or without question." – Shandra

* "True – riots happen. But in the more controlled atmosphere of a movie being filmed, there's a drastically less chance of violence erupting. Stupid people have less say under the watch of a director than they do alone at 7-11." – Jesse

* "As a convert to Islam that was born and raised in the Midwest, I assure you mob mentality does exist and thrive there. Because I wore a scarf at that time, I was spit at,taunted, shoved around…this all under the watchful eyes of my high school teachers and principal. I've been shot at, I've been run off the road, I've been terrorized: not by some crazed Arabs, but by those people I knew and grew up with. My own people. People attack those they find foreign.

As for the Arabs and the Middle East, and I lived there too, for many years, they're no different than their Midwest counterparts. If they have the benefit of multicultural awareness, they are altogether different in behavior to those who have not. There is a sick ignorance that pervades those who never interact with others' cultural mores and beliefs. It has nothing to do with class or creed. I'd like to hear more on education of a global nature." – Mari

* "It says something about Islam. Sorry Irshad, I love and respect you, but I still have to say it." – Katherine

* "Katherine, people engage in all sorts of violent acts – religion has nothing to with it." – Noreen

* "Of course religion has to do with it. If people think some guy is a prophet from God and he tells them to stone people for adultery, and they go ahead and do it, then they do it precisely because their religion prescribes it. Stoning is part of sharia, sharia is part of islam. When you already have barbaric practices in your religious system its very easy to take them to other areas of life too…" – Ina

* "I agree that often these acts are done in 'the name' of religion. But does Islam really preach violence or is it a convenient interpretation of the laws of the Koran? As I was recently trying to come to terms with the devastation in the Jakarta hotel bombings I was compelled to think about what drives suicide bombers to kill and be killed. I looked for something in the Koran that would condone or call for this behaviour and instead found a passage that that says suicide is forbidden (Qur'an 4:29-30) "Nor take life – which Allah has made sacred – except for just cause…" (17:33). This is where there is room for interpretation. "except for just cause". So is adultery "just cause"? Is politics just cause? What about praying to a God other than Allah…just cause? Anybody can twist anything around to make it suit their purpose and if they are a strong enough leader they can twist it just far enough to gain an army of followers who will never question their motives." – Ella

I could go on an and on, as there are plenty more posts. You know what I take strength and heart from? The fact that the vast majority of posts are reasoned, despite reaching very different conclusions.

If Ms. Ervin is at all interested in engaging, I'm sure a constructive discussion can be had. But so far, i see no evidence of her desire to reach out. Which does her point of view no favors at all.

The one thing I'm affirming from all the interactions on this site — and related sites — is that reciprocity matters. It's not a strong opinion that changes the world; it's whether the person who expresses it is willing to hear from those who disagree. So let me know if *you* disagree!

Irshad, thank you for your kind acknowledgement of NOW’s, Arthur's, and my efforts to promote the Moral Courage Project and in particular, "The Stoning of Soraya M.".

Manda Zand Ervin exhibits a discouraging level of ignorance when she asks: “How can these powerful women on your side of the world be so indifferent toward the women in this globalized world of theirs?”

My first point: "Powerful women" in the West? Did she see *any* of the confirmation hearings of Sonia Sotomayor? Did she hear the lies that were repeatedly told to rip the woman apart on national television? The web of lies was reminiscent of that which led to Soraya’s execution–a high-tech stoning, to paraphrase sitting Justice Clarence Thomas (who has himself a clear history of harassing women). Although every single one of her accusers freely agreed that Sotomayor is more qualified than anyone nominated for the Supreme Court in the past *100 years* — including Justice Thomas and the current Chief Justice–Senators verbally abused her for 4 days straight, presumably as the price of her getting the job.

Clearly Ervin has an irrationally inflated idea of women's power, at least in the U.S.. Some of us continue the fight for equality, as Irshad has so kindly pointed out. I agree that typically, we in the U.S. are fortunate enough to not usually put our lives visibly on the line, although I have in fact been in physical danger as a result of my activism. Regardless, the cost to feminist activists in this country is nevertheless great, whether Ervin chooses to see that or not–note that Judge Sotomayor is divorced and has no children. I would encourage Ervin to learn more about the feminist movement in the United States, and what it’s like to be a grassroots feminist, before she throws stones at us.

My second point: Ervin needs to learn a great deal more about the U.S. before she attacks feminists, like myself, who are already fighting on her side. The root cause of the West’s indifference to the global plight of women is not our culture, but our economy. The U.S.’s shameful, continued dependence on Middle Eastern oil supplies ensures that the U.S. government’s response to violence against women–if any response–will continue to be muted. Energy independence is not only an economic issue, but a national security issue–and a feminist issue.

In sisterhood,
Judi Polson

Its just that old logic trick of: Many people in Hollywood are feminists but the vast majority of American feminists aren't from Hollywood. It seems the author just wanted to get her piece printed in the conservative Times so she exploited the idea that Hollywood is considered a liberal community and clumsily and hastily twisted that fact into a view that fit the papers leanings. She offers no facts to support her ideas, just anecdotal musings at most.

To take it a few steps further she did the old: Hollywood = Liberal = Feminist = Socialist = Environmentalist = etc. Its all black and white to some people, no room for nuance. I'm surprised she didnt find a way to blame environmentalists for the lack of the film distribution with the energy legislation ramping up in Congress. That may have gotten her on the front page!

Ervin asks: "How can they think for one minute that their freedom and equality is worth anything as long as there are women living under these conditions?"

Her question leaves me as bewildered as it seems she is…I don't know who she is talking to in order to arrive at the conclusion that American women who know of this film or of the reality that it exposes are not responding.

I don't know how she can reconcile that conclusion with the response I witnessed and heard in the room that night in Wasington, D.C. (a room in which she was most definitely NOT the only Iranian woman); there was palpable outrage, and then the announcement from Irshad about this campaign was made, to much applause…

While the op-ed offends in the same broad-brush-stroke way that we must avoid approaching this difficult conversation about human rights abuses in the Muslim world, there is something positive to take from it. Perhaps the frustration, grief, passion – whatever motivated Ervin to write – and the willingness the Wash Times to publish her piece are signs that the critical dialogue we're having today because of Soraya is going to continue to widen and deepen.

Am I missing something, since when has feminist American culture been synonymous with Hollywood culture? A person could argue that since Hollywood culture does influence American culture and American feminists are seeped in that society so there is a loose connection, but American feminist culture is by no means Hollywood.

And kudos for recognizing Betsy Nowrasteh as an American feminist who's gone out of her way to ensure that Soraya's story gets told. Betsy — wife of the Iranian-American director Cyrus Nowrasteh –persisted in tracking down the author of "The Stoning of Soraya M." when all hope seemed lost. Without several years of Betsy's doggedness, the production company couldn't have secured the rights to turn the book into a film. An American feminist made it happen.

Finally, the National Organization for Women (NOW) should also be acknowledged. At its annual conference this past June, NOW included flyers about The Stoning in all 500 of its kits for delegates. Moreover, Judi Polson, chair of NOW's NYC chapter, personally spoke with other chapter presidents about encouraging their members to view the movie. Judi and her partner, Arthur (a white American male feminist!) have also attended Soraya screenings, both as a show of support and as a way to get informed.

Ms. Ervin has a point that too many American feminists are intimidated by Muslims who lash out against films like this, but Janice, Betsy and Judi are not among them. I salute you all.

One last thank-you, Janice, for trying to contact Ms. Ervin before posting this piece. It's a sign of your intellectual honesty. Someone who merely preaches dialogue wouldn't make the efforts that you have. Your sincere pursuit of engagement is an example to many of us.