Okay, I can understand how scenes in this movie are going to be offensive to many - I read the book and I was horrified. But, I truly believe that to not release this film because it will offend is an obstruction of our First Amendment. The Last Temptation of Christ was banned by many of the Christian faith (my mother, whose parents were Lutherans, was forbidden to see it, but sneaked out anyway). It was still released.

Are we afraid of the repercussions for releasing this movie? I'm not saying that we shouldn't protect the children starring in this movie if they are threatened (by the way - does anyone know if they are American, or were they discovered in Afghanistan?) But when we begin altering how we behave (and in passing the Patriot Act we already have) because of what we are afraid might happen, we give in to terror, and the Terrorists win.

I agree that the film should be released AND the children and their families protected. Doesn't it seem more than coincidental that such threats should follow upon a distasteful truth emerging in their society? Slate's images of the Taliban certainly underline the presence of such impulses in Afghanistan. Ahmedinejad's preposterous remarks on homosexuality were met with the derision they richly deserved at Columbia. One can't simply bend over backwards (if you'll forgive the expression) to let these people go on living in a state of denial. At some point they have to be confronted, and above all, confront themselves in their own confused milieu to sort out what path to take- denial or acceptance of the truth.