Death of Akkad

There is symbolism in almost everything. The bombings in Amman last week symbolize a pathology we’re all too familiar with by now. But the symbolism I’d like to point out is the death of Moustapha Akkad, the most well known Muslim in Hollywood. He is the producer of horror flicks like “Halloween,” but, more significantly, “The Message” (the story of the Prophet of Islam that hit mainstream American cinema) and “The Lion of the Desert.” There’s a nice and short article with a variety of links about Moustapha Akkad’s accomplishments and, sadly, his unfinished project to portray Saladin (Salah ad-Din). Whenever someone in the arts is killed, especially when his or her skills are rare among American Muslims, then the loss is even more profound. Akkad and his daughter were killed in the maniacal blasts in Amman, and so too his projects.