Killing America is "Completely Ridiculous"

Hi all,

We just received feedback regarding last Saturday night’s successful screening of Killing America from Karl Losekoot, the principal of Menlo-Atherton High School, a school that was featured in the film. He called film a work of “sensational propaganda at its worst” and also said that it was “completely ridiculous.”

The catch is that he has not seen the film.

He knew about the film and was invited along with the Sequoia Union High School District Board to attend the screening — none of them showed up. This same district spent the past 8 years or so removing honors classes behind the backs of the parents.

Here is Principal Losekoot’s comment in full:

Most are aware that this weekend there was a showing of a documentary titled, Killing America, at the Menlo-Park Guild Theater.  The previews of this documentary are disturbing as the short film takes images from recent board meetings and conflates them with images of violence that have nothing to do with M-A or our staff.  Its premise seems to assert that programs and discourse that have the goal of creating greater equity instead have the impact of creating more violence and hate.  The film presents an example of sensational propaganda at its worst, and it aims to paint M-A in a negative light.   The one saving grace is that the film appears as completely ridiculous.   Interestingly, I have only heard from families who wish to distance themselves from this documentary and who are clear in their support of M-A. 

Any decent and educated person knows that a film trailer is a form of sensational advertising with the purpose of driving people to see the film. As an educator, why didn’t Principal Losekoot do the proper due diligence of watching the film before using irresponsible and demeaning language to dismiss members of his community — many who feel that he has not adequately addressed their concerns on antisemitism and the removal of honors classes?

“This goes to show the power of giving parents and students a voice,” said Brandy Shufutinsky of the Jewish Instituted for Liberal Values who moderated last Saturday’s panel. “Look what happens when those of us who don’t go along with the ideological orthodoxy are able to speak out against it.”

Indeed.

It must be noted that it was at this principal’s high school where a teacher — documented in the film — was allowed to present a slideshow that falsely quoted the UN as saying the creation of Israel was “illegal.” This same teacher also portrayed Hamas not as terrorists but as mere people from Gaza. Yet it is our film that is ridiculous for pointing out these ideological lies.

As for Principal Losekoot’s comment that he has “only heard from families who wish to distance themselves from this documentary,” here is our video recap featuring affected parents sharing the opposite view:

Efforts to gaslight us must be met with facts and context. That is why our fight to restore merit to these schools is all the more important.

All my best,

Eli