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A film about an Australian-Chinese war hero in which the lead role is played by a white actor has provoked anger in Australia at the "whitewashing" of the nation's history.
Mr Billy Sing was a decorated soldier from the disastrous Gallipoli campaign of World War I at which he earned the name "The Assassin" for his success as a sniper. He reportedly killed more than 200 enemy soldiers. He died in Australia in 1943.
However, in the yet-to-be released television film The Legend of Billy Sing, his character is played by a young Caucasian actor.
"To see this distortion of historical fact - it's sad," said Mr Tony Pang, president of the Chinese Australian Forum. He said: "The question I ask myself is what if (former Prime Minister) John Howard is being played by a Pakistani? It's ridiculous. It's just not appropriate."
http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC100510-0000064/Whitewash-of-Chinese-hero
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Sing
Mr Billy Sing was a decorated soldier from the disastrous Gallipoli campaign of World War I at which he earned the name "The Assassin" for his success as a sniper. He reportedly killed more than 200 enemy soldiers. He died in Australia in 1943.
However, in the yet-to-be released television film The Legend of Billy Sing, his character is played by a young Caucasian actor.
"To see this distortion of historical fact - it's sad," said Mr Tony Pang, president of the Chinese Australian Forum. He said: "The question I ask myself is what if (former Prime Minister) John Howard is being played by a Pakistani? It's ridiculous. It's just not appropriate."
http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC100510-0000064/Whitewash-of-Chinese-hero
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Sing
