Saul Austerlitz writes for Tablet magazine:
…The Wallenberg dispute was merely a warmup for the conflict between the director and Hier over credit for Genocide. Hier called Schwartzman and told him that the board had suggested he receive a cowriter’s credit. Schwartzman argued that historian Martin Gilbert had written the bulk of the script, but after Hier convinced Gilbert to share the credit, the director agreed to the change. Later, Hier would also successfully claim a producer’s credit—the one that would enable him to receive an Oscar for the film.
Growing up as a WASP, this elbowing for credit was regarded as unseemly. WASPs are awful at accepting credit and receiving compliments. It makes them uncomfortable because they feel they are filled with sin. I can’t imagine Protestant clergy I’ve known battle for such Hollywood credits. I have not met many Jews who feel that they are full of sin. Jews are happy to take compliments and are often eager to receive credit. The Jews I’ve known have, in general, a more positive sense of self than the Protestants I’ve known. The blacks I’ve known have, in general, have more self-esteem than whites, latinos and asians. From what I’ve seen, whites and asians are more often morose, self-doubting, nerdy and neurotic than blacks.
