Everybody gets their turn in the barrel
The hit show "24" got a little contraversial last week, or more acurately, was the target of some contraversy. Seems some American Muslims were miffed that a show about stopping terrorist plots portrayed muslims in a bad light. Or something like that. I understand that the show wouldn't pack the same punch if the bad guys were...say...Tahitian or Swiss. The problem is that this show has become the ultimate "get even" fantasy for alot of people and no one wants to get even with the Swiss.
But I do understand the Muslim point of view on this. No one likes to be lumped in with the bad apples. Their case might be stronger if they were a little more vocal in denouncing the radicals that are giving ALL of Islam a bad name...but that is a topic that more political minded folks might want to tackle. I just want to talk about lumping and Hollyweird.
Join me in the Wayback Machine while we visit the late 60's and 70's and 80's and part of the 90's. For these decades, whenever movie or TV dramatists needed a bad guy...who got the job? Well, if you are old enough to remember (or addicted to the old TV show channel) you know the answer. The disturbed, disgruntled, dysfunctional Vietnam Vet: The thousand yard stare, hippie hair, headband, shades, field jacket and M16 stolen from the National Guard Armory. I know you've seen him, hell, some of you probably aren't too far from being him. For alot of years this bothered me beyond words. See...the problem with stereotypes is that they come from somewhere. In order for there to be a stereotype...there had to be that guy, at sometime, somewhere. And therein lies the rub.
Hundreds of thousands of Viet Nam vets came home, went back to work, raised families, contributed to society, paid their taxes and generally got on with life. Some had more trouble adjusting than others...but the vast majority did just fine. After a while the bad dreams fade...slamming doors and backfires fail to get an interesting response...and you can actually tolerate the "heroes" who want to tell you all about it. (an aside: those who talk don't know...those who know don't talk). As in every war before or since, there are a few, and it is darned few, who can't adjust. Some who bring the war home and continue to operate by the ruleless rules.
So why don't we see more stories about successfully adjusted pillars of society who spent a little time in hell and came out just fine? Boring. The crazies are more colorful and interesting and make much better bad guys. I don't know how to spell the noise I am making right now...put your tonge between your lips and blow real hard. Who makes these shows? The Hollyweird crowd who don't care much for the military anyway.
So, Muslims of America, it is your turn in the barrel. So long as your radical brethren are blowing themselves and others up, you will probably beat out the rest as our favorite TV bad guys. But if it pisses you off...get yourself a blogsite and tell everyone how you feel about it. It might not make you feel any better...but you might get some points.