Programming the Masses

Nobody's Opinion:

Two of my favorite programs, are Dr. Who, and 24.

I could write for ions on both but, I just wanted to mention a few things...and that's how popular shows are being used more and more to gently shape our opinions about the world at large.

I know this is nothing new under the sun, but it's getting to be more obvious.

In the last episode tonight, of the current Dr. Who before his next regeneration,President Obama, it was said in the plot, was going to save the world from the great world depression: the whole world mind you. This played little part in the plot, where the Evil Master comes back to destroy the universe once again, so one can assume that the inclusion of it was strictly for propaganda.

I'm only halfway through it, so I don't know if Obama actually does save the world at the end, but I wouldn't doubt it. The thought of Obama saving the world from depression is just about as laughable as the tooth fairy saving kids from losing their teeth. Nevertheless, Dr. Who is watched by millions of kids around the world, so that troubles me.

In the original Dr. Who series, Presidents of the United States were almost never brought into praise of any kind, or even mentioned in plots. If they were, the names of the Presidents were fictional.

But Dr. Who...seems harmless compared to 24's last episode, in which a United States general disobeys a President's direct orders, and ties to save New York from losing 59,000 people. (by dirty bomb, of course) The women President had made the decision that peace in the Middle East was WORTH the sacrifice of American citizens. When she found out the general's plot, she arrested him, and the main character stayed true to the President.

What bothered me about this was that they portrayed the general as such an evil guy, and the woman President, as being moral, upright, and completely within her powers to go ahead and sacrifice thousands of American citizens lives, BECAUSE she had worked out a peace agreement with some Saudi leader and had given him her word, that she would work with him on a peace settlement. Even I thought the general was a bad guy, until I thought about the message being drilled into us...ever so subtly, later.

The message was: The world is much more important than a country, and Presidents have the right to choose other country's well-being over their own. What's 59, 000 New Yorkers when you want to go down in the World History Books as responsible as the man or woman responsible for Middle East peace?

I was thinking about these two programs tonight because tomorrow, President Obama is going to "save" the world from nuclear annihilation; he is bridging the world's leaders here to sign treaties, and make himself leader of the world.

I guess he has to do that before he saves the world from the great world depression.

So...here's the question: Do the writers that write these fictional plays for our entertainment, believe things like---Obama is going to save the world, and peace in the middle East is more important than a city? OR...do they get direct orders from higher placed government officials to include certain dogma's in their plots? OR do they, like an actor smoking in a scene, get money for including certain political mantras in their plots?

OR...is it just about what sells? Mixing exciting, action-filled drama, with liberal political messages appeals to everyone...is it that simple?

I wonder.

24 is almost over, and good thing too---it was getting tired. It had some really great shows, and a good run.

But Dr. Who...can go on it seems, forever, because some clever man...so long ago, figured out a way to keep it fresh. You just make the Doctor a Time Lord, and he can regenerate himself over and over again...giving the show longevity with new actors.

Too bad we can't just have our Time Lord politicians serve for just 24 hours. The whole world might be better off.

I can say one thing. I beleive we are all being programed along with our favorite programs.

What do you think?