AMERICAN IDOL Who Wants To Be A Superhero? By Zain Deane In this age of Reality TV, we seem to prefer a highly colored interpretation of what is real. We can even borrow from these shows to explain our state of reality—although that statement, in and of itself, is answer enough for anyone who thinks we have a firm grasp on things. But never mind; let’s get on with the show. Fear Factor Turn on the news, pick up a newspaper, or listen to President Bush, and you’ll find the politics of fear. Our government takes every opportunity to remind us that we are under constant threat of attack; that if we let our guard down, the “bad guys” will win. Is this our new reality? To some extent, yes. We know the threat of terror is very much alive in our nation. It’s only when our fear is used to justify policy that reality gets blurred. The politics of fear is a cornerstone of Bush’s administration. He relied on it to convince Americans to invade Iraq and remove its phantom arsenal of WMDs. He used it to get reelected (the principal message of his campaign was “Who makes you feel safer?”). And he instructed us to fear an Axis of Evil, the three members of whom few Americans can name. The problem with this strategy is that it ignores the underlying motives of the people we need to fear. Why does Al Qaeda hate the U.S.? Is Venezuela about to bomb Miami? Is Iran really going to launch an attack when it goes nuclear? Don’t we need to understand why people hate us? Big Brother What we don’t need to fear is an invasive intrusion into our most basic rights. Tapping our phones? In today’s world, these measures must be taken. Redefine the Geneva conventions, which have stood since 1929, so that we can institute tougher interrogation methods on prisoners? Against today’s enemy, this is a necessary step. The War on Terror has served as a powerful platform for the U.S. government to flex its muscle, both internationally and internally. Big Brother doesn’t just watch over its citizens; it also keeps a vigilant eye on the world. Who Wants to be a Superhero? Superman’s making movies again, so he’s not available. But that’s okay, because America has stepped up to the plate. Why do we have this superhero complex? Why do we applaud our president shoving democracy down the throats of sovereign nations (except in Africa; we don’t go there)? The answer is simple. We have come to believe, honestly and proudly, that we’re doing the right thing. We have sewn our cape, stitched a giant “S” across the landscape of our collective thinking, and have even developed a special power: the mighty democratic process. Armed with this, we patrol the globe, ready and willing to correct any injustice to the American way of life. But every superhero needs villains, and we have been searching for them since arch-nemesis Gorbachev held two fingers up in a peace sign. Saddam was perfect: raving madman, brutal dictator, proven murderer. By the time we went to war, many of us didn’t even care about the weapons of mass destruction. But when he was chained and contained, we needed a new nemesis. Unfortunately, Al Qaeda came along just in time, a far more sinister opponent than Saddam ever was. Being a superhero also blinds us to very real problems at home. It justifies our military expenditures, and brings together an increasingly fractured society under a patriotic banner. It supersedes petty issues of race, wealth, and gender inequality. It towers above the crisis of the environment. Stan Lee couldn’t have scripted it better. The great irony here is that America is a superhero, to millions of immigrants who come here looking for a better life. And we should be proud of our true powers: our tolerance of all races and faiths; our humanity in extending aid and service to less fortunate nations; and our faith in a meritocracy that provides people with the essential tools to succeed, as long as they’re willing to work for it. These are our greatest virtues. If you look at almost any other country in the world, you’ll find immigrants who work just as hard, but never shake off the stigma of being from another land. In America, anyone can be an American. This is our sweetest reality. American Idol The superhero complex is based on our uncompromising belief that every conflicted nation on earth would be well served by emulating us. When and how did that happen? Bush has repeatedly extolled the virtues of America as a “compassionate” nation. That we may be, but we are also unusually intolerant when it comes to accepting non-democratic forms of government. Maybe our way of life is the best model for individual and collective happiness. But democracy doesn’t work for everybody. And nation-building under the guise of free elections is still nation-building. Ask the people of Afghanistan how they’re enjoying their new freedoms. Poll the Iraqis. The Surreal Life Back when things were simple and there was a clear-cut bad guy, America had a firm grip on reality. From the Redskins to the Redcoats to the Red Scare, we’ve been able to best explain who and what we are when we have someone to confront. Our achievements and prosperity have been measured in the context of our struggle. Things aren’t so black and white today. Imperialism and communism as global movements have all but disappeared into the history books. There’s a new “ism” now—terrorism—but this is a nebulous foe, a modern hydra with its heads in the desert sand. Alliances aren’t easily forged or maintained, and we find ourselves in the uncomfortable position of repeatedly justifying our actions. We remember fondly the days when the battle-lines were clearly drawn. Our understanding has been distorted by fear, by the conviction that our efforts are heroic, and by the notion that the rest of the world should follow our lead. It’s a great idea, folks. It’s a nice thought that lets us walk with our heads held high. I only wish we had X-ray vision, so we could see how much damage we’re doing out there. |
|
|
