59 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 7 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H2'ed 12/10/11

A Puppet-Occupied Den of Anti-Democratic Sin

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   No comments
Message Cliff Schecter
Become a Fan
  (3 fans)

Lock the doors. Pull down the shades. Bring in the exorcist, stat.

As I write this, my humble abode is being transformed into a puppet-occupied den of anti-democratic sin. Yes, my kids are watching the Muppets, with some newly discovered zeal since the theatrical release of the film by the same name.

That is only part of the agenda, of course. Upon finishing and chowing down on some premium Borscht and Beluga, the plan is a mixture of Marxian performance art, Che Guevara hat-fitting and then the coupe de grace (that's right, I used the language of the land of non-freedom fries), finger painting images of Fidel Castro throughout the house in cigar-ash.

I know, I exaggerate. Slightly. But as the supremely hypocritical again begin what seems like a yearly ritual of complaining that kids' movies or TV shows are detrimental to their emotional or physical health ("think of the children!"), it is hard to respond with much other than contempt.

This time it is the right-wing Media Research Center going for gold, with their Vice President For Business And Culture (redundant, judging by his belief system) Dan Gainor, making television appearances just freaking out: "Hollywood, the left, the media, they hate the oil industry. They hate corporate America."

In addition to his fear of a Muppet planet, Gainor also throws Cars 2 (released recently) into the witch's brew of the corporate-hating cacophony endangering our children, and then somehow moves on to railing about Syriana and There Will Be Blood -- which presumably he screens for his kids just before the good stuff starts on Cinemax after midnight.

What is rather unfortunate about Mr Gainor's argument -- besides almost everything -- is that Cars 2 and The Muppets were both released by The Disney Company.

A Socialist Swedish chef?

See that word "company," as in "corporation," or in The Media Research Center's world, "an organization that enjoys all the benefits of being a person but none of the liabilities?" Yup, that kind of makes it hard for them to "hate corporate America." But, hey, let's not let facts get in the way of a good story.

This sentiment is consistent, however, with a long line of cultural and political hypocrisy served up by those on the Right. Whether it was the Late Reverend Jerry Falwell cruelly criticising that innocent and loveable Teletubby, Tinky Winky --or Dr James Dobson's crusade against that yellow sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea, for not openly and loudly declaring his lust for Sandy Cheeks or another of her gender.

The key thing to keep in mind, however, is that it's the very same people who constantly bellyache about how kids might be brainwashed by making an oil baron not so cuddly in a movie who, through vocal support or their vote, deprive children of health care. It is these same pearl-clutchers who deny financial aid to the 15 million children living in poverty, or just keep the environment in which they live buried in a Miss-Piggy-sized stew of toxins.

Because, you know, while your kid is gasping for air and looking for a sawdust snack, it's definitely the Swedish Chef you want to watch out for. My God, that Scandinavian culinary maestro must be a socialist!

This is not to say our culture hasn't become a mess -- it sure has. And that parents such as myself are not concerned about some of the things we see on television. We are.

But it is not movies such as The Muppets that those of us in the reason-based community fear, but the values of selfish, rampant consumerism and corporatism pushed by organizations, like say, the Media Research Center. Groups that try and teach our children that there is no value in respect and virtue for its own sake; that everything is to be judged by its dollar value, and not by its contribution to society.

This is what endangers our children, as it has increasingly, since the economic counter-revolution back in the 1980s. Ironically enough, conservatives used to get this. It might be why none other than Herbert Hoover once said, "The only trouble with capitalism is capitalists -- they are too damn greedy."

While even I wouldn't go that far, too-big-to-fail corporations and their hand maidens in Congress and at well-funded "media research" organizations most certainly pose a far greater danger to our children than a green frog-like puppet.

Cross-posted from Al Jazeera

Rate It | View Ratings

Cliff Schecter Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Cliff Schecter is an author, pundit and public relations strategist whose firm Libertas, LLC handles media relations for political, corporate and non-profit clients. In 2008, his first book, The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don't Trust (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Two fists full of dollars for Romney

Yes, I'll dare call it treason

Tea Party terminators

How the NRA Enables Massacres

Fraudulent and fictitious

GOP: Check your intelligence

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend