Shitty SHIT SHIT!

Question #1: “Is True Lies a flattering or not-so-flattering portrayal of the U.S. Intelligence community? Why or why not?”

True Lies is a flattering portrayal of the U.S. Intelligence community, at least to people who cannot separate hyperbolic representation in film from reality. Yeah sure, if True Lies was real I would be more than proud of my badass government agents who tirelessly work behind the scenes to ensure my security. Do I even have to answer the rest of this question? It’s True Lies with Arnold Schwarzenegger for Christ's sake; anyone who watched the movie for thirty seconds can tell that the intelligence community (and all its’ covert violence) was glorified.

Question #2: “Should Americans worry about nuclear terrorism like al-Qaeda’s ‘American Hiroshima’ project or the nuclear terrorism depicted in True Lies? Why or why not?”

Yeah, but “worrying” about al-Qaeda acquiring a nuclear device won’t actually stop them from getting one. Maybe if I worry real hard. The fact is that I trust the American intelligence agencies enough to protect the United States, and even if I didn’t, I live in a flyover state, I’m not worried about getting nuked. I know what you said in class about terrorists’ plotting attacks against shopping malls and the like in less populated areas, but since I think that al-Qaeda’s strength has diminished, I don’t think that they are going to risk their existence on Oak Park Mall.

Question #3: How are Muslims/Arabs depicted in True Lies and Prayers for the Assassin? Are there any positive Arab portrayals in either True Lies or Prayers for the Assassin? Please provide justifications from each work for your answers.

Generally, pretty bad. Arnold’s sidekick (not Tom Arnold) seemed Arabic, so it appears that he is the exception to the James Cameron rule. In Prayers for the Assassin, the very protagonist of the novel, Rakkim, is a Muslim, albeit a lapsed one. However, most of the novel, along with most of True Lies sets Muslims up in the “bad-buy” role that has been sorely undeveloped since the end of the Cold War. Without the “Evil Soviets” us stupid Americans need a knee-jerk ethnic group to mass-demonize.

Jack Gustafson

Explosions, Exaggerations and Stereotypes, OH MY!

Blog Question 1:

Superficial and non-essential intelligence community portrayal aside, I absolutely adore "True Lives," because it provides the sort of humorous, action-packed and explosion-laden plot that Americans generally crave. Immediately upon seeing the names Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Arnold on the cast list, one is put on notice that the film will likely be an entertaining combination of humor and "please, do not take this seriously." I just pray, to whomever, that the actual individuals presiding over our intelligence community do not engage in the sort of "Cheaters," television show and personal investigative behavior-of their significant others, as is depicted in the film. If our intelligence community actually does act in this way, the way of constant-personal-relationship paranoia, summon God, the Saints and any other available deity to America's side, because we are unsafe against a dark and ominous, furtive evil.

Blog Question 2:

I watched an interview recently, incidentally, it was not on a real, corporate media-ran news interview program-but "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," featuring an author who has written a book on the nature of fear and how business, government and regular people capitalize on it. Sadly, I feel that without fearing us to death, many individuals in America and academia would be devoid of employment. With this being said, however, I do not advocate the utter ignorance of threats or the necessary planning that should accommodate them.

Blog Question 3:

After 9/11, I procured a copy of the Muslim Holy book, the Qu'ran and thoroughly reviewed it. Additonally, I served in the role of Islamic-Student-Affairs coordinator and worked in association with C.A.R.E. to provide fact-based answers to traditionally stereotypical question. In this respect, I can recognize a Muslim negative portrayal when I see one.

Robert is correct, Muslims and Arabs generally have contributed innumerably to our society. In Mathematics, economics and otherwise. For anyone to marginalize Arabs and Mulsims in the default category of "terrorist," is to be wholly ignorant to this group's credit for improving our modern world.

Corey Scott-Vincent-William Dutra

GREAT Points, Bob! (and now for a slutty picture)

Question #1

It is a not so flattering portrayal of the intelligence community, it seems that while terrorists are trying to kill Americans these agents spy on their wives and try to get there sad lives back together. The movie was more up to date then three days of condor and is more accurate. The only thing I believe to be true was the fact Arnold got mad when he asked for an illegal wiretap and his buddy reminded him it was against the law and he said they are doing thousands a day. I completely believe that all the patriot act and 9/11 did was give these agencies legitimacy for activities they had been doing for years. This was exposed to be a spoof on the CIA and movies that deal with this type of material while they did try to be more serious about the subject matter and it showed from time to time it was exposed to entertain not inform. These “agents” worried more about bad leads and troubled marriages then anything else.

Question #2

Absolutely, Americans should worry and worry a lot because it is only a matter of time. It is simply Moore’s law applied to nuclear technology while Moore’s law states over a certain time frame that technological power will double and the price will decrease, as technology comes easier the threat rises. The doomsday clock and the scientists predicated this after the Soviet Union fell, unstable governments with nuclear weapons, a growing black market and growing number of well funded groups will gain access and materials to make their own weapon. With technology now being understood by younger people, viruses being created by kids in high school it is only a matter of time before a group that does not act reasonable or rational will release destruction on America. We are the perfect target because we are the freest nation ever to be on earth, we have the best economy, best system of government and a common belief that ties us together and pulls us forward, the American Dream. With technology such as a nuclear weapon out in the world it is only a matter of time before the worst thing imaginable happens and a way of life is erased from the face of the earth. It will not matter if it is in the Florida Keys or New York fear will destroy this nation and cease the way we live today

Question #3

The way Arabs/Muslims are depicted in the movie and in the book is not positive at all we believe that they cling to religion, something we don’t understand by its nature because it seems alien and old fashioned. We forget that these people were once the peak of human understanding they were the great mathematicians, the great alchemists, the great warriors. Europeans imported numbers from them, they rediscovered Plato and other ancient world thinkers. Europeans ran in utter fear when they saw the Islamic armies marching toward Europe. Americans do not remember all this because it happened on another continent in a time long before our own. Armies of Islam ruled from Spain to the Pacific Ocean while not under one crown, they have a rich heritage and are a powerful people. The people from those lands have been rising empire after empire and they will continue to do so. In most movies they are shown to be weak with only religion being their own knowledge, this idea needs to change or we will underestimate people we should not ever underestimate.

Robert Foster