Posted on 03/23/2003 4:23:45 PM PST by sarcasm
The only way for the world to make America's leaders listen is to undermine US business, writes Gerald Stone.
The politics of public protest changed forever when George Bush announced his startling doctrine proclaiming America's right to launch a pre-emptive military strike against any target of its choosing.
If the leading democracy on earth is prepared to go to war regardless of public opinion around the world, what means are left to ordinary citizens in Australia and elsewhere to try to make their feelings heard?
Demonstrations in foreign capitals are hardly likely to have much impact in the new era of the Bush doctrine for one simple reason: they are all show and no "blow".
So let me offer one long-shot possibility of getting through to the White House: a viewer boycott of the Oscars.
The US, for all its military might, has a political system that makes it very vulnerable to protest campaigns that target any of its major industries. The entertainment industry is certainly among the most influential of those.
The Academy Awards broadcast is traditionally the most widely watched of all US TV shows. If there was clear evidence of a drop in ratings attributable to anti-war sentiment, it would send a symbolic message to the bosses of the big studios, networks and pop music companies.
They would begin to realise that an unpopular war has the potential to threaten billions of dollars in profits, and they would make sure that message was passed on to the politicians who represent them.
Still, I certainly don't want to make too big a deal about the Academy Awards. They represent only a tiny fraction of a giant jigsaw puzzle that we will need to put together to show us how to proceed in this precarious new world order.
US citizens can at least feel they have some input into this god-like decision-making process by voting presidents in or out of office. But how about the rest of us? We have no one in Congress paid to look after our interests.
There is only one point of access for the common folk of other lands to enter the US political process: by finding a way to tweak the hip-pocket nerve that motivates virtually everything in US society.
Occasionally, during trade disagreements with the US, we've heard angry muttering about boycotts of American goods. The truth is, however, there is no practical way the most outraged of Aussies could sustain a boycott against everyday products of US origin.
Even if they did, it wouldn't matter that much because this country constitutes such a small part of the world market.
Only within the US entertainment industry do Australians really count. The amount of money earned here from American-made television programs, movies and CDs happens to be very significant on a per capita basis.
A symbolic switch-off of such product seems an easy enough gesture to make for any anti-war protester, and the economic impact locally would be minimal.
Could such a campaign work? The major US TV networks and studios are prone to panic over any issue that looks like hitting their profits.
The Hollywood moguls would soon enough let their displeasure be known to the West Wing.
Have we really reached the stage where Australians, as much as they admire Americans, need to contemplate a symbolic boycott to express their grave concerns about US foreign policy?
Sadly, there appear to be few other options in a situation where Washington claims to act as the ultimate guardian of free nations everywhere, yet leaves millions of free-world citizens virtually disenfranchised because they have no voice in US politics.
Bush, it seems, has somehow confused the state of being all mighty with being the Almighty. His doctrine of pre-emptive war seeks to transform the US from supreme to divine: a veritable "god power" acting as sole judge of good and evil in the conduct of nations.
This, then, is a seriously worrying time when all true friends of the US - no matter how they feel about Iraq - must find a way to send its President an ancient but compelling reminder.
Thou, too, art mortal.
American-born Gerald Stone is a former executive producer of 60 Minutes and a former editor of The Bulletin.
Ah, from the place of the deep thinkers. 60 minutes.
On another note. I just made up a new award called "The Freepie". It's very special and a real big deal. It's hugh and series.
And the winner of "The Freepie" for this thread is (clicking open envelope) - SARCASM! Why? Well, why not?
Sarcasm may now give their speech regarding the award saying how surprised they are and thanking everyone. The rest of us can just say how important this is and gush and hope Sacrasm remembers us little people from now on. Then give each other "Freepies" because we are all so important and then do it again next year. /sarcasm off?
The Neo-Con Gambit: Don't watch the Oscars risk be painted with the terrorist's brush... Watch the Oscars risk being accused of conspiring with the (spit) liberals.
HaHaHaHaHaHaHa... More evil laughter.
Please Br'er Fox, don't throw me in that briar patch.
If you are a nielsen family and in good conscience don't want to watch the awards, that is one thing, but no box and you don't matter to the Madison Ave crowd or the networks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.