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Who Should Be Blamed: Neoconservatives and Their Critics |
| Section: MODERN THOUGHT / ESSAYS |
| Author: Dmitry Shlapentokh |
| Publication:
The World & I Online |
| Issue Date: 1/1/2005 |
| Size: 2,902 Words, 18,788 Characters |
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With all the political heat of the elections and the tribulations caused by the Iraq war and economic uncertainty, a considerable part of the American electorate continues to be passive and often cynical in regard to the political process. Even in these elections with a record number of voters, millions did not bother to appear at the voting polls. Movies might be one of the best ways to gauge the attitude of this segment of the public.
The 2003 movie Legally Blonde 2 could serve as a good example. Focusing on the exploits of Elle Woods, the embodiment of the American people, who dedicates her energy to saving animals from medical experimentation, the film actually blasts all aspects of American political machinery and even the "American way of life."
There is only one positive representative of the populace in the movie, a true embodiment of political savvy and kindness--the hotel doorman. The humbleness of his position shows that he is definitely not a member of the elite. He also has a kind heart and is willing to help Woods in what he regards as a just cause. Yet he is not involved in the grass-roots campaign initiated by Woods, nor does he profess any affiliation with the Right or the Left, and not because of a lack of knowledge--he actually knows the Washington machinery well. The reason is quite different--he knows Right and Left too well and does not see much difference between them. He hardly believes that anyone can bring about radical changes; at best, one can hope for minor improvement. So he just watches the members of the elite and the representatives of the masses as they move through the revolving door of his hotel, so similar to each other that he does not even remember their faces.
The movie's message might be interpreted in different, mutually exclusive. ways. One could see here the affirmation of the greatness of Amer...
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...erious problems could emerge in the future.
On the spread of anti-Semitism in Europe, see Michael Janofsky, "Billionaire Foe of President Sees Three Potential Democratic Victors," New York Times, 13 Jan. 2004; Richard Bernstein, "New Forms of Anti-Semitism Denounced," New York Times, 8 Jan. 2004; Richard Bernstein, "European Commission Resets Anti-Semitism Seminar," New York Times, 8 Jan. 2004.
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Publication Details
(The World & I Online) |
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The World & I Online is a
comprehensive academic resource that encompasses a broad range of
articles by scholars and experts in the areas of Global Studies,
Liberal Arts, Fine & Applied Arts, General Science, and Spanish.
Originally published monthly in print as The World & I, our site
includes the complete contents since 1986 and continues to publish
a new issue online each month. |
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