Welcome back to Tufts! I hope you all had a wonderful break filled with binge drinking and other amusing activities. Unfortunately, my break did not consist of days on the beach or nights at the bars. No, instead of going to Daytona or St. Barts, I spent my time in good old Mendon, Massachusetts doing more important and productive things... like going to see "V for Vendetta" with my little brother.
For those not aware, "V for Vendetta" was released into theaters the Friday before spring break. It was produced and written by brothers Andy and Larry Wachowski, otherwise known as the creators of "The Matrix" trilogy. The story takes place in England and follows a masked hero, known only as V, as he engages in escapades of terror against the government. His hobbies include blowing up symbolic structures and killing prominent members of the ruling political party.
Everything, however, is complicated by a few important factors. The story is set in 2020 and depicts England as a fascist police state complete with torture chambers, a department of propaganda, curfews, and wiretapping (and all the other obligatory oppressive police state proponents).
Let me first say that I genuinely enjoyed this movie for both its entertainment value and also for the message that I was able to take away from it. However, not everyone is leaving the multiplex with the same message that I am. (Surprise, surprise.) Perhaps I should explain why this film has been labeled "brave and relevant" by many liberal pundits and celebrities.
Their basic argument draws a direct connection between the government depicted in "V for Vendetta" and the current Bush Administration. In the film, the British Chancellor secretly orchestrates the murder of thousands of British citizens. The government then conveniently blames "terrorists" for these horrific acts and is able to use these events to exert complete control over the population. As V says in the film, "fear became the ultimate tool of this government." That is essentially why this movie is being called "brave and relevant." It seems to be "calling out" the Bush Administration for secretly wiretapping phones and taking action to "protect" the homeland and its people.
"V for Vendetta" comes at a time when the United States is embroiled in bitter discourse over how to most effectively maintain the integrity of constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties, but also provide for the security of the country. In a perfect world, this line would not have to be negotiated. Phones would not have to be wiretapped and people would not have to be held without due process. Unfortunately, 3,000 Americans were brutally murdered five years ago in attacks that could have been prevented had certain security measures been in place. In order to ensure that this does not happen again, certain compromises have had to be made. There is really no other choice if Americans are to preserve their way of life. Consider the alternative for a moment.
Should the government not monitor the phone lines of those who could potentially assist or directly participate in acts of terror? Our conservative government is not tapping the phones of Hillary Clinton or John Kerry or other liberal leaders. It is tapping the phones of those who could contribute to acts of mass murder. That seems to be what most people do not understand.
Now, earlier I said that I came away from this movie with a message. I left the theater thankful to live in a country where movies like "V for Vendetta" can be made and critiqued. In places like Iran and North Korea, films that might possibly be interpreted as criticizing the government would never be released into theaters. In North Korea, people are executed for attempting to leave the country without permission. Think about the prospect of this for one minute: being executed for wanting to go on spring break. This sort of hypothetical is completely foreign to most Americans, simply unimaginable.
So before you step out of the cinema, infused with anger and ready to fly to Washington to protest the compromises that have been made since 9/11, think seriously about why these have been made and also about the implications of not making them. Then, decide how you really feel.
