America : The land of the free and the home of the brave. Or is it? It seems to me (and many other who are on the outside looking in) that Americans are the most scared people on the planet. They’ve feared all sorts of things. communists, soviets, Muslims, terrorists, immigrants and now the latest thing to add to the list, bird flu.
TV Network ABC made a TV movie called “Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America” which follows an outbreak of an Avian Flu from its origins in Hong Kong through its mutation into a virus transmittable from human to human. Facts have no place on American television of course, and this is a movie so to hell with facts right? In the movie mass panic and near anarchy spreads across the ‘home of the brave’ as everyone tried to avoid certain death in a global pandemic.
From the movie’s website you can imagine the guy with the deep voice who does all the movie trailers reading the following. There are times that test humanity and challenge the soul of a community or a nation. News images and headlines tell stories of rising waters, quaking ground and tragic acts by man himself. But the real story, the human story, is found in the lives changed forever, in the strength of the survivors, and the resilient hope that gives them the courage to recover.
The site goes on to claim that the movie was “meticulously researched”, but what do we care about that? More importantly that sexy older woman from TV’s ‘Nip Tuck’ (you know the blonde one) is the movies heroin, and she discovers that those pesky backward Chinese folk have been too lax in dealing with avian flu and because of them we’re all going to die. The H5N1 virus, that bird flu to you and I, mutates into a version that can spread from human to human and microbes start to permeate the atmosphere killing lots of people in wonderfully dramatic fashion.
Although the movie itself makes no mention of the actual facts and theories that surround bird flu the website does at least have some good news to put scared Americans minds at rest. An ‘informational Announcement’ reassures us that; “To date, there have been no cases of the H5N1 virus in the United States nor has there been a human transmission of the disease in a form that could fuel a pandemic.”
So America, not only do you need to be on the look out for communists, terrorists, pedophiles, and your garden variety ‘bad guy’, you now need to be on the look out for the next big threat, a sick bird.
Achooo!
—
Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America
Some boring factual website about bird flu
Joely Richardson – Sha-wing!
Wrote the following comment on May 27, 2006 at 8:36 pm
I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the concept of ‘fiction’ but it seems that this is what they are going for with this film. It certainly does not mean that Americans are terrified by the bird flu (which, does happen to be different from “a sick bird”).
If you’re also unfamiliar with ‘history’, communism was, in fact, a big problem many years ago that led to the death of many people. I can’t speak for every American, but I sure have not seen anyone lately who was paranoid about communism.
I’m glad your blog is still in the ‘beta’ stage! Hopefully, soon you will feel compelled to change it to ‘gamma’, and ultimately to nothing at all. Thus indicating it is in its final public release for the entire world to enjoy! People everywhere will come to read your opinion, and you will be so happy that your blog is no longer in its ‘beta’ stages!
If ‘sarcasm’ is also not a member of your vocabulary list, that was a fine example of it! While I said all of those nice things, I did not mean any of them! There is really no need for your personal blog to be marked as ‘beta’. This stage is just not necessary for a site containing your thoughts. Also, it would be silly to believe that people will actually visit the blog to hear about your opinion!
Have a nice day, and no one really cares about your worldly opinions.
Wrote the following comment on May 27, 2006 at 11:09 pm
Your ideas are like my grundle. Stinky.
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 12:22 am
I’m a Canadian and do see how Melo-Dramatic Americans can be, but wether it is because there generally afraid or the Gouvernment/Media just exagerates the truth to a frightening staight is the question. Personally, I think it’s the government, but who knows. Thanks for the great post though!
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 2:50 am
Americans, no one can deny that they are the second easiest group of people in the world to upset. (The first being Islamic extremists of course – cartoons anyone?) I’m pleased Jack and Andy came here and decided to take the bait as it were. Clearly humor is lost on them, it’s probably a cultural difference, after all we have all the good humor and Americans have, err, ‘Will and Grace’, ‘Roseanne’ and the Jerry Springer show.
Of course Jack and Andy won’t come back, instead they’ve left a comment like some anonymous scrawl on a toilet wall. They gloriously missed the point of the post in a way which rather cruelly makes them the butt of it (sorry chaps).
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 3:12 am
LOL!!! Andy, you must stick around as you’ll love a future post I am going to write about Americans misconceptions about Britain and Europeans. Bad teeth and girls with arm pit hair, you’ll love it mate. It might shatter some illusions, but lets not let a little thing like truth stand in the way of what I feel is going to be a beautiful relationship :-)
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 3:01 am
A British guy trying to tell an American about humor is like… well, a British guy trying to tell an American guy about dental care… just wrong!
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 3:54 am
If you preach the truth, then you should spare readers of your misconception of the American people! Your opinion will be sure to “shatter some illusions”… I’ve been to Europe many times, and you could not change my views of your teeth in a million years.
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 3:09 pm
Andy, name calling is beneath you surely? The post was about American media, not about your preconceptions of teeth here in Europe.
You must come to Europe at least once before you die too Andy. I mean it’s all very well to pretend you already have, but seriously mate, do come over, I think you’ll enjoy it. Plus they say travel broadens the mind you know ;-)
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 3:56 pm
HAHAHA chap, I didn’t “name call” at all mate. Good insult with the telling me I ‘pretend’ to travel chap!
cheers!
Your number one chap,
Andy
P.S.
“America : The land of the free and the home of the brave. Or is it? It seems to me (and many other who are on the outside looking in) that Americans are the most scared people on the planet. They’ve feared all sorts of things. communists, soviets, Muslims, terrorists, immigrants and now the latest thing to add to the list, bird flu.”
About the American media, or American media feeding dumb Americans?
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Andy, I understand national pride Andy, and that is something that I truly do love about America and Americans. But don’t mistake a little friendly criticism for “anti American” sentiments.
Read me for a while longer and you’ll find it hard to find a European who loves America more. Indeed, flick back through this very blog and you’ll find that I went to Mississippi to help Katrina victims in what little way I could, something which I don’t think it’s unfair to suggest that many Americans have yet to do.
You’ll find I have a lot to say about the way I feel the American media dumb down the news and merge it with the rating rich and lucrative entertainment markets. Americans are often badly informed about world affairs and the such, they are being entertained to death. However I don’t blame them for that at all, I blame the media.
I do hope you’ll stick around Andy. You seem like an interesting bloke. Thanks for dropping by.
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 7:13 pm
I have a lot to say about American media, too. But, not fictional movies… What Matthew(?) Baum calls “soft news” and other dumb media (to be politically correct).
Many Americans helped Katrina victims, including myself. Give us more credit.
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 7:29 pm
Okay okay… allow me to draw out my point in the clearest possible terms so that you don’t have to try and understand or contemplate any subtlety at all.
American panic media that sensationalizes everything (and by media I include movies and fiction) help American form opinions. This movie of the week will have undoubtedly raised awareness of the issue of bird flu among a certain demographic of American TV audiences. Unfortunately many people who watch movies find it difficult to separate tho ‘fact’s they present from the fiction they are, and few are inclined to do any actual research to learn more.
To address your next point about Katrina victims Andy, I am quite sure you knew that when I said “something which I don’t think it’s unfair to suggest that many Americans have yet to do.” you knew I wasn’t referring to money or sending clothes, etc. I was expressly referring to people actually going to Mississippi, and I stand by my statement that “many Americans have yet to do”.
If you have gone to Mississippi then good for you. Lots of Americans would love to have that chance, to get in their and help the poor people whose lives have been so utterly devastated, and God knows Mississippi could do with many many more volunteers.
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 8:56 pm
“American panic media that sensationalizes everything (and by media I include movies and fiction) help American form opinions. This movie of the week will have undoubtedly raised awareness of the issue of bird flu among a certain demographic of American TV audiences. Unfortunately many people who watch movies find it difficult to separate tho ‘fact’s they present from the fiction they are, and few are inclined to do any actual research to learn more.”
This is the case with many movies in many countries. It may be more abundant in America, but America is bigger and there are more people with the money to feed bullshit like that. Even still, you have to give people enough credit to distinguish between fiction and nonfiction.
Regardless, your internet journal entry is all about the naivety of Americans, which is a generalization that many people in other countries make, which does not apply to many, many people. Hence the teeth reference.
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 9:01 pm
Andy, I wrote the entry and I know what it’s about mate, so while I enjoy your input and comment, don’t try telling me what I “actually†meant. I know what I meant, I’ve clarified it, now lets move on.
I’ll post something new later so you’ll be able to get your (perfect) teeth into that.
Care to share your blog address?
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 9:12 pm
No worries, I won’t be back later to sink these pearly whites into anything else that you think about.
I don’t have my own blog address, and if I did you bet I would have shared it already. Maybe I’ll make one someday, and I’ll come right here to share it with you as soon as I feel good enough about it to mark it as beta ;)
Wrote the following comment on May 28, 2006 at 10:01 pm
You’ll be back Andy, I know you will ;-)
Wrote the following comment on May 29, 2006 at 3:32 am
Wow. Simon, Simon, Simon. Where DID these guys come from? Like Eleanor Rigby, perhaps they keep their faces in a jar by the door and decide when to put on which one? Certainly they must have a more pleasant side. Perhaps not.
All this talk about Americans, from Americans. Come on, guys, like we can have an objective opinion about ourselves. We, as Americans LIVE in fear. Simon, if you haven’t read the book Culture of Fear by Barry Glassner, you should. If you’re interested, I’ll see if I can find my copy and mail it to you. It’s a GREAT look at how the American media rules the land with fear and misinformation.
In the meantime….are you back from your trip yet?
Wrote the following comment on May 29, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Hi Shae, yeah, I am back from bonnie Scotland now. I must post some pics from that trip.
As for the book, I’ve never read it, but maybe I’ll dig it out. You can see I gave my blog a little attention over the last few days. I think I’m ready to ‘launch it’ for real very soon and to leave Xanga with it.