I was directed to this picture starting at Paul the Spud who links to U.S. Newswire who links to the picture.
I find this picture deeply disturbing on many levels.
These are not American children. American children are, on the whole, happy, even those that live in reduced circumstances. What, you say, they've seen the terrorist? Well, why is the Christ Child not frowning?
So many threads are mixed up in here: Santa Claus, the Christmas Tree (a pagan festival), the Christ Child, and a terrorist. I assume this is an Islamic terrorist given the garb. It is all unsettling.
The concept that a Santa Claus with a gun can protect us against terrorism is also deeply disturbing. It plays to the idea that it is individuals acting alone who are important when the exact opposite is the case; it is only by concerted group action that anything can be done against this threat.
Finally, the whole thing is ugly. Just ugly. How could anyone feel that this was an appropriate picture to circulate at Christmastime?
1 comment:
It's all about fear. Fear was used by the administration to get a war, curtail citizens' rights, and they continue to promote fear every day. Just look at Bush's comments on the Patriot Act....it's all about fear. They are gutless chickenhawks.(Guess that's redundant)
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