We Demand Non-Demon Follower Representation

What do you do if you really hate a television show or its message? There might seem to be a simple answer to your dilemma: don't watch the show. The problem is, when you're at home alone, even if you walk around the house making loud proclamations such as "I'm not gonna watch that show!" or "It's 8:00, who's in front of the tv? Not me! Unless it's to hurl tomatoes!" your protest doesn't have much impact, especially if the show is popular among other consumers. So how can we penalize the show without physically killing its writers or producers? We boycott the advertisers, and the show loses money and is cancelled.

It is in this spirit that I call attention to last week’s episode of Supernatural. The television story is about two brothers, Sam and Dean, who hunt demons and try to save people. “Sounds like the sort of show I could watch without throwing tomatoes,” you say? Think again. In this most recent episode, Sam, who is gifted with psychic powers, is abducted and placed in a deserted town with four other psychics. We discover that apparently a demon has taken them to the town with the intention that they will kill each other, and the winner will be rewarded with super powers and get to serve demons. Sam laudably determines that it would be better to flee the town and not kill his fellow psychics. After various deaths, there are finally just two psychics left: Sam, and a U.S. soldier stationed in Afghanistan. Sam entreats the soldier (whose super powers include benchpressing 800 pounds) that they should work together. Sam puts down his knife. The U.S. soldier puts down his less pointy weapon. And then … the soldier sneak attacks him! After a brawlfest, Sam defeats the soldier, has the chance to kill him … and doesn’t. Sam turns his back, and the U.S. soldier cowardly stabs him in the back and then goes running off to become a demon minion.

It should go without saying that this is an uncharitable way of representing the U.S. military. To the best of my knowledge, U.S. military training does not encourage its soldiers to serve demons or kill unarmed American civilians when their backs are turned. The producers of the show are not simply criticizing U.S. foreign policy but demonizing our troops … quite literally. The producers are not simply anti-military, but un-American.

What kind of fiendish advertisers could support such a show, you ask? Perhaps Moveon.org? Hamas? I was rather astonished to see the Sam-stabbing incident was followed by an advertisement for the U.S. army itself. Forget the NEA! Our tax dollars are going to support artistic works that demonize the military, such as those artists supported by the U.S. army!

We need to send advertisers such as the U.S. Army a clear message: we have a zero tolerance policy for undermining troop morale. If U.S. troops were supernaturally transported to a ghost town, they probably would not obey demons, and we have to be willing to boycott advertisers who suggest otherwise. The clearest way to show we support our troops is by not joining the army.