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All You Bush Haters Will Not Like Batman
by joellerose | July 25, 2008 at 11:56 am | 947 views | 40 comments
by joellerose
Opinion. At least one reviewer has noticed the symbolism that compares Batman to President Bush in the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight". As one who has greatly admired the understanding and foresight that President Bush has shown in comprehending the threat to free societies everywhere presented by Islamofascism and its record of murderous terrorism, and also admired the courage he has shown in the face of unbelievable threats, obstruction and vitriolics from the left-wing cowards and ostriches who can't and won't understand this threat, I am greatly encouraged that President Bush's great character and steadfastness is being recognized in a major movie. I knew he would be remembered in history as the man who saved western civilization, but I did not think it would start happening so quickly. All the left-wing, anti-American war movies have bombed. This movie is setting records.
What Bush and Batman Have in Common
By ANDREW KLAVAN
July 25, 2008; Wall Street Journal
A cry for help goes out from a city beleaguered by violence and fear: A beam of light flashed into the night sky, the dark symbol of a bat projected onto the surface of the racing clouds . . .
Oh, wait a minute. That's not a bat, actually. In fact, when you trace the outline with your finger, it looks kind of like . . . a "W."
Warner Bros. Pictures
There seems to me no question that the Batman film "The Dark Knight," currently breaking every box office record in history, is at some level a paean of praise to the fortitude and moral courage that has been shown by George W. Bush in this time of terror and war. Like W, Batman is vilified and despised for confronting terrorists in the only terms they understand. Like W, Batman sometimes has to push the boundaries of civil rights to deal with an emergency, certain that he will re-establish those boundaries when the emergency is past.
And like W, Batman understands that there is no moral equivalence between a free society -- in which people sometimes make the wrong choices -- and a criminal sect bent on destruction. The former must be cherished even in its moments of folly; the latter must be hounded to the gates of Hell.
"The Dark Knight," then, is a conservative movie about the war on terror. And like another such film, last year's "300," "The Dark Knight" is making a fortune depicting the values and necessities that the Bush administration cannot seem to articulate for beans.
Conversely, time after time, left-wing films about the war on terror -- films like "In The Valley of Elah," "Rendition" and "Redacted" -- which preach moral equivalence and advocate surrender, that disrespect the military and their mission, that seem unable to distinguish the difference between America and Islamo-fascism, have bombed more spectacularly than Operation Shock and Awe.
Why is it then that left-wingers feel free to make their films direct and realistic, whereas Hollywood conservatives have to put on a mask in order to speak what they know to be the truth? Why is it, indeed, that the conservative values that power our defense -- values like morality, faith, self-sacrifice and the nobility of fighting for the right -- only appear in fantasy or comic-inspired films like "300," "Lord of the Rings," "Narnia," "Spiderman 3" and now "The Dark Knight"?
The moment filmmakers take on the problem of Islamic terrorism in realistic films, suddenly those values vanish. The good guys become indistinguishable from the bad guys, and we end up denigrating the very heroes who defend us. Why should this be?
The answers to these questions seem to me to be embedded in the story of "The Dark Knight" itself: Doing what's right is hard, and speaking the truth is dangerous. Many have been abhorred for it, some killed, one crucified.
Leftists frequently complain that right-wing morality is simplistic. Morality is relative, they say; nuanced, complex. They're wrong, of course, even on their own terms.
Left and right, all Americans know that freedom is better than slavery, that love is better than hate, kindness better than cruelty, tolerance better than bigotry. We don't always know how we know these things, and yet mysteriously we know them nonetheless.
The true complexity arises when we must defend these values in a world that does not universally embrace them -- when we reach the place where we must be intolerant in order to defend tolerance, or unkind in order to defend kindness, or hateful in order to defend what we love.
When heroes arise who take those difficult duties on themselves, it is tempting for the rest of us to turn our backs on them, to vilify them in order to protect our own appearance of righteousness. We prosecute and execrate the violent soldier or the cruel interrogator in order to parade ourselves as paragons of the peaceful values they preserve. As Gary Oldman's Commissioner Gordon says of the hated and hunted Batman, "He has to run away -- because we have to chase him."
That's real moral complexity. And when our artistic community is ready to show that sometimes men must kill in order to preserve life; that sometimes they must violate their values in order to maintain those values; and that while movie stars may strut in the bright light of our adulation for pretending to be heroes, true heroes often must slink in the shadows, slump-shouldered and despised -- then and only then will we be able to pay President Bush his due and make good and true films about the war on terror.
Perhaps that's when Hollywood conservatives will be able to take off their masks and speak plainly in the light of day.
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July 25, 2008 at 11:56 am by joellerose, 947 views, 40 comments
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joellerose
Orlando, Florida, United States
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Comments (40)
at 14:46 on July 25th, 2008
Most people don't watch cartoons or read comic books searching for their "deep" political meaning. After all Batman is not real, but just a comic book creation. Wait a minute I guess he and Dubya have more in common than I thought!
at 14:51 on July 25th, 2008
I've asked you not to comment on my posts since you implied I was a Nazi.
at 14:53 on July 25th, 2008
I have right to comment on any post I choose and I will continue to. Request denied.
at 18:57 on July 25th, 2008
Wow, you're beginning to sound like your most hated enemy - President Bush (well, your characterization of him anyway).
Pretend, for a minute, that joellerose is Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki and his postings are Iraq. And you are playing the part of the evil invading force led by the bloodthirsty dubbya. joellerose has asked you to leave his country but you, the cruel individual that you are, has decided that no, you would rather stay and continue to corrupt his peaceful society. You are going to continue to destroy his cities and kill his people.
Well, that's how I see it anyway. Maybe the analogy isn't going to be to your liking but I think it's apt. If someone doesn't want you to comment on their stories - let it be. You're always welcome to comment on my posts (I guess) as I'm sure I'm still allowed to comment on your posts.
On a personal note; have you seen the Dark Night? It was pretty awesome.
at 09:22 on July 26th, 2008
Nope haven't seen it yet but next week. The theaters are jammed with tittering teenagers and I will wait a bit. My son is an actor and he went bonkers over this movie!
at 18:49 on July 25th, 2008
joellerose, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I loved the movie.
- reply
Dekkard (not verified)at 19:18 on July 25th, 2008
Sure! Let's take this to the final degree and impeach the President and charge him with war crimes, then he can be the outlaw, like Batman at the end of the film, instead of the POTUS.
at 19:21 on July 25th, 2008
Hey moon, I asked her not to comment on mine and she responded with the same thing, I can post where I want. So post on! joellerose isn't a Nazi, she is just a fascist American neocon......which is worse!
at 20:49 on July 25th, 2008
VRod the personal attack on joellrose calling an NP member a fascist is unacceptable if you came to this post to insult NP members you crossed a line and are not welcomed.. So please post anything you want but no personal attacks. That is not what this forum is and as a military person as you say you are you should know better...
at 07:36 on July 26th, 2008
How is that an insult. Stop using my profession as well. Fascist and neocons have striking similarities. Extreme nationalism, militaristic, anti-Marxist/socialist/communist, and extreme right. Would you care to debate the topic of right wing political parties?
at 19:23 on July 25th, 2008
I guess since bats are blind and belong in caves, Bush can be similar. Did you know the Spartans actually engaged in homosexual activity? And it was rumored when the comic first came out that Batman and Robin were a gay duo as well. I smell Cheney and Bush! Good comparison, joelle.
at 19:29 on July 25th, 2008
Here is clip from a book on the history of Batman.............
One of the most important episodes in Batman's metamorphosis centered around the startling accusation that Batman and Robin were gay and might seed impressionable youths with homosexual fantasies. Silver Age Batman was indelibly shaped by the gendered expectations of the era and his failure to adhere to those expectations incited criticism, predictably, that called into question his sexual identity. Which may be why they introduced the character Batgirl.
at 20:21 on July 25th, 2008
See that is what makes it hard to do these comparisons for a conservative. Their minds are so closed, so they can't cite anything. They try to and it only makes them look bad. They called Batman gay, and now they want Bush to be Batman. They attack cartoons, fast food restaurants, cartoons, and toys. Not cause of safety or health, but cause it is gay, feminist, or liberal propaganda. On top of it, many of them are closet gays, Larry Craig, Glenn Murphy, Bob Allen, Ted Haggard; child molesters, Mark Foley; cheaters, Ginrich, Vitter, McCain; engage with prostitutes, Vitter; advocate hitting their wives, Dobson; put down kids with illnesses, Savage; take drugs illegally, Haggard, Limbaugh; harass women, O'reilly; Alcoholic, Bush. Maybe they should step out of the closet, and then they can remove their masks. The absurdity is there, no doubt. So when they step down from their pulpits and be honest, maybe they can live with themselves and stop wearing the masks.
at 21:18 on July 25th, 2008
Wow I guess the hatred is at the boiling point over on the left..
at 07:39 on July 26th, 2008
Would you care to debate the factuality behind these comments as well, mpress? I thought so.
at 21:59 on July 25th, 2008
Wow, I wasn't aware that all liberals were great people! Before this comment I thought there had to be at least a couple closet gays, child molesters, cheaters, engage with prostitutes, wife beaters, child illness mockers, drug abusers, women harassers, and alcoholics. Where can I sign up to be part of the pure liberal religion that you are in?
at 13:20 on July 26th, 2008
The liberals don't run on being a party of anti-gay, family values, and chivalrous bunch of moral crusaders.
at 20:00 on July 25th, 2008
Good one, Zichi.
- reply
Crazy_Patrio12 (not verified)at 20:27 on July 25th, 2008
Duh, v_rod, he is a born again! That means he can have hot steamy man love in the 60's, get dunked under water and be a new straight man.
at 20:34 on July 25th, 2008
Just one more comment, I promise. It's almost too much fun sometimes. Bush and his cronies dropped the whole islamofascist thing years ago. As a student of political science, you can easily understand how the fundamentalist movement is far from fascist, which is why President Bush dropped it. He was mocked for using it, questioned by his own staff, and then dropped it.
I guess if you really wanted to, you could try to make a revival out of it.
at 22:15 on July 25th, 2008
How, exactly, is it far from a fascist movement? Do you even know what fascism is beyond the ever-popular comparison of Bush and Hitler?
To help you out a little bit here is Merriam-Webster's definition and a link to Wikipedia's page on it.
And it wasn't "years" ago that the term was dropped. In fact, just a couple of months ago there was a decree sent down from some terrorism center warning against the use of the term because it might seem combative or hurtful towards people of the Islamic faith. But should it? The term "islamofascist" obviously is targeting terrorist groups like al Qaeda and theocratic governments like the Taliban. Since you don't like the term what do you think we should use? Maybe "our misguided brothers of the book" or "overzealous believers" would be better.
One last point since this is awfully fun, why do people who oppose the War on Terror fall over backwards to try and cast obviously bad people as anything but? I just don't understand how the president of the United States could be seen as worse than someone like Khalid Sheikh Mohamad. Truthfully, I really don't want to know what mental gymnastics you have to go through to come to that conclusion.
at 12:32 on July 26th, 2008
So you want to debate the term fascist? Here is something written by Dr. Lawrence Britt, professor of political science. No offense, but wikipedia is not a source accepted in many educational institutions. Please don't give me a wikiality on such topics. Islamofascist definitely doesn't describe the term. I will use your wikiscription to teach ya a little lesson. Applying my studies would rock you into the stone age, so I won't do that. We will use your cited source, wikipedia. For starters, they are not nationalistic, as they are sectarian. But I suppose you just assume they are all the same ol' Muslims. They are not militaristic. Militant, insurgent, yes. But they do not possess military capacity to strike offensively and defensively. Economics.....these guys are far from capitalist or laissez-faire economist. I can go on and rebut your wikiality, but no need. Your brain must be hurting. They are Islamic Fundamentalist, as the Taliban and al-Qaeda followed the law of Sharia, which makes them no different from Zionist Jews, and Fundamentalist Christians, as far as ideology goes. As far as means of coercion is concerned, they are terrorist. But surely not Islamofascist. But I guess pop culture will just let you buy into the truth the sell you. It is like people in this room calling others antisemite, with realizing why that is a popular misnomer. Semites are people from that region, which include Arabs and a host of other cultures. But that is too much information for you to ever grasp. Here are the characteristics by Dr. Britt.
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed .
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
at 15:23 on July 26th, 2008
V_rod please do not take offense,
This list describes the current situation in the USA to a T! Unfortunately.
at 17:04 on July 26th, 2008
What makes this even better is that it was written in beginning of 2003, before the Iraq occupation, before a lot of these laws and the neocons swung into full effect. It just annoys me when some person throws a crap references at me, that goes on to hurt his argument!
at 20:46 on July 25th, 2008
joellerose, I like this story. It's good stuff.
- reply
Laurel Anne Hill (not verified)at 21:07 on July 25th, 2008
“Holy W, Batman, you’re like Bush?”
I read the Wall Street Journal’s piece comparing the trials and tribulations of Batman to those of President Bush. Wow! Was that a bat signal in the sky, or the letter “W?” I found the comparison interesting but have my own opinions about heroes and battles against evil. On the rope of life, heroes climb above their weakest point, putting themselves at risk for the benefit of others. Love, compassion, duty and honor call them forth and they respond. Still, even heroes on a worthwhile quest against evil must search their own hearts for smoldering embers of hate or vengeance that could influence their actions and bring dishonor and disaster. We are only human. Heroes or not, we often fight our deadliest battles against ourselves and the best way to tame our dark, snarling inner desires is to flood those beasts with light. We live in the real world, one with presidents and CEO’s but no superheroes. Public awareness and debate about all sides of political and social issues must comprise the beams of light in our darkened skies. And we should all vote according to the signals in which we believe. That “W” stands for “We, the people,” if we let it. Laurel Anne Hill Author of “Heroes Arise,” a parable about the necessity and complexity of breaking the cycle of vengeance. (KOMENAR Publishing, October 2007)at 09:28 on July 26th, 2008
"On the rope of life, heroes climb above their weakest point, putting themselves at risk for the benefit of others. Love, compassion, duty and honor call them forth and they respond. Still, even heroes on a worthwhile quest against evil must search their own hearts for smoldering embers of hate or vengeance that could influence their actions and bring dishonor and disaster. We are only human. Heroes or not, we often fight our deadliest battles against ourselves and the best way to tame our dark, snarling inner desires is to flood those beasts with light."
That is truly a magnificent! Thanks you!
at 22:38 on July 25th, 2008
Wow Batman and Bush. Do you think Batman will invite Bush to the Batcave after he retires? What Batman should do is give voice lessons to Bush. If he were to use that deep, dangerous Clint Eastwood kind of voice that Christian Bale used I bet his approval ratings would be alot higher. Or maybe he could become an honorary Bat dude. I know we could call him "BoardMan" and he could waterboard the bad guys that Batman catches until the spill the beans. What kind of car do you think he should drive. Batman drives a Lamborghini in the movie but you can't have the President doing that.
at 04:43 on July 26th, 2008
From the number of hilarious, angry comments this post has received, I guess the truth really does hurt, but President Bush will just keep on doing what he needs to do to protect American citizens as his oath requires him to do. Today's ignorant protesters will join the Tories, the Copperheads and the Fifth Columnists in history's dustbin, while President Bush will be remembered as the man who saved western civilization.
at 09:05 on July 26th, 2008
C'mon now my comment was a little funny. Bush saved western civilization? Really? You're serious? By most of the metrics I've seen (economy, standing in the world, foreign policy etc.) he and his cabal have done anything but save western civilization. Hell he has overseen the gutting of your economy. And you're happy about that? You must have ALOT of money.