If I were to write a movie that commented upon post-9/11 culture, I think I would have to focus on America’s ambivalence towards the attitudes of other nations. Immediately after the attacks of 9/11, America went into a state of shock, and the majority of the rest of the world was considerate enough to give moral and physical support to the U.S in our time of need. My satirical movie would center on the fact that America has hardly shown the same consideration and awareness when other nations have been attacked. Besides the usual Middle Eastern sites of terrorist attacks, even our close “partners,” like the United Kingdom, historically have dealt with terrorism on a regular basis. We expect the rest of the world to be appalled by our own tragedy, yet many Americans are unaware of the more prevalent acts of terrorism on other nations. American centrism is nothing new, but it seems to be magnified by our own preoccupation with “us” (could be a play on the abbreviation U.S).
Stealing a bit from Maher, I think that many very funny movie scenes could be shown that make fun America’s answers regarding security. The airports are a joke currently – no nail scissors or shampoo – and I think there is probably comic gold in scenes that make fun of the “serious hygiene sacrifices facing many Americans in the fight against terrorism.” These petty and paranoid measures on behalf of national security seem ridiculous when compared to the airport security in other nations; guns and trained guards, for example, as a way to protect citizens in the area. But Americans are too concerned with the allusion of security (no guns or guards), then they are with actual measures.
I think Maher was also right on the mark regarding the dependence of foreign oil. I’d love to show some movie scenes where anti-war activists gather upon Washington to protest, leave their cars running, and then drive away into a polluted sunset in gas-guzzling SUVs.
Finally, I think an interesting thing for a movie to focus on would be the interaction and ambivalence of the President with the Congress. In many ways, the decisions to send troops into Iraq send a message of the failures of the American political system. Too mired in partisanship to make decisions that would actually benefit the country, politicians (and let’s be honest, many citizens) are like children picking a team: red or blue. Instead of working together, we’re faced with a game where both sides are trying so hard to win that they lose sight of the needs of their constituencies.