Republicans and Battlestar Galactica

[LiviaOlivia]

Battlestar Galacticons
A close look at the right's scary affinity for sci-fi foreign policy punditry.

By Brad Reed
American Prospect
10.27.06


As the midterm elections approach, many conservatives are feeling betrayed by one of their most important allies in the war on terror: Battlestar Galactica.

Over the sci-fi show's first two seasons, many conservatives saw it as a pitch-perfect metaphor for the United States’ post-9/11 battle against Osama bin Laden and his Muslamonazi horde. Galactica, which has become something of a surprise hit on the Sci Fi Channel, takes place in a post-apocalyptic universe where humanity has been decimated by a nuclear strike launched by an enemy race of robots known as the Cylons. Most of the action revolves around a noble band of 50,000 survivors who hurtle through space searching for a new home planet. Along the way, they have had to deal with Cylon sleeper agents, suicide bombers, and even a sinister pack of left-wingers who use violence to try to force humanity to make peace with their enemies.

“The more I watch the new Battlestar Galactica series, the more the Cylons seem like Muslims,” wrote “Michael,” the author of the Battlestar Galactica Blog, back in March. “They believe they are killing humans for their god. This is very much like the Muslim concept of jihad, which instructs Muslims to spread their religion through war.”

National Review’s Jonah Goldberg, who writes regularly about Galactica’s politics on NRO’s group blog, The Corner, also picked up on parallels between the show and the war on terror. Goldberg took particular glee in attacking Galactica’s anti-war movement, which he said consisted of “radical peaceniks” and “peace-terrorists” who “are clearly a collection of whack jobs, fifth columnists and idiots.” Goldberg also praised several characters for trying to rig a presidential election. “I liked that the good guys wanted to steal the election and, it turns out, they were right to want to,” wrote Goldberg. Stolen elections, evil robots, crazed hippies … what more could a socially inept right-winger want from a show?


~snip~

The rest at:
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=12172

[neverforget]

1. Sometimes make believe is just make believe. Get a grip Jonah!

Better yet, volunteer for Iraq you coward.

[Parche]

7. cylon

Isnt Cheney a cylon?????

[Der Blaue Engel]

2. You stopped right before the best part:

But alas, this love affair between Galactica and the right was not to last: in its third season, the show has morphed into a stinging allegorical critique of America’s three-year occupation of Iraq.... The humans were predictably not enthused about their allegedly altruistic rulers, and they immediately launched an insurgency against them using improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers. Needless to say, this did not go over very well in the Galacticon camp.

The article neglects to note the fact that the Cylons worship "the one God" while humans are polytheists. I'm sure this drives the righties nuts.

I am a huge fan of BG and I am loving this season so far. :D

[Demeter]

3. Republicans Are Legends In Their Own Minds

Everyone else would call that delusional.

[stray cat]

4. Some argue its pro-democrat

As far as I'm concerned its a tv show I happen to like.

[architect359]

5. So say we all!

I couldn't resist. :D

[POAS]

8. May the Gods protect you.

[FVZA_Colonel]

6. I've especially enjoyed arguments that the Galactic Empire in Star Wars are the "good guys"

I read through that major paper once, and I could not help but laugh at his assertions. Considering the well documented racism, sexism, brutal political opression, and outright slavery that existed under the Palpatine's Empire, it is just sill to think that he was a "benign dictator, like Pinochet."

On Edit: That anyone could think of Pinochet as "benign" is amazing, in my opinion.