So, I was watching "Soylent Green" last night (sorry, long)

[Canuckistanian]

It was interesting to see it again. It's a nightmare version of the possible future and I hope it never comes CLOSE to being true. Please see this synopsis of the movie for details of the plot if you're unfamiliar with the story (Warning: Spoiler Alert).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_Green

But I was struck by a small detail of the movie. And I thought it prophetic of today's political situation.

When Shirl (the young love interest of Thorn) begged Thorn to quit the police department and move out of the overcrowded city, maybe into the country, Thorn told her that the countryside was strictly forbidden and guarded, so it was impossible to go there. When Shirl asked why they were guarding the countryside, Thorn replied (paraphrasing) "Because idiots are trying to take away everything we have". And that got me thinking.

Here they are, living in a dystopian world, New York in 2022 - the population is 40 million. There are few creature comforts. Very few have apartments. The rich live in EXTREMELY "gated communities". Real food is gone, replaced by tasteless squares of "Soylent Yellow", "Soylent Red" or "Soylent Green", provided by a GIANT, omnipotent corporation.

And still, Thorn is worried about "others trying to take my way of life away".

And then the parallels of this world and ours hit me. The Repubs are always saying things like "those Muslims hate us and our freedoms". Or "America is a shining example for the world".

And they use those rationalizations to resist ANY kind of change - and at any cost.

I just thought it interesting. Maybe it was intended by the author.

[Deja Q]

1. Plenty of creatures; if the herpes rate continues, 3 out of 4 in NYC will have it by 2022...

Incidentally, Charlton Heston was a Republican...

It's actually a good movie. If not a little slow at times, but the casting (for every speaking role) was impeccable...

[navarth]

2. yes, Heston was a Repub, but there was a time when he wasn't a bad guy.

He marched with MLK along with Marlon Brando. He sorta went crazy later. This happened to a number of Hollywood actors that started out well but lost their way later: Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Stewart are a couple of examples.

[TheDebbieDee]

5. Yes, I read that he was active in civil rights here on DU

Many posters pointed out Charleton Heston's civil rights history. I was shocked!

[natrat]

3. note congress has locked up vast swaths of land from back country travelers

designating it as wilderness which effectively locks people out

[navarth]

4. Soylent Green is an important movie for numerous reasons.

It was Edward G. Robinson's last movie. Robinson was a great intellectual, a fine man.

The soundtrack is wonderful.

The original book is a great read: "Make Room! Make Room!" by Harry Harrison, one of the great Sci Fi writers. I can't recommend it strongly enough. It's even more political than the movie.

Leigh-Taylor Young was a great classic beauty, originally from right here in good old D Town.

It's got to be on your top 10 best sci fi movies ever made, IMO.

And who among us has not, at least once, when waiting in line, shouted "There is no soylent green today!!!"