Lauren Keaton

Right wing activist and talk show powerhouse Bill O’Reilly has recently proclaimed international spy flick “The Bourne Ultimatum” “anti-American.”

After reading his critique of the film’s message, I understand what he is trying to say—and part of me does agree with him, but I think he may have missed the mark.

The Bourne trilogy seems to be much more of a fantasy than anything else.
Matt Damon, portrays a brainwashed — and dashing — killing machine, and traverses the globe taking down four men at a time and fleeing from the CIA.
In the film all of America’s top intelligence men are corrupt and they send agents to kill Bourne.

So, yes, when Hollywood portrays the people who are supposed to protect us from international danger as the people who are actually putting us in danger, I think it is safe for O’Reilly to assume the message is “anti-American” and say something about it.

But, here is my problem: shouldn’t we be a little more concerned with movies that depict real American life when it comes to the defamation of our country?

In this genre, recent teen-hit “SuperBad” tops my list.

I must admit, however, I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

Reminiscent of slacker classics like “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Animal House,” it was great.

But, the message behind the main characters was different in one very alarming respect: they were not real men.

To illustrate: loser teen lead, Seth, begins the film discussing a subscription to a pornography site, debating with best-friend Evan which one provides the most value for the coming year at college.

At least Otter, D-Day, and Bluto were out there chasing chicks, not just exploiting them on an Internet site.

A few scenes later, Seth is walking down the street and gets spit on by a school bully.

Seth just stands there, cowering the face of adversity — even “wing-man” Evan doesn’t do anything.

But, the most offensive point, which may have been over-looked by many moviegoers, is Seth’s commentary on Evan’s mother’s cleavage ... to Evan.
What happened to honor?

What happened to standing up for yourself and men defending the women in their lives?

In past films, the main characters were unaccomplished and uncouth, but never spineless.

But, as I look around me, even in East Texas, it dawns on me that the reason for this film’s wild popularity is because each one of us, unfortunately, knows a kid like Seth and Evan.

Whether it is our brother, our son, boyfriend or friend— these under-achieving, gutless young males are everywhere.

And by supporting movies that celebrate mediocrity, we as a culture are saying this behavior is acceptable, and maybe even preferred.

At a time when our country is at war, would you want these boys protecting our freedom?

They would run in the other direction — because no one is there saying what is right and wrong and what is dishonorable.

There is no pressure in our society for guys to “man up” anymore.

Yes, kids have been bad in the past and this has been portrayed in teen exploitation films forever, but you always knew on a certain level, when it came right down to it, those guys would step up if their country or family needed defending.

Even Spicoli wouldn’t let somebody spit on him, for goodness sake.

Like Dean Wormer from “Animal House” said, “fat, dumb and stupid is no way to go through life, son” and yet that is exactly what the message of “SuperBad” appears to contradict.

And these movies embolden our enemies because they are suddenly not afraid of American males.

What we have lost is the warrior culture and the will to win, aspects that in the past have made America so intimidating.

Today, we are celebrating the “SuperBad” types and holding them up as the ideal— something for young men to aspire to.

Now, the jocks and the kids in the military are all the subject of ridicule. In fact, in modern American culture the American male image is under siege and this resonates not only through our society but all tarnishes our image around the world.

Bill O’Reilly needs to speak out about this.

Lauren Keaton
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