When I was growing up, there was essentially 3 things on TV. The Simpsons, Law and Order or other obligatory cop show, and WWII. The History Channel was history. They basically showed rise of Hitler, the Rise of Fascism, Hitler and the Occult 24/7.

A wee tv

Each of these 3 options shaped the way the viewer saw the world. The Simpsons made me see it for what it is. The History Channel showed what is was. And the cop shows showed the world what white people think the justice system is really about. It’s our first departure.

This departure from reality about what the law is, how it is interpreted, what can be said in a court, what can be done in an interrogation, it’s all drama for entertainment purposes. These shows should have come with a warning.

Remember promos from Law and Order? ‘Ripped from the headlines...’ they were telling us stories that rhymed or were similar to things we heard in the news. They wrapped up the crime and punishment in an hour. But the headline they ripped that story from was far more complex.

But we watched the story on tv. It took an hour. McCoy put that sob away! Lenny made an insensitive wise crack to his Black partner. All was well. But wasn’t. This allows a mainstream acceptance of certain behaviors. We come to have real opinions about the real circumstances.

Collective opinions form. ‘Hey, did you see Law and Order last night...’ that sort of thing. It’s not real, but made people feel ‘informed’. Like they had awareness of the law. They felt smart. They used this to show others how smart they were. Like a Dunning-Kruger effect.

Instead, let’s put the History Channel on. Real drama, true drama. That is History. It’s what happened. Maybe we’ll learn something. ‘Ancient Aliens’. Sorry, what?

When did the History Channel go from teaching us the warning signs of Fascism to telling us conspiracy theories about Ancient Alien visitations?

The irony of this thread is that it was prompted by watching 90 Day fiancé, on “The Learning Channel!” One of the fiancé’s is in a town whose mayor is a Queue fan. And I don’t mean he likes standing in lines. I noticed on the dresser, an Ancient Aliens handbook. A handbook!

Is it a huge wonder that we came so close to losing our democracy to a fascistic uprising driven by a group of conspiracy theorists who don’t understand the law?