I have seen many successful series start down the road to exit by adopting the attitude that they need to address 'socially - significant' issues. The episode on 'tortue' recently aired suggests that the producer has taken on this destructive attitude. As I viewed the episode, I thought of how skillfully the propaganda was being disseminated. The point of view that the United States government was evil and its proponents at fault for just about everything was unmistakeable. Even the picture of the perp - in uniform - was a message that our military is at fault, not just the character.

Too bad. L&O SVU does a good job, except when it doesn't...as in joining the reigning Hollywood crowd in besmerching our military and our country.

First off, welcome to the board. We welcome all posters and points of view.

Having said that, I don't believe SVU is adding to any propaganda machine in trying to belittle the US military or besmirch the government's good name. 1) There are few people in Hollywood who think the military is an evil entity and should be disbanded. 2) The US government's done a pretty good job of besmirching its name without any help from Hollywood or leftist media giants (and I'm not talking about any specific individual or office, just the fact that our government seems to roll along at a glacier's pace on behalf of "the people" yet expects the people to gallop to do the government's bidding).

In all the years I've worked out here, I have yet to hear anyone at any level say that the men and women in the military (as a generalist statement) are bad people and should be eliminated for the work they do. Sure there are individuals who do stupid or illegal things that should be prosecuted and incarcerated for their actions, but that's the exception, not the rule.

The episode "Harm" is no different. No one was pointing fingers at the military as a whole for its involvement in Iraq and the subsequent torture of prisoners. In fact the point was made that this particular outfit was a privately owned mercenary company who took it upon themselves to do the work they deemed necessary to fight terrorism. There was nothing specific like, "We got a directive from the Secretary of State or the President". They made it abundantly clear that without these mercenary companies to do "the work" we'd be in a world of hurt - i.e. the military isn't doing the bad things, the mercenaries were.

I can appreciate your point of view, but I beg to differ on it.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply...and correcting my spelling (besmirch...).

Hollywood's current crop of anti-war movies belie its political bent, and their box office figures reveal how they're being received (poorly). In your first paragraph, you imply that you support their kind of dissent, which I can also appreciate.

One thought that seems to be forgotten in these anti-war screeds is that we are a nation at war, approved by the Congress (however much they currently deny their voted approvals). Dissent is a form of patriotism, but it also must be remembered that our current enemies use every slam against us in their own propaganda; witness Sen. Reid's claim that "the war is lost" (of some months ago) and its reflection in terrorist publications across the world.

So, why not seek to support the good, rather than to seek out the bad? Oh, I know, if it bleeds, it ledes.

Nonetheless, I appreciate your candor.

I think I need to clarify something. I don't know anyone who is against the military, but there are definitely lots of people - both in Hollywood and America in general - who are against the war. Those are two different and separate topics. I grew up in a military town and had aspirations of joining the Air Force, so I have nothing but respect for the military men and woman and their families. However, that doesn't stop me from wishing we had never gone to war nor to hope we can get out soon. Believe me when I say I'm not a bleeding-heart liberal, I'm much more moderate than that (as are a good portion of the non-celebrity, non-public entertainment employees), so I'm on the fence as to how quickly we need to get out (I don't want to risk future attacks just to walk away tomorrow).

I hope you can see the distinction between the two subjects. Military= good; war = not so good

I hope it ends within the next 2 years, I dont want my uncle to go back.

I think most Americans, if not all, support the troops. It's the war and the reasons for it that they don't agree with. Yes, dissent is a form of patriotism, and democracy as well. Just because it can be used and is being used against us as a sign of disunity on our part, it doesn't mean the people should stop making their opinions heard by the government. If anything, it shows that we think and care about our troops fighting in a war, which many people don't support, that is being fought in our name.