We win with pop culture
COMMENTARY
Katherine Ortega

We are at level orange terror alert, meaning there is a high risk of terrorist attacks.

The Homeland Security Department said it has received the most specific threats of imminent terrorist attacks since Sept. 11, 2001. Anti-aircraft missiles have even been placed strategically around Washington D.C. in the wake of the heightened terror alert.

Osama bin Ladin recently released a tape urging all Muslims to become martyrs if the United States attacks Iraq; this has been interpreted as encouraging suicide bombings in the United States. The government has said people should dedicate a safe room in every home and stock up on water, canned food, plastic sheeting and duct tape in case of a biological or chemical attack.

The American public has fought back loud and clear to these new terror threats by carrying on with life as usual and watching “Joe Millionaire,” “The Bachelorette” and “American Idol.”

This may not seem like an effective way to fight terrorism, but I think it is the best we can do.

Think about it. What would upset religious radicals more than knowing that millions of Americans spend their time watching generously endowed women wearing hardly any clothing while vying for the attention of a man they think is a multi-millionaire? I know “American Idol” originated in England, but what is more American than a cocktail waitress from Burleson winning a contest and becoming a superstar in a matter of months?
The fact we continue to watch these shows despite being bombarded with threats of terrorism every day sends a clear message to terrorists: you can threaten us all you want, but you cannot disrupt our way of life, or our poor taste in television programs.

I applaud the American public for watching these shows and the networks for supplying us with mindless, yet entertaining, television. Popular culture is a big part of American life. By not letting these terror threats disrupt it, we are winning a small but important battle.

The point of terrorism is to instill terror in people, to the point that it disrupts the way of life and causes change.

It is important to take note of terror threats and to be aware of what is going on. Perhaps it is more important, however, not to live in fear, but to continue with life as if there were no threats.

If all Americans stayed huddled in their bathrooms, covered with plastic sheeting and duct tape and eating cold Ranch Style Beans from a can, our way of life would be disrupted — and the terrorists would win.

We have to keep on watching “Survivor,” go see “Daredevil and buy a J.Lo CD. We must keep our pop-culture going, even if it is silly sometimes.

If we keep our way of life, we win.

Katherine Ortega Courtney is a psychology graduate student from Santa Fe, N.M. She can be reached at (k.e.ortega@tcu.edu).