Friendship

Got a chance to go to the movies with Balaji this weekend. Watched "Bourne Ultimatum". Enjoyed the movie. This post is not about the movie, but the trailer for another movie, "Kingdom"!

The trailer pretty much shows Saudi Arabia as an enemy of the United States, a HOSTILE nation for Americans, etc. etc.

I chuckled out loud during portions of the trailer. The people around me actually turned to look and see the "chuckling dude"!

The reason for my amusement? Here is my train of thought..

1. Hollywood is 95% pro US government (whichever party is in power, the movie industry shamelessly totes their policy).

2. Depending on who the US is about to target and go to war with in the immediate future, or depending on who stops supporting, or speaks against US foreign policy, countries and people from those countries will be made the villains for the biggest summer blockbuster. eg. any dude with middle eastern background was the villain in the mid nineties after the first gulf war as in "True Lies" and the rest of the movies those years.

3. Even countries which are portrayed as friends of the USA in the previous seasons blockbuster can see a role reversal the next summer, if they don't agree with the US!
Classic case in point, Saudi Arabia! These dudes were friends during the first gulf war. Now they are the bad guys. Have to go find out if they have said something bad about the US war in Iraq or if they have pulled out some support!

4. It is also possible that the US government uses this villanous depiction in blockbusters as a warning sign to other countries. "Hi, you better support me and my policy, or you will be the next villain in our 4th of July blockbuster! The entire country will stand united in that blockbuster to fight a common enemy, YOU!". Note that if there are no countries in that year's list, Aliens will be cast as the villains.

I do sound like some kind of conspiracy theorist. This whole train of thought was only amplified because Jr. came home and said "she is not going to be my friend anymore. She is not listening to me at all". I was going to ask her "who do you think you are? Hollywood?".

Friendship should go beyond agreement and like mindedness, should it not ?

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Just a thought..

Part of getting back the routine, involves watching serials on Sun TV, every time I pass through the living room..

It is true that I know what is going on with the story, more than the two people who sit glued to the screen on the couch! But that is purely because of my good memory and attentiveness. Seriously!!

That said, I happened to pass by at least 4 times during one evening last week and couldn't help notice that the guys wear T-shirts which say things like "Los Angeles, CA", or "Hollywood" or "I love NY"(the one with the I, heart, NY placed like a box), etc. etc.

Most of these T-shirts are (were ?) 3 for 10$ or 15$ depending on the quality, in the streetside (a.k.a. platform) shops in Hollywood. I myself have bought two sets of three on separate trips to Los Angeles.

They are usually made in India or Sri Lanka. Recently of course we see the Made in China ones as well. They are of good quality and last you at least a year and do withstand machine wash.

On my recent trip to Bombay, I got T-shirts with a collar and a pocket for 170 rupees ($3.75). Judging by that, these Hollywood T-shirts are selling for a premium simply because of the nice designer prints on the front. Do not know who does the graphic design for these shirts (maybe done in USA ? India ? China ?).

We did a lot more traveling on this recent trip than on any other trip in the last 8 years. The one thing that I noticed this time in all the tourist locations was the potential for selling soveniers in India. I am not in business, but I think there will be a good market for T-shirts which say "Chennai", "Mumbai", "Goa" or "India" with appropriate designer prints of some local tourist spot. Two years ago, I saw a bunch of Mera Bharat Mahan T-shirts and the Sachin Tendulkar Cricket shirts which said "India" on one side. A lot of them made it to the USA! Save for these two, haven't spotted good T's.

I wouldn't mind buying one! Or 3 for 10 or 15$ for that matter..

Not to mention everything from refridgerator magnets, shot glasses, posters or 100 piece Jigsaw puzzles with popular landmarks! (business people, please take note from a future customer)!

ps. It is possible that these already exist, and are just not sold at the obvious locations! Any pointers to where I can buy some on our next trip are appreciated..