The views and opinions expressed herein are certainly those solely of
the authors and may not necessarily reflect those of the rest of the human race.
The night before the 2004 US Presidential
Election, I happened upon our Boss, aka Sean Carless. What followed just went all over politics and wrestling and cultural divides and all
that good shit.
After reading it a few times, I got Boss’s permission to edit it to the pertinent parts of the conversation and let it fly. Enjoy
– and I promise I won’t make a habit of taking the cheap way out ...
seancarless1: What
do you think they'll do with the "Arab" characters on Raw?
seancarless1: I have
a bad feeling
MMelchor1974: Oh man,
they'd better be careful with that shit...
MMelchor1974: ...I
really like the idea they seemingly have for it; to have the character walk the fine line between an honest citizen and an
obnoxious Muslim. But they need to tread lightly...
seancarless1: I can't
see how you can book them as heels when it represents a true cross section of the population
MMelchor1974: ...if
for no other reason than NOT to give WWE's detractors (especially mainstream ones) a reason to open fire.
seancarless1: They're
being discriminated against
seancarless1: true...but...
MMelchor1974: And
that's the BIGGEST reason WWE needs to be careful.
seancarless1: did
you hear the BOOS when they mentioned Allah?
seancarless1: That's
what I'm talking about
seancarless1: from
a writing perspective this might be done very similarly to the Bret Hart storyline in 97
MMelchor1974: I'd
LOVE to see this kind of forward-thinking character and idea play out well. But then I'm one of only a handful that'd be ready
(read: open-minded) for it.
MMelchor1974: That's
true. if they can strike again with that they have a winner...
seancarless1: in that
they're truly "right" and the fans will be the "heels" but never know it
MMelchor1974: ...but
that's a BIG "if". And this is a much more sensitive issue than Canada will ever be.
seancarless1: Very
true
seancarless1: but
the Allah gesture was cheap heat
seancarless1: John
Q. Redneck watching is saying "well, fuck this!"
MMelchor1974: Yeah
it was - right along with asking the crowd to be quiet so his manager could translate for their "Arab brothers"/
seancarless1: It's
a great way for WWE to pass the buck on responsibility
seancarless1: exactly
MMelchor1974: And,
I'm sure, one of the reasons they pulled the trigger on it.
seancarless1: However,
the moment, JR or King take offense to them wanting "respect" it'll cave in on itself
seancarless1: it has
to be booked that they're misunderstood
seancarless1: or it
breeds the message that "All Muslims really are sneaky and Evil"
seancarless1: but
WWE, will denigrate it into cheap nationalistic heat
seancarless1: mark
my words, there will be a point where Hassan disowns America
seancarless1: it's
the WWE way
seancarless1: It's
too complex a character
seancarless1: for
them not to stereotype
MMelchor1974: Precisely.
Not only is John Q Public not ready for it, but Creative's track record shows that they may wind up pissing all over it, anyway.
seancarless1: very
true
seancarless1: If they
really wanted to try something revolutionary, they'd book him as a face
seancarless1: re-unite
America
seancarless1: have
him be a good guy
seancarless1: but
they won't be able to resist the urge to settle into "USA is not OK!" type of schtick
MMelchor1974: Yep.
And THAT'S the sort of thing I'd LOVE this to turn into – a true exploration of racism.
MMelchor1974: But
from WWE? I doubt we'll ever see it, unfortunately.
seancarless1: That's
a great point
seancarless1: Unfortunately
WWE is promoted towards a very red neck, intolerant "good ole boy" type audience
MMelchor1974: Well,
what has the stereotype of the :”wrestling fan” ever been? There are vast numbers of intelligent fans, but odds
are we're still in the minority.
seancarless1: that's
true
seancarless1: I'd
love to see a gimmick worked towards intelligent people
seancarless1: one
that doesn't disintegrate into stereotype
MMelchor1974: Aye,
as would I. Let's see WWE prove how "sophisticated" they THINK their audiences are. Just to shove it in the rest of the media's
face.
seancarless1: I have
to admit, they handled the Eugene thing better than I expected
MMelchor1974: Aye,
they have. Maybe that's a small sign of hope for them...?
seancarless1: but
their track record on U.S. political issues is less than admirable
seancarless1: maybe
seancarless1: I hope
so
MMelchor1974: See:
UnAmericans
seancarless1: Exactly
seancarless1: or even
La Resistance
MMelchor1974: The
Quebecers 2.0
seancarless1: I bet
the majority of people have no idea what the U.S.'s gripe with France really was
MMelchor1974: Of course
not. What's important to Vince is that the American public still hates France. Damn the reasons why.
seancarless1: although,
the poetic soliloquy of one Scott Steiner in his infamous debate had to fill them in....
seancarless1: You
get the distinct feeling that Vince is very right wing in his political views
MMelchor1974: Oh,
good Lord. We are talking about political storylines aimed at INTELLIGENT people, right?
seancarless1: lol
seancarless1: good
point
MMelchor1974: But
that doesn't stop Vince from fucking around with the Right Wing when the time and purpose suits him, either.
seancarless1: That's
one thing I've never gotten is the close-mindedness of people when it comes to politics
seancarless1: everyone
totes a party line
seancarless1: instead
of picking and choosing what they truly believe for themselves
MMelchor1974: Well,
they say that the 2 worst topics to discuss with anyone are religion and politics...
seancarless1: and
soon the two MAY become one
seancarless1:... if
you catch my drift
MMelchor1974: There's
a simple answer for that - people are sheep. Especially in this country. They'd rather be blindly force fed something rather
than to WORK for their beliefs.
seancarless1: which
is funny because I'm actually quite religious believe it, or not, but Bush's politics I find alienating
MMelchor1974: And
the 2 have been one for YEARS now.
MMelchor1974: Well,
yeah...the idea of “go my way or get your guts stomped out” can be a little off-putting.
seancarless1: I've
never understood the correlation of religion and big business
seancarless1: it doesn't
go together
seancarless1: it's
funny to me
MMelchor1974: Simple
– see if you can brainwash the masses into buying something as well as believing something.
seancarless1: If anything,
(despite your beliefs) I'd assume Jesus wouldn't be for the very wealthy
MMelchor1974: Good
point. The man DID believe in GIVING everything away...
seancarless1: If anything,
based on history, you'd assume that Christ would be more of a socialist
seancarless1: which
is also funny
MMelchor1974: You
didn't see his ass driving around in a BMW or anything...
seancarless1: because
communism and spirituality don't go together either
MMelchor1974: Aye,
definitely not a capitalist.
MMelchor1974: In the
right hands they could. Obey ONE God and ONE Party.
seancarless1: It's
like the parties are mixed up belief wise
MMelchor1974: Not
unlike Hitler.
seancarless1: good
point
seancarless1: regardless
of a persons beliefs, religion and politics don't match
seancarless1: look
at England
seancarless1: it's
entire history is dealing with the shortcomings of combining the two
MMelchor1974: No,
they don't. And the problem is that many Churches have tried to intervene anyway and the politicians are more than happy to
let them so long as the masses fall in line with what they want.
seancarless1: It's
really an America divided right now
seancarless1: a lot
of alienation going on
MMelchor1974: Seems
to be a mindset of “chocolate & peanut butter” when the combination tastes more like cow dung & lizard
parts.
seancarless1: Hell,
look at that bill Bush passed on faith based donations by the Government
seancarless1: Did
you know, that NOT ONE non-Christian charity has been donated to under this bill?
MMelchor1974: Yeah
there is. Those that don't necessarily follow “the American way” (church and blowing up everything that opposes
us in the name of patriotism) are getting more vocal about what they believe is right...
seancarless1: very
true
MMelchor1974: ...and
those in power touting "the American Way" are rather upset about it.
seancarless1: I can
understand completely
seancarless1: How
does this make the Jews feel for one?
seancarless1: or the
Muslims
MMelchor1974: Of course
not. That goes against his - and “America's” – line of operating.
MMelchor1974: Buddhists
MMelchor1974: Pagans/Wiccans
seancarless1: exactly
seancarless1: there's
a lot of ground there not having it's voice heard
MMelchor1974: Hell,
pick a group that ISN'T Christian or Catholic.
seancarless1: exactly
MMelchor1974: But
they're forcing themselves to be heard now, and that's where the unrest is coming from.
seancarless1: That's
the thing
seancarless1: Bush
may have fucked himself
MMelchor1974: Hopefully
he'll be bending over in about 24 hours...
seancarless1: he's
alienated anyone who isn't a whitebred Catholic or Pentacostal
seancarless1: LOL
seancarless1: exactly
MMelchor1974: And
there's a LOT of those folk 'round these parts.
seancarless1: the
funny thing is I have both liberal and conservative views on different things
seancarless1: but
there's no party for people like me
MMelchor1974: Well,
of course. Because you're a free thinker, and free thinkers are fucked.
seancarless1: that's
true
seancarless1: History
has proved it
MMelchor1974: Aye.
seancarless1: So,
you're voting for Kerry?
MMelchor1974: At this
rate, I'll be doing what I did in 2000...
MMelchor1974: ...Checking
the "Other" box and writing in the name of Jesse Ventura.
seancarless1: LOL
seancarless1: "I ain't
got time to bleed"
seancarless1: Jess
rules
MMelchor1974: I'm
dead serious! The entire idea of voting is to have our individual voices heard as to who we want to see run the country...
seancarless1: I'd
vote for him just for his scruffy HGH James Lipton look he had at Mania 20
seancarless1: great
point
MMelchor1974: ...and
my choice is Jesse. And the main reason is his main tenet that the Government should STAY OUT of the private lives of its
citizens.
seancarless1: I TOTALLY
agree
seancarless1: That's
a great point you made
MMelchor1974: If people
were trusted to govern themselves and not be forced to fall in line with some talking head dipshit placed in office by corporate
interests, we'd be a lot better off.
MMelchor1974: HOW
many European nations have made that idea work?
MMelchor1974: England
doesn't even have guns, for fuck's sake!
seancarless1: Too
many people choose one of the two “main” candidates just because they look at it as a “lesser of two evils”
seancarless1: instead
of voting who THEY want
seancarless1: which
is true democracy
MMelchor1974: Right-o.
And I'm sorry, but like NWA, I Ain't Tha 1.
seancarless1: lol
MMelchor1974: On that
note, I'm going back to bed.
seancarless1: Ok,
dude, you take care man,
MMelchor1974: Been
a GREAT conversation. Thank you again.
seancarless1: no problem,
thank you
