POL: er as propoganda?

[AlexB]

We're just getting the latest series (I guess?) over here, and just watched an episode that has left me thinking.... just

Nila was at the officers' wives club (or equivalent) for those in Iraq, and raised the opinion that the war was unjust, and people should not be brainwashed (a term directly from the dialogue) into toeing the line.

At first I thought - wow: a mainstream TV programme bringing up and acknowledging a/the alternative viewpoint, but on closer inspection this was as bad a propoganda exercise as I have seen (please bear in mind that I have not seen the follow-up episodes, and therefore this may be a case of jumping in feet first, but don't ruin it for me )

The breakdown:

1. Nila's views met with stony silence, and she is ostracised from the group (despite her support of the troops and her husband, only because of her view of the reasons)

2. Nila is an English Asian doctor

3. Nila goes back to the flat she shares with a male co-worker, and the script hints at her potentially being unfaithful (having married only recently)

So in effect they have written for a character to express the argument of the war being unjust, but given it to a non-white, non-US character who is then shown to (potentially) cheat on her husband, on duty in Iraq.

As if to say if you have this view you are not American, and cannot be trusted.

Do any of you guys watch er? How was this episode and storyline received?

[AlexB]

Dola - this is not meant as a 'was the Iraq war justified?' thread - more of a propanda idea. The former has been done to death already.

[Eaglesfan27]

I watch ER (I started pre-med and just can't give it up) and I thought it was a relatively poorly done episode (it aired here 6-8 weeks ago.) Then again, the last few seasons haven't been as good IMO. I don't remember there be any significant political commentary from other people about this episode, and I doubt it made much of a political splash.

[Flasch186]

IMO your looking at it too deeply. If anything the channels, NBS/West Wing, like to skewer the admin from time to time.

[GrantDawg]

ER takes regular shots at the administration, so I don't see this as some kind of propaganda tool.