I hate to say this, but neither the Democratic nor the Republican is the leading party in America. The leading political party in America is the Apathetic party. It is the biggest reason that the U.S. could be overcome by another country. Maybe that is why many Americans protested the movie “Amerika” before it even started. They refused to believe the U.S. is vulnerable.

Most people in this country couldn’t give a damn what kind of government we have. If they did care about our government they’d exercise their right to vote. Other countries have fought for democracies, died for freedom. I just wish I could see the day Americans no longer take their freedom for granted, but they do. Then again others abuse or manipulate their right to freedom. These people are only out for personal gain and do not really show high regard to what may result because of their actions. Take the Iran situation in which the U.S. government sold weapons to Iran. The press could have waited a few days to see what would happen to the remaining hostages, but they didn’t, and the remaining hostages remained captive. These so-called journalists were only worried about one thing: to scoop the competition. They weren’t responsible to their country but responsible to themselves.

Although the series “Amerika” was somewhat boring and very long-winded, it taught us a few lessons. After the years of Soviet occupation, various resistance groups were scattered across the country. Some of the resisters had grown up in America before the takeover. These people were fighting for the old America and the freedom they once had. Other resisters were the youth who had grown up under Soviet occupation of the land. They didn’t really know what America was like before. These people were more or less fighting authority. Nothing in the world should be taken lightly. The Reagan Administration is working on the ultimate defense weapon, yet people argue against it. Why? We have not been the aggressors over the last 10 or 15 years, the Soviets have been. More can be said for peace through SDI than for war, so what’s the fuss? We can’t be naive about peace. Sure, maybe the Soviets won’t send nuclear bombs at our cities, but that doesn’t mean we should be sitting ducks for other world powers.

It’s hard for me to understand why people can protest the movie “Amerika.” The film is fiction, an artist’s conception of the U.S. under Soviet occupation. What’s the big deal? The Soviets have conquered other countries. Is it so hard to believe that the Soviet Union would take over the U.S. if given the chance?

Sometimes I think Americans are taking sides with the Soviets, Communists, when they support the Sandinista government. Are the Sandinistas not aided by Cuba which in turn is handed large sums of money from the Soviet Union? This fact cannot be denied. Sure, you can say a few accomplishments that the Sandinista government has made. That doesn’t mean they aren’t bad for Americans. Any country backed by the Soviet Union is a threat to the U.S.

Mark R. Jacobi

junior

journalism/Business administration