Reality--What a Concept

The article on “reality programming” and the confusion that ensues from mixing fact with fiction was quite interesting. One outstanding error in the article serves both to support and undermine the authors’ reporting.

One of the experts so concerned with the public becoming confused was herself confused. “MASH” was not about the Vietnam War (except by analogy). It all took place in Korea. What is critical here is that an expert is confused, and not by a subtle distortion. “MASH” made no effort to mislead the public or to hide the fact that it took place in Korea. Yet an educated and thoughtful person was confused.

We may have to come to terms with the fact that all history is open to interpretation and misinterpretation. We have always learned history through myth and legend. History has never been “The Facts” of what actually happened. Whether written by the winners or the losers, it has always reflected special interests and agendas. Certainly Oliver Stone distorted some facts in “JFK” and future generations may take these distortions as facts, but thus has it ever been.

Whether from Plutarch or Herodotus, Julius Caesar or Sir Winston Churchill, we are naive if we take their histories as facts. We somehow value old distortions more than new, old myths more than new. We cannot hold back the tide of confusion, and whether the confusion comes from radio or TV, movies or serious books, we would do well to subject all history to the critical eye.

JONATHAN DOBRER

Encino