If I were al Qaeda, I'd put all my
efforts toward inflicting maximum fatalities at Sunday night's Academy Awards
ceremony. Aside from the obvious terrorist draws—big international TV ratings, a big tourist Q rating, lots of female skin, lots of Jews—a
successful hit would inflict serious economic damage on the United States. It's
easy to forget just how economically productive all those seemingly trivial movie
makers are, and, hence, just how much human capital will be in the room on Oscar
night.
Of course, Oscar isn't exactly a soft target. Even before 9/11, the Academy had to protect the stars from the fans, and Hollywood instituted further precautions last year. After September 11, Angelenos assumed they were next. When no attack came, they looked egotistical for making that assumption; they've since grown complacent. Better, however, to look foolishly self-involved (something Hollywood knows a lot about) than to invite terrorism. [Posted 3/18.] |
