Last week, the Western Herald ran my
column on "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2."
So far, the Web site has had a few insightful responses from readers concerning the controversy of the game. Here are two of the comments.
From Rick:
"Ever since I first heard about this particular mission in MW2, the controversy, and the whole uprising surrounding it, I have felt dead inside.
Upon unwrapping this game, kissing it, and then sticking it into it’s warm PS3 home, I plan on taking in the story line as-is, and enjoying every moment of it. I think it’s more than ludicrous to assume that this game is a bad influence on people who plan these violent games. The parental rating on this game in the US is “Mature.” If parents have such an issue with their children playing it, then don’t buy it, and let your prepubescent morally straight kid cry about it in their room until you are so sick of hearing their bitching that you go out and buy it anyway.
As far as I’ve read, the story line is meant to blow you into perspective, and that it does well. So what, there is a mission that involves killing innocents to prove a point, and further the story line. It’s what I’ve come to love about the COD series; the deep story lines and progression. It would be much different if the entire game was about killing people are airports and other various places. Hell, I guess they could name it Virtual Terrorist. That isn’t the case though. Video games are like books to me. An interactive story. People just need to get over the whole, 'video games have made my child into a terrorist.' Nah, YOU have as parents. If you are letting your kids do what they want, smoke, drink, and otherwise, it’s your fault. Get on to the next big scare that the news will blow out of proportion. Hell, we may even be lucky enough to have another 'Shark Murderer' scare this summer, since the number of shark killings substantially increased a few years ago. Give me a break."
Eric, an Iraq War veteran, writes:
"Very astute review and observations. Being a veteran that has deployed to Iraq, I can support your assertion that one has difficulties telling friend from foe. The enemy will dress as non-combatants and if able to acquire US military uniforms will wear them to confuse us. That is a big danger with the current enemy we fight.
I also think it is good that the developer included a stage where the player plays as the terrorists. Hopefully it will open the eyes of our currently willfully ignorant public about the dangers and the tactics our enemy will use if presented with the opportunity. These terrorists will at some point in the future attack us on our soil again, that is their dream. Their apologists may try to say they misrepresent their shared belief system, by claiming they don’t support attacks and the murder of innocents. But in their belief system the only innocents are those that believe exactly like themselves. Everyone else is a valid target at all times.
If one examines the justifications used by Hamas for firing missiles at Israeli schools and other civilian targets, Hamas says that those children will grow up to be soldiers in the future, so they are legitimate targets today. However Hamas will fire those same missiles from the grounds of their own schools then have the audacity of complaining about Israel attacking the militants right where they stand as they fire the missiles. One can’t have it both ways, unless you’re a member of Hamas."
Thanks for the comments, guys. New comments trickle in all the time, even on older columns, so be sure to check on the Herald's Weekend Scene page to read more.
