Homeland Security USA: An ABC Reality Show that Could Alter Public Opinion

Some might find it incredible that Homeland Security would allow border patrol agents to have all their bizarre and frightening experiences shown on a new reality show. Others might automatically be skeptical that such a show exists for the sake of showing reality when reality shows, to date, still haven't shown anything resembling reality. That automatically sets up the idea that Homeland Security allowed this show to go forward to shape a new opinion about the organization as we enter a new Presidential administration and after seven long years of mixed feelings about the organization George W. Bush built. Of course, it doesn't necessarily tell anybody what else will continue to happen behind the scenes in Homeland Security during Obama's reign.

Certainly the concept of ABC's new "Homeland Security USA" has the potential to make Homeland Security look like a friendly Big Brother. And the border patrol agents who put their lives on the line to prevent shady individuals from passing through our borders are obviously worth celebrating. But will they be pawns to the reality show formula or are we going to see more than just half truths? From the way it's being promoted, we may get myriad tales from the "truth stranger than fiction" file. Or, it could be a way to make us feel better about who's really trying to get across our borders.

We shouldn't be surprised when it's said the show will be showing people of all stripes (and sanity levels) coming through every possible border in the U.S. While the California border has some unusual people coming through daily, the most interesting (and perhaps most suspect) will be the showing of the border in Tucson, Arizona which has received more press recently for the notorious Project 28, or the "virtual fence" under seemingly perpetual construction. The failures there to stop illegals from Mexico in crossing the border have been well-noted. Yet you probably won't see anything about it on "Homeland Security USA."

What may be the better aspect to the show is showing a clear distinction between the actual agents who, without question, work hard and those in control who form the flawed procedures in how illegals or potential terrorists are caught...or lost. A show that defines this and addressing head-on the failures and slowness in getting Project 28 implemented would be a lot more fascinating. Obviously, however, such a TV show can't be done without making America look weak.

Yes, that's arguably worse than making America look stupid with every other reality show past or still on the air.

"Homeland Security USA" won't at least shy away from the reality of drug dealers and potential terrorists coming through our borders. However, this show will present every suspect person in those categories getting arrested or held for intense questioning. In that regard, it's likely going to be very much a campaign to get Homeland Security into our lives as a positive and permanent force. Consider it a real-life version of a TV show Jack Webb would have produced in the 1960's or 70's had Homeland Security been around back then. As a producer in a different era of TV, Jack Webb gave kids and adults a favorable view of our police and other emergency services (via classic shows "Adam 12" and "Emergency" to name just two) without giving a hint of any internal machinations in those institutions. He even managed to make us feel secure about the FBI and our Air Force investigating UFO's.

If "Homeland Security USA" manages to convince us they're a benevolent government agency, will it truly integrate Homeland Security as an accepted government entity without any more public suspicion of them interloping into our lives?

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The answer to the above is likely a loud and resounding: "Hell no!" What it will do is build a new respect toward the front guys who are put out there to deal with the mess others make. It'll be a newfound respect much like the renewed reverence for the forever-brave firemen after 9/11. I reiterate, though, that showing our border patrol agents sometimes not being able to catch an illegal immigrant or potential terrorist shouldn't be gleamed over on this show. If it does get glossed over, then the American people would be fed a lie about the realities of our borders, showing weakness be damned.

In the above time of Jack Webb, it could have been done without anybody noticing. Today, viewers might be a little suspicious seeing every suspect person crossing our borders getting arrested or question outright. Above-mentioned Project 28 and all the supposed state-of-the-art camera equipment used to track illegals crossing the Mexico-Tucson border have made unfortunate blunders the last couple of years in letting more illegals make it across than those caught in the act. Also, the equipment has become so complicated that everything won't even be fully implemented until 2011.

Probably the best thing "Homeland Security USA" could do is show a real depiction of a terrorist getting caught red-handed. Seeing that on TV would provide the only psychological boost akin to what Jack Webb would have done to the American populace forty years ago. Otherwise, seeing border patrol agents merely arresting wacked out drug dealers and other kooks who trying to smuggle in oddball items to our country will make many of us wonder if terrorists are passing through unnoticed because they're less ostentatious.

Most of the American public aren't likely afraid to admit that terrorists have already passed through one of our borders somewhere along the line since 9/11 happened. This show should admit it to make this reality show truly reality where both inspirational things happen as well as horrific mistakes, usually all in one day.

No matter what the show does, a good chunk of the American public may still think they're being eyed by Big Brother Homeland Security, even during an Obama Administration that's supposed to be conducive to governmental change. If "Homeland Security USA" is successful, you know it could go the "CSI: Omaha" route and eventually have an offshoot showing the other side of Homeland Security where we can see the inner machinations of how they keep an eye (and ear) on things. Ultimately, though, that's extreme reality TV we'll never be privy to, but could change TV forever if it ever got there...

Source:

http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=002670&type=lead