The Hunger Games, Star Wars & the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
When we understand the programming, we can unravel it, free ourselves, and choose a better path forward.
Wednesday, October 18th, 2023
Dear Reader,
I avoid caveats and preambles like the plague. Today, I need one. The devastating events within and around Israel deserve our utmost respect and consideration. It may seem flippant to discuss works of fiction and a real world tragedy in the same article. It is not. We need to understand how these movies (and others) groom us to accept dehumanization and scapegoating, setting us up for endless war.
Let’s Start with The Hunger Games…
Let me introduce Suzanne Collins. Her work is mesmerizing and addictive for one primary reason. It touches upon reality and satiates our craving for an honest evaluation of the world we all share.
In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins explored “modern world issues” under the guise of a dystopian fantasy. As readers, we fell in love with her characters, the worldbuilding, and the story. Why? Because humans find truth compelling. Despite portraying hard and brutal reality through story, the world bought up her books by the hundreds of millions. Proving that we desperately crave an honest conversation about what’s going wrong on Planet Earth.
That’s a conversation people in power do not want us to have. They are rightfully threatened by everything that pulls back the curtain, shatters the illusion, and removes the blinders from our eyes. Which is why Hollywood made two specific changes to The Hunger Games.
Why change a good thing?
I think we’re all in agreement that Hollywood did a damn good job portraying The Hunger Games on the Big Screen. They even gave the third book the attention it deserved by creating two movies — a decision I personally applauded as I always thought Mockingjay should have been two books, not one. That said…Hollywood made two specific changes that seem small, yet aren’t.
(1) Masks (no, not those types of masks)
(2) Hatred of the man, not the system
The Star Wars franchise excels at dehumanizing enemy combatants.
As a small child, I was immediately confused by the idea that Stormtroopers could be killed with impunity. All around me, the audience cheered, as the supposed heroes of these movies shot men (and maybe women?) dead without hesitation, concern, empathy or regret. When the rebels unveiled their plan to attack and destroy the Death Star, my first 5-year-old thought was, “But what about all the people on the Death Star?” I couldn’t help but imagine all the faces behind the masks, and their families waiting back home on dozens of planets. In my innocent eyes, and with my pure and compassionate heart, the Stormtroopers never lost their humanity.
My instincts aren’t rare. It’s been proven true again and again. To become a Stormtrooper. To become a pawn in someone else’s game. To become an obedient soldier. To obey orders you disagree with or give up your ability to disagree entirely — is to be brainwashed.
It means, you’re a victim, too.
These photos come from an article written in 2016, by Toby Meyjes, assistant news editor of Metro. According to his report, “These pictures show young Palestinians taking part in military-style activities organised by the Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJ). Last year (2015) some 6,000 boys, aged between six and 16, graduated from the camp in Khan Younis, according to local reports. Going to camp over the summer is a common thing for Palestinian children to do. Both Hamas and the UN run their own camps, which are free for children to attend, according to Ynetnews.”
[Note: Founded in 2005, Ynetnews is the online English-language Israeli news website of Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's most-read newspaper.]
The Hunger Games Borrows from Star Wars — Dehumanization 101
Did Suzanne Collins agree with Hollywood’s changes to her story? Did she have a choice?
In The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, the Peacekeepers in District 12 were written as whole individuals, and Katniss was friendly with some of them. In the scene with the whipping post, where Katniss defends Gale, Suzanne Collins reminds her readers that the brutality and oppression of The Capitol extends to anyone who disobeys. Including Darius, a Peacekeeper, who attempts to stop Commander Thread only to end up as a mute Avox in the Capitol.
I believe Suzanne Collins was making the point that “the system” oppresses everyone. Your position within society, no matter how high or low, is predicated upon your obedience. It’s very much like what we see in China, under the Chinese Communist Party. Whether you are a celebrated party member with innumerable perks, or a person barely managing to survive, you can both end up in a forced labor camp relatively easily.
And that, my friends, is what the citizens of Panem have in common. That is the thread that binds them all together, and the key to a revolution that will succeed. Only by coming together, can a better future be achieved — with changes that are beneficial to everyone.
If you’ve only ever watched the movies, you won’t know this.
The movies cut out almost all of the “gray area” relationships, and then Hollywood covered the faces of the Peacekeepers in Catching Fire — “a la stormtroopers,” further dehumanizing them and creating a harsh line of demarcation between the “haves” and the “have nots.” The changes made by Hollywood reinforce the illusion that some members of oppressive regimes are free from oppression, causing people to think, “If I am smart, I can avoid being oppressed! After all, those who are oppressed are either unlucky or have brought it upon themselves.” This myth infects the real world, weakening our resolve to tackle the root of so many problems.
The Ironic Genius of Star Wars and Hollywood’s The Hunger Games
The people on Earth who can afford to go to the movies are citizens of the real world versions of The Empire and The Capitol. Yet, they are being asked to cheer for “the rebel alliance” and “the districts” who are depicted committing terrible acts of violence. How do you get people to essentially cheer against themselves?
You make it not about them. You make it about a figurehead. A singular evil person, who serves as a scapegoat for the sins of the society. The purpose of a scapegoat, traditionally, was to sacrifice a goat who would carry the sins of the community with it as it died. In modern society, the scapegoat serves the same purpose, although the sacrifices are less bloody — with scapegoats being fired, ostracized, cancelled, or otherwise cast out.
Here’s the problem with that strategy. Scapegoating does not work. Eliminate Darth Vader or President Snow, and another will rise up to fill the void. The problem isn’t the person in the role. After all, people only live so long. The problem is the role itself.
It is — THE SYSTEM — that needs to be changed.
Hollywood changed Suzanne Collins’ message — which held all of the citizens of the Capitol responsible for oppressing the Districts — and provided modern audiences with a scapegoat instead.
Katniss in the Movie focuses on President Snow:
“These people are not your enemy. We all have one enemy. And that’s Snow!”Katniss in the Book focuses on the whole system:
“Who wins? Not us. Not the Districts. Always the Capitol.”“When I saw that mountain fall again, I thought, “They’ve done it again. Got me to kill you. The people in the Districts. But why did I do it? District 12 and District 2 have no fight except for the one the Capitol gave us.”
“Who is the enemy?” whispers Hamitch [and Katniss replies]: “These people are not your enemy. The rebels are not your enemy. We all have one enemy and it’s the Capitol. This is our chance to put an end to their power, but we need every District to do it. Please, join us!”
Israelies and Palestinians alike — largely disagree with Israeli Government & Hamas
Israelies and Palestinians alike — have friends on the other side of the border
Israelies and Palestinians alike — are devastated by the violence and bloodshed
Israelies and Palestinians alike — wish for peace with their neighbor
Israelies and Palestinians alike — need and desire a new and better system