One of the oddest moments of Martial Law, though completely indicative of Marcos’ totalitarian, paranoid, and wayward thinking, was when he banned the final five episodes of the anime Voltes V. Courtesy, of @copyeditor:
In the interview, Senator Marcos said he understood that a cartoon like Voltes V would have been something important to kids “but it was actually the parents that worried about the violence that they were afraid might influence their children in a negative way.”
“There was a lot of private lobbying by all kinds of groups, parents-groups, and so I guess my father saw it prudent to acquiesce to their demands on an issue that was and still is not well understood,” he said.
Marcos said that up to this day, the effect of violence “as experienced vicariously by children through TV or video games is still a subject that remains contentious not only here but in other countries as well.”
The truth is a little quirkier than that. The finale of Voltes V saw the heroes rising up and overthrowing an oppressive government. Hmmmmm…a little too close for comfort there methinks?
Of course, this got me thinking. For kids today who erroneously think that Martial Law was all sunshine and flowers, just imagine Marcos breaking out the ban-stick on your favorite tv shows and movies. All for ‘questionable content’:
- The Star Wars Trilogy - This is almost self-explanatory. Young kid harnessing his inner self, joining the underground to overthrow a doddering old fool of an Emperor, who is ultimately betrayed by his right hand man? Yeah. (Though lets be honest, I wouldn’t have minded if he banned the new trilogy.)
- Braveheart - A passionate and well-spoken charismatic leader sacrifices himself for the good of everyone and ultimately incites a people to rebellion? A dictator’s worse nightmare
- The Lord of the Rings - Placid and unassuming little people, find heroism within themselves and topple a dark power, even in the face of superior might and forces.
- Transformers - Marcos hated robots. Nuff said.
- Fuck da Police - N.W.A - Crazy subversive new fangled hip-hop music demanding impressionable youth fight the Man? Not something you’d hear in the hallowed halls of Malacanang that’s for sure.
- I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry - A song celebrating ‘non-traditional’ family values? I can just imagine Marcos completely aghast, all the while secretly singing along. Though, you can just imagine Imelda singing “I kissed Qaddafi and I liked it”
- Avatar - Impoverished natives armed with primitive weapons rise up against almost overwhelming military might and win. I’m sure Enrile and Ramos would have been first in line to get this banned.
- Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises - Vigilantism? Really? Do we even need to explain this?
And the list goes on and on.
But wait, the fun doesn’t stop there! You can just imagine what Marcos would have thought of video games. The unapologetic viciousness of Super Mario Brother, beating up on poor Bowser. The sheer violence of Call of Duty, the anarchy of GTA or Red Dead Redemption, would have probably sent him into fits.
That’s the face of Martial Law. Where choices are made for you and entertainment is state-sanctioned. Can’t have anything too subversive and revolutionary, might give people the wrong ideas.
Now excuse me, I’m going to go blow up some dragons in Skyrim and fuck the police in GTA.
Just because I can.
