dydan | Writer's Block: Facts of Life

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As an adult, I find it fascinating to watch those old shows with my more mature eyes. I find a whole new perspective. The best example I can give, is MASH.

When I was a wee-whippersnapper, MASH was regular viewing in my parent's home. For the most part, I was entertained by the antics of Hawkeye and Trapper John, and I thought Radar was funny and Klinger in his dresses. But beyond that I had no real understanding of the dialogue.

Now that I am adult? Its a whole new experience. Hawkeye is a wise philosopher, driven to the brink of madness by the horrors of war. Radar is an idealistic, innocent youth struggling to perform in the face of all the violence around him. And Klinger, so afraid of his own safety, is willing to risk being called "crazy" so he can go back home to his beloved Toledo.

When I was a child, MASH was a sit-com. As an adult, MASH is a highly political statement on war. Amazing how my perspective changed in a few decades!