"…bully’s suck no matter what country you are from…" Well, okay. If that was the message, that's okay. But those bullies had American flag arm bands — anonymity was not the intention there. Avatar was more subtle! Also, I bet the kids on the set were more open about asking "What's the message here?" than most journalists who talk to M.I.A. (me included). But I also doubt her publicist was there keeping an eye on things.
[from the comments on Stereogum's M.I.A. "Born Free" video post.]from Posterous
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With the recent passing of Arizona’s immigration law, I think the video and message are especially apropos for the times. I feel that the American flags were necessary to show that even in America, a target ethnic group can be unreasonably “bullied” which encourages profiling (of any sort) and “endangers public safety and betrays American values” (Reuters quote).
I agree that it’s an important message and an appropriate one. But I don’t agree that this video, with the over-the-top violence, conveys that message well. I’d say 80% of the discussion has been around the medium — the video banned on YouTube, the redhead jokes, the gratuitous kid explosion. It didn’t have to be subtle. M.I.A. isn’t subtle. But I feel the intention was to draw attention to itself rather than an issue, which is a cynical thing to do.
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