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Patriot Act Game Pokes Fun at Government

Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:49 am
by Savonarola
Another case of humor/parody doubling as a frighteningly accurate portrayal of reality:

Patriot Act Game Pokes Fun at Government

In this send-up of "Monopoly," players don't pass "Go" and they don't go directly to jail _ they go to Guantanamo Bay.

Instead of losing cash for landing on certain squares, they lose civil liberties. And the "Mr. Monopoly" character at the center of the board is replaced by a scowling former Attorney General John Ashcroft.

"Patriot Act: The Home Version" pokes fun at "the historic abuse of governmental powers" by the recently renewed anti-terrorism law, according to its creator's Web site.

But while it may be fun, creator Michael Kabbash, a graphic artist and Arab civil rights advocate, is serious about how he feels the law has curtailed Americans' freedom.

The object of the game is not to amass the most money or real estate, but to be the last player to retain civil liberties.

"I've had people complain to me that when they play, nobody wins. They say `We're all in Guantanamo and nobody has any civil liberties left,'" he said. "I'm like `Yeah, that's the point.'"

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Read the rest of the article here.

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:16 am
by Barbara Fitzpatrick
The only problem with the game as described is it gives a specific place associated with lose of liberty - leaving the "player" with the feeling that as long as a person isn't in Gitmo, it's OK.