A right wing fairy tale
by digby
Via Media Matters we see the NRA has put out a new version of “Little Red Riding Hood” that people are evidently supposed to read to their little children:
One birthday not long ago, Red was given her very own rifle and lessons on how to use it–just in case–to be sure that she would always be safe. So, with a kiss from her mother, rifle over her shoulder and a basket for her Grandmother in her hands, Red took a deep breath and entered the woods.
[…]
Red felt the reassuring weight of the rifle on her shoulder and continued down the path, scanning the trees, knowing that their shadows could provide a hiding place.
[…]
This was the biggest, baddest wolf Red had ever seen. His wolfish smile disappeared for a moment when his eyes fell on her rifle.
[…]
The wolf followed along, staying in the shelter of the trees, trying to get Red to respond. As she grew increasingly uncomfortable, she shifted her rifle so that it was in her hands and at the ready. The wolf became frightened and ran away.
[…]
The wolf leaned in, jaws open wide, then stopped suddenly. Those big ears heard the unmistakable sound of a shotgun’s safety being clicked off. Those big eyes looked down and saw that grandma had a scattergun aimed right at him. He realized that Grandmother hadn’t been backing away from him; she had been moving towards her shotgun to protect herself and her home.
“I don’t think I’ll be eaten today,” said Grandma, “and you won’t be eating anyone again.” Grandma kept her gun trained on the wolf, who was too scared to move. Before long, he heard a familiar voice call “Grandmother, I’m here!” Red peeked her head in the door. The wolf couldn’t believe his luck–he had come across two capable ladies in the same day, and they were related! Oh, how he hated when families learned how to protect themselves.
There are lots of arcane interpretations of the original fairy tale (many of them erotic and creepy) but most people see it as a warning for children to do what their parents tell them. Little Red Riding Hood was not supposed to go into the woods by herself and when she did, she paid a price. At its most basic is just about breaking the rules.
Nothing the NRA does surprises me anymore. They are an organization devoted to celebrating dominance and deadly violence. And they are now in the business of passing on their sick worldview on to the next generation.
“NRA Family” is telling little kids they can do whatever the hell they want as long as they have a gun and are willing to use it.
That’s America, 2016.
*And yes there is a feminist critique of the fairy tale that’s compelling. This form of “empowerment” however is not the answer. Much more likely that Red Riding Hood kills some other kid or her grandmother kills her by accident as she slips into the house than anyone kills the predatory wolf.
.