M*A*S*H was an Amerian tv series that ran for ll years during the 1970s and early 1980s. I always held it in the highest regard for its humour, and for the sheer genius of its language. As I grew, I came to appreciate the many messages that lay within each episode.
The finale of the 3rd season ended with this scene. I still remember watching it for the first time, and feeling as stunned by it as I later learned that the M*A*S*H cast and crew had been on the day they had filmed it too.
Lt. Col. Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson) commanded the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, in Korea, in this exemplerary television series. He was portraited as a fine surgeon, a great friend and a questionable soldier. He was loved by all who worked with him, in one way or another.
Stevenson was set to leave the show for different pastures and they ended his stint at M*A*S*H by killing him off. He had been served his discharge papers, and was going home. His plane was shot down over the sea of Japan, and no one walked away from that tragedy.
Subsequently, the writers of M*A*S*H were assulted with thousands of angry fan mail. How could they do this to Blake?
And herein lies the beauty of this show.
The writers responded "Take your anger, and direct it at the war. We didn't kill Henry Blake. The war did".
The sheer power of this message still strikes a chord within. Wars are started for many reasons. But a few agonizing aspects remain common to them all. Death. Destruction. Panic. Anger. Loss. Pain.
Is there no better way to deal with our differences?
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