Shame on the Cagney and Lacey people!

Let me be clear: I am second to none in my admiration for the Cagney and Lacey series. One of the delights of the recently-issued DVD First Season set is that I get to see all the episodes I missed all those years ago. What a shock, however, to come across an episode like "LET THEM EAT PRETZELS" (episode 19 on dvd). This was a scandalous serving-up of all the anti-Arab cliches that the scriptwriters could think of. It was topped and tailed with a generous serving of (Jewish) kletzmer music. And, just in case anyone had missed the point, it ended with the Arabs having their noses rubbed in it by those clever 14th Precinct people who ensured that they made a hefty contribution to the United Jewish fund. NOT FUNNY!

Forgive the preaching, people, but the Jews and the Irish are the two most abused people on earth when it comes to stereotyping and cliched portrayals. It ill became the Cagney and Lacey people (and yes, I include the two actresses, both of whom have strong Irish conections, not to mention the large Jewish presence in the production team) to dump on another ethnic group, in this case the Arabs. The episode does, however, serve to illustrate how misguided the attitude to Arabs has been in the U.S. since the programme makers, back in the eighties, had no compunction in portraying them negatively.