Darkly Dreaming Dexter: the Post Mortem Modern Catcher in the Rye

http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/home.do

Wondertrash Bogus Zen: What's in a name?

Are you a fan of TV's morally ambiguous serial murderer Dexter Morgan? Well here's clue to some of the possible thinking behind the character:

Dexter, a heraldry term referring to the right of the bearer of the arms, and to the left by the viewer's eyes

Sinister, to the viewer, but 'on the right' from his own side? Are good and evil a matter of perspective - or which side you're on? This idea of juxtaposition between good and evil is pretty commonplace since 911. Muslim extremists see themselves as freedom fighters, whereas the West sees them as dangerous fanatics. We have to 'make them see' our point of view, without allowing our perspective to become compromised by their ideas. Both sides see themselves as the good guys fighting the bad guys - a 'dexter' scenario. While violence isn't the onmly way to resolve a conflict, it is the only way to win it: and as a society (we probably don't qualify as a 'culture') we're committed to winning.

Many viewers may be disturbed by how close to home some of Dexter's soul searching gets. He becomes a master of 'faking it' in order to 'fit in'. Now what could be more normal. Meanwhile he harbors dark secrets that could blow his cover. That's pretty normal too. The difference between Dexter and everyone else is that everyone else has sought to free themselves of moral restraints; and do what ever they feel like and can get away with. Dexter has revived the lost art of fair play, and lives by the code his adoptive father instilled in him. In a morally bankrupt society, that seems to put him one up. Yet even Dexter questions his code of ethics, which is ultimately about survival. Yet Dexter clings steadfastly to his code of conduct. Others are not so particular about whom they victimize.

So is an anti social outsider justified, in the context of a society that is devoid of morality? Dexter isn't the only famous fictional serial killer. George C Scott's portrayal of General Patton is a pretty good example of a homicidal maniac becoming a hero by finding his right time and place. There's also that dead eyed, remorseless killing machine of the movies, James Bond 007. Strangely Dexter seems to show more conscience then 007 ever did. He has to kill people who deserve it: multiple victim killer's with no sense of remorse. Bond forgets them once he's killed them; killing's his job and that's that. Dexter seems to do a great deal of soul searching. Bond never bothers. Dexter has 'the code of Harry', while Bond merely has his 'license to kill'. Perspective maybe something, but context is everything! Do you suppose that 007 might qualify as a potential Dexter project, according to the 'Code of Harry'?

On a related note, PM Steven Harper has made a historic apology to Canada's native peoples. It's something along the lines of "I hope we weren't out of line with that land grab a few hundred years ago". As I write, talk radio callers are screaming in outrage. The call Harper a clown, and ask what right he has to apologize for them. In fact they seem more genuinely outraged by the apology, than about the very real wrongs committed against Native Canadians. History consists of some people arriving some where, usually by boat, and driving out the land's original inhabitants. They come armed with rationalizations, and other deadly weapons. Now why should we apologize, when we stole this land fair and square? It was sheer bloody mindedness that build this country, and the hardest words in the English language are "I was wrong". It's ironic that amoral people should find those words so hard.