Never before has a television advertisement made such a sad statement about American family life as the one depicting the Oldsmobile Silhouette Premiere. In the spot, a family of four, full of good cheer, is riding down the highway. Everyone is smiling and munching popcorn, as though God's own backyard was their personal drive-in theater. Then the camera pans back through the van's side windows, and the viewer sees that the Silhouette is barreling down a deserted gravel road surrounded by majestic, snow-capped mountains.
Disgust sets in.
Not because of the gorgeous scenery, but because these bone-headed parents are letting the kiddies watch Bruce Willis blow up the bad guys for the 50th time in five years rather than promoting the absorption of the beauty and wonder of Mother Nature. Road trips are a time for family bonding and learning about new places, not plugging in the PlayStation to play Metal Gear Solid for the 120th consecutive day. When this happens, the family isn't even talking to one another about the movie, much less anything else. Look, we enjoy TV and movies as much as the next person, but what you can do at home you should not be doing on vacation. So let's consider the Silhouette Premiere in the context of the daily grind, and not slick advertising.