Plot: A Congressional aide visits the 4077th, supposedly on a routine fact-finding tour, but actually to ferret out a Communist sympathiser--Margaret.

The episode was great. I think it's really funny (at certain parts). It really shows how close the people at the 4077 were when Charles and B.J. and Hawkeye try their absolute best to help her.

The episode was great. I think it's really funny (at certain parts). It really shows how close the people at the 4077 were when Charles and B.J. and Hawkeye try their absolute best to help her.

Considering the way that that aide tried to get Margaret to sleep with him, all the while still planning to get her in trouble, "creep" seems like a very mild word to apply to him.

Yeah...I can think of a few other words for him...

All of them four letters long, no doubt.

Right on, Lilith!

Y'know, just once I'd like to see a TV show hold off the McCarthyism bashing long enough to acknowledge that Communism was (and is) a cause worth fighting against. THEN they could continue slamming him and his followers for going overboard 'n acting like moronic, paranoid jerks. I'd also like to see some show have a government agent come in - politician, FBI, CIA, whatever - and turn out to be a GOOD guy. Especially if the man happened to be conservative. I know, I know, the Hollywooders would throw very expensive temper tantrums, but I can dream =)

Otherwise, great episode! I wish Margaret had slammed that creep through a wall for even touching her!

I acknowledge that communism is a cause in need of monitoring. However, if you want to talk about free speech, then I think you need to acknowledge that the freedoms of this country belong to everybody--not just those who agree with certain principles. When you acknowledge one person standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours, then you can sing about the land of the free. I oppose communism. I oppose the selling of information to our enemies. I think that Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were rightfully hanged, and it was proven many years later, in the 1980's, that they were indeed guilty. However, this country was founded with basic freedoms in mind, and one of those has got to be the freedom to believe what you want to. They don't include selling your country out or plotting to overthrow your government, or whatever the McCarthy people accused people of. They do include the right to believe in what you want, and the right to say what you think, without being hustled by people like McCarthy. People were hassled over how they voted. But isn't the right to vote however you choose a basic part of democracy?
By the way, I am a registered Republican, and an extremely conservative one at that. I have two views on issues that don't coincide with conservatism, and one of those views is talked about here.

Uh, which view of conservatism are you disagreeing with? I'm *completely* conservative and I concur 100%; I don't know of any decent Republican or conservative who wouldn't do the same.

Ah, I just know a few coservatives who think that freedom of speech is fine, but only as long as it's th same as what they think. And many who think if you support people's right to say that they believe in communism that you yourself are a communist.

I know liberals who think the same way; it's not really a political thing, but a misguided human being thing.

Most people believe in free speech... as long as it supports what they believe...

I hope that with a few rare exceptions (*cough*Peter*cough*) I've supported people's right to say thing. I may say that I believe their *views* are wrong, but hopefully never say that they can't say stuff. (See my comments on the Political Musings board re Should the Klan be shut down).

Who's Peter? Or shouldn't I ask?

I'm not sure why not. I am also surprised that Scott is against my saying what I believe.

I am a conservative who causes trouble on the political and religious musings boards by (gasp) expressing opinions that are not left wing (prepare to faint). People have been driven into crazed rants by my moral criticisms of abortion and homosexuality, and my belief that pornography does not benefit society and so there is no need to ban it. It appears there is a campaing to ban me from nitcentral altogether, with Scott obviously a part of it. It is really sad that people can't tolerate those with whom they disagree.

Peter.

P.S. I realise this won't meet with a very happy response on this board, but what is M*A*S*H* about?

BTW, I meant to say there is no reason not to ban pornography on the last message, not that there is no need to ban it.

Peter

Peter, I'll take it over to the Pornography board to answer. Short answer is I flamed you once, and regret it.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled M*A*S*H episode.

Moderator,

Could you please the entire thread starting with my snide comment about Peter? It doesn't belong here. It's my fault for introducing it, and I apologize to the other regulars.

whoops.. that "please DELETE the entire..."

Did anybody click on Peter's message expecting him to ask what M*A*S*H is about? And surprise, surprise, he did!

I'd answer it but I'm sure Lilith will want to.

Sorry, sorry.

I suppose my lack of knowledge about American culture and TV is getting me a reputation for these questions, not just my conservative views.

Peter.

Sorry, sorry.

I suppose my lack of knowledge about American culture and TV is getting me a reputation for these questions, not just my conservative views.

Peter.

M*A*S*H is about a team of docs and nurses working in the Korean war. There's this doc named Hawkeye and this nurse named Margaret, and they fall madly in love and married shortly after the end of the series. LOL

By the way, Peter, if you think that "It is really sad that people can't tolerate those with whom they disagree," then why do you want to ban porn? Why can't you tolerate those with whom you disagree?

"There's this doc named Hawkeye and this nurse named Margaret, and they fall madly in love and married shortly after the end of the series."

Agghhhh! The horror! ;)

More like wishful thinking on my part, Lurker. I am a staunch 'shipper. Needless to say, Comrades in Arms is my favorite episode.

I thought you *liked* Margaret! Don't you think she could do better? Or maybe you're saying she'd stomp out Pierce's most annoying traits?

I dunno know why I like them together. I do like her character, and his bugs me at times, but for some reason, I am fond of H&M as a couple. Yes, I think she might just have a shot at stamping out his arrogance and disrespectfulness.

Then I say GO MARGARET!! ;) I actually agree that they make a good couple; marriage would've been extremely interesting. I haven't seen "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" (yet) - is the possibility of a permanent relationship left open?

Pierce and Hot Lips would NEVER marry. There's that little problem of Margret being assigned to Belguim in the last episode!

Ever heard the phrase "love finds a way"? Yes, Lurker, in the end, they share this amazing, 30 second long kiss, which in my mind intimates some unresolved feelings. As for her being assigned to a different place, whatever, if it meant enough to them, they'd find each other again.

There's also the fact that Margaret wasn't assigned to Belgium, but instead went to work at a hospital in the States. It isn't mentioned where, but I have a sneaking suspicion it could be Maine.

My god. How many days of R&R did Radar have? In the previous ep, "Too Many Cooks", the Corporal was on leave in Tokyo. That ep takes place over a period of at least three days. Now in this ep, we find Walter is still in Tokyo and has been gone long enough that the paperwork is piling up so that a letter from a Congressional aide is lost in the stack. It almost sounds like Radar has been gone a week. Did they give passes for that long a period of time? The most we heard about were three day passes in previous eps. Radar should have been back by now.

While talking to Margaret in her tent, Congressional Aide Williamson raises his right hand. It looks like it's just under his collar bone. However, in the next shot, a close up, the hand cannot be seen.

When Hawkeye is in Post-Op treating the wounded Chinese soldier and Williamson is talking with Pierce, the position of Williamson's right hand changes between shots.

Given B.J.'s comment about Harry Truman, this episode can take place no later than January of 1953. (Hunnicutt's comment makes it clear that Truman is the President of the U.S. at the time.)

Talk about chug-a-lugging! In the Officers' Club, Hawkeye tells Williamson, "If you're looking for sympathy, you're with the wrong crowd." In the very next shot, Pierce is suddenly drinking his shot of Scotch.

"Horse hockey!"