The stereotype of zombies as lumbering, brain-hungry undead has been perpetuated by Hollywood and the video game industry for years. Just like racist and bigoted behavior in films and games became taboo, so too must prejudice against zombies be ended.
You may have heard about the recent killing of a family of zombies outside a mall in San Jose, California. It was all over the news. In case you just arrived from Mars, I'll recount the details for you.
Jessie Walker, his wife Clarissa, and his daughter Megan were leaving the Woodside Mall after a few hours of back-to-school shopping for Megan. Wondering if they had time to have dinner before going to see the G. I. Joe movie, Jessie tapped a young man on the shoulder to ask what time it was.
The young man seeing the zombie, and wrongly fearing for his brain, pulled out his shotgun and blew the heads off all three. Upon questioning by the police, it was revealed the shooter, Carl Dornberg, loved games like Left 4 Dead and Resident Evil, and had seen Dawn of the Dead fourteen times.
Researchers say there's no connection between video games and zombie killings, but I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
Contrary to their portrayal in the movies and video games, zombies are productive members of society. They're the voice on the other end of the line when you call for tech support at the cable company; they deliver your mail, and many others.
Sure, there're a few bad seeds that lust for your gray matter, but the same goes for the living and we don't go around blowing their heads off, do we?
I bet you're wondering what you can do about this. I'm glad you asked. Contact Hollywood studios and tell them to offer a more balanced version of zombie life. Email the game makers and tell them you'd rather kill Nazis than zombies. Write your representatives and get the undead added as a protected group in discrimination laws.
It just takes a few minutes, but it could go a long way to stopping this senseless violence against zombies.
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