Who should play the role???

[Salty]

One of my favorite TV shows was JAG.

The lead role of Navy Cmdr. Harmon "Harm" Rabb was played by David James Elliott.
However, Elliott is a Canadian Citizen. Does that fact bother anyone - in that a foreigner is playing an American Military individual?

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Nope over the years, there have been plenty of non-citizens serving in the US military as officers and enlisted men.
At least he got the accent right.

 

[Mikey]

One of my favorite TV shows was JAG.

The lead role of Navy Cmdr. Harmon "Harm" Rabb was played by David James Elliott.
However, Elliott is a Canadian Citizen. Does that fact bother anyone - in that a foreigner is playing an American Military individual?

I too enjoyed JAG.

Why would bother someone? It's called acting. A individual pretends to be someone else for the purpose of entertainment/storytelling.

Should we be upset that a non military individual plays a soldier? Or a person from Ohio playing someone from Texas? It just gets a bit ridiculous.

 

[just-want-peace]

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION!!!!!
S H A M E, S H A M E!!! (Sarcasm - for y’all with no imagination)

 

[Salty]

Would that be similar to a situation- say David James Elliott. playing Martin Luther King?

 

[Van]

The idea that a person must have the "right" credentials to perform a task is silly. Can a female doctor treat testicular cancer? Of course. Should non-Asians don makeup and play Asians? Should light skinned folks put on "black face." I enjoyed many "western movies" where non-native peoples play native peoples.

The actual problem is that Asians, or Blacks, or Native Peoples, or Hispanics were not allowed to compete for these roles, and preference was given to white actors.

Credential Morality is simply a way to discriminate against the less wealthy, less well connected, and those less like those in power. If you spent (misspent) $200,000 to get a degree, well by golly, a degree should be required to do what you do.

 

[Reynolds]

One of my favorite TV shows was JAG.

The lead role of Navy Cmdr. Harmon "Harm" Rabb was played by David James Elliott.
However, Elliott is a Canadian Citizen. Does that fact bother anyone - in that a foreigner is playing an American Military individual?

No. A Democrat playing one is far worse. Unless they are playing a Traitor.

 

[Reynolds]

Would that be similar to a situation- say David James Elliott. playing Martin Luther King?

You need to be a Communist to have the proper mindset to accurately portray MLK.