While reading the news recently, I began to wonder how one of my favorite childhood television shows would pass Hollywood’s political correctness test. Simple answer: it wouldn’t. One of my favorite shows as a child was about a crack commando unit which was sent to a military prison for a crime they didn’t commit. After promptly escaping, they survived as soldiers of fortune, helping those who were up against tremendous odds.

Apparently, from 1983 to 1987, there were countless criminal organizations throughout California that attempted to take over small family businesses on a weekly basis. These included everything from mom & pop taxi services, trucking companies, ranches, soda bottlers… you get the picture.

Unfortunately, I think the four heroes of this show would be persecuted under today’s guidelines. The character of the tough inner-city raised sergeant with a bad attitude and excessive gold jewelry may be seen as perpetuating a negative stereotype. The Mohawk haircut alone may be considered by some to be insensitive to indigenous Americans.

The character of the pilot, who regularly would escape from or be broken out of the inpatient mental ward of a veterans’ hospital in order to fly the team, may be seen today as insensitive to those struggling with behavioral health issues. I once saw the former Army captain impersonating an Indian brave, complete with headdress feathers, war paint and a tomahawk. He spoke to inanimate objects and had invisible friends and multiple personalities.

The young, handsome and always impeccably tailored lieutenant who always got the girl may be seen as sexist. Side note: can I say girl? OK, young lady. These family businesses which they protected usually included an attractive adult daughter, and after rescuing the damsel in distress, he may actually try to kiss her one time, in the final scene. His actions today would probably result in a civil suit if not criminal charges.

This brings me to the leader: a middle-aged, white haired colonel who loved it when “a plan came together.” He smoked a cigar! What message did that send to the youth of the 1980s? Once, during a firefight, when the lieutenant finally arrived, I heard him say, “Glad to see you, grab a gun.”

The four teammates were regularly involved in physical altercations, eluding the military police and rapid-fire shootouts. Although they carried multiple assault rifles in their van, no one outside their unit was ever actually hit with a bullet.

Well, I survived watching this show for years, as I suspect did most of you. We did not grow up to become racist or sexist. I don’t chain smoke cigars, and I married a woman who works compassionately in the mental health field. As I like to say, “We all turned out fine, anyway.”