Journal pudge's Journal: Twenty-four-mongering 11
"The overwhelming impression you get is fear and hatred for Muslims," said Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. She said Thursday she was distressed by this season's premiere [of 24]. "After watching that show, I was afraid to go to the grocery store because I wasn't sure the person next to me would be able to differentiate between fiction and reality."
So because you are irrationally afraid, the producers of 24 should pretend that one of the greatest terrorist threats to America doesn't come from Muslim extremists?
Plenty of irrational fear to go around these days (Score:1)
You sir, seem to be a very angry young man.
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Jedi Mind Trick! (Score:1)
Well ... (Score:2)
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I was a tad disappointed by the 24 writers this time around. Don't get me wrong, I love the show and can't wait to watch it tonight, but in the premiere they seemed to do everything they could to support random violence against any arabs you know.
That could not be more false.
A family helps an arab teenager when his father is taken into custody and prevents him from being beaten up by some drunk guys. It turns out he is a terrorist, kills one of those guys, takes the family hostage, and makes the father do his delivery, which ends up getting him killed, as well.
And how does this support random violence? It doesn't! In fact, they go out of their way to paint the guy as an idiot, and strongly implied that he was only right by sheer chance.
Apparent moral: Let them beat him up next time. Hell, better help, just in case.
That's only the apparent moral if you don't actually follow what the show is actually saying.
Another point is the seizing data and taking into custody of the president of a pro-Muslim organization. He isn't a terrorist (so far), but since he was put into the dentention center he picked up he was able to pass some important information on to the authorities.
Apparent moral: Arabs, it's your patriotic duty to submit to any (formerly) civil rights violations. Non-arabs, look how well our system works!
Again, total B.S., for similar reasons as above.
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Again, not saying that's what I read into it, I'm saying this is what a lot of people (especially ones like the idiot) will read into it.
Oh, I know. I was responding to the argument, not to you. :-)
To the average American of average intelligence this would seem to support the notion they likely already have that anyone held by the government is going to be a terrorist.
I disagree entirely. Maybe to someone with far-below-average intelligence.
As to the other, the arab leader makes statements several times to the effect that he wants to remain in custody and turn over his data because he has nothing to hide and he wants to be a good citizen.
Which is what a lot of people in his position would think. I was responding before to him being in the detention center, not the info. Most people would not want to be taken into custody and find it wrong, but if they find out they are able to pass info about terrorism to the authorities once there, might be inclined to stay. So too, many people might recognize the p
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Also good point on the violence against Muslims/Arabs. I know there has been some, and I don't have any figures, but I'm sure you're right that it hasn't escalated significantly. Granted, we've pretty much been "winning" since then, so who knows how it would go if the proverbial crap hit the proverbial fan in 24 style.
Yeah, I'll grant you it ca
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Also good point on the violence against Muslims/Arabs. I know there has been some, and I don't have any figures, but I'm sure you're right that it hasn't escalated significantly. Granted, we've pretty much been "winning" since then, so who knows how it would go if the proverbial crap hit the proverbial fan in 24 style. ;)
You're absolutely right, but ... I think 24 could help calm nerves in re such potential violence, if anything.
Yeah, I'll grant you it caused conflict and raised questions. I just thought it was done very theatrically. The guy busting in again right as the kid is leaving and ending up begging for his life? I mean 24 is nothing if not a string of coincidences, but come on. ;)
Well, yeah, but that IS 24. Back at you: come on! :-)
sheesh (Score:1)
The problem here lies not with the producers of 24, but with those who feel terrified by their portrayal of arabs in the show.
I actually don't watch the show, but I'm rather astounded that this apparently is the very first instance of the terrorists on the show being muslims? That's.... flabbergasting. While it may not be very PC, the reality is that majority of terrorists the US has squared off against in the past 30
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Whenever a movie uses neo-nazis as terrorists, do germans in the US start living in fear?
The problem here lies not with the producers of 24, but with those who feel terrified by their portrayal of arabs in the show.
But that is not an entirely invalid point, from the POV of CAIR et al: since Muslims (more than Arabs specifically, but mostly Arab Muslims) are the target of our fear, it is irresponsible to portray that. This is a similar argument used against Mel Gibson, when he totally accurately portrayed what the Bible says, because people irrationally thought there would be some anti-Jewish backlash.
Here, the argument is stronger, because we are not talking about a historical book that has shaped the world (being a