Defending 24
Emillio Karim Dabul, an Arab-American Muslim, defends 24 from CAIR freaking out over non-existent anti-Muslim violence:
Most of the terrorists represented in “24″ through the years have been Arab Muslims. Why? Well, probably because most terrorists today are, in fact, Arab Muslims. As a descendant of Syrian Muslims, I am very well aware that the majority of Muslims world-wide are peaceful, hard working, and law abiding. That still does not change the fact that the greatest terrorist threat to the U.S. today comes not from the ETA, the IRA, etc., but from one group: Islamic terrorists.
And this is what makes “24″ a compelling drama every week. Instead of pretending Islamic terrorists don’t exist, the show presents frighteningly real worst-case scenarios perpetrated by Osama bin Laden’s followers. So CAIR thinks it’s over the top for the terrorists in “24″ to blow up Los Angeles with a nuke? Please, if bin Laden and his crew had nukes, most of us would be way too dead to argue over such points.
There is a dangerous trend in the U.S. today that involves skirting the truth at the risk of offending any individual or group. When Bill Cosby talks to African-Americans about self-respect and responsibility, and says publicly what many have been saying privately for years, he’s branded a “reactionary,” “misinformed,” “judgmental,” and so on. When “24″ confronts America’s worst fears about al Qaeda–whose goal remains to kill as many Americans as possible whenever possible–the show is said to be guilty of fueling anti-Muslim and anti-Arab prejudice.
Well, here’s the hard, cold truth: When Islamic terrorists stop being a threat to America’s survival, viewers will lose interest in “24,” because it will have lost its relevancy. Until such time, I will continue to watch “24″–because, believe it or not, the idea that there are Jack Bauers out there in real life risking their lives to save ours does mean something to me.
Chad Evans writes,
And besides, if any group should be upset it should be white males because in every single season, the main villain has been a white male. I’m not upset, rather I enjoy the show and realize it’s just a television show.
I kind of look like Graem Bauer. I have glasses and am not that tall. Have I been stereotyped?
“In Defense of 24“
