OT- "24" protest- PC gone crazy

HDCentStOhio · 01-19-2007, 01:25 PM

CLIFTON, New Jersey (AP) -- Two years ago, Muslim groups protested when the plot of the hit Fox drama '24' cast Islamic terrorists as the villains who launched a stolen nuclear missile in an attack on America.

Now, after a one-year respite during which Russian separatists played the bad guys on the critically acclaimed series, Muslims are back in the evil spotlight. Unlike last time, when agent Jack Bauer saved the day, the terrorists this time have already succeeded in detonating a nuclear bomb in a Los Angeles suburb.

Being portrayed again as the heartless wrongdoers has drawn renewed protests from Muslim groups, including one that had a meeting with Fox executives two years ago over the issue. (Watch why "24" is worrying Muslims)

"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. "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."

She said the group had a conference call Wednesday with Fox executives to protest the current plot line and request more positive portrayals of Muslims on the show, but was not promised anything.

After a January 2005 meeting with CAIR, Fox aired a commercial in which the show's star, Kiefer Sutherland, urged viewers to keep in mind that the show's villains are not representative of all Muslims.

In a written statement issued late Wednesday night, the network said it has not singled out any ethnic or religious group for blame in creating its characters.

"24 is a heightened drama about anti-terrorism," the statement read. "After five seasons, the audience clearly understands this, and realizes that any individual, family, or group (ethnic or otherwise) that engages in violence is not meant to be typical.

"Over the past several seasons, the villains have included shadowy Anglo businessmen, Baltic Europeans, Germans, Russians, Islamic fundamentalists, and even the (Anglo-American) president of the United States," the network said. "The show has made a concerted effort to show ethnic, religious and political groups as multidimensional, and political issues are debated from multiple viewpoints."

The current season began with Muslim terrorists waging an 11-week campaign of suicide bombings across America, culminating in the detonation of a suitcase-sized nuclear bomb in Valencia, California, about 26 miles north of Los Angeles. Estimated death toll: 12,000.

Watching the show's characters talk about detonating a nuclear weapon a few blocks from where she works unnerved Sireen Sawaf, an official with the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council, and a self-described "huge '24' fan."

"It's a great show, and I do realize it's a multidimensional show that portrays extreme situations," she said. "They have gone out of their way to have non-Muslim terror cells.

"But I'm concerned about the image it ingrains in the minds of the American public and the American government, particularly when you have anti-Muslim statements spewing from the mouths of government officials."

Sohail Mohammed, a New Jersey immigration lawyer who represented scores of detainees caught up in the post September 11, 2001 dragnet, watched the episode depicting the nuclear attack with an Associated Press reporter.

"I was shocked," he said. "Somewhere, some lunatic out there watching this will do something to an innocent American Muslim because he believes what he saw on TV."

Engy Abdelkader, a member of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee from Howell, New Jersey, launched a campaign Wednesday to encourage Muslims offended by the program to complain to Fox.

"I found the portrayal of American Muslims to be pretty horrendous," she said. "It was denigrating from beginning to end. This is one of the most popular programs on television today. It's pretty distressing."

Concerns about Muslims' civil rights, detention of terror suspects in Guantanamo-like holding centers, and stereotyping are given vastly expanded treatment on '24' this year. In one exchange, the show depicts the president's national security adviser challenging the White House chief of staff over the detention of Muslims without criminal charges.

"Right now the American Muslim community is our greatest asset," the security adviser says. "They have provided law enforcement with hundreds of tips, and not a single member of that community has been implicated in these attacks."

"So far," the chief of staff responds.

Ven0m · 01-19-2007, 01:58 PM

People need to stop being so damn sensative.

It's a TV show and a great one at that. Nobody is stupid enough to think that the show portrays reality in any way.

Jetsound · 01-19-2007, 01:59 PM

OK.

Then we can cast a movie about the NFL and cast all south american and asian actors, so we can portray them in a positive light.

Then a movie about the NBA with all white guys followed by a MLB movie with no Latinos.

Why are these people complaining. This is dead-on-balls accurate.
I read a few months ago that there are 20 ongoing worldwide conflicts. In 18 of them, Muslims were on one side and in many cases they were on both sides.

Next.

Jetsound · 01-19-2007, 02:00 PM

Let's pitch the show for next year to have a dirty bomb placed in Times Square by the New England Patriots!!!

long island leprechaun · 01-19-2007, 02:06 PM

Who would constitute a greater physical threat to the U.S. at this time than radical Muslims? The show is simply taking its cue from the headlines.

Jetdawgg · 01-19-2007, 02:30 PM

I seem to remember a show called "Playmakers". That show apparantly had some hostility to some "entity" and was removed from the air.

Hell, I did not even see a lot of protesters over that.....

24 is a tv show, but there are some out there that have a tough time distinguishing reality from fiction on tv.

Maybe if FAUX did not present the news screens on the show with the FAUX label.......

MnJetFan · 01-19-2007, 03:17 PM

[QUOTE=Jetdawgg]I seem to remember a show called "Playmakers". That show apparantly had some hostility to some "entity" and was removed from the air.

Hell, I did not even see a lot of protesters over that.....

24 is a tv show, but there are some out there that have a tough time distinguishing reality from fiction on tv.

Maybe if FAUX did not present the news screens on the show with the FAUX label.......[/QUOTE]

Maybe its not liberal enough for ABC, NBC or CBS

HDCentStOhio · 01-19-2007, 03:53 PM

[QUOTE=Ven0m]People need to stop being so damn sensative.

It's a TV show and a great one at that. Nobody is stupid enough to think that the show portrays reality in any way.[/QUOTE]
Well said- Look at the Sopranos, and how it portrays Italian-Americans. I don't take offense, and love the show.

ChadLover · 01-19-2007, 03:57 PM

What a joke. 24 has has terriorists of all nationalities. Did these groups stick up for the Russians? No, they probably watched the show and loved it.

24 · 01-19-2007, 04:22 PM

[QUOTE=HDCentStOhio]CLIFTON, New Jersey (AP) -- Two years ago, Muslim groups protested when the plot of the hit Fox drama '24' cast Islamic terrorists as the villains who launched a stolen nuclear missile in an attack on America.

Now, after a one-year respite during which Russian separatists played the bad guys on the critically acclaimed series, Muslims are back in the evil spotlight. Unlike last time, when agent Jack Bauer saved the day, the terrorists this time have already succeeded in detonating a nuclear bomb in a Los Angeles suburb.

Being portrayed again as the heartless wrongdoers has drawn renewed protests from Muslim groups, including one that had a meeting with Fox executives two years ago over the issue. (Watch why "24" is worrying Muslims)

"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. [B]"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."[/B]

[/QUOTE]

Ummm but it is reality.. Many Muslims are terrorists... Theres no fiction in that. Its fact

Come Back to NY · 01-19-2007, 04:50 PM

[QUOTE=HDCentStOhio]Well said- Look at the Sopranos, and how it portrays Italian-Americans. I don't take offense, and love the show.[/QUOTE]

yet the same people who love the Soprano's take offense to this or, remember this one, the Sienfeld episode about the Puerto Rican Day parade...

...

01-19-2007, 01:25 PM	#1
HDCentStOhio longing for the days of Ronald Reagan Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Long Island & Section 337 Posts: 4,859	OT- "24" protest- PC gone crazy CLIFTON, New Jersey (AP) -- Two years ago, Muslim groups protested when the plot of the hit Fox drama '24' cast Islamic terrorists as the villains who launched a stolen nuclear missile in an attack on America. Now, after a one-year respite during which Russian separatists played the bad guys on the critically acclaimed series, Muslims are back in the evil spotlight. Unlike last time, when agent Jack Bauer saved the day, the terrorists this time have already succeeded in detonating a nuclear bomb in a Los Angeles suburb. Being portrayed again as the heartless wrongdoers has drawn renewed protests from Muslim groups, including one that had a meeting with Fox executives two years ago over the issue. (Watch why "24" is worrying Muslims) "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. "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." She said the group had a conference call Wednesday with Fox executives to protest the current plot line and request more positive portrayals of Muslims on the show, but was not promised anything. After a January 2005 meeting with CAIR, Fox aired a commercial in which the show's star, Kiefer Sutherland, urged viewers to keep in mind that the show's villains are not representative of all Muslims. In a written statement issued late Wednesday night, the network said it has not singled out any ethnic or religious group for blame in creating its characters. "24 is a heightened drama about anti-terrorism," the statement read. "After five seasons, the audience clearly understands this, and realizes that any individual, family, or group (ethnic or otherwise) that engages in violence is not meant to be typical. "Over the past several seasons, the villains have included shadowy Anglo businessmen, Baltic Europeans, Germans, Russians, Islamic fundamentalists, and even the (Anglo-American) president of the United States," the network said. "The show has made a concerted effort to show ethnic, religious and political groups as multidimensional, and political issues are debated from multiple viewpoints." The current season began with Muslim terrorists waging an 11-week campaign of suicide bombings across America, culminating in the detonation of a suitcase-sized nuclear bomb in Valencia, California, about 26 miles north of Los Angeles. Estimated death toll: 12,000. Watching the show's characters talk about detonating a nuclear weapon a few blocks from where she works unnerved Sireen Sawaf, an official with the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council, and a self-described "huge '24' fan." "It's a great show, and I do realize it's a multidimensional show that portrays extreme situations," she said. "They have gone out of their way to have non-Muslim terror cells. "But I'm concerned about the image it ingrains in the minds of the American public and the American government, particularly when you have anti-Muslim statements spewing from the mouths of government officials." Sohail Mohammed, a New Jersey immigration lawyer who represented scores of detainees caught up in the post September 11, 2001 dragnet, watched the episode depicting the nuclear attack with an Associated Press reporter. "I was shocked," he said. "Somewhere, some lunatic out there watching this will do something to an innocent American Muslim because he believes what he saw on TV." Engy Abdelkader, a member of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee from Howell, New Jersey, launched a campaign Wednesday to encourage Muslims offended by the program to complain to Fox. "I found the portrayal of American Muslims to be pretty horrendous," she said. "It was denigrating from beginning to end. This is one of the most popular programs on television today. It's pretty distressing." Concerns about Muslims' civil rights, detention of terror suspects in Guantanamo-like holding centers, and stereotyping are given vastly expanded treatment on '24' this year. In one exchange, the show depicts the president's national security adviser challenging the White House chief of staff over the detention of Muslims without criminal charges. "Right now the American Muslim community is our greatest asset," the security adviser says. "They have provided law enforcement with hundreds of tips, and not a single member of that community has been implicated in these attacks." "So far," the chief of staff responds.

01-19-2007, 01:58 PM	#2
Ven0m a shutdown poster Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: NY Posts: 18,349	People need to stop being so damn sensative. It's a TV show and a great one at that. Nobody is stupid enough to think that the show portrays reality in any way.

01-19-2007, 01:59 PM	#3
Jetsound thinks Tebow sucks and the Jets are a side-show. Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bayville & Sec334 Posts: 2,099	OK. Then we can cast a movie about the NFL and cast all south american and asian actors, so we can portray them in a positive light. Then a movie about the NBA with all white guys followed by a MLB movie with no Latinos. Why are these people complaining. This is dead-on-balls accurate. I read a few months ago that there are 20 ongoing worldwide conflicts. In 18 of them, Muslims were on one side and in many cases they were on both sides. Next.

01-19-2007, 02:00 PM	#4
Jetsound thinks Tebow sucks and the Jets are a side-show. Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bayville & Sec334 Posts: 2,099	Let's pitch the show for next year to have a dirty bomb placed in Times Square by the New England Patriots!!!

01-19-2007, 02:06 PM	#5
long island leprechaun Don't mess with Angel Eyes. All Pro Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: greenwich village, NYC Posts: 7,226	Who would constitute a greater physical threat to the U.S. at this time than radical Muslims? The show is simply taking its cue from the headlines.

01-19-2007, 02:30 PM	#6
Jetdawgg All Pro Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6,687	I seem to remember a show called "Playmakers". That show apparantly had some hostility to some "entity" and was removed from the air. Hell, I did not even see a lot of protesters over that..... 24 is a tv show, but there are some out there that have a tough time distinguishing reality from fiction on tv. Maybe if FAUX did not present the news screens on the show with the FAUX label.......

01-19-2007, 03:17 PM	#7
MnJetFan All League Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,302	[QUOTE=Jetdawgg]I seem to remember a show called "Playmakers". That show apparantly had some hostility to some "entity" and was removed from the air. Hell, I did not even see a lot of protesters over that..... 24 is a tv show, but there are some out there that have a tough time distinguishing reality from fiction on tv. Maybe if FAUX did not present the news screens on the show with the FAUX label.......[/QUOTE] Maybe its not liberal enough for ABC, NBC or CBS

01-19-2007, 03:53 PM	#8
HDCentStOhio longing for the days of Ronald Reagan Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Long Island & Section 337 Posts: 4,859	[QUOTE=Ven0m]People need to stop being so damn sensative. It's a TV show and a great one at that. Nobody is stupid enough to think that the show portrays reality in any way.[/QUOTE] Well said- Look at the Sopranos, and how it portrays Italian-Americans. I don't take offense, and love the show.

01-19-2007, 03:57 PM	#9
ChadLover All Pro Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Monmouth County Posts: 2,137	What a joke. 24 has has terriorists of all nationalities. Did these groups stick up for the Russians? No, they probably watched the show and loved it.

01-19-2007, 04:22 PM	#10
24 All Pro Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 8,884	[QUOTE=HDCentStOhio]CLIFTON, New Jersey (AP) -- Two years ago, Muslim groups protested when the plot of the hit Fox drama '24' cast Islamic terrorists as the villains who launched a stolen nuclear missile in an attack on America. Now, after a one-year respite during which Russian separatists played the bad guys on the critically acclaimed series, Muslims are back in the evil spotlight. Unlike last time, when agent Jack Bauer saved the day, the terrorists this time have already succeeded in detonating a nuclear bomb in a Los Angeles suburb. Being portrayed again as the heartless wrongdoers has drawn renewed protests from Muslim groups, including one that had a meeting with Fox executives two years ago over the issue. (Watch why "24" is worrying Muslims) "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. [B]"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."[/B] [/QUOTE] Ummm but it is reality.. Many Muslims are terrorists... Theres no fiction in that. Its fact

01-19-2007, 04:50 PM	#11
Come Back to NY Making lotsa $$$ off obama's stupidity... Jets Insider VIP JetsInsider.com Legend Charter JI Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 31,407	[QUOTE=HDCentStOhio]Well said- Look at the Sopranos, and how it portrays Italian-Americans. I don't take offense, and love the show.[/QUOTE] yet the same people who love the Soprano's take offense to this or, remember this one, the Sienfeld episode about the Puerto Rican Day parade... ...