"24", "The View", Politics and Terrorists
The Season Premiere of "24" Rattles Some Cages
Rosie O'Donnell opined about already having too much fear in America. Do we need more fear in America? Personally, I think we do. A little bit of fear is a good thing. Fear helps you protect yourself from bad things if used properly. The season premiere of "24" depicts actions taken to protect ourselves from terrorist attacks. What better way to prepare for (and perhaps learn how to prevent) terrorist attacks than by experiencing them, vicariously, through a television series? We've only done this in America since we were able to put a story together on the radio. Yet, suddenly, it's a bad thing. Though "The View's" audience reacted positively when asked if they watched "24" last night, the ladies of "The View" shot it down like a rabid dog. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.
"24" is, in my opinion, a phenomenal action packed television series starring Kiefer Southerland as the determined, self-sacrificing, resourceful and deadly (very deadly) Jack Bauer. "24" and Kiefer Southerland are currently nominated for two 2007 Golden Globe awards and two Screen Actor Guild awards. "24's" last five seasons have already received several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and awards.
Season six of "24" premiered on January 14 and 15, 2007 in 2 two-hour episodes depicting the first four hours of Day 6 in the life of CTU agent, Jack Bauer. Day 6 picks up approximately 20 months after Day 5 (last season). Jack Bauer has been brought back from a Chinese prison and is to be traded to a terrorist in order to stop terrorist bombings plaguing America. Over the next four hours, Jack manages to escape terrorists that want to torture (and murder) him, save the life of a terrorist turned ally and witness the detonation of a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles. The season premiere of "24" is packed full of everything that makes "24" the most popular drama series on television. So, why did the ladies of The View feel a need to shoot it down?
Unfortunately, politics have permeated every aspect of our existence. One isn't simply allowed to enjoy a good, fictional, television series any more. On the contrary, one is expected to keep politics at the forefront of their thoughts at all times and judge everything based upon those political leanings. Ridiculous? Maybe so, but it's true. Since this is now expected, let me give a short, but sweet, review of "24" tainted by my political leanings.
Season 6 of "24" focuses on the horrific reality of terrorist attacks in the United States. For years, Israel has been living within this exact, very real, scenario. "24" allows Americans to experience, vicariously, what it would be like to have the terrorists in Iraq, and other Middle Eastern countries, setup office in America. I think this vicarious experience is a good thing. I think it is vitally important that Americans be forced to wake up and realize the danger we are in from terrorists. If we do not realize and understand the danger we are in, then we will end up living out this terrifying nightmare in an all too real fashion.
The ladies on "The View" also wondered if the Middle Eastern terrorists in "24" were stereotyped. Even though they had not watched "24", they murmured that it was most likely true. After all, any show about terrorists must be stereotypical, right? Wrong. The season premiere of "24" showed several Middle Eastern character types. There were good Middle Eastern people and bad Middle Eastern people. The Middle Eastern you thought was good, was bad and vice versa. Heck, one Middle Eastern character, thought to be a bloodthirsty terrorist, turned out to be a hero! So, ladies of "The View", I would really appreciate it if you would actually watch a show before you slice and dice it into little, political pieces of bull$#!&. And folks, be sure to catch the next episode of "24", it's an awesome series and, as many are often heard to say, it's impossibly better than the last season... if that is possible.
Published by Alisha Jett Christian
Disabled veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Mother of four children and happily married to my best friend. Born and raised in the South, but now living in Michigan. My life has been one big roller co... View profile
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- 24 on Fox
- "24" has been nominated for two Golden Globe awards.
- Rosie O'Donnell thinks "24" increases the "fear" in America.
- Joy Behar thinks that "24" went too far when depicting a detonation of a nuclear explosion in Los Angeles.
11 Comments
Post a CommentI say we need more fear, because, honestly, the fear everyone keeps talking about is just that... talk. If people were truly afraid of the things we need to be afraid of, then we would have a lot more unity and a lot more realism applied to the problems we are facing as a country. There is much talk about fear, but I haven't seen anyone who is truly afraid.
Great article! I'm glad you took the time to expose the hypocrasy that the hosts of "The View" displayed by giving their opinion on a show they didn't even watch. Talk about prejudice!
While it is just a tv show and we are all free to view or not to view, where I have to take issue is your statement that we need more fear in America. I couldn't disagree more...there is far too much fear in America now...and a show that seems quite abit like political propaganda doesn't help...Like Rosie or not, she is right on this...more fear is one thing America does not need..
One of the best things about AC is the variety of views on nearly every subject. Personally, I find "24" offensive and Jack Bauer equally so. I have just read Jeff Musall's article published 1/16/07 and recommend it for a contrary view. Jeff is an excellent writer and puts his (and my) opinions very clearly!
Yes, Watching 24 gave me a knot in my stomach to think our country could be so close to the daily life of Isreal or Iraq. 24 is definately a wonderful drama!
Hey, the ahem "ladies" of The View can kiss my lily white butt! I have only missed 2 episodes of 24 in the previous 5 seasons. And was wowed AGAIN this past 2 nights as previously promised. Those "ladies" better walk away from this subject or they will think that Donald Trump is a Fairy Godmother before I am done! Besides Jack Bauer has dealt with every other culture-race-creed as terrorists to this point including President Logan- isn't it time they had some pseudo middle eastern characters on the show? I am mind-numb that those ahem "ladies" having nothing better to talk about than a show they didn't bother to watch. Pooh! Build a bridge and get over it "ladies"! Long Live 24!!!!
Great article. I can't stand the View and now that Rosie is on there I think I hate it even more. They remind me of a group of old hens sitting around ranting about everything under the sun. Maybe the Donald needs to slap them around a little more. Apparently he didn't slap enough sense into them yet.
good work - i love this series, I'm happy to see someone write about it. Keep it up! by the way, you're right Rosie is being annal
I can't believe Rosie and the whiners dont complain about American Idol. now THAT'S garbage! Promoting "clique" mentality to impressionable 14 year old girls and championing the idea that your value as a human is based on what 3 "cool" people think. And then we humiliate the "uncool" people and laugh and laugh and be thankful we're better than them. ANYHEW, i watched "24" both nights and thought it was actually a little PC for my taste, and some really corny parts too. I belive you'll find out in coming episodes that these "muslim" terrorists are actually working under a russian leadership, which is pretty unrealistic. But I'm sure once they start making white russians out to be the bad guys then Rosie and the gang will stop whining.
While I think they're right in what they said, I don't think it's necessary to take it out on a classic show like "24". They're right; the show is getting more and more close to the realities of what we're dealing with today, pulling us in with fears very much prevalent to our modern times and the war we're in. Yet I agree with you that it's not necessarily a bad thing that it's so close to reality. If anything, it's a chance for us to have a fictitious experience of "what would happen if". Where I live, right after "24" yesterday the FOX news station aired it's leading story as a report on how terrorists really COULD create "suitcase" nuclear weapons, and the other weapons we see on the show.
I think the show gets way too much attention in this aspect. Just look at other television shows; you don't hear nearly as much complaining about shows like "Law and Order" whose recent trick has been airing episodes "ripped from the headlines", because these headlines don't terrify us!