Posted on 01/17/2005 1:50:07 PM PST by kezekiel
Jack Bauer's going to have to call in the reinforcements to get through this one.
Facing heat over how Muslims are depicted in its countdown thriller series 24, Fox is working to mend fences before time's up.
The latest season of the Fox drama, which kicked off a week ago, stars Kiefer Sutherland as special agent Bauer. His latest race against the clock to save the world from terrorism has angered America's Muslim community by its portrayal of a Muslim family as a sleeper cell at the heart of a dastardly plot.
Rabiah Ahmed, spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told Broadcasting and Cable that the show is "taking everyday American Muslim families and making them suspects...It's very dangerous and very disturbing."
In response to the complaints, the network has agreed to a modest mea culpa--offering a public service spot to its affiliates that depicts the American Muslim community in a positive light.
"We met with representatives of CAIR on Wednesday and found the meeting productive and informative and we look forward to working with them in the future," Fox said in a brief statement.
On its Website, www.cair-net.org, CAIR thanked Fox for "the opportunity to address the Muslim community's concerns and for the willingness of network officials to take those concerns seriously in an atmosphere of mutual respect and co-operation."
"Network representatives said they had already reviewed existing episodes and removed some aspects that could potentially be viewed as stereotypical," the organization added.
On previous seasons of 24, the terrorists have included Eastern Europeans and rogue U.S. and British agents. This fourth season the main terrorists so far are a Muslim dad, mom and teenage son.
CAIR was ticked off even before 24's clock started ticking down with its first four episodes on Jan. 9 and 10. The group was tipped off after a promo DV Dwas issued in Entertainment Weekly. Then, CAIR's concerns escalated when the premiere episodes aired and, at 10:39 a.m. in the fourth episode, the mother, Dina Araz (portrayed by Iranian born actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, Best Supporting Oscar nominee last year for House of Sand and Fog) was depicted poisoning her son's non-Muslim girlfriend because she thinks the girl might jeopardize their plans.
CAIR rep Ahmed says the group wants to avoid sterotyping of Muslims, which could translate into ill-will and even civil rights abuses or hate crimes. Ahmed reports that, per surveys conducted by CAIR, most Americans believe it's okay to curb Muslim's civil rights during the war on terror.
The show's creative and executive production team attended the meeting along with Fox netowrk representatives. (Producers referred all calls back to Fox.)
CAIR, which is sponsoring the PSAs, has requested the 30- and 60-spots be broadcast before, during or after 24, which airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. However, it will ultimately be up to local station managers to choose if and when to run the PSAs, which feature the line: "Muslims are part of the fabric of this great country and are working to build a better America."
There is no finale tonight, we got another 20 episodes. This thing is just getting started.
Muslims should be prohibited from entering the US - simple as that. They do not want to assimilate into the American mainstream. The Dept. of Homeland Security should be watching the mosques very closely. Remember shortly after 9/11 when Franklin Graham said Islam was an evil religion and the liberals went nuts? What do they have to say about the family in NJ now?
There is no finale tonight, we got another 20 episodes. This thing is just getting started.
There is no finale tonight, we got another 20 episodes. This thing is just getting started.
I haven't heard a word to that effect. It's too early in the season to know anything about the motivations of "the cell" and I seriously doubt Fox would be stupid enough to intentionally inflame the situation. The reality is what it is and this program simply reflects an unfortunate truth.
And don't forget, the killings in New Jersey.
I haven't seen one mention of Islam being a motive. Also, when the boy told the girl he had to break up because of his religion it was to confirm what she thought. His mother made no protest on religious grounds.
The show might be clever about playing to expectations and the terrorists motive something different than religion. Ethnic? Revenge? But, I haven't seen every bit of the episodes.
No, the FBI had better get these guys and claim they are lone murderers, befroe they have a chance to strike again. How much you bet the Coptic Christians are getting pack to move to Texas where they can pack a weapon to protect themselves and their families.
The ideology at the heart of CAIR is anathema to our Constitution and our Republic.
Islam is a political ideology above all else...one that rests on the destruction of everybody and everything else.
We should no more put up with it than we put up with the other ideologies that killed hundreds of million, and enslaved billions, in the last century: Communism and Fascism.
Every elected official, every military man and woman, takes an oath to protect and defend our Constitution from all enemies, foreign AND DOMESTIC.
CAIR and all who give them a bit of credibility are domestic enemies. Who in their right mind can doubt it?
I haven't seen every minute of the episodes - was there any direct statements in the shows that the terrorists have a religious motive? I didn't see any.
When it comes to Muslims ANYTHING that pertains to shedding a bad light on this religion of peace is politically incorrect. I certainly hope Fox doesn't fold and ruin the show but it appears that they are heading into the appeasement mode.
More "America Sucks" implications. Perhaps in the light of 9/11 and the beheadings in Iraq - and what their religion says about 'killing the infidel' - perhaps they need to seek OUR favor.
CAIR seemed quite pleased after their meeting, didn't they...
Yep. Leaves lots of possibilities.
It's too early in the season to know anything about the motivations of "the cell"
They're supposedly Turkish right? Don't like Greeks? Maybe they're Kurds? Why the Defense Official chosen - something he did in the past? Revenge motive?
and I seriously doubt Fox would be stupid enough to intentionally inflame the situation.
Foresight is never perfect. Plus inflaming situations is not unknown on TV.
Is it too late to edit in the redneck, gun toting white guy for balance?
Methinks CAIR doth protest to much.
The ACLU will make sure they are a specially protected ethnic group. I don't think Muslims should get too comfortable in the US. Eventually people will realize it may come down to "them" vs. "us".
Very, very funny! Perhaps we can get that in next season. Living in Alabama, I'm sure I could point the producers toward some local hunters to use for casting inspiration.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.