Editorial: What can Jack Bauer do for you? (SPOILER)

Stanford Daily ^ | January 23, 2007 | Editorial Board

[Right_Wing_Madman]

The weenie editorial staff of the Stanford Daily, my alma mater's student newspaper, brings up all the typical liberal "concerns" of the hit series "24." More liberal tolerance in action.

Last night's show was pretty good. Jack Bauer has to torture his own brother to find loose nukes.

[TexasCajun]

What the hell is up with Jack's father and brother!

I didn't see that coming!

[jagusafr]

My wife and I both said, "No way!", when that guy turned out to be Jack's brother! Not sure of the actor's name, but he may be the best nasty character actor of the last decade. He was "Rocket", the surgeon on "ER", and you just wanted to punch the guy most of the time.

[mainepatsfan]

Well we can certainly see why Jack and them weren't on speaking terms.

[mainepatsfan]

I couldn't wait for Jack to do just that last night.

[NeilGus]

It is interesting that when Dan Quayle worried about the societal impact of Murphy Brown being an unwed mother, the left laughed at him and said that it was only a TV show.

Now when a popular TV show shows a view different from what they espouse, they seem to think that TV shows can impact society.

Which is it?

[agere_contra]

Furthermore, the constant portrayal of Muslim terrorists as the source of threat opportunistically plays into real life off the public’s fears and perpetuates existing stereotypes that all Arabs and Muslims are terrorists. is completely realistic

[Hildy]

I don't know..I didn't watch last night yet, but the first few episodes started to aggravate me this year. Of course you have to suspend disbelief in this show, but this year, they are pushing the envelope. The "ridiculousity" factor is almost too much for me already.

[BlueNgold]

Point #1:
The 'fear' of the American public regarding islamo-fascist terrorists is based on history and reality. Note to the editor: Admission to Stanford is a laudable accomplishment, and indicative of a reasonable intellect. It does NOT give you a monopoly on common sense - it does not take a PhD to understand the difference between fiction/drama and reality. No one is mistaking "24" for news. Allusions to such nonsense make YOU sound like the idiot.

Point #2:
To those who have given an oath and are willing to sacrifice their own lives in order to save this nation and her citizens there is not a lot of moral quandry regarding torture in a real time situation. Note for the record - these situations do happen, maybe not at home, but in the sands of Iraq and Afghanistan real time intelligence is everything. Knowing that you are crossing a line, and knowing that you may be sacrificing your own freedom when all is said and done is not a long leap when the alternative is death and destruction for you and/or others/

[TexasCajun]

Both characters, Jack's brother and father, were in last year's episodes.
...but we were not informed about their relationship to Jack.

...makes me want to go back and review last year.

[Deguello]

He looks like an Opie that didn't have a very good childhood in Mayberry.

[RebekahT]

"Furthermore, the constant portrayal of Muslim terrorists as the source of threat opportunistically plays off the public’s fears and perpetuates existing stereotypes that all Arabs and Muslims are terrorists."

I'm not sure the author watches 24. The terrorists have only been Muslims in a few seasons. Furthermore, the show always portrays many arabs/muslims as good guys. For example, this season has an arab woman working for CTU and Sherry Palmer's (Muslim) boyfriend is willingly going undercover in a detention facility to help expose a terrorist cell. And (atleast at this point), Hassad, a recovering terrorist, is helping CTU find Fayed and the other nukes.

Regardless, the reality of today is that most terrorists who are actively trying to destroy America ARE muslims! If the shoe fits, put it on...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

But at the same time, there is the possibility that “24” could replace news altogether for some viewers, and the over-dramatized events it presents to keep the adrenaline flowing could pervert the public’s sense of reality by creating a constant sense or paranoia that is good for ratings, but not necessarily for the general interest.

Of course, if the same thing happened with Algore's "Inconsistent Truth," Stanford would think that THAT would be a good thing.

[truthluva]

Anybody besides me think that Jack's brother's son is really....Jack Bauer's son????

[RockinRight]

I watched that show for the first time last night.

WOW. I'm now a fan. Haven't been this "into" a show since Alyssa Milano started "developing" on Who's the Boss.

[Samwise]

It is interesting that when Dan Quayle worried about the societal impact of Murphy Brown being an unwed mother, the left laughed at him and said that it was only a TV show.

Now when a popular TV show shows a view different from what they espouse, they seem to think that TV shows can impact society.

Which is it?

Rule 1 of Liberalism: Facts, logic, and consistency are irrelevant.

[whatexit]

Um, thanks for the spoiler warning! /sarc

[mainepatsfan]

I don't think Sherry's boyfriend is going to last too much longer.

[mainepatsfan]

At Christmas I talked to my cousin who had seen the movie and he was completely taken in. Fortunately my sister is a meteorologist and she was able to deprogram him.

[MadIvan]

I enjoy it when Jack hurts terrorists. He is doing what I wish we could do to them; if we did, terrorism would likely decrease as a threat.

Regards, Ivan