There’s an old Arab proverb that says “Example is better than precept.” I really wish Fox Television would have taken that to heart last night because the way the network worked “the good muslims” into the story line of “24” was so jarring, so unnatural that the only conclusion one can draw from it is that the network must think we’re all a bunch of goober chewing, redneck, red state yahoos who need to be hit over the head with an allegorical two-by-four in order to get the message.
The fact that there are tens of thousands of Americans of Arab descent serving honorably in the United States military as well as millions more who are law abiding citizens that love this country as much as you and I should be enough to convince everyone except the galoots, the yawpers, and the mentally deficient that there’s a vast difference between the guy who owns the convenience store down the street and Abu Musab al Zarqawi and his merry band of beheaders.
Which begs the question; if the only people who need to be reminded of this are immune to any and all pleas for ratiionality, what’s the point?
The point is to placate a pressure group. And Fox has shamelessly caved in to pressure exerted by muslim organizations, in particilar the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Last December when the plot line first emerged for this season’s “24,” CAIR objected saying that portraying muslims in such a negative way would feed prejudices and lead to bigotry and perhaps even violence.
But is it necessary? Since 9/11 the Justice Department has investigated 546 “incidents” involving not just Arabs, but others who appear to be of middle eastern origin. Out of all those incidents, federal charges have been brought against just 13 individuals. They’ve also assisted local prosecutors with another 121 cases.
Not exactly a crime spree directed against American muslims.
Despite this, Fox changed the story line and added characters that would portray muslims in a more positive light. The result was the stilted, heavy handed, and preachy scenes tonight in a gunshop owned by two Arab American brothers who, after first trying to kill Jack and Paul thinking they were looters, ended up joining the fight against the McGlennon-Forster mercenaries.
Some of the dialouge could have been lifted from a CAIR press release:
Good Arab #1: You don’t understand…for years we’ve been blamed for the attacks of these terrorists. We grew up in this neighborhood. This country’s our home.
Good Arab #2: If you find the people who caused today’s bloodshed, then we’ll help you.
And then later:
Good Arab #1: We’re going to stand up and be part of the solution.
Good Arab#2: If our father were here now, he’d be standing next to you, just as we are.
Leaving aside the fact that 3 of CAIR’s board members have been charged with aiding terrorists and that money raised by CAIR has found it’s way into the coffers of Hamas and Hizballah, the idea of a television network bending to this kind of pressure sets a bad precedent.
Whether Arabs are portrayed positively or negatively doesn’t change the fact that there are thousands of Arab muslims bent on killing as many Americans as they can get their hands on. They’ve been trained for it. They’ve dedicated their lives to that end. No amount of pressure by CAIR on TV networks is going to change that singular fact.
So instead of whining about how Arabs are portrayed in the American media, perhaps CAIR and other Arab and muslim organizations could take a page from their own handbook and “stand up and be part of the solution.” As it stands now, they seem more concerned about playing “the victim card” rather than working to expose those in our midst who would do us harm.
7:33 am
Good post. Nobody’s objecting to positive portrayals of Arabs, but the patriotic brothers scene in last night’s 24 was so corny and contrived that you couldn’t forget for a moment that you were being subjected to propaganda at CAIR’s behest.
12:24 pm
Maybe that’s because CAIR is part of the problem. Aren’t they on record for wanting the caliphate established in the USA?
6:28 am
I agree that the Good Arab Bros. bit appeared cartoonish and contrived… but talk about a network caving to an interest group; lest we forget CBS and the whole Ronald Reagan movie fiasco. Granted, it was a tasteless, twisted portrayal of one of our 5 greatest presidents (and it was conservatives, and probably a plurality of the USA, as the ‘interest group’), but is there a parallel here of a network capitulation to explore?
6:40 am
Excellent point, Maryhunter and I would answer it thusly;
The CBS movie provoked outrage across ethnic, racial, religious, and even political lines. While many supported CBS’s right to show the movie and worried about the pressure being put on the network, the fact is that the reason that CBS caved was a result of the massive, organized, and public protests of a pretty broad range of people.
Fox, on the other hand, caved to a small minority represented by a pressure group with ties to terrorists. Their reasoning was much different than CBS because of the rivalry between Fox and other MSM outlets. One can imagine (and I’m sure Fox executives COULD imagine it) that any protest mounted by CAIR and the muslim community would be dwelt on lovingly by the other major MSM outlets. CAIR would milk the protest for all that it would be worth and Fox would, in the end, lose the PR war.
While Fox’s capitulation is understandable, it is to my mind inexcusable because it sets a precedent that other networks may feel compelled to follow. Changing a program “artistically” to satisfy a pressure group is also different than making a decision on whether or not to show a controversial movie.
8:46 pm
There’s no doubt that Fox would take some major propaganda hits from the other networks if they stood up to CAIR. It would be at the top of newscasts: “Racist Fox Program Incites Hatred of Oppressed Muslims.” But the silent majority would be grateful to them for standing up to both CAIR and the other networks. Fox would be demonized, but they’re already demonized in the minds of the politically correct. It wouldn’t hurt them in terms of viewers; it would make their fans more loyal. Besides, once you start knuckling under, where are you going to stop? There are some kooks out there who want Brit Hume to resign. Maybe Fox News should play it safe and fire Brit?
10:17 am
Koran to Be Used Instead of Bible in US Courts?
CAIR, the Islamic advocacy group with documented terrorist ties that successfully arm-twisted Fox into rewriting an episode of 24 so as to turn it into maudlin pro-Muslim propaganda, is now demanding that North Carolina judges allow people to swear on…
6:27 am
American Talk Show Host Silenced by Islamic Terrorist Front Group
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the same terrorist front group that was able to dictate corny plot alterations to the folks at 24, has another notch in its belt, as Western Civilization, rotted away by moonbattery, lets itself slip…
3:23 pm
im a muslim and im not a terrorist p.s i dint read any of the above
9:43 am
hi everyone,
while you are reading this you should probably know by now….not all muslims are crazy like on tv!! you see, some people who are ‘’muslims’’ dont get it..they think there doing something good by blowing things up and comitting suicide when clearly its wrong in islam and cosidered a sin in islam to commite suicide!! there always blabbing about how islam isnt a relegion of peace but a relegion of death and war !! im sick of it! its bad enough that everyone around the world want to EXTERINATE all muslims …i mean come on!! its sick and wrong !! i mean there complete idiots they are !! thinking by bombing they can save the world!! hey, im amuslim and an arab too.. but let me tell you something.. IF I FIND A TERORIST ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD …SO HELP ME I WILL BEAT HIM UP!! seriously it breaks my heart just to see the many deaths happening in palestine nd iraq and even in the world …what im trying to say is… give some of us a chance …please…MAY GOD BLESS YOUR KIND HEARTS _