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January 15, 2007
Jack Bauer wears Citizen Journal underwear
So I missed 24 last night but heard Drudge's radio show as it aired. MD was discussing the possibility that tonight's show will feature a nuke detonating in the US. The gist of the discussion was whether 24 should be doing this. I'd like to cast my "Yay" vote.
First, I'll knock down a strawman - the hypocrites who criticize 24 don't seem to mind when the likes of Independence Day incinerate the White House, Manhattan, etc. (for the benefit of the 'new world order'); or when this sort of thing happens in The Day After Tomorrow (for the benefit of environmental crisis mongering). (Ad hominem attacks are useful to half-assed commentators like me.)
Second, we need reminding once in a while. Other than 24, pop culture seems to be largely of the opinion that (1) terrorists are caucasians; and (2) the threat of Islamic terrorism is mostly a figment of Karl Rove's imagination. Nonsense, of course, and if Fox is the only outfit with the stones to dramatize Islamic terrorism, so be it. In economics, liberals are fond the idea that government must regulate "market failures." In this war, maybe private citizens need to correct government failures.
Third, it seems to me the blue media's perception (and reviews) of 24 are a function of one single issue: whether or not the bad guys are Islamic. Last year, the show reverted to the Die Hard/Air Force One etc. etc. fantasy that, notwithstanding 30+ years of evidence to the contrary, the US is actually being targeted by fanatical Eastern Europeans. The critics raved. The season before that, it was Muslims, and the critics hated it. 24 is among the only arm of pop culture that's willing to deal in the uncomfy realm of reality.
Kick ass, Jack.
Posted by bill at January 15, 2007 06:45 PM
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