An American Muslim In Defense Of "24"

I touched on Muslim reaction to this season of "24" in two posts in January. Emilio Karim Dabul, an American Muslim of Arab descent, had an article in the Opinion Journal yesterday about why CAIR and other knee-jerk reactionaries shouldn't be complaining about the Fox series "24."

And this is what makes "24" a compelling drama every week. Instead of pretending Islamic terrorists don't exist, the show presents frighteningly real worst-case scenarios perpetrated by Osama bin Laden's followers. So CAIR thinks it's over the top for the terrorists in "24" to blow up Los Angeles with a nuke? Please, if bin Laden and his crew had nukes, most of us would be way too dead to argue over such points.

There is a dangerous trend in the U.S. today that involves skirting the truth at the risk of offending any individual or group. When Bill Cosby talks to African-Americans about self-respect and responsibility, and says publicly what many have been saying privately for years, he's branded a "reactionary," "misinformed," "judgmental," and so on. When "24" confronts America's worst fears about al Qaeda--whose goal remains to kill as many Americans as possible whenever possible--the show is said to be guilty of fueling anti-Muslim and anti-Arab prejudice.

Well, here's the hard, cold truth: When Islamic terrorists stop being a threat to America's survival, viewers will lose interest in "24," because it will have lost its relevancy. Until such time, I will continue to watch "24"--because, believe it or not, the idea that there are Jack Bauers out there in real life risking their lives to save ours does mean something to me.

It's good to see someone like Dabul countering the politically correct gnashing-of-teeth that is generally presented in the media on topics such as this. Shows like "24" don't fuel anti-Muslim sentiment; the actions of Islamic terrorists fuel that concern and suspicion.

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