24 Season 6 Premier: Fearmongering of the most deplorable kind

The television series 24 has long been a controversial show. A show where the lines are blurred between those who want to stop terrorism and those who are the terrorists. Jack Bauer, the protagonist of the show and anti-hero will do anything to achieve his objectives. That includes the torture of innocent people, breaking the law and much more. He seems to be above the law. This show is a constant reminder of the threat of terrorism. The show is loosely based on a famous Navy Seal.

The fifth season ended where Jack Bauer was kidnapped by Chinese officials who found out that he was still alive and wanted revenge for his actions during a raid on the Chinese consulate. The entire two-hour season premier story line has been leaked on the Internet. Without revealing too much for die hard fans of the series, Bauer has been released by the new president who paid a terrible price for him.

There are terror attacks in every metropolitan city and they require Bauer to stop the attacks. The story is very realistic as the country goes into a panic and citizens to turn on one another. All those who are middle eastern looking suffer, just as they did on 9/11. One of the new president's handlers has his own agenda and starts making moves behind the scenes. In the television series they begin to round up middle eastern citizens and put them into internment camps.

The series shows how the power of the federal government is abused time and time again. The Federal Bureau of Investigations is used to gather intelligence through force and coercion. The behavior of the FBI in the story seems very similar to a recent incident where Librarians refused to release their records even after given a national security letter.  A lawsuit began and the Librarians are still holding their ground. This "show" mirrors many real life events.

I will not spoil the climatic ending but it is needless to say that the media is always using pathetic attempts to frighten Americans and reminding them that terrorism is the most grave threat in America. 24 goes for the "coup de grace". I find it a disgusting display to get ratings by horrifying Americans. The show itself is very addictive as it is just like a soap opera and it keeps people on the edge of their seats. If it isn't CNN or Fox News showing 9/11 footage every time there is the slightest terror threat, it is some disgraceful television show manipulating and distracting us through the sum of all our fears.

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Michael Vail