Sometimes I Cannot Believe What We Have Allowed to be Done in Our Name

For about 12 minutes db and I tried to watch "24." We like spy-type shows (too bad "24" isn't produced by the BBC; then I'd probably watch it), and it'd been recommended countless times by many folks, so we tuned in. Good lord, that is a load of tripe! Firstly, it's completely nonsensical, which can be OK in a mind-numbing teevee kind of way--but if that's all it is, it needs to be a lot funnier for me to stick w/ it.

"24" is not so funny--not intentionally anyway--it's superficial and posturing and underwritten and had, for the short time we watched it, this odd macho, right-wingish thing working, and I simply have no time for fictionalized versions of that when our current gubmint is replete with multiple redundant examples of disastrous macho posturing.

We cannot see the backs of these criminals fast enough. If there is any justice on earth, they will have to answer for their crimes. And I don't just mean the Bush madministration. Journalists, j'accuse!

How Hollywood Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the (Ticking) Bomb

I discovered that when I gave interviews to major media on this subject, any time I used the word “torture” with reference to these techniques, the interview passage would not be used. At one point I was informed by a cable news network that “we put this on international, because we can’t use that word on the domestic feed.” “That word” was torture. I was coached or told that the words “coercive interrogation technique” were fine, but “torture” was a red light. Why? The Administration objected vehemently to the use of this word. After all, President Bush has gone before the cameras and stated more than three dozen times “We do not torture.” By using the T-word, I was told, I was challenging the honesty of the president. You just couldn’t do that.                                                                                                              

In early 2005, I took a bit of time to go through one newspaper—The New York Times—to examine its use of the word “torture”. I found that the word “torture” was regularly used to described a neighbor who played his stereo too loud, or some similar minor nuisance. Also the word “torture” could be used routinely to describe techniques used by foreign powers which were hostile to the United States. But the style rule seemed very clear: it could not be used in reporting associated with anything the Bush Administration was doing.

So yeah, Scott Horton found that what used to be the tool of the enemy--that is, torture--is now the tool of Jack Bauer. This he finds troubling, as do I.

We should start with a frank question: has “24” been created with an overtly political agenda, namely, to create a more receptive public audience for the Bush Administration’s torture policies? I think the answer to that question is now very clear. The answer is “yes.” In “Whatever It Takes,” Jane Mayer has waded through the sheaf of contacts between the show’s producer, Joel Surnow, and Vice President Cheney and figures right around him. There is little ambiguity about this point, namely, if the torture system introduced after 9/11 can be traced back to a single person, it is Vice President Cheney. He pushed relentlessly for use of the tools of the “dark side,” and he ruthlessly took out everyone who stood in his way. He also worked feverishly to disguise or cloak his intimate involvement in the entire process. I take it as a given that Surnow is working to develop public attitudes which are more accepting of torture; to overturn centuries-old prejudices against torture. He is a torture-enabler.

Jeebus H.

Comments

[Pacian]

"challenging the honesty of the president"

The single most important function of a news agency in any democratic country. That's what democracy *is*.

[Suebob]

So much for the airwaves being held in the public trust. Now they are operated in the interests of the government...propaganda as entertainment. Surprisingly effective, too.

[ae]

You said it, Pacian. Every damn thing I read about the media makes me want to (spacecat) rocketship myself to another planet. *Who* do these assholes think they are? Is there *any* honor left in that profession? It surely can't be that the most slavishly cliqueish among us congregate there (can it?).

Suebob, what kills me is that there will be books upon books and dissertations and exposes and white papers about the Era of Propaganda ushered in by the Bushies. In the meantime, the press fiddles while Rome burns. It's enough to make a (somewhat) sane person turn to hard drugs. (Got any?)

[Dave Seah]

Hey Ayse, we met briefly at SXSW 2006.

"too bad "24" isn't produced by the BBC; then I'd probably watch it"

The name of that show is "MI-5" :-) I rather liked it.