[PAA-Discuss] Ask Producers of '24' to Stop Promoting Torture

Thu Jan 15 08:23:38 EST 2009

Have these idiots at human rights first lost their fucking minds?! I will
NOT sign a letter to anybody asking them to show torture in a "more
responsible manner!!!" WTF??!!! Torture is wrong. Period. This idiot show,
24, should be taken off the air. It advocates torture. It obviously
incorrectly shows that one can glean good information from the use of
torture. It allows sociopathic assholes to live vicariously through Keifer
Sutherland's character, Jack Bauer. It concretizes torture in the minds of
viewers as being an effective and even moral way of protecting people from
the evil "other".

This website is bullshit and so is the show. I won't sign. The whole world
has gone completely nuts.

Kris

  _____  

From: Juli3 at aol.com [mailto:Juli3 at aol.com] 
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 7:08 AM
To: discuss at paa-tx.org
Subject: [PAA-Discuss] Ask Producers of '24' to Stop Promoting Torture

 <http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/> http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/

Dear  Juli,

<http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ptt_stop_torture/inu7e6s99ebiiw
k?>
<http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ptt_stop_torture/inu7e6s99ebiiw
k?>
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ptt_stop_torture/inu7e6s99ebiiwk
?
<http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ptt_stop_torture/inu7e6s99ebiiw
k?> The 7th season of "24" began Sunday on The FOX Network. The program is
essentially an hour long, prime time advertisement for torture.

Please
<http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ptt_stop_torture/inu7e6s99ebiiw
k?>  join us in signing a letter to the Executive Producers asking them to
show torture in a more responsible manner.

The first four episodes of the program, which aired on Sunday and Monday
nights, appear to be designed to prove that those who are on the front lines
in the struggle to stop terrorism understand that torture is an effective
and necessary tool.

Watch
<http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ptt_stop_torture/inu7e6s99ebiiw
k?>  our review of "24" - a 3-minute video that examines the first four
episodes of Season 7.

Here are some of the plot points:

*	An FBI agent who is presented as adamantly opposed to torture drops
her opposition soon after she is put in charge of an investigation to stop
terrorists from killing thousands of Americans. 
*	Jack Bauer, the hero of the show, delivers a passionate defense of
his use of torture while hero music plays in the background. Later a U.S.
security agent tells Bauer that "it is wrong" that some people question
Bauer's use of abusive interrogation tactics. 
*	Several torture scenes depict torture being used by Bauer and other
"patriots" who supposedly have no other choice. Every time the good guys use
torture terrorists immediately provide information. 

Obviously many of the more than 12 million people who tuned in for the
opening episodes are sophisticated enough to understand that this is just
TV. But the relentless promotion of torture by "24" has already had an
impact. Military educators report that "24" is one of the biggest problems
they have in their classrooms and junior soldiers - even interrogators at
Guantanamo Bay - have copied techniques they have seen depicted on the
program, according to information gathered by journalists and Human Rights
First.

We are concerned about the impact of "24" abroad as well. The first six
seasons were re-broadcast in dozens of countries (including a number of
countries in the Middle East) where the program has undoubtedly reinforced
negative stereotypes about U.S. forces and the way they treat detainees.

At a time when President-elect Obama is considering action that will close
the door on the sorts of abuse that Bauer specializes in, we are urging "24"
to stop promoting torture.

<http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ptt_stop_torture/inu7e6s99ebiiw
k?> Please join us in sending a letter to the Executive Producers of the
program that encourages them to begin showing torture in a more responsible
fashion.

Sincerely,

David Danzig
Director, Primetime Torture Project

PS We have made a training film for use in military classrooms. The film
features interviews with real-life interrogators who explain that torture
may work on TV but it won't work in the field. Every time we show the film
to soldiers, sailors and marines in training they ask the same questions.
"If Bauer's techniques don't work, what does? How do you 'break' a hardened
terrorist and get him to talk?" To answer these questions as fully and
powerfully as possible we have decided to make a second training film that
will also feature real-life interrogators talking about their methods rather
than commenting on Bauer's.
<https://secure.ga1.org/05/etn_ptt/nE7wfzi91GgrC?> Please support the
production of this film.  Those who contribute $250 or more to production
will have their names listed in the credit portion of the film.

  _____  

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. 

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