Stupid
I love this:
Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. She said Thursday she was distressed by this season's premiere. "After watching that show, I was afraid to go to the grocery store because I wasn't sure the person next to me would be able to differentiate between fiction and reality."
Ms. Ahmed, respectfully, that is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. I mean, ahhh forget it. I just can't find the words to respond to this rationally.
posted by John S. at 3:13 PM
2 Comments:
But there have been riots over such things as War of the Worlds, the premiers of Rite of Spring, Salome, and Four Organs. And cartoons have often furthered racial bigotry, particularly during Civil Rights movement and WWII.
I think there is a stark difference between the examples you provided and "24".
With respect to War of the Worlds, the medium for this show was radio. People had no way of knowing if it was real or not if they did not listen from the beginning. No-one believes "24" is real.
With respect to "Rite of Spring", as I understand it, the fighting in the aisles was between defenders of the work and people who were cat-calling it. The work, itself, did not inspire people to riot.
Regarding Salome, when a woman makes love to the severed head of John the Baptist, in 1905, you are prone to offend some people, perhaps to violence. However, this violence would be between people who were offended by the work and people who were not. No-one started an anti-Semitic movement (assuming Herod was Jewish) as a result of Salome.
With respect to Four Organs, I am not sure a riot started, reports indicate a "near riot". Moreover, I am not sure what to make about this one. Perhaps if you put too many freaky people in one room in the early 1970s and play weird music at them and they are going to flip out? Not sure.
Without going any further, I am not denying the ability of drama to inspire the human soul to do violence against each other. Not at all. I am mocking her belief that she:
"wasn't sure the person next to me would be able to differentiate between fiction and reality."
If she had said that she feared that this type of programming does not help American-Islamic relations, well, I would have to rationally disagree with her, but, concede that she may have a point. However, for her to assert that, as a result of "24", people might actually believe that a nuclear device was detonated in LA is just, well, nonsense. She is overstating her position in order to draw attention to her message. However, in so doing, she is completely undermining her credibility.
Post a Comment
<< Home