Going way back to the year 2002 in the second season of the popular TV series “24”, we see a lot of religious controversy, often disguised as racial conflict. Season two starts just months after 9/11, which sets the stage for religion in pop culture. Without revealing too much about the season, in case you haven’t watched it yet, the basic plot has to do with terrorists planting a nuclear bomb somewhere in Los Angeles. Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) agents are working around the clock to find out who is behind the bomb, where it is and how to stop it from going off.
In search for answers that could help the CTU agents stop the bomb from detonating, they are led to suspect a Middle Eastern man named Reza. Reza claims he is innocent and that they are just racially profiling him. I would argue that the racial profiling he is talking about is more religion profiling. The profiling has little to do with the fact that he is Middle Eastern, but more to do with the fact that he is from a Muslim background and the known terrorists are Muslim from the Middle East. Religion is the basis for the racial profiling. In this clip we see Reza talking to Tony (CTU agent).
http://video.aol.com/partner/hulu/24-24-rezas-interrogation/8oxMxfHeusj4BIGw1h3vOx-K7Ms2HitO (I couldn't save the clip to upload it here, so here's the URL)
As seen in the clip, Reza tells Tony to get his racial profiling right since Reza actually grew up in London. He tells Tony that he is marrying an American girl, and then tosses in that she’s a Protestant. We see here that he is also playing upon the religious perception that he must be good if he is marrying a good little Christian girl. Tony goes on to clear up any questions about the profiling that is taking place.
The clip ends here so as to not ruin it for those who have not seen this season. But, something that is very interesting to me happens later on in the season. The Americans go crazy when they find out that there is a terrorist threat. They start beating up anyone who looks Middle Eastern. The blind hatred that the people feel towards those they think are terrorists is actually making they themselves become terrorists. Numerous innocent people were beaten or killed as a result of a blind fear.
There is little doubt that the class agrees that the media portrays Muslims in an unfair light, but my question is: Based on this clip, does Tony have the right to accuse Reza of his terrorist involvement because of his religious affiliation?
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Stereotyping is a way of simplifying the world; a way to classify people into eaily-recognizable groups. The media, especially after 2001, would have us think that anyone belonging to the Muslim religion are in cohort with terrorists. Based on this clip, I don't think Tony had the right to question Reza's terrorist involvement based solely on his religious affiliation. If he were to collect (I haven't seen this episode!) enough evidence to prove him guily of such an association, only then he would be justified in taking the necessary actions to convict Reza.
ReplyDeleteGiven the position Tony was in—saving America from a detonated nuclear bomb—there was no time to play an unprejudiced role. Tony was presented information that linked Reza to the bomb, and despite the unfairness and unethical manner in which Reza was profiled, the millions of lives at stake trumped the equality treatment of one man. So yes, in this case, I believe Tony was justified.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, this question and relative situation is always ripe with controversy. We have assumed the Japanese were spies and Mormons were polygamists and black people were ignorant. Without question, we have been overwhelmingly regretful of our actions, but at the time of Pearl Harbor or during the Civil Rights Movement, we thought our assumptions were safe. Under pressure to protect safety or to prevent perceived negative change, it seems it’s human nature to stereotype races or profile religions. I don’t believe such assumptions are moral or ethical or even right, but the opportunity cost of safety and protection may make them acceptable.