http://politicsandpress.com/2007/confessions-of-a-tortured-terrorist-khalid-sheikh-mohammed/ The interaction of the press and politics; public diplomacy, and daily absurdities. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:12:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 http://politicsandpress.com/2007/confessions-of-a-tortured-terrorist-khalid-sheikh-mohammed/#comment-165 Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:10:15 +0000 http://politicsandpress.com/2007/confessions-of-a-tortured-terrorist-khalid-sheikh-mohammed/#comment-165 The MacKenzie's are once again onto something here re: the relationship of movies and TV to the public's attitude toward torture. It seems to some (i.e., me) that people have begun to lose the ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality. We have what are called "reality TV" shows which are of course, fantasy turned into reality, and news on real subjects too often turned into fantasy by he likes of Fox News, the NY Post, etc. This might even happen in Canada. The MacKenzie’s are once again onto something here re: the relationship of movies and TV to the public’s attitude toward torture. It seems to some (i.e., me) that people have begun to lose the ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality. We have what are called “reality TV” shows which are of course, fantasy turned into reality, and news on real subjects too often turned into fantasy by he likes of Fox News, the NY Post, etc. This might even happen in Canada.

]]> http://politicsandpress.com/2007/confessions-of-a-tortured-terrorist-khalid-sheikh-mohammed/#comment-161 Mon, 26 Mar 2007 19:13:41 +0000 http://politicsandpress.com/2007/confessions-of-a-tortured-terrorist-khalid-sheikh-mohammed/#comment-161 In today's Süddeutsche Zeitung there is a lengthy article on precisely the topic of the controversy about the acceptability of torture in the U.S. It focusses on the great popularity of the tv show "24 hours" and its all-American hero, Jack Bauer, who if necessary indulges in torture in order to carry out actions against terroroists. It is complete with dramatic photo of Kiefer Sutherland in the main role, and quotes him expressing his horror at Guantanomo and other US acceptances of torture under special circumstances. The article might have noted that Kiefer is the Canadian son of actors Shirley Douglas and Donald Sutherland. Shirley was on a banned list for entry into the US for a long time, because she was considered a left-wing agitator by US authorities and was the daughter of the founder of Canada's universal medicare system, Tommy Douglas. Donald made it his business to play the film role of Norman Bethune, the Canadian doctor on Mao's long march who remains a great heroic figure in China today. Kiefer comes with a convincing pedigree aimed at the actions of the fictional character he plays so well. In today’s Süddeutsche Zeitung there is a lengthy article on precisely the topic of the controversy about the acceptability of torture in the U.S. It focusses on the great popularity of the tv show “24 hours” and its all-American hero, Jack Bauer, who if necessary indulges in torture in order to carry out actions against terroroists. It is complete with dramatic photo of Kiefer Sutherland in the main role, and quotes him expressing his horror at Guantanomo and other US acceptances of torture under special circumstances. The article might have noted that Kiefer is the Canadian son of actors Shirley Douglas and Donald Sutherland. Shirley was on a banned list for entry into the US for a long time, because she was considered a left-wing agitator by US authorities and was the daughter of the founder of Canada’s universal medicare system, Tommy Douglas. Donald made it his business to play the film role of Norman Bethune, the Canadian doctor on Mao’s long march who remains a great heroic figure in China today. Kiefer comes with a convincing pedigree aimed at the actions of the fictional character he plays so well.

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