The scars on his body, raspy voice and aged facial features are constant reminders of tales that would make the average person cringe.
Born Feb. 18, 1966, he's an educated man and a loyal patriot. Although he boasts a bachelor's degree in English literature from UCLA and a master's degree in criminology and law from UC-Berkeley, his identity is derived from stints as a member of the U.S. Army Delta Force, LAPD SWAT, CIA and the Counter-Terrorist Unit.
He's foiled an assassination attempt on the president, prevented biological, chemical and nuclear attacks on the country and gone undercover with Mexican drug lords.
His name comes from the card game Euchre - where the most powerful card, called the bower, is a jack. He's the protagonist of Fox's hit series "24," and yes, he is completely fictional.
Now in its seventh season, and in just five episodes (and a 2-hour made for television movie, "Redemption"), "24" has demonstrated that as much as television shows are written to entertain, they have a unique opportunity to be catalysts for social change.
"Redemption" begins with Jack Bauer traveling the world and eventually ending up in Sangala, Africa - a fictional country where he partners with an old friend in running a boys' school for war orphans. For the first time in the series Bauer begins a journey to find peace within himself and an escape from his tumultuous past. Had a paramilitary coup been successful, the boys would have been eventually used as child soldiers.
Though the setting is fictional, the issue is not.
Mixed intermittently between commercial breaks, the real-life Jack Bauer, Kiefer Sutherland, explains in a series of public service announcements that the atrocities being committed in similar African nations are very real.
UNICEF reports that there are as many as 300,000 child soldiers worldwide - 120,000 of which are in Africa. Beyond that, another 500,000 are likely forced into paramilitary organizations worldwide.
Of the nearly 300,000 child soldiers, many of them are forced to duty by the age of eight.
According to UNICEF, "For those who recruit them, children are cheap, expendable and easier to condition into fearless killing and unthinking obedience."
Now that the new season of "24" has begun, this issue remains one of the dominant subplots of the show. (I'll refrain from spoilers.)
Coming away from each of the opening episodes, I find in myself not only a yearning desire to be Jack Bauer, but also a deeper sense of duty to educate myself on this global issue.
For example, a post-"24" Google search taught me that in 1998, a red-hand symbol was created by The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. Earlier this month The Red Hand Day Campaign was launched to gather one million of these red, paper hands. On Feb. 12 they will be delivered to the United Nations. This day was chosen specifically as it commemorates the anniversary of the treaty banning the use of child soldiers.
Marked with powerful writing that moves to action, I find myself hanging on to the edge of my seat with each new episode of "24." As much as it's a craving for the next big plot twist, it's also a craving to put a human face, albeit superficial, to an issue that often gets ignored.
If he does nothing else in the remaining hours of Day 7, I know Bauer will escape certain death at least 457 times and will continue to promote the importance of being a more aware global citizen.
Now that's what I call must-see TV.
Kyle Ellis is a senior journalism graphics major and writes 'The Cardinal Rule' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Kyle at kpellis@bsu.edu
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