If You Suspend One, You Might As Well Suspend the Other...
...These are most definitely political times, and I will most definitely get political every once in a while...
Today, I noticed something in today's newspapers that wasn't exactly trumpeted in any of the major US news outlets, nor on the BBC. The news? The US-appointed interim Prime Minister of Iraq banned the Arab news network, Al-Jazeera, from Iraq for the next 30 days. Unfamiliar with Al-Jazeera? Well, to hear the Bush Administration and Fox News tell it, the network is a news organization bent on "spreading hatred" among the Arab world towards America. For those within the Middle East, however, Al-Jazeera is the only major news organization that does not report the news based on a Western point of view. The Bush Administration argues that because the network broadcasts videos of terrorists holding captives hostage all the time, that the network is supporting terrrorist organizations like Al Qaeda. The network, who's motto is "Reporting Opinion and Counter-Opinion," feels that is important to show all angles of the War in Iraq, not only reporting on the American point of view about the invasion, but also from the point of view of the terrorists they're fighting, and the civilians caught in the middle. In other words, CNN, for example, will show us aerial footage of US warplanes attacking targets, and Al-Jazeera would go in and show viewers the consequential damage of such attacks.
After paying a visit to their website, "aljazeera.com," for an extended period of time, I would have to say that this network isn't any more biased than the networks we have in the US. As a matter of fact, I would say that a network like Fox News is way more slanted than Al-Jazeera would ever be. Which brings me to the conclustion that if the Iraqi PM, the whipping boy of the Bush Administration, were to really believe in journalistic integrity, he would also ban Fox News from his country.
It's ironic how the Bush Administration goes into Iraq claiming that it's fighting for their freedom and self-determination from oppression, and the lemming that the government appoints to run Iraq bans the first independent news organization to rise in the Middle East. Before Al Jazeera, the people of the region obtained their news via local government soapboxes, aimed at telling their people how great their rulers were. Now, they have a network that covers the news free of such nationalistic BS, and it's all of a sudden, banned.
It's a crying shame. There's only one way to square up. Ban Fox News from Iraq. CNN, too. Because they're no more independent than Al-Jazeera, that's for sure.
Today, I noticed something in today's newspapers that wasn't exactly trumpeted in any of the major US news outlets, nor on the BBC. The news? The US-appointed interim Prime Minister of Iraq banned the Arab news network, Al-Jazeera, from Iraq for the next 30 days. Unfamiliar with Al-Jazeera? Well, to hear the Bush Administration and Fox News tell it, the network is a news organization bent on "spreading hatred" among the Arab world towards America. For those within the Middle East, however, Al-Jazeera is the only major news organization that does not report the news based on a Western point of view. The Bush Administration argues that because the network broadcasts videos of terrorists holding captives hostage all the time, that the network is supporting terrrorist organizations like Al Qaeda. The network, who's motto is "Reporting Opinion and Counter-Opinion," feels that is important to show all angles of the War in Iraq, not only reporting on the American point of view about the invasion, but also from the point of view of the terrorists they're fighting, and the civilians caught in the middle. In other words, CNN, for example, will show us aerial footage of US warplanes attacking targets, and Al-Jazeera would go in and show viewers the consequential damage of such attacks.
After paying a visit to their website, "aljazeera.com," for an extended period of time, I would have to say that this network isn't any more biased than the networks we have in the US. As a matter of fact, I would say that a network like Fox News is way more slanted than Al-Jazeera would ever be. Which brings me to the conclustion that if the Iraqi PM, the whipping boy of the Bush Administration, were to really believe in journalistic integrity, he would also ban Fox News from his country.
It's ironic how the Bush Administration goes into Iraq claiming that it's fighting for their freedom and self-determination from oppression, and the lemming that the government appoints to run Iraq bans the first independent news organization to rise in the Middle East. Before Al Jazeera, the people of the region obtained their news via local government soapboxes, aimed at telling their people how great their rulers were. Now, they have a network that covers the news free of such nationalistic BS, and it's all of a sudden, banned.
It's a crying shame. There's only one way to square up. Ban Fox News from Iraq. CNN, too. Because they're no more independent than Al-Jazeera, that's for sure.
posted by djkibblesnbits at 5:17 PM
-->
6 Comments:
my boobs look big today :-)
and that's fucked up son!!
bush sez: SO WAAAAT
I sez: Hey Bush, wat did the five finger say to the face
bush sez: wa?
I sez: SLAP
See its fucking people like u that need to be shot. If you hate this country so much, why dont u just leave and go to the arabs and see if they give u the freedoms you take for granted. Its because of President Bush that this country stands a chance against those fundamentilists. That network Al-Jazra or watever is just propaganda funded by Osama and is telling all those people to kill us. Our men in uniform are just going over there to fight for our rights as Americans, and you ppl insult them. Its ppl like you that need to leave this country because you dont deserve the freedoms you take for granted because your always talking crap about the ppl trying to keep it in your hands.
People like me? What the hell is that supposed to mean? "Liberals?" "Minorities?" Or people with common sense? Let's refute, shall we? First of all, I'm tired of people like YOU who tell me that I'm "un-American" or need to get out of the country because I disagree with the actions of your King, er, I mean, your "President." Yes, you're absolutely right. The freedom to speak out against the Government is a freedom that we are afforded as Americans. Now, whether you choose to excercise that freedom is your business, but, it is completely "un-American" to deny someone else the Right to Disagree. We have a heavy burden to deal with, collectively, as Americans. The Right to speak out one's feelings comes at a high cost; we must be prepared to allow someone else to speak ideas that are contrary to our own in order to preserve that Right.
So in other words; I don't have to leave the country. You got a problem with that? Then YOU leave. And if you want to bring it, then I shall excercise my other American Right...
The Right to Bear Arms. :-D
Oh, and as for "supporting our troops," I don't think "support" is cutting the benefits of people that are fighting such a "worthy cause." Keep watching Fox News, Anonymous
YOU GO RAY!!!!!!!.........Evie
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Re: Anonymous Comment
I just got finished reading both's Raymond's Blog on the banning of Al-Jazeera and your anonymous comment. I fail to see where you got the concept that he hated his country, was insulting our troops or was taking his American freedoms for granted. If anything he was exercising one VERY big freedom. Freedom of speech. The freedom to talk about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING he may disagree with whether YOU like it or not. Assuming you are at the very least a college student, maybe you need to take a reading comprehension course or if you have, you need to take it again. As far as our men and women dying out there every day, they wouldn't be in harm's way if your hero Bush hadn't sent them out there on a fool's errand in the first place (like the non-existent weapons of mass destruction??). The situation with Iraq and any other oil-producing country is about one thing and one thing only - MONEY. So let's not kid ourselves that Bush is protecting OUR rights. Its been pretty much proven that 9/11 could have been prevented and it wasn't. And lastly, if you're going to post such an uneducated, ridiculous and totally unthought-out response, at least have the balls to put your name to it.
I leave you proud to be Raymond's Mother - Laura
Post a Comment
<< Home