"A Man's a Man for all that!" - Rabbie Burns

"Religion? No thanks. I prefer not to outsource my brainwashing."
Trying to get your average Joe creationist to understand the phrase scientific theory is as hard as getting a fish to enjoy mountaineering. Its an unimagined world for them - it requires a complete reversal of their normal modes of thinking and being. The fact that humans could explain the complexities of this world without a creating God is a world view they cannot grasp. It's like asking a tuna if it appreciates the view from the top of Mount Everest.

Jan 25, 2009

Gaza Appeals stupid BBC says no

At times it seems that if there is a banana skin to slip on the BBC will find it. Like some old time slap stick comic the BBC seems to lurch from one custard pie in the face to the next, leaving it looking more ridiculous with every bizarre decision that it's editors and producers make. The most recent bizarre decision by the BBC editors is to refuse to broadcast an appeal aimed at alleviating some of the suffering of people in Gaza following the recent Israeli military action. This refusal has stirred up yet more controversy about the way the BBC conducts it's business.

The appeal is being organised by the Disasters Emergency Committee, a well respected body that co-ordinates appeals on behalf of charities. The BBC claims that it would not be appropriate for it to broadcast the appeal because it would risk being seen as compromising it's impartiality.

What is so bizarre is that the BBC has frequently been accused of being somewhat anti-Israeli in the tone of it's standard news output. At times it has appeared rather less inclined to investigate the commitment of groups like Hamas to violence than it has to showing Israeli aggression.

But that is a separate issue on which there are opinions on both sides. The appeal for Gaza is a simple straightforward humanitarian appeal. Even the majority of those who think that Israel was justified in responding to Hamas rocket attacks would accept that there is great humanitarian need in Gaza. Few would object to the broadcasting of an appeal. Broadcasting such an appeal clearly risks nothing in terms of BBC impartiality.

It is simply one more bizarre decision by a corporation that appears to have senior managers who look increasingly incapable of taking reasonable common sense decisions.

4 comments:

Delirious said...

Welcome to the world of the wacked out media

Looney said...

Delirious, I suspect we got our wacked out media by trying to imitate the BBC!

My prayers are for the humanitarian relief effort to be efficient and successful.

Anonymous said...

I believe that BBC is right. I think the we should listen to what it has to say about why it will not appeal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7850407.stm

Anonymous said...

I remain unconvinced by their position Rum. If this appeal was going to be run by some organisation that had political issues then I could see the force of the argument. However this is a straight humanitarian appeal. Supporting the appeal says nothing about supporting one side over the other. In fact I supported Israel's right to act in regard to the rocketing of their civilians.

I think most rational people can distinguish between having concern for the victims of a conflict and making a judgment on the rights and wrongs of a conflict.

I still think that the BBC effort should be in attending to the quality of it's news reporting and analysis and that the broadcasting of a humanitarian appeal has nothing to do with impartiality.

Related Posts by Categories



Widget by Hoctro | Jack Book
About Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Blog Design | Ayrshire Blog Creative commons License