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Thursday, November 08, 2007
Beijing says "jump", CBC asks "how high?"
The CBC yanked a documentary about the Falun Gong off the air, and says it's going to re-edit the film, because the Chinese embassy called to complain.
Let's do a little thought experiment here.
What would the CBC have done if the U.S. Embassy had told them to yank any of its constant anti-American programming, such as its airing of Fahrenheit 9/11?
What would the CBC have done if the Israeli Embassy had told them to yank some of its anti-Israel programming?
What if the Canadian government had asked the same? Or a corporation, like Wal-Mart?
The CBC wouldn't have obeyed -- it would have turned it into a news story about foreign meddling and censorship.
Just browse through the list of documentaries the CBC has on deck. Half are apolitical. But the ones that are political are overwhelmingly anti-U.S., anti-Israel or anti-corporate.
My favourite bit of reporting is from Colin Freeze's Globe and Mail story. The CBC flack, Jeff Keay, felt it important to point out that:
Jeff, why didn't you just say so! The Chinese censor was a "gentleman"! And he said he was a "cultural consultant" -- not a Communist Party enforcer. "He was very polite."
Well then - nothing to worry about here!
Posted by Ezra Levant on November 8, 2007 | Permalink
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Comments
There is an internal political play here too. The CBC is thumbing its nose at Harper just after Harper stood up to the Chinese opposite the Dalai Lama.
The CBC is also getting a new president appointed by the Harper government.
Me thinks trouble's a'brewin.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-11-08 11:22:07 AM
Welcome to the CBC: Friends and Supporters of terrorists and commies.
Posted by: Werner Patels | 2007-11-08 11:36:10 AM
Ezra Levant - The CBC yanked a documentary about the Falun Gong off the air, and says it's going to re-edit the film, because the Chinese embassy called to complain.
Levant conveniently fails to mention that the documentary had already been aired on both CBC English and French. The CBC and the film's director also never said that they going to re-edit the documentary.
Posted by: O'REILLY | 2007-11-08 11:40:46 AM
Aired before - AT 4 a.m.!!!!
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 11:44:19 AM
Gee, Ez, too bad you don't have a magazine to write about this anymore. At least this blog keeps you from scrawling on bathroom walls.
Posted by: Stan West | 2007-11-08 11:50:11 AM
Time to either reign the CBC in or get rid of it. No more rogue agencies. So long as the CBC receives tax money they must abide by government rules. No excuses, no exceptions. Misuse it and lose it.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2007-11-08 11:53:22 AM
We pay the CBC a lot of money to be prominent total cowards, we wouldn't want them to stray too far from the lamestream 'journalist' herd of cowards. As a bonus, they're going to hate France now that Sarkozy actually said something nice about George Bush, because being narrow-minded is what we pay them for... moo
Posted by: philanthropist | 2007-11-08 11:54:16 AM
Zeb: Gov't rules? Please, we don't want the gov't controlling the CBC....set it free...the problem with it is that it has been a Liberal gov't puppy for too long. Privatize...then let it die a slow death if need be!
Posted by: Markalta | 2007-11-08 11:57:44 AM
Maybe it's time for Canadians to begin a serious blogging effort to have CBC sold to private interests.
Rupert Murdoch and FOX news might be a good place to look.
Foreign media ownership rules might need tweaking, but geez it would sure as hell shake up the cabal of leftist Canadian MSM that continues to stranglethis land!
Posted by: Joe Molnar | 2007-11-08 11:57:50 AM
Looks like the CBC is not backing away at all from the content of the film. From their webpage today:
"Falun Gong, a method of exercise and meditation for health and well-being, was outlawed in China in 1999 by President Jiang Zemin. Since that time it is believed by the Falun Gong, that over 200,000 followers of this spiritual movement have been sent to Chinese jails. There, they believe many have been brutally tortured and even killed. While Chinese officials deny such claims, Canadian filmmaker Peter Rowe's point-of-view documentary 'Beyond the Red Wall' presents evidence disputing these denials.
"There are also harrowing allegations, supported by a report co-authored by Canadian lawyer David Matas and David Kilgour, former Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific, that Chinese authorities have removed the corneas, kidneys and other body parts from prisoners for sale to Chinese and foreign buyers."
Read it here: http://www.cbc.ca/thelens/program_061107.html
Posted by: CBC | 2007-11-08 12:10:42 PM
I don't know what the insanity is all about. Anyone who has ever taken a closer look at the Falun Gong, and knows anything about humanity--knows that Falun Gong is not just a health and well-being organization. In their foundation principles is a declaration to change the state--and that is what the CCP is all up in arms, with their knickers in a severe twist--about.
Personally, I think that all the members of Falun Gong are nuts to take on the CCP--they should have stayed with health and well-being--but nooooo, they had to get political with the CCP. HAd they really though about it--I doubt they would have gone that way--as they could have achieved much more simply spreading their principles, and doing whatever it is they do. Their BIG mistake, was where they wrote their aim to change the State. In a State where the CCP sees themselves as the STATE and not just a political party in a single political party government in a communist society--means it was interpreted that Falun Gong was not just into health and well-being.
Sure, they say over and over again that that is all they are about--but they really need to get real--they are not just about that. Right now--they annoy me because they hide behind this sweet and delicate flower covering. I like flowers as much as the next person--yet no one can ever convince me that they are only about those lovely words they support--because humanity is simply not like that. There are no places in cults of any kind where people are picture perfect--it simply does not exist.
In the free world--they have the right to do whatever they want--so long as they do not hurt people. Instead of doing whatever they do in China--they are fixated with China. I say--if you don't like what you see there--then leave. There are many places around the world who would love to have good workers, who have principles that are pleasant--as well as committment to health and well being. If they don't like Falun Gong in China--then leave.
Posted by: Lady | 2007-11-08 12:20:30 PM
Peter Worthington sums it all up in his column of today:
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Worthington_Peter/2007/11/08/4639637.php
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 12:27:14 PM
Joe Molnar - Rupert Murdoch and FOX news might be a good place to look.
Why not just put it sale and let the highest bidder get it? The problem you would have with that is that Viacom, Disney, Turner, who are charter members of the MSM, might get it, and that to you would be just as bad as leaving the CBC as it is. And Joe, Foxnews is a 24 hour cable news channel, it doesn't show sports or movies or concerts, nor does it broadcast over the air like the CBC.
Posted by: O'REILLY | 2007-11-08 12:29:29 PM
O'Really ~
The FOX format need not be followed a la the US cable version. FOX exists as a network in the US - with sports (World Series) and the series 24, as well as American Idol - for example.
Your buffoonery is on display once again.
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 12:34:10 PM
Lady, I'm interested in your premise about the FG- Do they advocate violent overthrow of the government or peaceful change? Unless they are calling for violence do they deserve persecution for openly wanting change?
Worthington said:
"Why China is so sensitive and hostile to Falun Gong is a puzzle. The only reasonable explanation is its growing popularity exceeds the popularity of the communist party -- intolerable to Beijing.
Falun Gong is a creed based on meditation, compassion and generosity. It has no political agenda."
Worthington also said that Peter Rowe and David Kilgour agree that FG has no political agenda.
Posted by: Larry | 2007-11-08 12:49:13 PM
What I am hoping to see in my lifetime is at least one MSM non-leftist serious MSM voice in Canada.
For me, Bill O'Reilly on FOX news in the US is one of their best - bar none.
He is currently the only centrist / conservative voice in the US and is beating the hell out of the rest of the leftists in ratings and making his company big money to boot.
I agree totally with 'obc' that Disney, Turner, Viacom NBC are no different than our own current lot, and would not benefit Canadians insofar as conservative voices are concerned.
Posted by: Joe Molnar | 2007-11-08 12:52:53 PM
Zeb: Gov't rules? Please, we don't want the gov't controlling the CBC....set it free...the problem with it is that it has been a Liberal gov't puppy for too long. Privatize...then let it die a slow death if need be!
Posted by: Markalta | 8-Nov-07 11:57:44 AM
Mark: hmm, you might be on to something. If those lazy CBC people actually had to earn a living instead of getting a free taxpayer handout, they wouldn't survive more than a few seconds. It's like opening an airlock.
I still like my way better: on the first day of my admin, I'd clear out the CBC building with armed troops at bayonet point (driving the point home that they are enemies of the country). Then destroying the CBC to the strains of the 1812 Overture, sort of like that scene in "V for Vendetta" where V destroys the Old Bailey.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2007-11-08 12:58:55 PM
obc - The FOX format need not be followed a la the US cable version. FOX exists as a network in the US - with sports (World Series) and the series 24, as well as American Idol - for example.
And as everybody in Canada can already watch the Fox network there wouldn't be much point in creating one here would there. What you want is Foxnews and there is no economic model that would justify anybody buying the CBC and turning it into that.
Posted by: O'REILLY | 2007-11-08 1:05:19 PM
There was no economic model for FOX NEWS either - except maybe the now failures of CNN, MSNBC and CNBC - but they made it work to the point that FOX NEWS now has more viewers than all three combined, with lots to spare.
Spare us any more of your nonsense. You obviously have no business experience.
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 1:10:11 PM
Joe Molnar - I agree totally with 'obc' that Disney, Turner, Viacom NBC are no different than our own current lot, and would not benefit Canadians insofar as conservative voices are concerned.
Bwahahaha. You totally agree with obc. Where did he write that. Bwahahahaha
Posted by: O'REILLY | 2007-11-08 1:11:18 PM
Joe Molnar ~
Don't mind O'Really. He majored in GOTCHA in High School. It's the only thrill he gets from his lonely existence.
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 1:16:31 PM
obc - There was no economic model for FOX NEWS either.
News Corp. don't do anything without an economic model. Only someone who doesn't have a clue would suggest otherwise.
Posted by: O'REILLY | 2007-11-08 1:25:42 PM
Talking about someone without a clue - except for the board game he has next to his bed. . . :)
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 1:29:17 PM
I listen to O'Reilly on FOX radio nearly every day.
Sirius sattelite radio, channel 145.
Highly recommend his book, Culture Warrior.
O'Reilly is for the preservation of traditional values as espoused in the US Constitution.
He spares nobody, whether left or right politicians.
It's not about left and right anymore. It's now more about right and wrong.
Posted by: set you free | 2007-11-08 1:36:40 PM
"It's now more about right and wrong."
Well, now you've lost all the Leftoids. They do not understand that concept - especially Fat Chick.
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 1:42:13 PM
"It's now more about right and wrong."
Well, now you've lost all the Leftoids. They do not understand that concept - especially Fat Chick.
Posted by: obc | 8-Nov-07 1:42:13 PM
Why don't you try to explain us (let's say by using 10 examples out of daily life) what is right and wrong? That way all these ingorant leftoids can at least try to understand where they go wrong.
Posted by: Snowrunner | 2007-11-08 1:55:47 PM
Yellow Snow ~
The concept of right & wrong is above your pay level. Get a decent education outside a Leftoid-run university - you might get some enlightenment.
Right & wrong is a concept elementary school kids know - if they are not indoctrinated by the public schools of today.
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 2:00:51 PM
The concept of right & wrong is above your pay level. Get a decent education outside a Leftoid-run university - you might get some enlightenment.
Right & wrong is a concept elementary school kids know - if they are not indoctrinated by the public schools of today.
Posted by: obc | 8-Nov-07 2:00:51 PM
Ohhh, personal attacks again. I am starting to wonder about your age, maybe 10? Or would that be an insult to 10 year olds?
And as far as right and wrong goes, stop dodging bullets, if you cannot even give me 10 examples out of your daily life you clearly aren't in a position to throw stones.
Now stop your personal attacks on people you don't agree with, grow up and learn to argue points made, not people's origins, names or political believes. If you can't do that, then maybe we should just all ignore you, like the little, misbehaving child that constantly throws tantrums when mommy doesn't give it what it wants.
Posted by: Snowrunner | 2007-11-08 2:03:46 PM
N.B.: obc is a former highschool teacher.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-11-08 2:03:50 PM
One-trick pony rides again!
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 2:06:06 PM
N.B.: obc is a former highschool teacher.
Posted by: Marc | 8-Nov-07 2:03:50 PM
Ah, that may explain today's youth..... Unfortunately.
Posted by: Snowrunner | 2007-11-08 2:06:25 PM
"Ah, that may explain today's youth..... Unfortunately."
Not only that.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-11-08 2:09:38 PM
Communist Broadcasting Corp bows to the Chinese communist government. This would be funny if the Chinese were footing the bill instead of us. House cleaning there long overdue and better yet just privatise it altogether.
Lady I must disagree with your take on FG and I am rather familiar with it. Perhaps since it does encourage independent thought that is too much for the communists. However it does not advocate revolt or anything of a political nature. Keep in mind that China also bans the Bible and has given notice to the athletes not to bring Bibles into China.
Posted by: Alain | 2007-11-08 3:00:29 PM
Stopping on a red light is right. Driving through a red light is wrong.
Throwing trash on the road is wrong. Putting in a receptacle is right.
Mugging a person is wrong. Leaving them alone is right.
Preserving another's property is right.Destroying another's property is wrong.
I learned these truths before I went to kindergarten.
All you leftoids can thank me later for the lesson.
Posted by: atric | 2007-11-08 3:41:18 PM
atric ~
"Driving through a red light is wrong."
. . . with the caveat that one driving a heart-attack victim to a hospital may be excused - just as a "NO SWIMMING" sign may be ignored to save a drowning human being.
Of course, Leftoids will use these exceptions to "interpret" the law as they see fit. That is why they are dangerous to a normal society.
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 3:46:51 PM
Alain - Keep in mind that China also bans the Bible and has given notice to the athletes not to bring Bibles into China.
Not so.
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2007/11/china_will_not.html
Posted by: O'REILLY | 2007-11-08 3:49:59 PM
The CBC: bringing "our stories" from people we've never heard of, to people who never watch them. It's pretty simple, if people watch, then the advertisers will pay. Of nobody/hardly anyone 4% is watching, why are we subsidizing TV to nobody?
Posted by: Shamrock | 2007-11-08 3:51:46 PM
Naivists especially don't understand the property part. They assume your property is their property too and that they are entitled to it.
They also believe that when any of these rules are broken that is is "society's fault" and therefore my fault. I am supposed to feel guilty and accept blame. I am supposed to help these "misunderstood" lawbreakers not remove them from civil society. Not only am I supposed to pay them tax dollars, I am supposed to "understand them" too. They don't just want my money, these lunatics want my mind too as part of their social engineering hidden agenda.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-11-08 3:53:46 PM
"China Bans Bibles from 2008 Olympics"
China is banning Bibles from the Olympic Games next year allegedly for security reason, according to reports Tuesday.
The Bible is on a list of items – which include video cameras and cups – prohibited at the 2008 Summer Olympics, according to Fox News. This means Christian athletes will not have access to Bibles in their Olympic village housing.
Moreover, the communist and officially atheist country is banning all religious symbols at Olympic facilities in Beijing and warning visitors to not bring more than one copy of the Bible with them to China.
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071107/29995_China_Bans_Bibles_from_2008_Olympics.htm
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 3:55:27 PM
Beijing Denies Ban of Religious Items During 2008 Olympics
n a statement, the International Olympic Committee said the news articles reporting a Bible ban stemmed from a misunderstanding of what was said at an October briefing in Beijing during which items banned from import into China were discussed.
"It is clear that athletes coming to the games are able to bring with them religious items for personal use, as in previous games, to the Olympic venues," the statement said.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,309678,00.html
Posted by: O'REILLY | 2007-11-08 4:03:24 PM
So the Commie Chinese backtracked under pressure. That does not negate their original intent.
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 4:05:48 PM
To do documentaries about the internal struggles in Chins with the government vs the Falun Gong Show is meddling in the affairs of a foreign national state.
That is the very thing Canada razzes the USA for. If we are to mind our own business and not inflict our values on other cultures, then the CBC should lead by example and don't do these kinds of documentaries.
They should stick to the mating habits of Liberals in Ottawa or some such.
We don't know much about the Gong Show and what it represents to the Chinese people. So let's shut up and let it play out on it's own. Unless we want to launch another completely moronic ineffectual bumper sticker campaign similar to the "Free Tibet" laughathon. Ya ... that worked!
Posted by: John | 2007-11-08 4:16:01 PM
Sure - ignore the sale of human organs from these people as China harvests them for profit.
(sarcasm - for the mentally impaired of the Left)
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 4:20:21 PM
Just wondering (not really) how many of those posting in support of CBC's caving in to communist China's demands would react in the same manner had the US advised them not to show a documentary.
Posted by: Alain | 2007-11-08 6:39:32 PM
Alain ~
We know the answer to that one. Ask us a tough question!
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 6:45:31 PM
Alain: I think they'd show it 24/7 if the US asked that it be withdrawn!
They don't even respond to their own government, why should they obey another unless there was something in it for them - like broadcast rights to the 2008 Olympics?
Since when do capitalist concerns matter to the CBC? Apparently now they do. Strange world.
I have this recurring dream where I'm Harper, and I take from the very start an antagonistic attitude towards the CBC. At my first press conference, I order them to leave. When they ask why, I say because I'm going to fire every single one of them on the first day - first minute indeed - of my administration. Ergo, they cannot be objective. Ah, perchance to dream!
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2007-11-08 6:48:17 PM
John~
i agree. and i'll add: Canada should reserve the right to be as arbitrary as we wish. we can choose to deal with, or not, any nation, on any issue.
the Falun Gong in China doesn't affect me, nor my nation.
national self interest should take precedent, though it was nice that some of our politicians payed lip service to atrocities being inflicted on Falun Gong.
but, at the end of the day, if practitioners don't like their experience in China, they should get the hell out of there, if possible. why deal with a monolithic, unmoveable State?
China is what it is, and has always been.
good night
Posted by: shel | 2007-11-08 7:01:20 PM
"if practitioners don't like their experience in China, they should get the hell out of there"
Escape from a Communist country en masse? There are millions of these poor people imprisoned within the borders of Red China. The Berlin Wall was built to prevent that - and people were shot for trying to escape. Cuba's population risks their lives to cross to Florida in make-shift boats in shark-infested waters.
Communism doesn't allow for people to live in freedom - not in their own lands or elsewhere.
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-08 7:06:09 PM
obc~
i qualified that quote with, "if possible".
many are allowed to emigrate from China. students, scholars and certain professionals have a tougher time, but it's possible for them as well.
like i said, if our government chooses to speak out, or act against oppressive regimes (with sanctions, militarily, etc.), no problem. but if it doesn't affect our national self interest, it's not a moral imperative.
Posted by: shel | 2007-11-08 7:40:08 PM
What we are talking about here with the Gongers is a set of beliefs. I have observed that whenever a group starts making monoliths out of their beliefs, insanity happens and many people die for no good reason. Remember now, a belief is not a fact, it is a belief.
The Muslims have a set of beliefs that they want to impose on others, therefore, millions have died and millions more will die. The same could be said of Christianity in the past, not so today.
Why not today. Christians have matured and relaxed and no long try to force their beliefs on others, they just keep their beliefs to themselves. Not so with the Muslims.
How does this relate to the Gongers? Well, I have a question first. Are they trying to impose their beliefs on other members of their society? If so, then they can expect resistance and death.
The way to end the persecution is to shut up and keep their beliefs to themselves. If they cannot shut up, then they will have to deal with the resistance. It's really none of our business.
To extrapolate: If we were to be concerned about persecution of the weak in this world, and chose to not mind out own business, then a good place to start would be the empowerment and freeing of Muslim women. We see little concern for them and there are more of them suffering than Gongers and for a lot longer and that is not a problem of beliefs, it is factual and disgusting, but not really any of my business.
You don't need to go to far to find real persecution for no good reason based on political ideology or in the case of Islam a mix of political and religious insanity.
The world is full unfairness and persecution. In some cases it can be alleviated by the persecuted shutting up and going along with, in other cases there is no respite possible and that is tragic, but none of my business. It is not our responsibility to get involved in the affairs of others unless and until it affects us directly.
It's best to let people evolve on their own. Even when it looks unfair. When you get involved and things go south, you are to blame. If they go right, you won't get any credit anyway ...
Or you may wind up being an perpetual benefactor as we are with the Natives in Canada. We should have cut them loose long ago, but we preferred to interfere with their evolution in the modern world and keep them primitive, dependent and somewhat segregated. Ya, that worked well.
I don't know anything about the Gongers, but they are a Chinese problem, not Canadian one. Their sympathizes demonstrate in front of the Chinese Embassies and that is as it should be.
Leaverlay.
The CBC is a meddling stupid over-fed pack of secular progressive wimps and therefore they should also be ignored and largely are.
Posted by: John | 2007-11-08 7:43:01 PM
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