3043
03-05-2006, 11:09 AM
One of the nice things about having lived overseas is havin gained a good sense of what actually constitutes "news". As much as the political right loves to whine like a bitch about the "liberal" media it just isn't true. The media actually leans nicely to the right and the two main cable news networks are the worst - FOX and FOX Lite (aka CNN). They are both so deeply up the ass of the right its not funny.
Here is a case in point.
I was chatting with a friend from the UK and he wanted to know how the disasterous trip the president made to India and Pakistan was going over with the american people. I didn't know what he was talking about because as I was watching CNN last night waiting for the John Stewart interview CNN had almost nothing bad to say about the presidents visit to the area except to mention that there were 1,000 or so moslem protestors upset by his visit.
The report by the "liberal" media couldn't be more far from the truth.
The people protesting Bush's visit numbered over 100,000 and Moslems didnt even comprise the majority of the people upset with him. Indians from left wing political parties, student organizations, moslems, the scientific community and labor parties comprised the protesting groups. Whoops.
The "liberal" press didn't mention that the President of the United States was forced to give his speech in the New Delhi Zoo and Boat club. LMAO, a fucking ZOO!!!! This is bc it was the only place where the Indian gov't could guarantee there would be no hecklers. Indian legislators threatened a noisy reception for Bush if he attempted to address parliament. Whoops.
Then I learned what Bush said at the speech mystified Indians and Pakistanis: "I believe that a prosperous, democratic Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for America, a peaceful neighbor for India and a force for freedom and moderation in the Arab world." Since Pakistan is not an Arab nation, Indians and Pakistanis, alike, were confused about what Bush was talking about. Pakistan is not populated with Arabs (they represent less than 10% of the total population of Pakistan) and has little influence on the arab world.
I wondered why the scientific community was protesting the Prez and found nothing on CNN or FOX. So I read some english newspapers and low and behold I found the truth to be both fair and balanced.
Earlier this year three top ranking Indian scientists were invited by thier american colleagues to attend a scientific conference in the US. Two scientists were Nuclear Physicists and the other an Agro-scientist. After two days and 14 page questionaires all three were denied visas and vowed never to set foot in the US again. They were denied entry bc thier ideas on the radiation biology, genetics and sustainable agriculture were not in line with the Bush Administration's (or more properly the big business') policies.
In response to the lone consulate in India that denied these scientists the right to come to a conference that they were invited to President Bush announced during his trip that his administration would open yet another US consulate in Hyderabad. Sadly, it will probably be staffed with US foreign service personnel who will continue to represent the incompetence and ignorance of Condoleezza Rice and George W. Bush.
The best part is even my 14 year old daughter can't get over the difference in the quality of foriegn and domestic news broadcasts.
Here is a case in point.
I was chatting with a friend from the UK and he wanted to know how the disasterous trip the president made to India and Pakistan was going over with the american people. I didn't know what he was talking about because as I was watching CNN last night waiting for the John Stewart interview CNN had almost nothing bad to say about the presidents visit to the area except to mention that there were 1,000 or so moslem protestors upset by his visit.
The report by the "liberal" media couldn't be more far from the truth.
The people protesting Bush's visit numbered over 100,000 and Moslems didnt even comprise the majority of the people upset with him. Indians from left wing political parties, student organizations, moslems, the scientific community and labor parties comprised the protesting groups. Whoops.
The "liberal" press didn't mention that the President of the United States was forced to give his speech in the New Delhi Zoo and Boat club. LMAO, a fucking ZOO!!!! This is bc it was the only place where the Indian gov't could guarantee there would be no hecklers. Indian legislators threatened a noisy reception for Bush if he attempted to address parliament. Whoops.
Then I learned what Bush said at the speech mystified Indians and Pakistanis: "I believe that a prosperous, democratic Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for America, a peaceful neighbor for India and a force for freedom and moderation in the Arab world." Since Pakistan is not an Arab nation, Indians and Pakistanis, alike, were confused about what Bush was talking about. Pakistan is not populated with Arabs (they represent less than 10% of the total population of Pakistan) and has little influence on the arab world.
I wondered why the scientific community was protesting the Prez and found nothing on CNN or FOX. So I read some english newspapers and low and behold I found the truth to be both fair and balanced.
Earlier this year three top ranking Indian scientists were invited by thier american colleagues to attend a scientific conference in the US. Two scientists were Nuclear Physicists and the other an Agro-scientist. After two days and 14 page questionaires all three were denied visas and vowed never to set foot in the US again. They were denied entry bc thier ideas on the radiation biology, genetics and sustainable agriculture were not in line with the Bush Administration's (or more properly the big business') policies.
In response to the lone consulate in India that denied these scientists the right to come to a conference that they were invited to President Bush announced during his trip that his administration would open yet another US consulate in Hyderabad. Sadly, it will probably be staffed with US foreign service personnel who will continue to represent the incompetence and ignorance of Condoleezza Rice and George W. Bush.
The best part is even my 14 year old daughter can't get over the difference in the quality of foriegn and domestic news broadcasts.