al-Jazeera in Vermont

xoxoxoBruce · 06-22-2008, 08:14 PM

Neatorama points to an NPR story about a battle in Vermont over al-Jazeera’s English-language 24-hr news channel.

Quote:

There’s been an interesting news story out of Burlington, Vermont - a great town if you ever have a chance to visit. The city of Burlington owns the city’s cable television service and their cable system is one of only two, apparently, in the United States that carries al-Jazeera’s English-language 24-hr news channel.

A small group of people have come together to demand that Burlington drop al-Jazeera from its cable service, claiming that al-Jazeera is anti-American and anti-Israeli and is engaged in “cultural Jihad” against the United States. Yes - people like this really do exist. Advocates for keeping al-Jazeera remind detractors that they can simply “turn the channel,” and insist that as freedom-lovers they cherish al-Jazeera’s presence on their local cable system as an exercise in diversity of viewpoints.

There have been a number of public hearings and discussions, and it appears that a final decision from the city government as to what will happen is being put on hold.

I agree that al-Jazeera is probably more than bias toward the bad guys, but there are two points;
1- I'd like to know what the bad guys are being told.
2- More importantly, it's censorship and that's bad, plain and simple.

Griff · 06-22-2008, 08:34 PM

Right on target.

regular.joe · 06-22-2008, 08:45 PM

Keep em. You're never completely useless....you can always be used as a bad example.

The English Al-Jeseera and the Arabic Al-Jeseera, aren't even close on content.

Griff · 06-23-2008, 05:16 AM

If we're in a war of ideas, it'd be nice to know what we're fighting.

SteveDallas · 06-23-2008, 09:14 AM

Yeah, what they said. A) At risk of being branded a first amendment absolutist, I have a hard time buying that there's any justification for blocking a news broadcast just because some people (or even most people) think it's biased. B) Know thine enemy.

xoxoxoBruce · 06-23-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

At risk of being branded a first amendment absolutist, I have a hard time buying that there's any justification for blocking a news broadcast just because some people (or even most people) think it's biased.

Yeah, otherwise they'd have to kill FOX News.

regular.joe · 06-23-2008, 01:53 PM

What really burns my nads about any news channel or agency is that they have the balls to look me in the proverbial eye and tell me "were not biased, we just tell the truth".

Griff · 06-23-2008, 02:43 PM

It is possible that they tell the truth about what they cover, but choosing what to cover is where the bias is. They are all biased towards sensationalistic nonsense, which plays right into the hands of politicians who need face time.

spudcon · 06-23-2008, 02:52 PM

Yeah, lest's dig up Tokyo Rose, and put her on CNN!

DanaC · 06-23-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

It is possible that they tell the truth about what they cover, but choosing what to cover is where the bias is.

That is a very good point, Griff.

I don't really see where the problem lies, myself. The English language Al Jazeera that I have watched is not pushing an islamic agenda, nor is it overtly anti- American, the West, or Israel. What it does do is display a more sympathetic attitude towards, for example, Palestine in its reporting, and is rather more critical about Israel's actions, than most of the English news channels. That said, I don't think it hurts much to have that other perspective out there. Bear in mind, there is a world of difference between being critical of a country's actions or policies, and being anti- that country.

Given that the mainstay of their audience will be the English-speaking and therefore most assimilated portion of the immigrant arab population, it wouldn't be a very popular move to just slam America all the time. Like any news channel, their aim is not to keep their audience as small as humanly possible, therefore limiting themselves purely to the most stridently anti-American parts of the population would be a very poor business model. So far Al Jazeera has shown themselves more than capable of finding a respectable niche within the broadcasting spectrum.

glatt · 06-23-2008, 03:40 PM

I don't subscribe to any cable service, but if I did, I would be interested in having as many channels as possible that cater to my own interests. I don't picture myself watching al-Jazeera much. But who knows? Maybe I would find it fascinating and watch it all the time.

jinx · 06-23-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regular.joe

What really burns my nads about any news channel or agency is that they have the balls to look me in the proverbial eye and tell me "were not biased, we just tell the truth".

Especially when they've gone to court several times to defend their right to NOT tell the truth. Fuckin jerks...

Cicero · 06-23-2008, 09:30 PM

Yea. Why not?

JuancoRocks · 06-24-2008, 01:21 AM

I have a hard time listening to any raghead "News Station"
named "Al's Jizz Rah"

DanaC · 06-24-2008, 03:57 AM

raghead?

View Poll Results: al-Jazeera in Vermont
Kill it.	3	18.75%
Let it be.	13	81.25%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

06-22-2008, 08:34 PM	#2
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Right on target. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-22-2008, 08:45 PM	#3
regular.joe Старый сержант Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NC, dreaming of large Russian women. Posts: 1,464	Keep em. You're never completely useless....you can always be used as a bad example. The English Al-Jeseera and the Arabic Al-Jeseera, aren't even close on content. __________________ Birth, wealth, and position are valueless during wartime. Man is only judged by his character --Soldier's Testament. Death, like birth, is a secret of Nature. - Marcus Aurelius.

06-23-2008, 05:16 AM	#4
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	If we're in a war of ideas, it'd be nice to know what we're fighting. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-23-2008, 01:53 PM	#7
regular.joe Старый сержант Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NC, dreaming of large Russian women. Posts: 1,464	What really burns my nads about any news channel or agency is that they have the balls to look me in the proverbial eye and tell me "were not biased, we just tell the truth". __________________ Birth, wealth, and position are valueless during wartime. Man is only judged by his character --Soldier's Testament. Death, like birth, is a secret of Nature. - Marcus Aurelius.

06-23-2008, 09:14 AM	#5
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Yeah, what they said. A) At risk of being branded a first amendment absolutist, I have a hard time buying that there's any justification for blocking a news broadcast just because some people (or even most people) think it's biased. B) Know thine enemy.

06-23-2008, 02:43 PM	#8
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	It is possible that they tell the truth about what they cover, but choosing what to cover is where the bias is. They are all biased towards sensationalistic nonsense, which plays right into the hands of politicians who need face time. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-23-2008, 02:52 PM	#9
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	Yeah, lest's dig up Tokyo Rose, and put her on CNN! __________________ "I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

06-23-2008, 03:40 PM	#11
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I don't subscribe to any cable service, but if I did, I would be interested in having as many channels as possible that cater to my own interests. I don't picture myself watching al-Jazeera much. But who knows? Maybe I would find it fascinating and watch it all the time.

06-23-2008, 09:30 PM	#13
Cicero Looking forward to open mic night. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,148	Yea. Why not? __________________ Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.- Carl Jung

06-24-2008, 01:21 AM	#14
JuancoRocks Sir Post-A-Lot Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Paradise Valley, Arizona Posts: 437	I have a hard time listening to any raghead "News Station" named "Al's Jizz Rah" __________________ "That's just like your opinion man"

06-24-2008, 03:57 AM	#15
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	raghead?

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