On Wed, Apr 30, 2003 at 11:15:50AM -0700, Tim May wrote:
Opinion in the UK is split, but I don't see those on the pro-side of the fence arguing that those arguing against are unpatriotic or anything.
The Scottish MP, a constant target of tabloid attacks, has been dubbed MP for Baghdad Central for his opposition to the Iraq war."
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It seems to me that the tabloids and others calling someone "MP for Baghdad Central" is a counterexample to your claim.
Of course, this isn't a survey of the _prevalence_ or _magnitude_ of the claims, but it's an example that at least some Brits on the pro-war side are using slurs about the patriotism of the opponents.
Yes but the tabloids are not examples of serious news sources; they are titilation and shit-stirring. They're continuously being sued for slander, fabrication of titilating though coincidentally untrue stories etc.
Also, note that Sky News in the U.K. is part of Rupert Murdoch's empire, and Murdoch is the controlling force behind Fox. "Fair and balanced" = the most blatantly jingoistic television network visible on American t.v.
I agree news is biased also. It just pisses me off to see major network news who you might (or at least the average person uninformedly does) consider to retain some level of integrity dismissing and supressing most balanced discussion on with put-downs involving "unpatriotic" and "unamerican". WTF is that? Can't they engage in discourse where evidence and logical argument are used? Similar vein is the apparent overnight animosity towards the French who happened to take a different view. It all comes down to this same blind following of leaders, and Bush's inane statements such as "if you're not for us you're against us". So now France should be boycotted because they expressed opinions not precisely aligned with US views. People are entitled to their opinion. In fact if it were not for Blair and whoever else was behind it in the UK government over-riding public sentiment, Britain would not have been involved either as public opinion in the UK was reportedly 80% against involvement prior to the invasion. In that case I suppose British exports would now also be targets for calls for boycott. I suppose I am just suprised and dismayed at the level of childish behavior but on an international policy scale. Adam