tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post5700634090547150855..comments2023-10-28T01:08:17.601-07:00Comments on David Talks/The Berner Monologues: Voice in the WildernessDavid Bernerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05707698404226464547noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post-58833989568802538432008-12-09T10:46:00.000-08:002008-12-09T10:46:00.000-08:00To David in N. Burnaby, it is true that both Prote...To David in N. Burnaby, it is true that both Protestants and Catholics were members of the IRA, so I grant you that my analogy in that regard was incorrect. <BR/><BR/>In Belfast however, there was a Protestant and Unionist majority and IRA actions were responded to with reprisals against the Catholic population, including many killings and the burning of homes. The IRA in Belfast and the north generally, was therefore mostly involved in protecting the Catholic community from loyalists and state forces.<BR/><BR/>My point really was that for reasons that have a lot to do with political correctness, the press is loath to use the word terrorist when describing these various groups when the majority of us know that that is precisely the word to use.<BR/><BR/>Mo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post-62113558402465387652008-12-08T12:59:00.000-08:002008-12-08T12:59:00.000-08:00I agree with Steyn, but it also seems to me that t...I agree with Steyn, but it also seems to me that the media generally do not refer to the IRA as Christian terrorists nor do they refer to Basque separatists as terrorists, at least in Britain and North Ameria.<BR/><BR/>I don't particularly agree with these guidelines, however, this is from the BBC website re Editorial Guidelines. The media's desire to be "objective", rather than showing objectivity, appears to downplay acts of terror. Apparently the word terrorist is a barrier, rather than an aid to understanding.<BR/><BR/>http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/edguide/war/mandatoryreferr.shtml<BR/><BR/>Terror<BR/>We must report acts of terror quickly, accurately, fully and responsibly. Our credibility is undermined by the careless use of words which carry emotional or value judgements. The word "terrorist" itself can be a barrier rather than an aid to understanding. We should try to avoid the term, without attribution. We should let other people characterise while we report the facts as we know them.<BR/><BR/>We should not adopt other people's language as our own. It is also usually inappropriate to use words like "liberate", "court martial" or "execute" in the absence of a clear judicial process. We should convey to our audience the full consequences of the act by describing what happened. We should use words which specifically describe the perpetrator such as "bomber", "attacker", "gunman", "kidnapper", "insurgent, and "militant". Our responsibility is to remain objective and report in ways that enable our audiences to make their own assessments about who is doing what to whom.<BR/><BR/>Mo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post-63490417934056633912008-12-08T11:17:00.000-08:002008-12-08T11:17:00.000-08:00Islam is not monolithic- there are differing inter...Islam is not monolithic- there are differing interpretations of the faith, so much so that many muslims and muslim clerics refuse to accept the Aga Khan and and his followers known as ismailis as muslims, and for centuries ismailis went underground due to pesecution by mainstream sunni muslims. The ismailis though with their more liberal interpretaton claim to represent the best of Islam.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post-48138721129513650442008-12-08T10:51:00.000-08:002008-12-08T10:51:00.000-08:00Excellent piece - and frightening.Yes - That silen...Excellent piece - and frightening.<BR/>Yes - That silence.....<BR/><BR/>JuneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242439673360261416.post-50623569289613182202008-12-08T09:53:00.000-08:002008-12-08T09:53:00.000-08:00SUPERB!SUPERB!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com