Urban Vignettes #3: Media and Murder
One of those urban vignettes sparked yet another Category 1 electrical synapse storm in the perilous Sea of K-Brain this morning. You may recall, a few years back during the last provincial election in Ontario, that the Tories circulated a now famous release saying something like "Dalton McGuinty is a reptilian kitten-eater". It was one in a million of frivolous, joking party-to-party news releases, but it ended up becoming an issue because the media got a hold of it and decided to make an issue of it.
Yes, the media decided to make an issue of it even though they see these things on a DAILY basis and understand the tenor and purpose of them. Subsequently, despite our reverence for the higher principles of democracy, the sophomoric phrase became the tagline that helped to undermine the Progressive-Conservative campaign.
But today, I read another blurred tagline as I sped past the Chinese Consulate on St. George Street in Toronto. The latest Falun Gong banner that backdropped a few aged protesters read: Communist Regime Kills Falun Gong For Organs.
Now, whether the claim is true or not, it sounds like a damn serious accusation to me. And it's not like it was whispered in secret circles or even sent out in an obviously snarky faux-release meant as an inside joke instead of a public statement. Nope. This is a disturbing message written in bold characters on a large banner, which accuses a government with which we enjoy warm diplomatic relations of a dark, horrific Nazi-like crime.
Wouldn't you think that at a time when the federal government's self-proclaimed crusade for human rights issues in China and around the world was an international story that our domestic media might want to take some slight note of such a claim? Nope.
I mean, I know St. George is a little out of the way compared to - oh, 1 Yonge, King or Queen Streets, but hello: If you can build a story that helped topple a provincial government based on something that was meant to be a joke, why not extend that dedicated activism to taking a very serious issue seriously and covering the fucking thing?
Yes, the media decided to make an issue of it even though they see these things on a DAILY basis and understand the tenor and purpose of them. Subsequently, despite our reverence for the higher principles of democracy, the sophomoric phrase became the tagline that helped to undermine the Progressive-Conservative campaign.
But today, I read another blurred tagline as I sped past the Chinese Consulate on St. George Street in Toronto. The latest Falun Gong banner that backdropped a few aged protesters read: Communist Regime Kills Falun Gong For Organs.
Now, whether the claim is true or not, it sounds like a damn serious accusation to me. And it's not like it was whispered in secret circles or even sent out in an obviously snarky faux-release meant as an inside joke instead of a public statement. Nope. This is a disturbing message written in bold characters on a large banner, which accuses a government with which we enjoy warm diplomatic relations of a dark, horrific Nazi-like crime.
Wouldn't you think that at a time when the federal government's self-proclaimed crusade for human rights issues in China and around the world was an international story that our domestic media might want to take some slight note of such a claim? Nope.
I mean, I know St. George is a little out of the way compared to - oh, 1 Yonge, King or Queen Streets, but hello: If you can build a story that helped topple a provincial government based on something that was meant to be a joke, why not extend that dedicated activism to taking a very serious issue seriously and covering the fucking thing?
Labels: Human Rights, Media, Politics, Urban Anecdotes
posted by K-Dough at 9:15 AM
15 Comments:
Oh puhh-leeeze. What with the earth shattering/life altering Kramer incident and how it will effect sales of "Seinfeld Season 7" what else could possibly matter?
I know, I know. Can't wait for the Dixie Chicks to wade in, though we probably won't hear a peep until their next album is about to be released.
Maybe Madonna will ofer to adopt and reform him or MJ will invite him to the ranch for a racial intervention/white on beige pyjama party.
Or may be Brad and Angelina will adopt him. They seem pretty good at adopting too.
The media only listens when celebraties are involved so why not have Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan have a drunken argument over guys in fronts of this person holding up this sign. May be then the media will take note.
This is all very true - my own campaign to vindicate Reese Witherspoon in her breakup with that nasty Ryan whatshisname is Priority 1 in my life. Priority 2 is coming to terms with my man crush on the Celtic Tiger, Jim Flaherty.
Wasn't it David Kilgour who came back with some "proof" or at least strong evidence that what the Falung Gong were saying was true?
(sorry the 2nd para. seriousifies the discussion).
I can't even process this post right now, so focused are my thoughts and prayers on Kevin Federline.
Actually Chucker, I feel your man-crush on Flaherty alone seriousifies this discussion ... off the scale.
Havril...that's what I love about your avatar...you actually look like your thoughts and prayers are focused. Lol!
CC: You sensitive bastard. I can't believe you are being serious at a moment like this.
Poor Havril is having a K-Fed sympathy breakdown and Joanne is suffering from
J-Lo-han-Brangelinaparitis.
For chrissakes.
Leather- as for CC's con-man crush, I am getting seriously worried about him. Has he been in Montreal for too long now? Has he succumbed to the taboo love sickness that pervades French culture? Has he been lying to his wife for all these years like so many oiled-up Albertan cow-boys?
Answers to these questions and more will be revealed on the next episode of:
How The Ass Twitches
K, I am certainly not suffering from 'J-Lo-han-Brangelinaparitis' because as you can see, I am still able to post messages which means that I have not thrown my laptop out of the window over an elderly lady.
And K-Fed had now become Fed-Ex.
Sorry- I know I should have called him by his new name.
After all, I am a neuron in this constantly changing, tribally fluid electrical nervous system we call the InterWeb.
Shame on me.
while As the Ass Twitches is secretely a favorite soap of mine (I'm always bending down to pick that bar up!), I think the real issue is this:
Is K-Dough's Canada a nation?
CC: My policy position on that one has not changed since the 80s:
Indeed, K-Dough's Canada is a free nation within a less-sexually experimental, flabbier, sheepish, more sober nation.
CC ... while As the Ass Twitches is secretely ... ?
Is that a Freudian "slip"?
i still don't understand why the government won't recognize canada is a nation within k-dough. which means quebec resides within k-dough. which means CC's man-love developed from within the deepest pit of canadough.
oh, the topic! the guy needs to change the sign to felung DONG. sex always sells.
Damn, Scout- that's where I went wrong- not enough sex talk here....
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