What would you've said in a similar situation?

[ShakAttack]

We had a visitor from England whom I took out to dinner. I shared a few fun newsroom stories with her and obviously our topic over dinner turned to news coverage as a whole. She spoke very highly about the BBC World News and the fearless standards and integrity in journalism they hold, practice and portray.

I have watched bits and pieces of BBC news on my local PBS station, but I’m not in a position to judge their newscasts since I’m not a regular viewer.

The zinger from the English visitor was her sarcasm-dripping question, “How can a nation brag about democracy and freedom of press when there can be no coverage of dead soldiers returning home in flag-draped coffins?” “Why does the press have to abide by government-regulated censorship or propaganda in covering warfare?”

Her stiff upper-lipped British accent added more zing to the zinger, I guess. She’s a business consultant and appeared to be articulate, intelligent and well-composed...so I couldn't brush her off as totally ignorant.

How would other newsroom folk respond to her questions? I basically played attentive listener throughout most of dinner.

[Pro]

I would have said that what she said may be so, but our freedom of the press allows us to report that the government won't allow us to show the caskets and comment on that policy, without fear of punishment.

[jrat33]

I'm sorry, but the English should not be getting all high and mighty when it comes to journalistic integrity. Have you ever read the British tabloids?

[NotImpressed]

I'd have said "You make a great point."

[youdaman]

i would have asked her if she wanted to earn ten bucks the hard way.

[drink the koolaid]

I would have beaten the crap out of her for exporting "the spice girls" to america.

[Lazlo Toth]

Originally posted by youdaman:
i would have asked her if she wanted to earn ten bucks the hard way.I had an answer in mind, but after I read this, I laughed out loud and decided mine would pale by comparison.

[Produce man]

I would have given her a toothbrush and some toothpaste and said "Here, give this a try".".

[Sir Dropham Pants]

I'd quote Kevin Kline from A Fish Called Wanda:

http://re3.mm-a4.yimg.com/image/1115411960
"Oh, you British... you're so superior...
... the smallest *****ing province in the German Empire..."
I can't remember the whole bit, but it's a great scene in a classic comedy.

[ November 29, 2006, 03:12 PM: Message edited by: Sir Dropham Pants ]

[Lazlo Toth]

Oh, you English are
so superior, aren't you?

Would you like to know where you'd be
without us, the US of A, to protect you?

I'll tell you. The smallest ****ing province
in the Russian Empire, that's what!

So don't call me stupid, lady.
Just thank me!

Thank you for popping in
and protecting us!

If it wasn't for us, you'd all
be speaking German! Singing:

[Lazlo Toth]

The short answer to your friend is we can consider ourselves free in the same way the British consider themselves civilized, even though their sports fans can't control themselves.

I went to a riot the other night and a British soccer match broke out.

[ISTHISTHINGON?]

I would have said "you've got a point...but KISS MY A$$! wait, on second thought.... http://www.fakecrap.com/images/jokes/billy_bob_teeth/austin_powers.jpg I'll pass. Point taken."

[2:30]

A simple "That's an interesting viewpoint" would have been polite, with or without the "but I'm afraid I disagree with you" implied by your posting.

A simple "You're right" would have been proper.

A simple "No society is perfect" would have been acceptable.

A simple "I disagree entirely" would have also been acceptable.

The puerile response listed above would have been understandable, particularly considering the sources.

You might also have attempted to explain how the Bush administration has banned the media from Dover AFB, where the coffins arrive, and that access in Iraq is very difficult for all media.

She's completely right that the BBC does do a very good job covering international news.

[ November 30, 2006, 04:33 AM: Message edited by: 2:30 ]

[facts]

how about "we covered those back during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812".. when we totally SPANKED you.

and then spank her.

[LENSCRAFTER]

Pull a "Bunker" on her.

http://badattitudes.com/MT/archives/archie-bunker.jpg

Archie Bunker: Listen, this ain't England. We threw England outta here a long time ago. We don't want no more part of England and for your information, England is a f*g country.

Mike: What?!

Archie: Certainly. Ain't they still picking handkerchiefs out of their sleeves? The whole country is based on a kind of ... f*gdom.

[The Mockingbird]

Well, you could have started with the BBC's notoriously soft stance on covering Islamic issues for fear of terrorist retaliation.

You could remind them of the time that the BBC News interviewed a Taxi Driver as a Technology expert.

Nice one, mate! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdyYe7sDlhA)

That's just off the top of my head.

[Sir Dropham Pants]

Thanks for the "Wanda" quote correction, Laz. I was sort of on the right track.

[Kace]

I would divert from the topic and either insult her directly or by insulting her native land. Because that's a real man does. graemlins/icon_pidu.gif

[jrat33]

Originally posted by facts:
how about "we covered those back during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812".. when we totally SPANKED you.

and then spank her.And then say, now get out of here before we dump a butt load of tea in the Thames!

[The Mockingbird]

Dude, we didn't spank the British in the War of 1812, we were just a side issue, honestly.

[facts]

Hmm. Battle of New Orleans ended with 13 Americans dead.. 2,000 British dead.

and that was AFTER we signed the peace treaty.

I'd say that was a pretty good thrashing on our part.

Tea in the Thames -- *snort*

[The Mockingbird]

Battle of New Orleans happened after the war was already over.

[On Air]

You could have posed the question, "So what would the BBC do if they were in our shoes, working with our restrictions in our business and political climates? Are you telling me the BBC would be the same as it is now?"

As far as British press in general, I think the coverage of the McCartney divorce shows what many organizations do with their civilization and freedom of press.

Curious though, why she needed to give the BBC and British media in general a pat on the back, while putting down American media. IMHO, we are far far far from perfect, but that smacks of an inferiority complex.

[Clever Login Name]

Here's what you should have done. After she drops that line on you, you smile, pat her hand gently and say: "I realize your comments, for the most part, are just a knee-jerk kind of self-defense mechanism brought on by the realization that your country, on at least two separate occasions, owes its sovereignty and well-being to us dumb Americans. I understand that England stopped being relevant around 1940, and that in your search for self-importance, you must lash out at those who have far surpassed you both technologically and culturally. Your response also indicates that, despite your apparent embrace of the coming nanny-state in England, you have deep-seated, serious doubts about a country that continues to rein in free speech on its own citizens all in the name of diversity and multi-culturalism. Your anxiety is, no doubt, doubled by the fact that Muslims are a growing, militant population there, and one that has made no secret about their plans to eventually replace your form of government with sharia law. When you look at America, for all its faults, you realize that we are still vastly superior to you, and that a country that still 'employs' a queen and adores royalty is, while quaint, outmoded and passe'. Your internal conflicts are worsened when you only accept the ethically-challenged and sharply-biased BBC as your only news source. You know what you say is not true, but you feel the need to speak up against America, because it offers you a slight boost of self-esteem. I understand all that. And if it makes you feel better, please continue with your misguided, ill-informed comments. A lot of American blood was shed to protect your right to do that. We wouldn't have it any other way."

Unless she was hot. Then you just smile weakly, nod, don't say anything and hope you get some action later.

[adam & doctor drew]

I'd have told her it's rude to insult someone's country when you're a visitor in that country.

[Roy Hobbs]

This is just further proof what happens when you have Cheeky over for dinner.

[NewsMom]

The BBC has willingly bowed to the pre-broadcast censorship "requests" of the government. They've killed stories as a result.

O.K., so we don't try to sneak onto Dover AFB to get the video we'd all like to have, but at least we aren't told which stories we can and cannot broadcast.

[ewink]

Originally posted by Pro:
I would have said that what she said may be so, but our freedom of the press allows us to report that the government won't allow us to show the caskets and comment on that policy, without fear of punishment.I think that this right here is the winner.

[Diplomat]

Originally posted by Produce man:
I would have given her a toothbrush and some toothpaste and said "Here, give this a try".".I nominate this for "Post of the Week."

:D

[News Is Broken]

I would have replied with "well sure but tonight at 11 we'll tell you what you didn't know about your tap water that can kill you." Then I'd trump that with a picture of Geraldo drawing a map in the dirt.

[SpxGrunt]

I would say "England Prevails!"
http://www.lashorasperdidas.com/noticias/001723.gif

[wxgeek]

Originally posted by ewink:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Pro:
I would have said that what she said may be so, but our freedom of the press allows us to report that the government won't allow us to show the caskets and comment on that policy, without fear of punishment.I think that this right here is the winner.</font>[/QUOTE]That can't be the winner. It's a well-reasoned, thoughtful, intelligent response. We can't encourage that kind of behavior.

[cinehead]

Originally posted by Lazlo Toth:
Oh, you English are
so superior, aren't you?

Would you like to know where you'd be
without us, the US of A, to protect you?

I'll tell you. The smallest ****ing province
in the Russian Empire, that's what!

So don't call me stupid, lady.
Just thank me!

Thank you for popping in
and protecting us!

If it wasn't for us, you'd all
be speaking German! Singing:Hey, if it wasn't for the French, we'd all be speaking English. Oh wait...

[rawhead rex]

I think I would have said:"Excellent point. I certainly see nothing in the Official Secrets Act, as amended in 1989, that would prevent the BBC from covering such an issue, however, our viewers believe us when we report such matters and why, even without pictures. Unfortunately, it is all too common that television around the world will not report anything if there isn't video."

[Tripe Face]

I would tell her that we in the American News Media DO cover the flag drapped coffins returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. I have tapes of about 2 dozen servicemembers funerals and or burials sitting on my desk. I use them frequently in stories. The media is free to cover them return of dead servicemembers from the moment the plane from Dover AFB arrives at the airport nearest their hometown all the way until the burial is over on two conditions:
#1 That the servicemember's family allows it. (And even if they don't you can shoot motorcades etc. from public streets or sidewalks... but if the family asks for privacy I would think you'd consider giving it to them.)

#2 If the media chooses to. (They sometimes don't)

It important to note that the Dept. Of Defense only prohibits the media from covering ONE PART of the journey home for dead soldiers. The DoD does not allow media to go to the air bases in Kuwait/Iraq where the flag drapped coffins are loaded onto planes. Nor do they allow media onto Dover Air Force base where those cargo planes land and the coffins are unloaded and the bodies are taken in for an autopsy by military medical examiners. The don't let the families of the dead soldiers go to Dover either.

Should we be allowed? Yes I think so. It's a powerful ceremony with honor guards marching quietly and in unison and treating the soldier's remains with utmost respect even though there is often no one there to watch. (I know this from some Air Force photos of the event mistakenly released a few years back and a suripticious video taken by a airman who thought we SHOULD be allowed to cover it).

Not only is it very powerful imagery... this is the very real result of America's policies. The politicians WE elected sent these men and women on a very dangerous mission and they DIED FOR US!
We should not only be ALLOWED to see it... WE SHOULD BE FORCED TO WATCH IT EVERY NIGHT, ON EVERY CHANNEL before we watch anything else. They died because WE asked them to risk their lives and they said Yessir!

However, I understand why the DoD policy exists. Back when we in the MEDIA were allowed to cover Dover returns, an incident really pissed off people in Washington when one network (not sure which, maybe several) did a split screen of live pics of some flag-drapped coffins from some far off military mission being unloaded and a live pic of the President at some public event where he was smiling and having a bit of fun... it made that president (i can't remember which, doesn't matter though) look bad.

It was unfair to that President and the Soldier's families and friends. He couldn't have known what was being shown.

[writer2]

I liked Clever Login's suggestion the best. It showed devastating wit, with a hopeful allowance for possible sexual activity ;) .

[ December 05, 2006, 07:20 AM: Message edited by: writer2 ]