Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Iran versus Burma: Why the media double-standard?

I've read conflicting accounts of what has happened -- is happening -- in Iran. I know this: I see no reason to feel fondness for Mousavi and no reason to feel fondness for Ahmadinejad. I do not trust U.S. intentions toward Iran. The neocons in the United States and Israel hope to subvert the current regime in Iran and replace it with a member of the bloody Pahlavi family.

We may all agree on one thing: The media coverage demonstrates an outrageous double standard. Mytwords at Corrente scoffs at NPR's newfound obsession with the European protests against Iran. When Europeans mounted far larger demonstrations against Dubya's invasion of Iraq in 2003, NPR didn't give a damn. Neither did anyone else in the American media.

This blogger asks:
Iran, Iran, Iran. You would think this was the only news in the world. Odd isn't it?...

Look at the G-20 protests. The coverage that was given served to portray the protestors in a negative light and law enforcement as doing their job to keep the peace. Even when the death of an innocent bystander resulted, Ian Tomlinson at the hands of head bashing police officers, the main stream media stayed quite quiet. Apologies I stand corrected, quiet, except for the smear campaign that was launched against the victim after the police brutality was exposed!
I would like to draw a comparison to the American media's treatment of the saintly Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

As much as I dislike Iranian theocracy, Burma's brutality is far worse. Iran, at least, has some elements of democracy; Burma has none. Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is under arrest at this writing, and the Burmese government is cracking down on anyone who dares to celebrate her birthday.

Are there any demonstrations against Burma, in Europe or elsewhere? And if there were, would NPR cover them?

Incidentally, the graphic comes to us by way of good old Shep. I HOPE that the artist who gave us that wretched Mao-like Obama icon he has finally and permanently removed his cranium from his anium.

I first learned about Suu Kyi from John Boorman's 1995 film Beyond Rangoon. The key clip from that movie is presented below. Let the video completely load up, then skip ahead to the 2:30 mark.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does Burma have oil?

SN in MN said...

It is often noted that destabilizing Iran happens to be good for Israel. The MSM seems to be heavily invested in destabilizing Iran. Think there might be a connection? Or am I oafishly blurting out what you were trying to subtly imply?

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry. I think NPR spends a lot of time covering Myanmar. And yes, covering protests about Myanmar, both in and out of the country. Trials. Lake swimming, etc. All covered. If you haven't noticed it, it is because you haven't been listening. As to why they are more focused on Iran? Maybe you should ask yourself the same question. How many bytes have you frittered away on Iran? "Will we invade? Of course we will. The invasion is a forgone conclusion," etc. Maybe what drives you, drives them, though with different colored glasses. What happens in Iran obviously has a greater impact on NPR listeners. Applying some sort of cruelty meter to determine appropriate time given is absurd.

--Illuminati in Iowa

Anonymous said...

And another thing: how can you possibly say that NPR didn't cover the worldwide protests against the invasion of Iraq? That's absurd. Saying it with certainty doesn't make it anymore true. I personally heard plenty of coverage, so much so, that I'm guessing that you weren't listening.

--Illuminati in Iowa

Joseph Cannon said...

Citation?

NPR Check's report is pretty damning:

http://nprcheck.blogspot.com/2009/06/npr-does-care-about-european.html

You're pulling this shit our of your ass, II

SN in MN said...

Say... what's going on in Gaza these days? Is the Iran situation a case of illusionist misdirection?