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22 March 2003  

The Jog of War

Just got back from my run, which today I combined with political demonstration. Remembering that the antiwar protesters were supposed to be rallying here in downtown Toronto today, I grabbed my little American flag before heading out. Watch your nightly newscast for a black-clad runner waving the Stars and Stripes in the faces of heckling marchers on Queen's Park and in front of the US consulate.

04:32 PM |

Tragic Deaths Just Grist for the Bias Mill at CBC

You may have read about the CBC commentator who wondered, as the wreckage was still smoldering, if American arrogance might have been responsible for the crash of the Columbia space shuttle. Well, this morning I awoke to another example of the CBC taking still-raw tragedy as a cue to ask breathtakingly inappropriate questions.

As part of its steady stream of reporting on anti-war activities, CBC Radio's Anthony Germain interviewed a London war protester. The protester admitted that in these opening stages of the war, Prime Minister Blair was getting more public support. Germain then asked (I don't have the exact quote, but this is quite close): "But we've already heard about helicopters crashing and killing British soldiers. Does that give you hope that public opinion will be swayed against the war?"

I was too stunned by the question to absorb the reply fully, but I think even the protester had enough sense to express sadness over the deaths, not hope.

Here's the website for the CBC's Ombudsman.

07:56 AM |