RSSGreat Security at the French Children’s Hospital
Dateline Paris, France …
Lets just start by saying I believe the Necker hospital may want to invest in some better security measures in the future. A cook at a Paris children’s hospital was killed in a sword attack Saturday evening by a man he met on the Internet.
“He stabbed him. The security team and one of his colleagues tried to intervene, but were unable to do anything,” Isabelle Lesage, director of the hospital, told Reuters.
The attack was carried out with a short Japanese sword, known as a “katana,” a police source said.
Short Japanese sword, known as a “katana“? SHORT??? Please define the definition of short, please.
Cannes Film Festival; aka “Hate America Film Festival”
What sheer and utter hypocrisy. One would think that nothing evil ever went on in Europe. One would think that there was no dark or evil side to the lovely Europeans that like to frequent Cannes, France this time of year for than annual Cannes Film Hate America Festival. One might even think that no European country ever took part in slavery, colonization, imperialism and racism was not in their vocabulary. Then along comes the movie “Manderlay” from The Cannes festival that is supposed to paint a dark side underside of the United States.
“Manderlay,” about a fictional Alabama plantation where people are living in 1933 as if slavery were never abolished, staggered festival-goers with a disturbing portrayal of America that fails, even today, to come to terms with its racist past.
“Manderlay,” which stars Danny Glover, Willem Dafoe and Bryce Dallas Howard in a bare theatrical setting, is only the latest film by von Trier to probe America’s darkest corners — all with anything but happy endings.
What part about FICTIONAL was missed by those at Reuters discussing this story? As for the deep dark side of America; exactly what country does not have one? I must have missed the lack of a skin head movement in Germany and throughout many European countries when I was last there. The anti-Semitic movement rampant through out Europe. Exactly which countries was it that imperialized and subjugated people over the centuries? Which continent was it that colonized Africa? How soon they have forgotton about this. Or is it convenience? There is a reason why it was called the rape of the Belgium Congo. I did not also realize that racism toward blacks was something inherent to America. Really? Then more anti-American films were presented at Cannes as well.
There are a number of other films that examine dark and depressing aspects of the United States and “American Dream” losers, filled with violence, drugs and alcohol abuse. They were made by directors from the United States, Canada and Europe. The films, screening at the world’s most important festival here, also feed off a lingering anti-American sentiment prevailing in Europe over the Iraq war. Michael Moore won the festival’s top award last year for his film “Fahrenheit 9/11.”
Because we all know there are no racism, drugs, violence or alcohol abuse in Europe.
None at all.
It is just a perfect Wonderland where all ills of society are absent.
Welcome to a place called “Perfect” otherwise known as Europe.
Maybe, just maybe the European’s should spend a little more time looking into the issues that trouble their own society rather than worrying about or finding fault with the United States?
In no uncertain terms, get a life.
Newsweek; Sometimes the Genie doesn’t fit Back in the Bottle
Even after their initial apology Newsweek still cannot seem to fix the problem that they have created. Newsweek’s original inaccurate reporting on the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay created the atmosphere that triggered several days of rioting in Afghanistan and other countries that lead to the deaths of at least 15 people. Newsweek has since apologized, but it does not seem to be enough.
Editor Mark Whitaker expressed regret over the item in the magazine’s “Periscope” section, saying it was based on a confidential source — a “senior U.S. government official” — who now says he is not sure whether the story is true.
The deadly consequences of the May 1 report, and its reliance on the unnamed source, have sparked considerable anger at the Pentagon. Spokesman Bryan Whitman called Newsweek’s report “irresponsible” and “demonstrably false,” saying the magazine “hid behind anonymous sources which by their own admission do not withstand scrutiny. Unfortunately, they cannot retract the damage that they have done to this nation or those who were viciously attacked by those false allegations.“
The Political Teen has some great video on the event. Don’t miss Cox & Forkum weighing in on the topic.
The problem with such inaccurate reporting in an area of the world where American’s are so rarely trusted is that it is nearly impossible to get the genie back in the bottle. Newsweek’s admission of their inaccurate story regarding the desecration of copies of the Koran while questioning prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and their formal apology to that story may not be enough to right their initial wrong. According to CNN, Muslims in Afghanistan and Pakistan were skeptical after Newsweek backed away from their initial report.
But Muslims said they suspected that pressure from Washington was behind the magazine’s climbdown, Reuters reported Monday.
“We will not be deceived by this,” Islamic cleric Mullah Sadullah Abu Aman told Reuters in the northern Afghan province of Badakhshan.
“This is a decision by America to save itself. It comes because of American pressure. Even an ordinary illiterate peasant understands this and won’t accept it.”
Thank you Newsweek for giving the hate-America at all cost crowd in the Muslim world a voice. Thank you for pandering to the outlandish vile hatred that exists against the US and its troops as they are trying to bring a country back to some semblance of order. Do you people at Newsweek have any idea how much you have undone with one inaccurate story that you never verified?
“Newsweek is backtracking, but it’s not just their report,” said Ghaffar Aziz, a top official of the Jamaat-e-Islami party. “All innocent people released from U.S. custody have said on the record that there was desecration of the Koran.”
A spokesman for the Taliban, who denied any involvement in last week’s Afghan protests, said the original report was true.
“Newsweek is changing its story because of pressure from the U.S. government,” Abdul Latif Hakimi told Reuters by telephone.
One really has to wonder what those at Newsweek were thinking? How does one light a flame to such a tinderbox issue in the Muslim world at this point and time and not comprehend the severity of the consequences? In one of the most pathetic and naive statements I have ever heard from a news organization Newsweek editor Whitaker said:
“I suppose you could say we should have foreseen the consequences of the report, but we didn’t.”
No kidding. Now who knows what it will take to make this situation right? The irresponsibility of the news media strikes again and this time it actually cost lives.
More great info on the story from: Michelle Malkin and The Captain’s Quarters
PoliPundit makes a great point: People have died because of this story.
If Newsweek doesn’t understand this, then it’s time for Newsweek to go the way of Dan Rather.
Friends don’t let friends drive drunk, and Americans shouldn’t let a self-described “news” magazine get people killed out of recklessness.
Update: Newsweek Retracts Koran Story
However, the problem is its tough to put the genie back in the bottle once it has been opened.
The damage control efforts by Newsweek followed criticism by White House spokesman Scott McClellan, who called it “puzzling” that Newsweek, in his view, had “stopped short of a retraction.”
“That story has damaged the image of the United States abroad and damaged the credibility of the media at home,” McClellan said in an interview. He said that Americans, including President Bush, “share in the outrage that this report was published in the first place.”
Hey Europe; Sometimes a Movie is just a Movie
In the never ending European whine over President George W. Bush, the Cannes Film Festival is now making comparisons to George Lucas’ latest “Star Wars” film, “Revenge of the Sith” to today’s political climate.
Audiences viewing “Episode Three — Revenge of the Sith” at the Cannes Film Festival are comparing the story of Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side and the rise of an emperor through warmongering to President Bush’s war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq.
Which even prompted George Lucas is come out and say, “he created the “Star Wars” story long before the Iraq war.”
Is it that difficult for those at Cannes to just sit back, grab a bag of popcorn and a soda and just watch a movie without over analyzing every single frame of a movie for political reasons and not because this just might be a great George Lucas’ “Star Wars” movie? I guess not. Of course are we supposed to also believe that there really was no political statement by Lucas?
It is a sad commentary that film critics need to interject their own personal political agendas into films. It would appear that critic’s reviews on “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith,” is no different. I guess somehow in the future every film like this is supposed to be a commentary on George W. Bush and his foreign policy. However, when Lucas is asked about the film by critics they do not even seem to listen.
Filmmaker George Lucas insists that the genesis of his story dates back 30 years. But he pointed out that certain themes do seem to repeat themselves, whether here and now or a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
So if this were the case, why don’t these same people that claim this movie is a dig against President Bush find the past recurrence that it may actually be referencing? I guess that may be too taxing on them to figure out. I would have loved to have seen just one film critic come up with some find of alternative comparison other than the obvious. However, the obvious was too obvious.
Update: ProfessorBainbridge has brilliant and insightful observations regarding Lucas.
In choosing to put those words in Obi-Wan’s mouth – “Only a Sith thinks in absolutes” – Lucas did more than just play to Hollywood left-liberalism. He betrayed his own creation. As Mr. T used to say, I pity the fool.
I have to agree with the Professor and Professor Bainbridge that it does become sad and pathetic when one, (Lucas) betrays the basic story arc of the Star Wars mythology in order to score these cheap political points from the original trilogy. However, any reference to Mr. T is a winner in my book.
UPDATE 1: If you want more of the anti-Americanism at Cannes, go here
Update 2: A great commentary from Chrenkoff in “An open Letter George Lucas” via PoliPundit.
You might be aware that all of us who saw the “Star Wars” trilogy throughout the communist world saw it as an entertaining, yet still nonetheless powerful commentary on the current world events.
Looks like someone was insightful enough to find the previous historical reference.
From CNN:
”In terms of evil, one of the original concepts was how does a democracy turn itself into a dictatorship,” Lucas told a news conference at Cannes, where his final episode had its world premiere.
”The parallels between what we did in Vietnam and what we’re doing in Iraq now are unbelievable.
Not half as unbelievable as the many different accounts of the same story you have told and your willingness to make your craft nothing but political. I am beginning to wonder why Lucas did not name the movie “Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith George W. Bush”?
Howard Dean; The New Democratic Gift That Keeps on Giving
What on earth can Howard Dean be thinking? Is it possible that he really wants to run for the Democratic nomination after all in 2008? It can be the only reason he continues to make a fool of himself and embarrass his party so that he is relieved of his duties as Party Chair. Can this really be what the Democratic Party wants as the voice and face of their party? Don’t take my word for it, ask Democratic Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank.
Dean’s remark, in a speech to Massachusetts Democrats at their party convention, drew an immediate rebuke from US Representative Barney Frank, the Newton Democrat and one of DeLay’s harshest critics. ”That’s just wrong,” Frank said in an interview on the convention floor. ”I think Howard Dean was out of line talking about DeLay. The man has not been indicted. I don’t like him, I disagree with some of what he does, but I don’t think you, in a political speech, talk about a man as a criminal or his jail sentence.”
I thought Terri McAuliffe was something, Dean may be just what the Republican’s ordered. Who can’t wait until he is on every Sunday show as we get closer to the elections voicing these same opinions? This could get interesting.
