US hypocrisy about press freedom
Ooh, now here's a delicious irony!
"Journalists association would help press freedom: US envoy
Web posted at: 5/3/2007 2:18:24
Source ::: The Peninsula
doha • A professional journalists association set up in Qatar would greatly help in advancing the cause of media freedom in the country, according to US ambassador Chase Untermeyer.
In a statement issued on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day yesterday, the ambassador said: "A professional journalists association is one important step that would create much-needed space for all Qatar's journalists to exchange general ideas about their profession and about the environment in which they operate."
Untermeyer felt that a professional association would facilitate the discussion of journalistic issues that cut across the lines of competition - such as policy towards political candidates or advertisers -ensuring uniformity and transparency for the public in dealing with the press.
He observed: "During my time in Qatar, the press has been increasingly willing to write about sensitive national issues, such as the living and working conditions of low-wage labour. This is a welcome sign of the nation's willingness to welcome an open discussion of controversial topics, an important building block of democracy."
Untermeyer said a professional association would also permit the development of such instruments as a local universal code of journalistic ethics relevant to the Qatari environment. "The press itself must act responsibly. The establishment of independent press councils or ombudsmen would allow the press to respond to complaints of its own missteps and remain internally accountable," said the envoy.
[Source: http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&sub... ]
>>> Meanwhile, check out this example of "press freedom" in LA, US:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUCu85E_xoI&mode=related&search=
The words "people" "glasshouses" "throw" and "stones" spring to mind.
All the American ambassadors posted in different parts of the world almost behave the same way. Dont expect them to change anyway. They think they are a law unto themselves.
I understand the objections that people in the middle east have about US behaviour.
I must say that the comment from the US ambassador is condescending. It does not observe the dignity that should be shown to an independant sovereign state. Qatar has every right to have its own identity and nature in every respect, including regarding press freedom.
The US ambassador's comment assumes that every country should aspire to be like the US. As Russian President Putin said in similar words, it is Monotony. In that speech I feel that Putin embodied a very large and yet untapped growing global sentiment that the US admin are in denial about.
Having said that, Qatar should strive to be more like Qatar in every respect.
A useful way to consider / measure the innappropriateness of the US ammbassador's statement, would be to consider what would have happened the Qatari Ambassador, while visiting the US, made a comment about.. say... the need for the US to stem the crime rate? (or any other equally sensitive issue)
This would be very quickly denounced and we would all feel the effects of any subsequent reprimand.
I hope the Ambassador is more respectful in future when visting any country.
To cbhk: "Oh, and aren't there enough examples of hypocrisy every day right here Qatar? Why is it necessary to point a finger at the US when we all live in one of the most hypocritical societies on planet earth?"
That's my point precisely.
There are enough examples of hypocrisy every day over there in the US. Why is it necessary for a US official to point a finger at Qatar when he comes from one of the most hypocritical societies on planet earth.
Damn that missing irony gene...
Ummm, cause Qatar isn't setting itself as the shining beacon of democracy and freedom in the world? Just a guess.
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ITs one thing to know about American history and its another thing the way american government behaves.
Anyway America has a history of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. Is that what the founding fathers of USA were interested in. I would like to know a little more about the opiions of them from history. If you could explain it chbck it would be more helpful if you could explain it since you seem to an informed and educated guy from the US.
Wow...lets watch everyone jump on the bandwagon and criticize the US again! We hardly ever see that on QL, this is such a new and different idea!
Too bad there isn't a way to limit responses to this thread to ONLY people who have actually lived in the US for any decent amount of time, or have actually bothered to learn ANYTHING at all about American history or government. But, since there isn't, lets just go ahead and open the gates and allow all of the uninformed, uneducated responses to come flowing in. Maybe the collective opinion of a few hundred people who have no idea what they're talking about might just amount to something sooner or later.
Oh, and aren't there enough examples of hypocrisy every day right here Qatar? Why is it necessary to point a finger at the US when we all live in one of the most hypocritical societies on planet earth?
yes the journalists need to learn how to spell and write correctly.
the standard is crap.
Oh for a decent newspaper. still have to do the independent or guardian on line...not the same as a good real paper and coffee.
I saw that yesterday. I think it's called interfering in the affairs of a state.
I wish he's commented on the poor standard of the press.
What he meant was the journalists over here shouldnt criticise US too much. When they dont like a journalist or the agency he works for they just kill him or put him in Guantanamo bay. You need to use some othe word instead of hypocisy. Its worse than hypocrisy anyway