No one doubts that some of the actions of the Toronto Police during this past Summer's G20 Summit were dubious. Even the police themselves have admitted such. As a Canadian, and as a Torontonian, I am highly disturbed by the portrayal of the events in the Fifth Estate documentary we were required to watch. It is conspicuous that the documentary follows the sequence of events as told by the protesters only. The victims of police violence were given ample time to narrate what happened to them while Chief Bill Blair (the only police officer interviewed) was never given any time to do so but only asked trite questions about the size of individual police officers guns.
A more fair, honest documentary would have included interviews of more police officers, allowing them ample opportunity to explain their actions as well as narrate the sequence of events from their understanding. It would also be profitable to include interactions between the police and their victims. This documentary is a stunning example of yellow journalism.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Media Analysis
A Major News Story:
It seems as though the whole fiasco to do with Bev Oda has failed to matter much to Canadians. According to a recent poll, only 32% of respondents believe that the minister ought to resign. This must be a sore disappointment to the opposition because according to the Hansard they have asked 79 questions in two weeks concerning the affair. I honestly don't know why this situation has received so much attention in the media. Canadians clearly don't care too much about it and there are for more interesting things going on in the world. But if I had to venture a guess, I'd say it probably has to do with the fact that because the opposition is hoping to make this issue stick so close to a possible election.
An under-reported story,
The Cato Institute has published pocket-sized copies of the US constitution in Arabic. Cato, an American Libertarian think-tank, has published this with a view to "encourage people everywhere to better understand and appreciate the principles of government that are set forth in America's founding documents." I am quite interested in Cato's work and I find it highly suspicious that such a book was not available before all of the turmoil in the Middle East. Perhaps this is their way of spreading liberty abroad? Nothing better to do that than education!
It seems as though the whole fiasco to do with Bev Oda has failed to matter much to Canadians. According to a recent poll, only 32% of respondents believe that the minister ought to resign. This must be a sore disappointment to the opposition because according to the Hansard they have asked 79 questions in two weeks concerning the affair. I honestly don't know why this situation has received so much attention in the media. Canadians clearly don't care too much about it and there are for more interesting things going on in the world. But if I had to venture a guess, I'd say it probably has to do with the fact that because the opposition is hoping to make this issue stick so close to a possible election.
An under-reported story,
The Cato Institute has published pocket-sized copies of the US constitution in Arabic. Cato, an American Libertarian think-tank, has published this with a view to "encourage people everywhere to better understand and appreciate the principles of government that are set forth in America's founding documents." I am quite interested in Cato's work and I find it highly suspicious that such a book was not available before all of the turmoil in the Middle East. Perhaps this is their way of spreading liberty abroad? Nothing better to do that than education!
Beyond the Text: United States of Canada vs. Jesusland
I don't like this cartoon even a little bit. It ignores the vast diversity of political views represented in both countries. To simply imply that Americans living in the Northern and West Coast states are Canadian and that the rest are all quazi-fundamentalist Evangelicals is arrogant in the extreme. I also find it interesting that Ohio, North Dakota and South Dakota are all part of the United States of Canada. Hah.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)