large fan base---including the members of Daisycutter Sports Inc. The
chirpy and intelligent host Simon Morton runs a tight two hours every
week, full of interesting items about a large range of things:
gardening, food, computers, technological and ecological issues, etc.
Some of the experts he regularly goes to are just brilliant---from
Bill the BBC computer guy to the fascinating Tim Walsh, author of the
classic history of toys, Timeless Toys.
Unfortunately, however, like all the rest of us, even the best of
journalists have a weakness somewhere. With too many of them, it's a
reluctance or an inability to read, understand and think about
politics. This makes them putty in the hands for unscrupulous
propagandists, such as the Guardian's Rory Carroll, a really nasty
right wing Irish git who has somehow been installed as "our South
American correspondent" for This Way Up. Carroll is domiciled in
Caracas, where he has become infamous for a stream of hare-brained,
distorted and usually downright untruthful reports.
journalists have a weakness somewhere. With too many of them, it's a
reluctance or an inability to read, understand and think about
politics. This makes them putty in the hands for unscrupulous
propagandists, such as the Guardian's Rory Carroll, a really nasty
right wing Irish git who has somehow been installed as "our South
American correspondent" for This Way Up. Carroll is domiciled in
Caracas, where he has become infamous for a stream of hare-brained,
distorted and usually downright untruthful reports.
This week's edition of This Way Up saw Rory Carroll unloading his
usual pile of bilge on the show's listeners, never once being
challenged by the unaware or unconcerned Simon Morton. We at
Daisycutter Sports Inc. were so enraged at his silence that this
writer (i.e., moi) was deputized forthwith to sit down and email him
to express our dismay at his silence, which we thought closely
resmbled stupidity.
usual pile of bilge on the show's listeners, never once being
challenged by the unaware or unconcerned Simon Morton. We at
Daisycutter Sports Inc. were so enraged at his silence that this
writer (i.e., moi) was deputized forthwith to sit down and email him
to express our dismay at his silence, which we thought closely
resmbled stupidity.
Here's the email, which as of now (Sunday evening, more than a day and
a half after it was sent) Morton has still not answered. ....
a half after it was sent) Morton has still not answered. ....
Why did you not challenge Rory Carroll’s glib comments?
Dear Simon,
In your introductory remarks to the interview with your South American
correspondent Rory Carroll, you said that Cuba was technologically
underdeveloped "thanks to over fifty years of socialist rule". Of
course, there's another more direct and compelling reason for Cuba's
ongoing struggle to survive: over fifty years of a punitive, illegal
blockade imposed by its aggressive superpower neighbour. But you chose
to ignore that.
correspondent Rory Carroll, you said that Cuba was technologically
underdeveloped "thanks to over fifty years of socialist rule". Of
course, there's another more direct and compelling reason for Cuba's
ongoing struggle to survive: over fifty years of a punitive, illegal
blockade imposed by its aggressive superpower neighbour. But you chose
to ignore that.
Carroll stated that Cuba is "hermetic"---an interesting word, usually
used only to describe North Korea. With equal absurdity, he compared
Cuba to Iran and Burma, and made the remarkable statement that Cuba,
which still suffers under the U.S. regime's illegal sanctions, is
"stable and secure". He even found time to express his amusement and
contempt for the "almost central-casting bad socialist service" in the
government-run barber shops.
used only to describe North Korea. With equal absurdity, he compared
Cuba to Iran and Burma, and made the remarkable statement that Cuba,
which still suffers under the U.S. regime's illegal sanctions, is
"stable and secure". He even found time to express his amusement and
contempt for the "almost central-casting bad socialist service" in the
government-run barber shops.
After this risibly cartoonish and biased "analysis" of Cuba, it came
as no surprise to hear Carroll dismiss Bolivian president Evo Morales
as "very left wing, and a supporter of Hugo Chavez". He forgot to
mention that Morales is a democratically elected leader, just like
Chavez is.
as no surprise to hear Carroll dismiss Bolivian president Evo Morales
as "very left wing, and a supporter of Hugo Chavez". He forgot to
mention that Morales is a democratically elected leader, just like
Chavez is.
It's disappointing in the extreme, Simon, to hear you let someone like
Rory Carroll get away, unchallenged, with making glib, dismissive and
unfair remarks. For you and Carroll to use such ideologically loaded
language when talking about a country that has suffered from an
illegal regime of sanctions since 1959, and to call a moderate
reformer like Evo Morales "very left wing" is an indication that you
have, perhaps unwittingly, brought into the kind of rabid doctrinal
warfare that motivates the likes of NewstalkZB's Leighton Smith.
Rory Carroll get away, unchallenged, with making glib, dismissive and
unfair remarks. For you and Carroll to use such ideologically loaded
language when talking about a country that has suffered from an
illegal regime of sanctions since 1959, and to call a moderate
reformer like Evo Morales "very left wing" is an indication that you
have, perhaps unwittingly, brought into the kind of rabid doctrinal
warfare that motivates the likes of NewstalkZB's Leighton Smith.
Most of us who listen to RNZ National expect more intelligent and
thoughtful discussion about politics.
thoughtful discussion about politics.
Yours sincerely,
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
Northcote Point
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