|
| Thread: Michael Palin's documentary censored | |
|
baklava
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Mostly harmless
|
posted August 06, 2008 12:28 PM |
|
|
Michael Palin's documentary censored
From dailymail.co.uk:
A Michael Palin documentary on Eastern Europe has been censured by the BBC's governing body.
The BBC Trust said the former Monty Python star had been inaccurate and had oversimplified a complex subject.
In the first part of Michael Palin's New Europe, the presenter explored Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and Albania after the wars in former Yugoslavia.
Palin, 65, a veteran of popular BBC travel documentaries such as Around The World In 80 Days, caused controversy after stating that 'there was no reason for the destruction' of the Mostar Bridge'.
A viewer complained about the statement and the trust said there had indeed been a reason for the bridge's destruction, to isolate the Muslim community in West Mostar.
The viewer also complained that Palin implied that the Serbs were no more to blame than other groups for the conflict, saying it was equivalent to suggesting that the Nazis and the Jews were equally responsible for the Second World War.
The trust said the programme, broadcast last September, 'could have done more to have highlighted Serbia's role in the conflict' and 'could lead some viewers to believe that responsibility for the 1990s Balkan War was shared amongst all sides'.
It said: 'The phrasing over-simplified what was in fact a very complex and controversial subject. The comment needed balance and context.
'The comment on the destruction of the Mostar Bridge, in which it was stated that 'there was no reason for the destruction' was inaccurate,' it said.
Palin's other comments included: 'When Bosnia-Herzegovina rose from the ruins of Yugoslavia, the various ethnic groups that made up the country, Bosnian Serbs, Bosnians, Muslims, Bosnian Croats suddenly felt vulnerable and began to fight to safeguard their territory.'
The committee concluded: 'The programme was a travel programme... however, the programme makers had decided to deal with one of the most bitterly controversial events in the recent history of Europe - the break-up of Yugoslavia.
'The choice of the title War And Peace underlined the fact that the programme-makers wanted to report and comment on the recent history as well as the present situation.
'Given that ambition and the highly contentious nature of the debate about the wars in former Yugoslavia, the programme-makers should have taken greater care to ensure accuracy and impartiality.'
A BBC spokesman said: 'We note the Trust's findings.'
Michael Palin (probably my second favourite Python by the way, right after John Cleese  ) was actually silenced for saying that perhaps, just perhaps, each side had its share of guilt. But they actually listened and agreed with a guy who compared Serbs and Nazis.
I mean, ok, I'm aware that winners write history, but this is just ridiculous. He "oversimplified" the subject for noting that no one was exactly an angel? He was "inaccurate" when he said that vulnerable ethnic groups started to safeguard their territory?
Most of you don't really give a crap and I entirely understand you. But you try to understand me, too. I'm no nationalist, I just tend to get pissed when people try to tell a guy he's wrong cause he finds everyone who burned a village, no matter what nationality or cause, a monster.
I'm not among those who think that "the world hates us" (cause I always wanted to think there's more to the world than misused hatred and political interests)... But come on. What happened to free speech, neutrality, political correctness, BBC's independence from kissing the government in the butt and other stuff they brag about so much? 
Gah.
Shouldn't have read the news.
Bad for my karma.
____________
"Let me tell you what the blues
is. When you ain't got no
money,
you got the blues."
Howlin Wolf
|
|
TheDeath
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
with serious business
|
posted August 06, 2008 12:29 PM |
|
|
Quote:
What happened to free speech, neutrality, political correctness, BBC's independence from kissing the government in the butt and other stuff they brag about so much?
What happened? They never existed, so how can you that something 'happened' to them if they never even existed?
____________
The above post is subject to SIRIOUSness.
No jokes were harmed during the making of this signature.
|
|
TnT_Addict
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Beautiful Liar
|
|
posted August 06, 2008 02:43 PM |
|
|
|
baklava
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Mostly harmless
|
|
posted August 06, 2008 03:37 PM |
|
Edited by baklava at 15:38, 06 Aug 2008.
|
@TNT
Yup. "The Nicest Python". 
@The_Death
True. But they might as well tell people they're Santa's elves then.
10 bucks says at least 30% of the world would believe them though.
____________
"Let me tell you what the blues
is. When you ain't got no
money,
you got the blues."
Howlin Wolf
|
|
del_diablo
Legendary Hero
Manifest
|
|
posted August 06, 2008 08:46 PM |
|
|
I wonder exactly how he meant "no reason", there is very many meanings in this.
Would the bridge only do a small slowdown? Was it easy to find a way around, etc.
I really think this article needs more information for people who have not done a proper study on the subject.
____________
|
|
del_diablo
Legendary Hero
Manifest
|
|
posted August 06, 2008 08:46 PM |
|
|
I wonder exactly how he meant "no reason", there is very many meanings in this.
Would the bridge only do a small slowdown? Was it easy to find a way around, etc.
I really think this article needs more information for people who have not done a proper study on the subject.
____________
|
|
baklava
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Mostly harmless
|
|
posted August 07, 2008 02:20 AM |
|
|
The thing is that the bridge was a landmark from the 16th century. It was destroyed by Croatian forces, since it was the only link between Bosniak-held left bank of the Neretva river and a small pocket of territory under their control on the right bank. See this article if you are interested in further history of the bridge.
Interestingly enough, that whole affair was mostly between Croats and Muslim Bosniaks, Serbs didn't really have much to do with that. Not the army, at least. But things do tend to get blown to pieces during wars.
That's, however, a poor excuse. They wouldn't censor the whole film cause of that. The film was censored for completely other reasons, which become apparent here:
The viewer also complained that Palin implied that the Serbs were no more to blame than other groups for the conflict, saying it was equivalent to suggesting that the Nazis and the Jews were equally responsible for the Second World War.
The trust said the programme, broadcast last September, 'could have done more to have highlighted Serbia's role in the conflict' and 'could lead some viewers to believe that responsibility for the 1990s Balkan War was shared amongst all sides'.
See, apparently, the WRONG thing in the film isn't the bridge, it's that Palin presented all sides equally responsible. Which, obviously, does not match Western policies of picking sides according to material interest. God forbid that a viewer thinks everyone was responsible for their actions. 
That's the problem.
____________
"Let me tell you what the blues
is. When you ain't got no
money,
you got the blues."
Howlin Wolf
|
|
Moonlith
Bad-mannered
Supreme Hero
If all else fails, use Fiyah!
|
|
posted August 07, 2008 01:37 PM |
|
Edited by Moonlith at 13:37, 07 Aug 2008.
|
I think that the problem is that you're expecting intelligence from human beings
Can I welcome you to my club? 
|
|
Asheera
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Elite Assassin
|
|
posted August 07, 2008 01:40 PM |
|
|
Quote:
I think that the problem is that you're expecting intelligence from human beings
Human beings are intelligent, but some (most) are just too arrogant and don't even want to "use" it
____________
|
|
TheDeath
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
with serious business
|
|
posted August 07, 2008 01:47 PM |
|
|
Quote:
See, apparently, the WRONG thing in the film isn't the bridge, it's that Palin presented all sides equally responsible. Which, obviously, does not match Western policies of picking sides according to material interest. God forbid that a viewer thinks everyone was responsible for their actions.
That's the problem.
You're right, it 
But it's not that shocking to me, happens every day (censorship)
|
|
mvassilev
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
|
|
posted August 07, 2008 02:21 PM |
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
I think that the problem is that you're expecting intelligence from human beings
Human beings are intelligent, but some (most) are just too arrogant and don't even want to "use" it
Society used to kill intelligent people. Now idiots just say, "Yerh, yeh stupid elitists with yer ejumacashun! Yeh ain't good fer nothing!"
____________
Eccentric Opinion
|
|
Moonlith
Bad-mannered
Supreme Hero
If all else fails, use Fiyah!
|
|
posted August 07, 2008 02:40 PM |
|
Edited by Moonlith at 14:41, 07 Aug 2008.
|
Hey mind you, I'm currently in a clinch On one hand I have the elitist bastards that look down upon the plebs and ponder about how to strip them of more money and rights to keep them as good slaves.
On the other hand I have the masses of retarded people.
I don't know which side to choose =.=
|
|
JoonasTo
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
|
|
posted August 07, 2008 02:43 PM |
|
|
I think Baklava has pretty good choice on that.
ANARCHYY! 
____________
DON'T BE A NOOB, JOIN A.D.V.E.N.T.U.R.E.
|
|
Azagal
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Smooth Snake
|
|
posted August 07, 2008 04:07 PM |
|
|
Quote:
I miss Spectrum .
____________
"All I can see is what's in front of me. And all I can do is keep moving forward" - The Heir Wielder of Names, Seeker of Thrones, King of Swords, Breaker of Infinities, Wheel Smashing Lord
|
|
|
|
