Extreme Caution

Here’s a story that is just made for some enterprising young blogger to dig into for Librano connections.
I say “blogger”, because all the enterprising young reporters are busy looking for ways to replace the word “terrorist” in their reports with “The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation shares the goals of Al Qaida”.

‘Terrorist’ and ‘terrorism’: Exercise extreme caution before using either word.
Avoid labelling any specific bombing or other assault as a “terrorist act” unless it’s attributed (in a TV or Radio clip, or in a direct quote on the Web). For instance, we should refer to the deadly blast at that nightclub in Bali in October 2002 as an “attack,” not as a “terrorist attack.” The same applies to the Madrid train attacks in March 2004, the London bombings in July 2005 and the attacks against the United States in 2001, which the CBC prefers to call “the Sept. 11 attacks” or some similar expression. (The BBC, Reuters and many others follow similar policies.)
Terrorism generally implies attacks against unarmed civilians for political, religious or some other ideological reason. But it’s a highly controversial term that can leave journalists taking sides in a conflict.

I am trying very hard at this moment to resist a mental image of a fuel truck on its way through the front doors at 250 Front Street West – because I fear that is what it is going to take to loosen the grip of moral equivalence that has infected our Western media.
Memo To CBC. Islamofascism does not recognize “neutrality”. You have taken sides.
Theirs.

27 Replies to “Extreme Caution”

  1. ter�ror�ism ( P ) Pronunciation Key (tr-rzm)
    n.
    The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.
    Main Entry: ter�ror�ism
    Pronunciation: ‘ter-&r-“i-z&m
    Function: noun
    1 : the unlawful use or threat of violence esp. against the state or the public as a politically motivated means of attack or coercion
    2 : violent and intimidating gang activity �ter�ror�ist /-ist/ adj or noun �ter�ror�is�tic /”ter-&r-‘is-tik/ adjective
    Source: Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law, � 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
    terrorism
    n : the calculated use of violence (or threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimindation or coercion or instilling fear
    If the CBC continues to use the word “news” instead of “opinion” are they liable for false advertising?

  2. Toronto bans Miss Universe. You are next.
    Queen meets Dukes of Duh!
    This heat must be frying brains at Toronto City Hall. How else to explain the banning of Miss Universe from Nathan Phillips Square?
    canoe.news

  3. Maybe the small minority of Canadians who disapprove of the use of the word “terrorism” (CBC) could lobby the government to officially change the definition of that word.
    To paraphrase Paul Martin and company from 6 years ago, “Yeah right, as if that will ever happen.”

  4. Rather than calling assailants �terrorists,� we can refer to them as bombers, hijackers, gunmen (if we�re sure no women were in the group), militants, extremists, attackers or some other appropriate noun.
    LGF
    Political correctness: the death of language.
    The word : gunmen is to be used only if men are the murderers; if women are in the group of murderers, what is the name for that? Gunmen/gunwomen? Murderers? Islamo-fascist murderers?
    Political incorrectness feels good; and good for you. Down with the CBC.

  5. So the CBC thinks you can describe the act or indivivual without using “terrorism” or “terrorist.” Whoda thunk it, they’re right.
    Gen. Rick Hillier called them “detestable murderers and scumbags” and “despicable murderous bastards”.
    Note the glaring lack of the “T” words.

  6. There comes a time when political correctness becomes something akin to treason. That time has come for the CBC.
    In my opinion the CBC is guilty of treason. For anyone who accepts the fact that we are at war, what else can you call it? The CBC has chosen sides, and it is not ours.
    Kathryn, I also noted the lack of the word ‘terrorist’ in the statement by General Hillier. He was right to call them “detestable murderers and scumbags” and “despicable murderous bastards” but he should have called them terrorists as well. However, he probably spoke up only because Martin pulled his chain. Note how quickly the Liberals and NDP remarked on his statement, as if they knew it was coming.

  7. A marvelous moment on CBC Newsworld just after 1230. The host was interviewing Shahid Malik, a young Labour MP from Yorkshire, about the meeting PM Blair had this morning with Mulim leaders (which Mr Malik had attended). Towards the end of the interview Mr Malik said (as accurately as I could write it down), in response to a question about whether the UK’s actions in Iraq helped prompt the London mass murder:
    “We deal with these issues in this country through discourse, debate and democracy. If you don’t believe in that you shouldn’t be in this country.”
    The Newsworld host, a bit taken aback, responded:
    “You seem to be singing from Tony Blair’s songbook.”
    Mr Malik: “He’s singing from my songbook.”
    God bless Mr Malik. Same old CBC.
    Mark
    Ottawa

  8. Clicked the top link here — “enterprising blogger” — and learned that our taxpayer-funded Liberal mouthpiece, with it’s $1.3 billion budget, has “massive property holdings” and a real estate division. Some of the excessive bloat has been sold off, to help “maximize revenue”. Sonia Trudel, the CBC’s executive director of the real estate division says the CBC “has generated about $53 million in savings since it started its…focus on real estate.”
    “Savings” sounds good. But should a taxpayer-funded public broadcaster which acts as an advertising arm of the Liberal Party of Canada have “massive property holdings”, and a “real estate division”?
    And if this broadcaster “generates” $53 million by selling off real estate purchased with taxpayer money, who, exactly, benefits from these savings? I assume the money is not going back into general revenue. Will CBC’s budget be reduced?

  9. What terrorism?

    Andrew at Bound By Gravity, along with numerous other Canadian blogs, has much to say today about the CBC policy on use of the word ‘terrorism.’ The CBC, or Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, is Canada’s public broadcaster. The policy makes this…

  10. I think the CBC is right. The proper, politically correct terms should be:
    terrorist attack – servicing a target using preemptive counterattack to alter the health of soft targets causing destabilization to interdictional nonsuccumbers.
    Suicide attack – autoeuthanasia via energetic disassembly to render soft targets nonviable .

  11. We are at a historical point akin to the years immediately prior to WWII, when constant dithering, delusion, defeatism and denial made the ensuing bloodbath unavoidable, huge and reponsible for repercussions that still haunt us. The cowardly self-aggrandizing political elites learn nothing, except by force.

  12. Maz you were off topic with *Toronto bans Ms Universe*. Well that’s sort of fulffy.
    Here’s real delicious scandal with meat on it. In today’s July 19th National Post on line in the Financial Post section, you will find a story about Alberta Securities Commission and nastiness that includes sexism and an inflatable doll on the floor of the bosse’s office.
    Alberta finance minister Shirley McLennan has no doubt gained grey hair over the last six months with this can of worms.
    Once started, I couldn’t stop reading.
    Sorry to see this in the money Niagra of Alberta. Let’s hope it gets fixed fairly promptly. 73s TG

  13. Unfortunately there’s very little a Canadian taxpayer can do to stop this foolishness. Writing the CBC ombudsman is a waste of time. I’m betting there’s a direct correlation between those who are offended by the CBC’s stance on the “T” word, and their viewing demographic – that is to say people in metro Toronto will think this a perfectly reasonable stance for CBC to take, while people outside the “centre of the Universe” will consider it unreasonable. The CBC ombudsman will simply toss your complaints into the “rural western redneck complainers” category and press “delete”. Your only recourse is to consider it money you will never see again and turn it off. I’ve programmed my remote control to skip over CBC and CTV. After a week or so, you hardly miss it – give it a try.

  14. Kate,
    Of course there are Librano connections to the CBC’s new facilities in Ottawa. The owner of the building leased by the CBC is Rai Sahi of Morguard, close personal friend and business associate of Paul Martin. And of course, not surprisingly, Rai Sahi was recently appointed to the board of the CBC. Funny how the Globe & Mail fails to mention these conflicts of interest.
    More on the story and Mr. Sahi’s dubious business dealings here:
    http://www.cbcwatch.ca/?q=node/view/1111

  15. Can you imagine if we were to let those responsible persons at CBC to use the word terrorist or terrorism the damage they would do to the tender mindset of the people who spill innocent peoples blood which runs through the streets and buildings of other countries. These people might get angry and start disrupting peoples lives in bad ways.
    I would gladly agree to stop using the T words if Toronto (CENTER OF UNIVERSE) would send Miss Universe to Pacific Canada that way everyone would be happy.
    PS we will also send back Svend Robinson in the trade.

  16. Funny thing Kate…when I went to the CEO’s bio for the SNC-Lavelin…which bought Fortis..lo and behold,their name had been changed to Mamma.com Inc., .tried their website and it is unavailable.Ummmmm…smell a rat?

  17. In Isaac Azimov’s Epic novel “Foundation Trilogy” he describes a jupiter sized planet near the center of our Galaxy which housed the Galactic government. The entire planet was one giant office buiding.
    And guess what it’s name was” … Trantor.
    Of course it was as despised by the rest of the Galaxy as Toronto is by anone who doesn’t or can’t stomach living there.
    Regarding Toronto’s big fat feminist Berkenboot crowd. We like beautiful women even if you find them horribly threatening.

  18. Not to worry Kate…if the fuel truck does make it’s destination it will not be reported as a terrorist attack….using CBC rationale to remove the polemic issues “accurate” labels create, their moral equivilency dictates the event will be reported as viewer feed back.

  19. Canadian National Public Radio Broadcasts Call for State Control of Religion
    LifeSiteNews.com ^ | 20 July 2005
    Posted on 07/19/2005 5:16:30 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
    OTTAWA, July 19, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Just as Senate approaches the final vote on the gay ‘marriage’ bill, C-38, Canada’s national public radio CBC Radio has aired a commentary by a retired professor from the Royal Military College calling for state control over religion, specifically Catholicism. While parliamentarians dismissed warnings by numerous religious leaders and experts that such laws would lead to religious persecution, former professor Bob Ferguson has called for “legislation to regulate the practice of religion.”
    http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1446393/posts

  20. I’ve always thought that the term “bank robbery” is extremely pejorative and judgmental. It presumes that a bank was robbed-and by a person. I’ve always preferred the term “alleged non-consensual withdawal”- and even that is a bit strong as it implies that a crime may have been committed.
    Seriously, if one sets off a bomb to achieve some objective- by terrorizing others- it seems to me that refusing to refer to the event as terrorism is to judge the event as something other than terrorism- in other words to make a very fundamental (and favourable) judgment about the merits of the terrorist’s objectives and tactics- or else why else would one sugar coat the event by misdescribing the pepetrator and his objectives. He’s not just bombing, he’s bombing with a purpose-to terrorize.
    It isn’t just a matter of people setting off devices that cause matter to separate- or if you prefer bombs. That description of the event deliberately omits part of the story and indeed the part we need to know if we are to prevent the deployment of more matter-separating devices. To prevent the event from happening again we need to know who is setting off the bombs and why. In Iraq the acts of terror are being carried out by people who want to terminate the transformation of Iraq to a democracy. Some allege it’s because the terrorists want the Americans to leave, however even rational opponents of the liberation of Iraq acknowledge that the Americans can’t leave while the acts of terrorism continue.
    The memo is more proof of what I’ve long suspected. The CBC is cheering for the other side. Not only will they put up spinners like MacDonald, Dyer and Margolis they will censor the news by leaving out the part of the story that doesn’t support their world view that killing Americans and Jews hardly deserves a description as negative as “terrorism”.

  21. “To paraphrase Paul Martin and company from 6 years ago, “Yeah right, as if that will ever happen.””
    Sounds like what PM&Co. said back then about SSM…

  22. along your lines Terry…
    Shouldn’t we be referring to Karla Homolka as a “Militant Pedophile”? or possibly as a “Juvenile Centric Insurgent”?
    … after all, calling someone a “murderer” is soooo judgmental.

  23. Zing

    I think the whole terrorist/not terrorist thing is silly — the media outlets seem to be the only ones with a hangup about using the word. But it just isn’t that big a deal unless you’re already convinced that the…

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