Racism and the BBC

alhewison Ali at zymurgy.org
Thu Aug 8 19:39:18 UTC 2002


--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Kathryn" <kcawte at k...> wrote:
> I've been listening to BBCNews24 during the day and it occurs to me 
that  while they wouldn't dream of making racist comments about 
coloured or asian  pople they seem to have decided that the Germans 
are fair game.  

 So why is it that it's practically a criminal offense to insult 
coloured  people but the 'Frogs' and the 'Krauts' are fine, and if 
they complain we  just say they have no sense of humour?
> 
> K

It IS a Criminal Offence to insult somebody on the grounds of race - 
which is why insulting a black person is racism. The way the Act was 
defined though, the French and Germans are not a separate race, and 
therefore not covered by the Race Discrimination Act. That said, it 
still saddens me if "the Beeb" feel the need to stoop to those kind 
of tabloid -like depths. 

Next time I wonder why the British are often seen as Xenophobic, 
Lager-louts by the outside world, I'll have to remember that's how we 
(or at least some of us) like to be seen! Perhaps Hagrid is an 
accurate portrayal of a certain kind of Brit afterall! 

Ali

(Who is not xenophobic, but does enjoy the odd drink or two)





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