Friday, December 6, 2002
Holiday wishes from Yasser - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER – Before the main Commentary, some thoughts on the death of Roone Arledge. Across the media world on Thursday afternoon came word that Arledge had died at the age of 71. I did not know him at all, but it was through his pioneering work in television that I knew him best. ABC Sports was nothing much, until Arledge created such landmark programs like ABC World Wide of Sports and Monday Night Football. Recently, I took in that made-for-television movie Monday Night Mayhem, which dramatised the creation of Monday Night Football and the triumphs and tribulations had in that show's history. Arledge was portrayed as a genius, for putting three guys in the broadcast booth – two jocks and the irrepressible Howard Cosell. Monday Night Football became the talk of the nation and it was due to Arledge's tenacity at creating blockbuster television (the first real must-see TV), and his patience in putting up with the Howard Cosell.
After making ABC Sports the tops, he moved onto head ABC News making legends out of personalities like Peter Jennings, Ted Koppel and Barbara Walters, as well as Diane Sawyer in a highly timed defection from CBS. Sure, they had careers before coming to ABC, but Roone Arledge it is safe to say, made them. ABC News, like ABC Sports was nothing until Roone Arledge came along. I guess it's very easy to look down on sports people, and it's easy to underestimate their ability when it comes to news reportage. Roone Arledge was the supreme example, and no better was that handled that in 1972 during the Munich Olympic games. ABC Sports had been covering the games, when PLO terrorists hijacked the games and took Israeli athletes hostage. Rather than give up the coverage to the news division, Arledge decided to stick with sportsman Jim McKay, and have him report the tragedy unfolding. Television history was made, and sports on television was never looked down upon again.
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On Thursday, the Montreal Gazette had this headline: "Quebec MP's cards show him with Arafat." Jean-Guy Carignan, independent MP for Quebec East has sent out holiday cards that bear his mug alongside Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
MPs and Senators get a portion of their office budget to send out Christmas cards each year. However, as I noted in a column nearly a year ago, they're no longer Christmas cards, rather they're the more politically correct holiday cards. Anyways, Carignan won his seat in 2000 as a Liberal. He resigned from the Liberal caucus to sit as an independent when he got into a bit of trouble with the law. During the election campaign, he had been out driving and he had struck a woman in the road. Rather than do the decent thing and help her, or at least wait for help, Carignan fled the scene. He was convicted of leaving the scene of the accident, and because he pleaded guilty, the woman, who has permanent vision problems, has dropped her charges against him. It is alleged that he fled the scene because he was drunk at the time, but he claims only to have been in an "hypnotic trance" due to his taking of an allergy medicine, Drixoral.
Carignan is in the news now, because the card he's mailed out this year features a photo of him taken with Arafat. The card may be in bad taste to some, but really it demonstrates sheer stupidity. The photo was taken earlier this year when Carignan and eight other MPs took a trip to Ramallah. Now does it really matter that the MP for Quebec East took his photo with Arafat? No. If I were ever to meet with Arafat, I'd allow for my photo to be taken with him. Would I flagrantly show it off to some of the Jewish people I know? Probably, but not at this time when Israelis are in a state of constant terror, perpetrated by some in the Palestinian camp that Arafat leads.
MPs usually choose ‘safe' images like the snow filled hills of Gatineau or Parliament Hill at night. I know, because I've gotten cards like that. I think I would be shocked were I to get a card, and open it up to see the mug of someone like Arafat, who arguably has used terrorism to get where he is today. It would be spooky.
The report filed by a reporter at the Ottawa Citizen, says that the real stink is about the fact the card was sent out using taxpayer dollars. Admittedly, I no doubt feel the story was run on the premise of inciting some anger from the public, namely in Quebec, as it is prominent in Thursday's Gazette. The Citizen and the Gazette, if you didn't know, are owned by the CanWest Global company, which is in turn controlled by the Aspers of Winnipeg. Izzy Asper, the patriarch of that outfit, is the same person who earlier this year sponsored a speech at Concordia University by Benjamin Netanyahu, the right-wing Israeli pol who opposes the creation of a Palestine state. (A talk that never took place because a riot broke out.) Asper, of course, a supporter of the State of Israel, is alleged to have sent an edict to all of his papers to run stories that only portray the State of Israel in a flattering light, or else. (Carignan states in the article that the image on his card reflects his position that there should, one day, be a Palestinian state.)
B'nai Brith has already offered their outrage at the card. Their spokesperson, quoted in the story said, ""To show yourself photographed with him at this time of year, in a message of peace to your constituents, is absolutely outrageous. We know that Arafat operatives have claimed responsibility for numerous acts of terror against civilians. Arafat leads Fatah, a bunch of terrorists. And Arafat is the one who says to them, 'Go out and do your suicide bombings.'"
Others have already branded Carignan anti-Semitic. He could very well be that, however I've never met him. What he is though, is unquestionably stupid. In a year when much blood shed has taken place in that region, and in a year when world opinion has been heavily against both Israel and the Palestinians, namely Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat, putting the most prominent face of one side of a heated and polarising conflict is utter stupidity and in terrible taste.
Carignan is undoubtably the biggest moron on Parliament Hill. This episode does not add to his already undistinguished and seedy record. Peace on him, this holiday season.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .