Post by Teddy Bear on Aug 16, 2010 17:04:26 GMT
65 years ago the free world celebrated victory over Japan as part of the conclusion of World War 2. Nearly 30,000 British serviceman lost their lives in this campaign to give us the free world we are able to enjoy.
So how does the BBC show respect for this memorial? How does the BBC support the society that had to endure the death, torture, and hardship involved to fight for our ideals and freedom? The society that is forced to pay for the propaganda, bullshit, and the ever deteriorating quality generated by this insidious organisation, full of its own self importance.
They decided it wasn't worth showing on any of their main channels, and instead relegated it to be covered in part on its News Channel. They felt that Murder, She Wrote and the EastEnders omnibus on BBC1 and a repeat of the Inside Sport special, The Princess Royal at 60 on BBC2 was more important.
One can only wonder how much more degenerate and disgusting will the BBC show themselves to be before they are eventually axed.
So how does the BBC show respect for this memorial? How does the BBC support the society that had to endure the death, torture, and hardship involved to fight for our ideals and freedom? The society that is forced to pay for the propaganda, bullshit, and the ever deteriorating quality generated by this insidious organisation, full of its own self importance.
They decided it wasn't worth showing on any of their main channels, and instead relegated it to be covered in part on its News Channel. They felt that Murder, She Wrote and the EastEnders omnibus on BBC1 and a repeat of the Inside Sport special, The Princess Royal at 60 on BBC2 was more important.
One can only wonder how much more degenerate and disgusting will the BBC show themselves to be before they are eventually axed.
Anger as BBC relegates live VJ Day coverage to digital channel
By Sara Nathan and Tim Shipman
The BBC caused anger yesterday by failing to screen the VJ Day anniversary service live on either of its main terrestrial channels.
Veterans, politicians and royalty gathered to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day.
But instead of screening the moving service on BBC1 or BBC2, Corporation chiefs decided to relegate it to the BBC News Channel.
To the fury of ex-servicemen and women, the half-hour service was ignored in favour of Murder, She Wrote and the EastEnders omnibus on BBC1.
On BBC2, television bosses plumped for a repeat of the Inside Sport special, The Princess Royal at 60.
MPs expressed dismay at the BBC's decision to put a repeat of a soap opera before the need to honour Britain's war heroes.
Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a former infantry commander, said: 'The troops in Burma always called themselves the Forgotten Army. Now their final victory is being snubbed as well.
'The BBC would do well to remember every major victory. This was the final defeat of Britain's enemies.'
The veterans, many wearing their campaign medals, came together in Whitehall to reunite with long-lost comrades and acknowledge the thousands who did not make it home.
The afternoon service at the Cenotaph was intended to remember the efforts of the hundreds of thousands of heroes who still work in harsh conditions overseas.
Tributes were also paid to the British troops who died during the Far East campaign.
Nearly 30,000 lost their lives, some 12,500 of them while prisoners of war. Members of the public also lined the north side of the Cenotaph to pay their respects.
The half-hour service was organised by the Ministry of Defence with the Burma Star Association.
Philip Davies, a member of the House of Commons Culture Select Committee, said the national broadcaster's handling of the commemoration would cast new doubt over the future of the licence fee.
'I think there seems on the face of it very little excuse for a public service broadcaster, wholly funded by the licence fee payer, to behave like this,' he said.
'What's the point of having a publicly-funded broadcaster if they are not prepared to screen that kind of thing, which is their core purpose?
'It casts into question the point of having a public sector broadcaster.'
Last night, the BBC's message boards were filled with complaints from angry viewers.
One wrote: 'It is incomprehensible that our "state owned" TV company, ie the BBC, is not providing live coverage of the veterans etc at the Cenotaph today, to "celebrate" the end of the war in the Far East and remember all the millions who died in that conflict.'
Another added: 'The coverage on BBC News 24 (News Channel) was very shabby - we got only half the service.'
A third viewer wrote: 'The Forgotten War, the Forgotten Army and now even the commemorations are disrespected by the BBC. Shame on you BBC.'
One pointed out that coverage of supermodel Naomi Campbell's recent war crimes trial testimony was more comprehensive. 'Get a certain Miss N Campbell to attend and wall to wall coverage will follow,' the viewer said.
Last night, a BBC spokesman said: 'The VJ Day anniversary is an important event and dedicated coverage was shown live on the BBC News channel and featured on BBC One news bulletins throughout the day.
'We work very closely with event organisers to determine the appropriate level of coverage.'
But that is unlikely to placate critics who want to see the BBC stripped of public funds unless it does more for public service broadcasting.
The Coalition Government has vowed to review the licence fee next year in a move which could see the levy cut, slashing the amount of money the BBC receives from the public purse.
Japan's new liberal prime minister yesterday apologised for his country's actions in the Second World War and shunned a visit to a shrine which honours kamikaze pilots.
At an annual memorial service for the war dead at Budokan hall in Tokyo, Naoto Kan said: 'We caused great damage and suffering to many nations during the war, especially to the people of Asia.
'We feel a deep regret, and we offer our sincere feelings of condolence to those who suffered and their families.
'We renew our promise to never wage war, and we promise to do our utmost to achieve eternal world peace and to never repeat again the mistake of war.'
None of his Cabinet visited the Yaksuni Shrine in Tokyo, which features a spectacular building and a museum that glorifies kamikaze pilots and war criminals.
It is the first time since the end of the war that the entire Cabinet has avoided visiting Yasukuni on August 15, the day Japan surrendered.
But showing the deep split Japan's role in the war still causes, members of the Liberal Democratic Party made a point by carrying out their own trip to the shine.
By Sara Nathan and Tim Shipman
The BBC caused anger yesterday by failing to screen the VJ Day anniversary service live on either of its main terrestrial channels.
Veterans, politicians and royalty gathered to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day.
But instead of screening the moving service on BBC1 or BBC2, Corporation chiefs decided to relegate it to the BBC News Channel.
To the fury of ex-servicemen and women, the half-hour service was ignored in favour of Murder, She Wrote and the EastEnders omnibus on BBC1.
On BBC2, television bosses plumped for a repeat of the Inside Sport special, The Princess Royal at 60.
MPs expressed dismay at the BBC's decision to put a repeat of a soap opera before the need to honour Britain's war heroes.
Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a former infantry commander, said: 'The troops in Burma always called themselves the Forgotten Army. Now their final victory is being snubbed as well.
'The BBC would do well to remember every major victory. This was the final defeat of Britain's enemies.'
The veterans, many wearing their campaign medals, came together in Whitehall to reunite with long-lost comrades and acknowledge the thousands who did not make it home.
The afternoon service at the Cenotaph was intended to remember the efforts of the hundreds of thousands of heroes who still work in harsh conditions overseas.
Tributes were also paid to the British troops who died during the Far East campaign.
Nearly 30,000 lost their lives, some 12,500 of them while prisoners of war. Members of the public also lined the north side of the Cenotaph to pay their respects.
The half-hour service was organised by the Ministry of Defence with the Burma Star Association.
Philip Davies, a member of the House of Commons Culture Select Committee, said the national broadcaster's handling of the commemoration would cast new doubt over the future of the licence fee.
'I think there seems on the face of it very little excuse for a public service broadcaster, wholly funded by the licence fee payer, to behave like this,' he said.
'What's the point of having a publicly-funded broadcaster if they are not prepared to screen that kind of thing, which is their core purpose?
'It casts into question the point of having a public sector broadcaster.'
Last night, the BBC's message boards were filled with complaints from angry viewers.
One wrote: 'It is incomprehensible that our "state owned" TV company, ie the BBC, is not providing live coverage of the veterans etc at the Cenotaph today, to "celebrate" the end of the war in the Far East and remember all the millions who died in that conflict.'
Another added: 'The coverage on BBC News 24 (News Channel) was very shabby - we got only half the service.'
A third viewer wrote: 'The Forgotten War, the Forgotten Army and now even the commemorations are disrespected by the BBC. Shame on you BBC.'
One pointed out that coverage of supermodel Naomi Campbell's recent war crimes trial testimony was more comprehensive. 'Get a certain Miss N Campbell to attend and wall to wall coverage will follow,' the viewer said.
Last night, a BBC spokesman said: 'The VJ Day anniversary is an important event and dedicated coverage was shown live on the BBC News channel and featured on BBC One news bulletins throughout the day.
'We work very closely with event organisers to determine the appropriate level of coverage.'
But that is unlikely to placate critics who want to see the BBC stripped of public funds unless it does more for public service broadcasting.
The Coalition Government has vowed to review the licence fee next year in a move which could see the levy cut, slashing the amount of money the BBC receives from the public purse.
Japan's new liberal prime minister yesterday apologised for his country's actions in the Second World War and shunned a visit to a shrine which honours kamikaze pilots.
At an annual memorial service for the war dead at Budokan hall in Tokyo, Naoto Kan said: 'We caused great damage and suffering to many nations during the war, especially to the people of Asia.
'We feel a deep regret, and we offer our sincere feelings of condolence to those who suffered and their families.
'We renew our promise to never wage war, and we promise to do our utmost to achieve eternal world peace and to never repeat again the mistake of war.'
None of his Cabinet visited the Yaksuni Shrine in Tokyo, which features a spectacular building and a museum that glorifies kamikaze pilots and war criminals.
It is the first time since the end of the war that the entire Cabinet has avoided visiting Yasukuni on August 15, the day Japan surrendered.
But showing the deep split Japan's role in the war still causes, members of the Liberal Democratic Party made a point by carrying out their own trip to the shine.