Post by Teddy Bear on Apr 21, 2013 16:22:07 GMT
Earlier this year we observed the BBC in full 'politically correct' mode editing out certain lines from the Fawlty Towers episode of The Germans. It was noted that only those with a BBC like mindset could find offence with it as the rest of us understood exactly how to see it.
The scene involves Basil Fawlty and the major, played by actor Ballard Berkeley, exchanging their normal pleasantries before the conversation moves on to Basil’s wife Sybil and women in general.
The major tells Fawlty about the time he took a woman to see India play cricket at the Oval. He then says: ‘The strange thing was, throughout the morning she kept referring to the Indians as niggers. “No, no, no,” I said, “the niggers are the West Indians. These people are wogs”.’
Most viewers who complained to the BBC about their editing this line out made the point that the 'bigoted character' was meant to be laughed at - not with.
Now there's another scene from this episode we can expect to be edited out, or perhaps they won't even show it again:
It seems the BBC don't want to offend the Germans with a new WW1 Drama about the war, so a drama they commissioned and scheduled to be run during Armistice week, is to give equal prominence to both sides.
The Great War, which the writer admits ‘will probably cause controversy’, is said to be part of a BBC strategy to guard against any ‘triumphalism’ over the Allied victory in the 1914-18 conflict. However, according to one insider, BBC bosses are sensitive about ‘not offending the Germans’ – partly because they hope to sell the drama to Germany and other European broadcasters.
So we can see how the BBC justify their output, putting 'high minded' reasons as the basis, at least in their mind, yet underneath that thin veneer we see a far less altruistic motive. It wouldn't be so bad if they were open and honest about it to begin with, but that as we know is not the BBC way. 'Transparency' is just a phrase they mouth to convince the public that they understand it, not what they actually are.
Perhaps the worst part to this story is this:
The series creator Tony Jordan, a former EastEnders lead writer, said he realised the decision to give equal weight to both perspectives might cause controversy, but dismissed any critics as ‘cretins’.
He said: ‘If there’s a moron in Tunbridge Wells who thinks that what we’re commemorating is beating the s*** out of the Germans, then all I can say is these are the kinds of people who made the war happen in the first place.
I would say that the cretin is himself. We expect the BBC to make programmes from the standpoint of our nation and our society. WE ARE THE ONES THAT PAY FOR IT. We can feel justifiably proud of our troops, and any veterans left, for going through an unimaginable tough time to prevent Germany taking over Europe. The very clear ethical justifications for going to war should be highlighted, and the lesson to be learned, that standing up for freedom and democracy when threatened does reap rewards, is a lesson that the BBC for one might benefit from.
THE CRETINS ARE THOSE AT THE BBC.
The scene involves Basil Fawlty and the major, played by actor Ballard Berkeley, exchanging their normal pleasantries before the conversation moves on to Basil’s wife Sybil and women in general.
The major tells Fawlty about the time he took a woman to see India play cricket at the Oval. He then says: ‘The strange thing was, throughout the morning she kept referring to the Indians as niggers. “No, no, no,” I said, “the niggers are the West Indians. These people are wogs”.’
Most viewers who complained to the BBC about their editing this line out made the point that the 'bigoted character' was meant to be laughed at - not with.
Now there's another scene from this episode we can expect to be edited out, or perhaps they won't even show it again:
It seems the BBC don't want to offend the Germans with a new WW1 Drama about the war, so a drama they commissioned and scheduled to be run during Armistice week, is to give equal prominence to both sides.
The Great War, which the writer admits ‘will probably cause controversy’, is said to be part of a BBC strategy to guard against any ‘triumphalism’ over the Allied victory in the 1914-18 conflict. However, according to one insider, BBC bosses are sensitive about ‘not offending the Germans’ – partly because they hope to sell the drama to Germany and other European broadcasters.
So we can see how the BBC justify their output, putting 'high minded' reasons as the basis, at least in their mind, yet underneath that thin veneer we see a far less altruistic motive. It wouldn't be so bad if they were open and honest about it to begin with, but that as we know is not the BBC way. 'Transparency' is just a phrase they mouth to convince the public that they understand it, not what they actually are.
Perhaps the worst part to this story is this:
The series creator Tony Jordan, a former EastEnders lead writer, said he realised the decision to give equal weight to both perspectives might cause controversy, but dismissed any critics as ‘cretins’.
He said: ‘If there’s a moron in Tunbridge Wells who thinks that what we’re commemorating is beating the s*** out of the Germans, then all I can say is these are the kinds of people who made the war happen in the first place.
I would say that the cretin is himself. We expect the BBC to make programmes from the standpoint of our nation and our society. WE ARE THE ONES THAT PAY FOR IT. We can feel justifiably proud of our troops, and any veterans left, for going through an unimaginable tough time to prevent Germany taking over Europe. The very clear ethical justifications for going to war should be highlighted, and the lesson to be learned, that standing up for freedom and democracy when threatened does reap rewards, is a lesson that the BBC for one might benefit from.
THE CRETINS ARE THOSE AT THE BBC.
BBC infuriates veterans with plans to give British and German troops equal prominence in First World War centenary drama
Corporation unveils plans for drama to run in Armistice Week next year
Tory MP and military historian Patrick Mercer has criticised the plans
By Nick Constable
A major BBC drama to mark the centenary of the First World War has infuriated veterans by giving equal prominence to British and German soldiers in the trenches.
The Great War, which the writer admits ‘will probably cause controversy’, is said to be part of a BBC strategy to guard against any ‘triumphalism’ over the Allied victory in the 1914-18 conflict.
According to one insider, BBC bosses are sensitive about ‘not offending the Germans’ – partly because they hope to sell the drama to Germany and other European broadcasters.
The row has echoes of The Monocled Mutineer series in the Eighties, when the BBC was accused of sensationalising a minor mutiny in the trenches.
Ben Stephenson, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning, unveiled the planned series at a TV industry convention in Cannes.
Publicity material says the story will be told ‘through the eyes of two ordinary young men who enlist in a war they expect will be over within months’.
Curiously, however, there was no mention that only one of the two leads is a British Tommy. The other is an 18-year-old German whose life is shattered by the war.
The series creator Tony Jordan, a former EastEnders lead writer, said he realised the decision to give equal weight to both perspectives might cause controversy, but dismissed any critics as ‘cretins’.
He said: ‘If there’s a moron in Tunbridge Wells who thinks that what we’re commemorating is beating the s*** out of the Germans, then all I can say is these are the kinds of people who made the war happen in the first place.
‘Back then, no one knew what a world war meant. It was all going to be over by Christmas and so all the kids dashed in – it was the equivalent of an iPod craze.’
Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a military historian and former Army officer, condemned the BBC’s decision to give the German perspective equal weight.
He said: ‘Doesn’t BBC stand for British Broadcasting Corporation? It seems some people need to be reminded.
‘I regularly meet families whose relatives died in that war. They don’t forget what happened.’
Veterans’ charities declined to give a public comment for fear it could affect their non-political status, but one source said: ‘Privately, there is very deep disquiet about this.’
The Great War will run for five nights on BBC1 during Armistice Week next year.
Corporation unveils plans for drama to run in Armistice Week next year
Tory MP and military historian Patrick Mercer has criticised the plans
By Nick Constable
A major BBC drama to mark the centenary of the First World War has infuriated veterans by giving equal prominence to British and German soldiers in the trenches.
The Great War, which the writer admits ‘will probably cause controversy’, is said to be part of a BBC strategy to guard against any ‘triumphalism’ over the Allied victory in the 1914-18 conflict.
According to one insider, BBC bosses are sensitive about ‘not offending the Germans’ – partly because they hope to sell the drama to Germany and other European broadcasters.
The row has echoes of The Monocled Mutineer series in the Eighties, when the BBC was accused of sensationalising a minor mutiny in the trenches.
Ben Stephenson, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning, unveiled the planned series at a TV industry convention in Cannes.
Publicity material says the story will be told ‘through the eyes of two ordinary young men who enlist in a war they expect will be over within months’.
Curiously, however, there was no mention that only one of the two leads is a British Tommy. The other is an 18-year-old German whose life is shattered by the war.
The series creator Tony Jordan, a former EastEnders lead writer, said he realised the decision to give equal weight to both perspectives might cause controversy, but dismissed any critics as ‘cretins’.
He said: ‘If there’s a moron in Tunbridge Wells who thinks that what we’re commemorating is beating the s*** out of the Germans, then all I can say is these are the kinds of people who made the war happen in the first place.
‘Back then, no one knew what a world war meant. It was all going to be over by Christmas and so all the kids dashed in – it was the equivalent of an iPod craze.’
Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a military historian and former Army officer, condemned the BBC’s decision to give the German perspective equal weight.
He said: ‘Doesn’t BBC stand for British Broadcasting Corporation? It seems some people need to be reminded.
‘I regularly meet families whose relatives died in that war. They don’t forget what happened.’
Veterans’ charities declined to give a public comment for fear it could affect their non-political status, but one source said: ‘Privately, there is very deep disquiet about this.’
The Great War will run for five nights on BBC1 during Armistice Week next year.