BBC on the ‘offensive’
Dear Johnny,
I don’t know if you read the BBC World News article entitled “Taiwan’s view on China anniversary” (news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8279841.stm). I found it rather offensive so I wrote to the BBC using your “expressive style”:
“I wish to complain about this article ‘Taiwan’s view on China anniversary’ by Cindy Sui. Your reporter has probably been sent to Taiwan and is saying things from a China perspective. I’m an expat who’s lived here for 18 years and the article is from the perspective of the KMT who INVADED Taiwan in 1949. Who cares what a retired army officer says and who was probably involved in the White Terror Era when thousands of Taiwanese were murdered by the great peanut head himself!” (Note: the BBC only permits you to use 500 words, which doesn’t allow you to express yourself clearly).
And their reply:
“Thank you for your email. We understand your point and have added a line to the story explaining that not all Taiwanese feel this way. But this story was pegged to the [60th] anniversary of communist rule in China, and is therefore about Taiwanese people’s view of that rather than the differences inside Taiwan. We have written other stories about the White Terror Era.
“Thank you again for contacting us, and for your interest in the site.”
What do you think?
Take good care of yourself in this time of flooding, flu and the floating debris of the Presidential Office.
MICHAEL
Johnny replies: Well, as a reply, it is perfectly professional and I would say more courteous than one might expect.
As an article, I thought it was passable, but its emphasis on the perspectives of people in a small minority was not acknowledged. The potential offense and deadly irony in the Mainlander general’s quip-cum-generalization about the tragedy of “Chinese fighting Chinese” also went unchallenged. The headline buried the views of at least half of us.
But I would also say that when it comes to giving the BBC direct feedback, adopting my tone may not be a good idea. Respect and sobriety help to educate certain people.
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