Biases of the American Press

Ref Daring #: 35

[But most Americans think of Pakis as better people than Indians. All the cow, smell and ugly women jokes are made towards Indians. I have read this on discussion forums. This one I go to, usually has some topics everyday as to how ugly Indian women are. Some people in there mention that Paki women and people look better than Indians.]

I am reminded of the story of a Pakistani who made it to the US, worked hard for a couple of years to save up enough money to visit his family in Pakistan, and landed in Karachi.

His family is of course very curious about America and everything American.

The dad asks, ``Well, son, what are Americans like?``

The American-returned Paki answers, ``Daddyji, Americans are very funny people. They call a fat man Slim. They call a bald-headed man Curly. And why, they know I have not been with my wife for almost two years and they call me a Fu * *ing Paki.``

I wonder what Pakis think of their little chapta buddies (erstwhile?) in commie China holding that American plane. I hope Bush strangles a few of them with a noodle.

Here is another account of a boycott of a newspaper. It is relevant because an American might ask about the bias of the Pakistani media.

ABDULLAH MALIK is like that famous brew. He is into his eighty-first year and still going strong. Some time ago, he stopped reading newspapers, so one is not sure he will read this. ``That`s the best thing I did. I had reached a point where I could no longer read them, which is an odd thing for a life-long journalist to say,`` he explained.

What really got Abdullah Malik`s goat were Urdu columnists who along with gun-toting holy warriors determined to liquidate the infidels from the face of the earth, are now the only growth industry in Pakistan. He found what he read too enervating, too disturbing for his peace of mind and sense of well-being. So one day, he decided that enough was enough and, in any case, he had read more newspapers in a given year than most people do in a lifetime.

http://www.dawn.com/2001/04/02/op.htm#4

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Not related to the topic at all, but here is an account of a Gurudwara in another capital at

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19873-2001Mar31.html

-Arun Gupta

Re: macgupta # 33

I agree with your analysis of the situation vis-a-vis Sino-American relations.

Sino-American relations will worsen in the short to meduim term, because the Bush Administration does not have a foreign policy other than a revisionist cold war ideal. In this sense, as you have mentioned, Clinton`s foreign policy that was based on the logic of economic diplomacy helped to bring China and the United States closer in an economic sense. You are right: the present diplomatic tete à tete is more about the means than the end! This nothing more than a game leveraging influence in the region and mapping out the ground rules for a Sino-American ``mirror interests`` and how to manage their bi-lateral relations.

As to Pakistan and China and India relations, your arguments about China wishing to be stablizing influence in the CARs (Central Asian Republics) is right on the money. If China wants to confront United States in an Asian version of the cold war, it needs to mimimize political instability on its borders, which can seep into its domestic politics and cause internal instability for the government in Beijing.

The critical assumption to remember is that the Sino-Pakistan friendship is an all weather friendship and the forecasts of newly emerging Sino-Pakistan political weather patterns will be decided in Beijing and not Islamabad! The weather systems will flow in from China and it will gravely effect the political climate in Pakistan.

Ciao!

Dear Omar Mirza:

Your statement: ``. . . Humankind has enshrined Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion, Association, Rule of law, Due process, Democracy, and Nondiscrimination on the basis of either gender or religious belief, as Universal Human Values. The denial of these rights, and the torture and imprisonment of political opponents by governments worldwide, is no longer acceptable State behavior.``

My reply: No longer acceptable State behavior! In whose eyes? What options are realistically available to the citizens if their fundamental civil and political rights are violated on a routine basis by the state apparatus apparently controlled either by a dictatorial or an elected regime? What if such a regime is supported by some of World`s leading democracies?

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Mirza Sahib wrote:
``Until Pakistan becomes a functioning democracy, where the Pakistani people`s own Constitutional rights are respected (not expediently hedged), and State policies of condoning the actions of certain people who believe in violence are sidelined, it will remain `America`s Worst Nightmare.`

This is quite inaccurate. Historically, America
has sided wholeheartedly with the worst dictatorships in Pakistan. General Zia being the prime example.
What Pakistan lacks today is the ability to sell
its services and markets. If you want to get something positive in the American Press you should have something to market. Jihadis are
a terrible marketing tool especially since their transformation from being Mujahideen.
India appears to have plenty to sell at the moment and can do no wrong YET it is still
being ignored in general beyond Silicon Valley.
Indians in the US have developed economic clout but are still on the political/social periphery
in spite of their large numbers. And Pakistanis are not seen much beyond the Masjid scene which seems to take up most of their time.

Ras

For all those who harbor nostalgic memories of Old Delhi, and those who left India for Pakistan in 1947, but are unable to re-visit, I have posted a (not-too-well-written) account of a trip there in the Leafy Glade Inn, Article by Farzana Versey, article Empty Journeys, post #21

Scout has every right to boycott whatever newspaper she considers to be prejudiced. That is a time-honored, democratically cherished way of expressing strong disagreement. And if there is one thing we have all come to admire scout for, it is her strong views. More power to you, scout:)

The prejudice against Pakistan or overal muslims is not limited to NYT, WP or 60 minutes. Take any newspaper or TV, you would be blind not to realize it. Unfortunately as they say if you reiterate lies repeatedly it becomes truth, most people believe the news they read or watch. There are ten times more palestinians being killed, still they are called terrorists. Sharon, the grand daddy of terrorism (who started realm of terrorism with bombing of palestinian hotel in 54 and not to mention his prison camps from labanan war) is calling Arafat terrorist. Things won`t change until enough muslims join political and journalism system. Until then americans will only hear one side of the story and treat muslims as terrorist.

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Why are people getting so pissed off at my personal boycott against the NY TImes? It`s my prerogative.

You`d think they are the NYTimes marketing directors.

Buzz off :)

shima #39, ``Has it ever occur to you that there may be some truth to what these newspapers are saying?``

SURE but has it ever occured to you that countries such as Israel and India also commit atrocities which are ignored if not glossed over by the NY Times?

How do you answer that, tell me?

``instead of seeing the real problems you guys are worried about your image.``

Umm, hello? We do see the real problems, has the community ever let us forget? I don`t know where you`re coming from by saying this. I`m personally not as concerned with image as I`m concerned with fair media assessment.

On a side, I believe Indians are more image conscious than PAkistanis.

``Who gives a damn if you do not read NYP``

On the same note, who gives a damn if you don`t give a damn about me reading the NY Times? Your point is?

`` Hosh me aon, josh me bahekne se pehle. ``

Nice rhyme but I believe you should relax and not be so patronising.

In answer to :Reply #: 38

Re: tahmed321 Reply #: 22

Why is it so important to the author how we are viewed by the western press while the problems themselves are only mentioned in passing?

....

From what I have noticed about the sub-continentals, their predominant worry/phobia/fear/obsession is:

What will the people(especially the West) say/think?

While it is a good thing to care about other opinions it is not healthy to be obsessed by it. It smacks of a lack of self confidence.

Sorry to interrupt, just wanted to post this for the attention of sigalph235:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,3962925,00.html#top

``Lakhwant Singh Khalsa works for the Indian railway. On this, his first visit to Dhaka, the 40-year-old Sikh set out with a colleague to explore a little bit of the capital city.

As they walked across the Dhaka university campus at Ramna, Mr Khalsa stumbled upon a Gurudwara, or Sikh temple``

apologies again for the diversion.

regards

Harpreet

Why do you insist on comparing Pakistan with India? India is much more than a country, it is a civilisation; Pakistan is a country confused about whether it is a breakaway part of India / Indian civilisation or part of some grand Arabo-Islamic civilisation... You are better off comparing it with Libya or Sudan or whatever.

A couple of other points:

To expect NYT or any other American newspaper to be `objective` is dumb.

US public is least concerned about foreign policy, least of all US policy regarding South Asia.

Finally, if every paper outside Pakistan is not highlighting Indian `atrocities` in J&K, maybe the `atrocities` are not as severe as is made out to be by Pak media and govt.