Sometimes, the defenders of “our” ABC advertise their left-wing credentials too well. Robert Manne, for example, was angry with the national broadcaster for not attacking a conservative American scholar. “He [Robert Kagan] was interviewed, respectfully, by almost every serious public affairs program on the ABC,” cried the professor. Fancy that. How dare the ABC treat a conservative with respect!
Being respectful to a conservative shouldn’t be an issue. The real problem with “our” ABC, however, is that the chattering classes have come to expect it to be viciously anti-American. Furthermore, they want it to reflect their anti-Israeli prejudices.
As a 20-something, I’d like a fair and balanced ABC. The Cold War is over. It’s time to move on guys.Time and again, ABC types have been exposed for their cowardice. One Triple-J presenter, for instance, likes to hang weird quotes in the ABC’s Darwin office. “There is no place in heaven for imperialist Yankee swine,” reads one choice poster. That was after the 9-11 attacks. In any case, honouring the words of bin Laden, racially speaking, is bizarre. He is an anti-Semite.
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A further disadvantage of left-wing media groupthink, racially speaking, is that it nurtures the seeds of hatred. Notably, the ABC Style Guide states, “one person’s ‘terrorist’ is someone else’s ‘freedom fighter’”. Red Fascists and self-hating Jews concur.
Predictably enough, the ABC Shop sells Michael Moore “documentaries”. Products made by the anti-capitalist multi-millionaire include:
- The Awful Truth DVD - Series 1 (12 episodes);
- The Awful Truth DVD - Series 2 (12 episodes);
- Bowling For Columbine DVD;
- Fahrenheit 9/11 DVD.
Not surprisingly, the ABC’s website also promotes a number of other left-wing resources. Evidently, watching over 700 minutes of Moore’s anti-American propaganda isn’t enough. So, the ABC website also recommends:
- Super Size Me DVD;
- The Corporation DVD;
- Outfoxed - Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism DVD;
- Soundtrack to War (an anti-Bush music spectacular) DVD.
Curiously, all of the above “documentaries” have been discredited by serious academics.
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The British writer Christopher Hitchens, for instance, points out, “Fahrenheit 9/11 is a sinister exercise in moral frivolity, crudely disguised as an exercise in seriousness. It is also a spectacle of abject political cowardice masking itself as a demonstration of ‘dissenting’ bravery.” Still, the ABC recommends Moore’s anti-American project because, “as always, Moore has much to say and he presents it compellingly in a film that is entertaining and provocative”. Apparently, only pro-appeasement documentaries are “entertaining” and “provocative”.
Funnily enough, I couldn’t find any media products that challenge Moore’s demonstrably false conspiracy theories. And I’m still looking. Then again, ABC types don’t feel that conservatives have much to say. Groupthink is the norm. Censorship is commonplace.
One of the ABC’s weirdest “mom and pop” conspiracy theory documentaries is Outfoxed - Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism. Nevertheless, “our” national broadcaster describes it as a “brilliantly executed exposé of the moral and ethical corruption of Fox News”. But that’s the beauty of propaganda isn’t it? The ABC, of course, is pure and innocent.
Curiously one of the interviewees on the documentary - who just happens to be an old socialist windbag - likened FOX News to the press system under the Third Reich. Sadly, he provided no evidence to support his bizarre contention. What we do find on this unintentionally comical documentary, however, is that Bill O’Reilly - an Irish-American TV host - raises his voice at some left-wing guests. That’s true. But he raises his voice at right-wing guests too. Alas, these interviews were edited out of this “brilliantly executed” excuse for an “exposé”.
It might be a good idea if the ABC reformed itself before the next election. The “public” media’s shop is a joke. We need fair and balanced bookshelves with products that reflect many (not just some) views. I have compiled a list of products I would like to see on the ABC’s website. My hope? To encourage intellectual diversity, of course. The products include:
- Is it True What They Say About Ann? This DVD looks at the life and works of Ann Coulter. The conservative pundit graduated from an Ivy League university with honours and is famous for her red-meat speeches. She’s fly.
- Colossus: the Rise and Fall of the American Empire. Niall Ferguson wrote this book with a blend of class and humour. The Times (London) agrees. The Oxbridge graduate has been listed as one of the best British historians. Unlike Moore, Ferguson contends that America is not an “evil” empire but has many redeeming features. Furthermore, UK’s Channel 4 has made his erudite book into a masterful documentary.
- Michael Moore Hates America. Michael Wilson’s documentary is more than an “interesting” documentary. The young filmmaker’s DVD offers a different perspective than the ones churned out by the Blame America First industry. After all, Michael Moore isn’t beyond accountability. Or is he? Scary stuff!
- Team America: World Police. The creators of South Park made this movie with Michael Moore in mind. Admittedly, some of the jokes are hard to digest. Still, the puppets in this “Thunderbirdsesque” comedy about Hollywood appeasers are hilarious. Russ Leatherman of CNN described it as: “The funniest friggin’ movie of the year.” Notably, Hollywood Leftists are furious that this comedy saw the light of day.
Products from the above list would serve as a counterweight to challenge the ABC’s culture of groupthink. If intellectual diversity is a gift, then Australians are being robbed blind. It’s time that “our” ABC acted like OUR ABC. My message is clear: bring back intellectual diversity! After all, the Cold War is over. Can we move on?