(no subject)

[fajrdrako]

My ex-husband (in the States) sent me an interesting link to pictures of the protest against Bush that happened in Ottawa last week.

The interesting thing is the contrast between this and the pictures in The Ottawa Citizen, which showed no crowds, few cops, and only a couple of young, lone protesters. I know there were a lot of people out even though I was in my office all day, working - the crowd spilled over onto Rideau Street, where I could see it. But protest was otherwise hardly mentioned i the newspaper, buried under the headlines of how friendly Mr. Bush was being, but even that was mitigated by the news the next day that Bush was "demanding" Canadian support on military issues and that he hadn't budged regarding beef and lumber. I bet most Americans don't even know about beef and lumber issues - not that there's any reason they should care. Or am I being too cynical? Heck, the "demands" that Bush is making of Canada regarding missile defence in the north probably aren't being reported in the American media. Why should anyone know about them?

Maybe the point is that a peaceful protest - and a protest in the interests of world peace - is invisible to the media; they only report violence. Or maybe The Ottawa Citizen is just a really bad paper. Or maybe newspapers are not a good source of real news any more.

Comments

[gem225.livejournal.com]

Heck, the "demands" that Bush is making of Canada regarding missile defence in the north probably aren't being reported in the American media.

This is the first I've heard of any such demands, so I think that you're right about that. Thank you for mentioning it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think there are issues relating to Canada that are loudly discussed in our media, because they are of interest and significance to Canadians; but there's no reason for the U.S. media to pick up on it, so they don't. Goodness knows the U.S. has a lot of issues with many nations, and Canada doesn't loom as the huge important factor in American affairs the way the U.S. looms large in all Canadian matters. It's the way history has fallen; I can only hope that though Canada may not have power, it may keep its integrity.

Submarines, of course, are a sensitive issue. (g)

[in-stead.livejournal.com]

I have to say, I was at the protest, and while it wasn't the non-event that the Ottawa Citizen made it out to be, neither was it the balls to the wall, omg cops are beating up peacefully protesting citizens event that the above link seems to make it out to be. It was large, it was peaceful, and the only people I saw being arrested where the few -- and I emphasise few -- who hopped the baricades and rushed the police line.

All in all, I was very proud of our protest. It was peaceful and polite on both sides of the blue line. All those cops in riot gear? I saw many of them making polite conversation with the front runners of the protesting crowd. I even saw them laugh at some of the signs people were carrying. At no time did I, as a peacefully protesting individual, feel like they were ready to -- what was it that the person who made the above website say? -- club or pepper spray me.

This reminds me -- time to upload and post my own protest pictures.

On the other hand, Jessica Squires, who is mentioned on the first page of that website, is a classmate of mine. I hadn't realised she was behind the bullhorn (which distorted her voice enough that I didn't recognise it), but it doesn't surprise me. She's lovely and wonderful and a real social activist.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you were at the protest. I would have been there if I could have been. It would love to see your pictures.

I always think I should be more of a social activist than I actually am. For a decade or so I was quite active in local bisexual groups but it's been a while. As times change, sometimes I feel that the freedom issues I believe in are more threatened than ever and it's necessary to stand up (or speak up) about them.

[dargit.livejournal.com]

Well, we get the Ottawa "Shitizen," unfortunately because it is the only game in town as far as papers go. We hardly consider the Ottawa "Shun" worthy of lining our bird cages with. (By the way, we don't own a bird.) It would be nice to have a more balanced newspaper but also have items of local interest. Thats not going to happen.
I personally take anything political in the paper with a grain of salt, and go looking elsewhere for better balance.

The Citizen

[maaseru.livejournal.com]

It's disgusting that there isn't a good paper in Ottawa. It never was much good, but after the new owners from out west fired the Editor because he wasn't following their very conservative pov on coverage, I never bothered even reading their website any longer.

Re: The Citizen

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's really a shame there isn't anything better. I wish there was. But then, as you know, I'm pretty much appalled by the state of journalism in North America these days.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I would never line my bird cages with pages of The Sun. I use the back of old drafts of slash stories.

Quite right, I don't generally believe the political stuff in the paper either, unless it's a direct quote. Or at least... Imay believe it but know it's not the whole story.

[dargit.livejournal.com]

At least with your old drafts they'd learn some words with more than one syllable.

One has to read a few sources to get any idea of what is happening.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes; I've always thought that it's important to get information from a lot of places, and in some ways it might be good for us that we aren't dependent on newspapers any more - let alone any one newspaper.