A familiar scenario
Not only in Malta, then: Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson is under fire for saying, on BBC1’s One Show, that those who went on strike across Britain yesterday should be shot.
“I’d have them all shot,” he said. “I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families. I mean, how dare they go on strike when they’ve got these gilt-edged pensions that are going to be guaranteed while the rest of us have to work for a living.”
The BBC received about 4,700 complains about this, and the prime minister, who was dragged into the mix (not only in Malta, again) said: “It’s obviously a silly thing to say. I’m sure he did not mean that.”
That’s called a polite brush-off. Too bad we don’t have the same sort of idiom in Maltese, then our prime minister could use it each time KullHadd sends in questions asking why he doesn’t shut me up or ‘condemn’ me.
One of the unions says it is examining the ways it can take legal action against Clarkson. Its general secretary told the press: “Clarkson’s comments on the One Show were totally outrageous, and they cannot be tolerated. We are seeking urgent legal advice about what further action we can take against him and the BBC, and whether or not his comments should be referred to the police….The One Show is broadcast at a time when children are watching – they could have been scared and upset by his aggressive statements. An apology is not enough – we are calling on the BBC to sack Jeremy Clarkson immediately. “
Socialists – they’re the same everywhere.
Clarkson later apologised, though not fulsomely: “I didn’t for a moment intend these remarks to be taken seriously – as I believe is clear if they’re seen in context. If the BBC and I have caused any offence, I’m quite happy to apologise for it alongside them.”
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I watched that show. When I heard that he was being attacked all I could think was “It’s Jeremy Clarkson! Of course he was joking.”
Don’t these people watch Top Gear?
Jeremy Clarkson – now that’s a TV personality! I watch Top Gear even though I’m not very much interested in fast cars. I watch it for the humour, something very lacking here in Malta.
Sacking Jeremy Clarkson? haha!! I don’t think the BBC will ever consider such a move as I’m sure the man rakes in millions of pounds in revenue for the corporation.
I couldn’t resist the urge to comment on a report about this on The Times (London).
“Being a bloody foreigner, I was of the opinion that the British had a sense of humour.”
It must have struck a chord, because the comment got 107 recommendations. So perhaps people in general do not feel the way the unions and their leaders do.
Something I’ve noticed: people like to feel offended.
I think the only thing that offended them was that he doesn’t support the strikes, and he said so on TV.
[Daphne – Yes, I’ve noticed that too.]
Also from the Jerusalem Post of 02nd Dec….
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu scolded Opposition leader Tzipi Livni on Thursday, protesting her meeting the day before with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Netanyahu called Livni, telling her that “if the Palestinians want to negotiate, the only way to do so is with the elected government of Israel,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
“Socialists – they’re the same everywhere” – you bet.
Socialists cannot ever see further than the back of their room.
http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/tiny-apeel?VideoBrowserMode=categories&VideoCategory=Tests
One of his funniest drives.
It has been estimated that the cost to the British taxpayer for security, health and safety etc. on the day of the protest is in the region of one billion pounds.
The government said that the protest should never have been held, especially since there were ongoing negotiations at the time.
In these difficult times, that money could have been used elsewhere.
But some unions don’t really care about taxpayers do they?
So Clarkson should resign over a joke, and Austin Gatt cause our buses are always late. Then Government is found guilty of human rights violation, sending back refugees to gaddafi’s Libya knowing they will be tortured, and no one seems to give a hoot. I give up! http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111201/local/a-victory-for-the-right-to-seek-asylum-aditus.396401