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TechnoratiMalalai Joya and the Tale of 2 CNNs
"The Bravest Woman in Afghanistan," Malalai Joya did two CNN interviews on Thursday. Joya is an elected member of the Afghanistan parliament who has been suspended for "insulting fellow members of parliament" in a television interview. She is articulate and firm in her position that the Western occupation is feeding the violence.
The first interview was broadcast on CNN (US). In the middle of the interview, as Joya made clear she opposed US occupation, interviewer Heidi Collins said "occupation would certainly be your word, a lot of people would take great issue with you calling the US presence in your country an ‘occupation'." Joya went on to defend her position as Collins' interrupted snidely. As Joya tried to respond to Collins, she was cut off.
The second interview took place on CNN International. Joya's anti-occupation position was highlighted up front and the interviewer was polite and respectful.
12 Comments so far
Show AllWhen an Afghan pol speaks out against Obama's war and occupation against the Afghans, there is no denying his or her courage. The corporate media is as always like a jealous wife beater in both siding with the MIC and refusing to listen to honest guests such Joya. The cornfed electorate could learn foreign policy better if people like Joya would be given a chance to to actually express themselves rather than interupting them rudely and framing them as "troublesome".
Well by a strange coincidence it just happens I was listening to Malalai Joya talk here in boston. She was wonderful as always and it was really a delightful honor to be able to talk with her a little bit afterwards. be still my heart...
The Contrast in the CHARACTER between the two women could not be more pronounced.
I do not know what Malalai Joya might mean but it a beautiful name for a truly beautiful and courageous person.
This woman has 100 times the courage of any of those "heroes" dropping bombs on her people.
GWNorth: I agree. Contrast this truely beautiful, very brave and magnanimous lady with the nihilistic and extraordinary mendacities of Hillary Clinton to whom she thinks killing innocent people in Malalai Joya's country and Pakistan is not terrorism. No wonder they hate us...but of course, it is because we are free and they are not!
Heidi Collins is not a journalist in any way. She's one of the new breed of nasal-voiced twits who occupy the chairs formerly owned by somewhat real journalists. It's all very sad and embarrassing. America continues to go downhill, at least as it's represented by television.
I agree.
Writing as past viewer of both versions of CNN (USA & International); it is not surprising that the interviewer reacted differently based upon what the intended audience was. That Americans watch the worst news product in the First world (thought the U.K., with their tabloid news sources, are a close second) is absolutely no surprise. This does not become apparent unless individual Americans become expatriates (US military stationed abroad does not count, as they live an isolated existence all their own) and watch other programming.
It should also be noted that CNN is not the only American network that alters their programming for "foreign audiences," so to does CNBC, ESPN, etc.
Democracy Now! which broadcasts only one hour per day, 5 days a week (as opposed to CNN's 24/7 hours), managed to have an in-depth, meaningful interview with Malalai Joya, on October 28, 2009. You can view/listen to it at democracynow.org.
rosie2731
Rosie,I watched Amy interview with Ms.Joya and ordered her book today as a gift to my mom.She is a courageous woman and deserves support and protection. peace
Johnny H. I'm so glad to hear you did that. I agree, Ms Joya is a brave woman. And your mom must also be some kind of special woman for you to give her that book.
rosie2731
this only shows that the US is insulated and snide in its understanding of why we wage war. $$$
Just looking at the awful interviewer from new york. It made me cringe. Honestly.
And the member of parliament looked so ......I can tell she did not trust the interviewer at all. And she was so correct!