Iran's president to deliver Christmas message on British TV

[Scurrilous]

Source: AFP

<snip>

"Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will deliver an alternative Christmas message on British television to rival Queen Elizabeth II's annual address, broadcaster Channel Four said Wednesday.

Ahmadinejad will give a brief speech which will go out on 1915 GMT on Christmas Day.

A Channel Four spokesman said the message is a spiritual one and includes Ahmadinejad's wishes for seasonal goodwill.

Channel Four has invited a figure in the news to deliver an alternative Christmas message to the queen's annual broadcast every year since 1993 but Ahmadinejad is the most high-profile guest yet."

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gKK8xx1FFuE3QosmLCaZSMDmvQiQ

[Ghost Dog]

1. Good. n/t

[cali]

6. how amusing that at this time on DU

when we're outraged about a bigot being given a prominent spot on the podium on inauguration day, that some people are cheering on the giving of a prominent spot to another bigot. Ahmadinejad is a homophobic, anti-semitic cretin.

[awoke_in_2003]

8. He shouldn't be given

a platform either. His country hangs homosexuals. And don't kid yourself, if the law allowed for it, Rick Warren would condone it, too.

[f the letter]

9. A fair point. n/t

[The Stranger]

15. It's not amusing. But it may be a matter of war and peace.

And it depends upon what it is he wants to say. (Does anyone know what he said?)

The canard that speaking with or listening to someone (for example, one's enemies) is "consorting with the enemy" was seized upon by the Republicans and, unfortunately, Hillary Clinton.

It was exposed for what it was and eviscerated by Barack Obama.

[oberliner]

16. Here is a link to the full text of what he said

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/25/ahmadinejad-christmas-message

[The Stranger]

18. I scanned it.

And I obviously have a significantly different world view and do not subscribe to any of the religious aspect of it.

But maybe cali should read (or scan) it too. Did she?

[cali]

17. It depends upon what (insert name here, Rick Warren, David Duke, etc)

wants to say. Er, no it doesn't. And the double standard exhibited so frequently at DU, is amusing.

[dipsydoodle]

2. How amazing !

Incase you wondered - Channel Four Television Corporation was set up by an Act of Parliament in the UK. It is a publicly owned corporation and does not have any shareholders. Bit like the BBC really although the Beeb is funded from our television licence fees and CH4 isn't.

[originalpckelly]

3. I remember reading about the licensing fees, that's some weird shit...

we've probably got out stuff in America, but if they dared to make us pay a license to own a TV receiver, that'd be it for our government, especially if they enforced it with their little detectors/vans.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Read and inwardly digest

as they used to say in school. :rofl:

It's just another tax. Details here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom

Goes right back to the days of steam driven radio. :hi:

[martymar64]

7. Isn't that what Vyvyan from The Young Ones did?

When the licensing man came around Vyvyan ate the telly.

[dipsydoodle]

12. I think you're correct there

I'm really impressed that you got our quality programs over there. :rofl:

[martymar64]

14. I have The Young Ones on DVD

Also I have couple seasons of Blackadder as well. I love comedy and you Brits do have a knack for it. Most of our comedy television shows are pure crap, with the exceptions of the Daily Show, Colbert Report and Chocolate News.
Keep up the good work!

[awoke_in_2003]

10. Oh, we pay fees alright...

it is having to sit through 10 minutes of commercials for every 30 minutes of programming.

[dipsydoodle]

13. I was thinking that myself.

Nor sure what happens your side with our BBC programs but over here definately no commercial advertising whatsofuckingever - that's the great thing about tne Beeb.

[skooooo]

4. I can hardly wait.

:eyes:

[moggie]

11. It's the usual provocation

Controversy = more viewers = advertising revenue

Is anyone surprised when a TV channel does this? It's what they do.

Mind you, I don't want to see the queen giving her annual message either. I didn't vote for her.