Jewish groups blast TV show

Source: Associated Press

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Jewish groups have condemned a Belgian public broadcaster for airing a show in which a standup comedian jokes about the Holocaust and the persecution of Jews.

The protest marked the third time in two months the VRT broadcaster was accused of gross insensitivity toward Jews. On Oct. 27, protests forced it to scrap a TV show about Adolf Hitler's supposed favorite dish — alpine trout in butter sauce — as part of a series about famous people's favorite foods.

In the 2008 review show "Het Besluit" — which aired Dec. 21 and is available on the VRT web site — comedian Philippe Geubels accused Belgians Jews of overreacting to the food show.

"What are they going to do if there is a big gas leak in Antwerp?" asked Geubels referring to the Belgian port city, which has a large Jewish community. "Take the city to court for provocation? Preemptively file charges against anyone who dares joke about that?"

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081225/ap_en_tv/eu_belgium_jewish_protest

:shrug:

I don't think the actual food itself was relevant to the complaint in that case.

I think it was more that they were devoting an episode of this cooking show to Hitler's favorite meal, cooking the fish where he had a summer home in Belgium.

Is there somebody with a gun forcing them to watch?

Why don't they just get over it? :sarcasm:

No, I don't think the show should be banned, but isn't it fair that some groups can protest and talk about how repugnant it is?

The broadcaster canceled the show in light of the protests.

offended whiners.

That speaks volumes about you...

parodies my "lifestyle". There are people who have no life other than to search the world for something to be offended about.
You know that is true.

to find people who would be offended by an "Adolph Hitler Cooks" segment on PBS.

I don't know you, you're right - but I will repeat: your statement "offended whiners" speaks volumes about you.

Gay or straight, you're cold.

I wouldn't bother to officially complain. But then I'm not an offended whiner. Never was, never will be, but far be it from me to preclude basement-dwelling idiots from doing so. Boo fucking hoo. Don't you think it's pathetic how some people have no goddamn thing to do but bitch?

:nopity:

goddamned thing to do than to bitch about people who are using their right to free speech to speak up and condemn the shallow bastards who think the Holocaust makes great standup material, or that we should all cook trout like one of the greatest murderers of our time.

Yet you do seem to be whining about the criticisms and critiques of those who don't want the show to air. But I'm sure your complaints, whining and protestations are valid, whilst the critiques of others aren't... :eyes:



"Don't you think it's pathetic how some people have no goddamn thing to do but bitch?"
Well... that seems to be precisely what you're doing. :shrug:

Businesses that rely on a large viewing audience to make themselves attractive to advertisers shouldn't go out of their way to offend a large portion of that viewing audience.

Not.


Now you are gone......*poof*.

They exercised their rights of protest and prevailed. There's nothing wrong with that.

a little spirited discussion...it is censorship which is abhorrent regardless of who implements it.

If enough people organize to boycott and protest the show, that's their right and it's not censorship.

Let's put it another way. If DU arranged a large enough boycot of Limbaugh's advertisers to cause several stations to cancel his show, would you consider that censorship or community action?

:shrug:

The journalist used a weasel word to provoke a reaction such as yours. More than likely the company canceled of their own free will because they didn't want to incur more negative publicity.

Don't you?
:-)

Let me know how you feel about it after your family is murdered.

The VRT also came under criticism for a recent ad about a travel show focusing on Berlin.

It showed a drawing of Hitler as a male stripper giving the Nazi salute in front of a swastika flag, the banner of Nazi Germany. That incident triggered a protest by the German embassy, which called it "totally tasteless."

If I were in the German government, I think I'd be more baffled than offended.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem marked Christmas on Thursday with crowds of tourists joining local Palestinian Christians in Jesus' traditional birthplace, as the West Bank town basked in its once-a-year appearance in the world spotlight.

The mood was upbeat, with hotel rooms fully booked and merchants reporting good business for the first time in years, as a long period of Israeli-Palestinian violence that dampened moods and tourism seemed to be easing.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hJsb8L30WZziQKgOp1QJDNQqVUGgD959MJE81

What is a Zio-Nazi?

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Calm brings record tourism to Bethlehem

Bethlehem, West Bank - At the height of the Palestinian uprising six years ago, the only traffic in this holy city, believed to be Jesus' birthplace, were Israeli military jeeps enforcing curfew.

Now, with record bus loads of Christian pilgrims filing through the Church of the Nativity and sleeping at local hotels, Bethlehem is abuzz.

The revival of tourism in the West Bank is one of the few bright spots in the Palestinian economy, which was supposed to get a big boost from the Bush administration at its Middle East peace conference in the fall of 2007 in Annapolis, Md.

"After the Annapolis conference ... there was a relative relief in the political situation," says Palestinian tourism minister Khouloud Daibes-Abu Dayyeh. "The pictures coming through the media showed at least part of Palestine as more safe and ... ready to receive tourists," he says.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1226/p07s05-wome.html

.

and start rioting in the street and set embassies on fire and put a Jewish fatwa on the head of that comedian.


:puke:

This is not the first time that VTR has crossed the boundaries of good taste. There is nothing amusing about the Holocaust or any of the genocides in our planet's bloody history.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:














I really hate to say this, but my cousin is is a WWII Veteran and really thinks the Holocaust never happened <-- methinks he hit his head too hard during a tour.

Uh-huh. Right. Just the right note of equivalency. :eyes:

Appeasement of bigotry, or downplaying hatred as in this case, only encourages more of the same.

Got it.

Seal of Approval!

:scared:

Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, George Carlin and many others proved you can find humor in almost any subject, however tragic...

There is a difference between hate speech and humor, although the line might prove very fine..

Note this quote from the OP:

"What a comedian does is up to him, but the VRT decides to include it in the show. At that point, the question can be asked, is this the task of a public broadcaster?" asked Michael Freilich, the head of the Jewish group Joods Actueel.

Idi Amin's favorite holiday recipes

did on one of the cable shows. He did do a long bit on Hitler etc. He admitted up front he was taking a risk, but I think it was more of a comedic challenge for himself, to make people laugh at this subject. He did really well. It was really funny. If I remember where I saw the show, I'll post it. He really has a unique style of both writing humor and delivering it.