Sunday, April 16, 2006
RADIO NOTES
The ABC’s ongoing difficulties with the word “terrorist” sometimes force presenters into spectacular avoidance formulations. Yesterday an ABC News Radio host came up with this:
The involvement of Hamas in activities which are not compatible with western standards ...
(Comment not verbatim; I may have missed the announcer’s prayer for forgiveness.) Also on local radio, last week Triple M night host Spoonman invited listeners to identify the world’s most dangerous nation. Naturally, the US received more nominations than all other nations combined; some callers even mentioned the Illuminati and various conspiracy theories involving the evil Bush clan’s involvement in 9/11. It was like an audio version of Indymedia.
What is the root cause of Australian anti-Americanism? My theory is that the elevation of anti-Americanism to current levels may be traced to a 1969 tour of Australia by this performing troupe ...
The Young Americans—some kind of “Hooray for Everything” movement founded in 1962, and still alive today—could only have provoked alarm and dismay among Australian audiences. No nation is ever prepared for the Invasion of the Mormon Dentistry Grads.