| Submit your comments on this article |
| The Alliance |
| BBC apologizes for scummy behavior to guest |
| 2001-09-15 |
| telegraph.co.uk By Sandra Laville and Matt Born THE BBC apologised yesterday for any offence caused by a special edition of Question Time on the terrorist assault on America that left the former United States ambassador to Britain in tears. Hundreds of viewers telephoned to complain that anti-American views expressed by the audience did not represent British public opinion. They also accused the BBC of displaying insensitivity by airing the programme so soon after the disaster. At one point, Philip Lader, the former American ambassador, who was on the panel, was slow handclapped by a section of the audience. He said with tears in his eyes: "I have to share with you that I find it hurtful that you can suggest that a majority of the world despises the US. My parents were immigrants to the US. We have fought as a people and nation for the rule of law and I simply want to say that it saddens me how it is possible on this night, within 48 hours [of the attack], that because of animosity of feeling on political issues we can frankly abstract ourselves from the senseless human victimisation and suffering that has occurred." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |