Play-acting on CNN

taikor

Actor Richard Gere appeared in an interview on CNN in March to talk about the riot in Tibet. During the course of the programme, Gere spoke effusively for the cause of Tibetan movement. But something is extremely wrong with the footage in the background.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13fz9HIrJpQ

Visuals of policemen manhandling protesters were repeatedly played when Gere censures 'the Chinese'. However, the policemen in the footages were dark skinned and they don't look Chinese at all. They were not wearing the uniform of Chinese policemen. They were Indian. The disturbing footages that were intermittently shown, which accompanied the talks, was also the disturbing truth: the scenes were not taken in China but India. This was... a 'false reporting'.

Gere, no stranger to India, should have noticed the 'mistake' during or after the show. He's a staunch supporter of India as he's been very involved in humanitarian work in that country for many years. He was also nearly arrested for kissing Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty several times on the cheek and neck which triggered strong protests in India. The Indian people and India's policemen should be something very familiar to Richard Gere. But he offered no clarification for the mistake in CNN.

Apart from showing the wrong clips, the conversation was also remarkably delusional.

Richard Gere: "...it wasn't just the monks and nuns who traditionally, especially the nuns, who've been the ones who have protested, in simple non-violent marches and expressions of freedom..."

Richard Gere: "...the reality is, this is a sad reality, the Tibetans have to be in a violent situation for people to notice. An incredibly peaceful, non-violent people, how do they find a way to get in the news? How do they find a way to capture the world's attention?"

The protest can't be non-violent when "the Tibetans have to be in a violent situation for people to notice".

Wolf Blitzer (CNN) and Richard Gere had pulled off one of the greatest hoaxes of all time.

Gere has been an outspoken critic of China. He is permanently banned from entering China for his aggressive stance against the country. Gere was banned as an Academy Award presenter in 1993 after he used the opportunity to condemn the Chinese government. In May 1998, Gere defended India's nuclear tests, applauding the government for standing up to 'bully and trouble-maker' China. In September 2007, Gere called for the boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

[ Last edited by  taikor at 11-4-2008 02:03 PM ]

IceMallet

Admit it dude, China has always been oppressing the Tibetans...

taikor

Whether China has been oppressing the Tibetans or not, that aside, on 'false reporting' which deceitfully vilifies a party, usually non-western countries, what is your view and stance on this particular issue? What would you say?