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This past Sunday, 60 Minutes presented an interview with
Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iraq.
60 Minutes is a good program-- sometimes very good.
But one should never forget that it is also completely controlled by a group
of old white men (with the exception of the late Ed Bradley) and that,
ultimately, like Time Magazine and the New York Times, it is an appendage of
the corporate and governmental establishment, and thus can't stray too far
from conventional thinking on certain issues.
For 60 Minutes, it is okay to be different, but not too
different. 60 Minutes devoted hours of coverage to jazz greats like
Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles, and of course, they adore classical giants
like George Solti and Luciano Pavarotti. But they only acknowledged
the Beatles and Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen long after their
significance was clearly established-- but not among old white men.
The counter culture was a little too counter for them, the punk movement
ridiculous-- couldn't you just organize a petition? Independent films
barely rate a mention-- where's the party where I get to have my picture
take with Steven Spielberg? Alternative music? Alternative to
what? Do you mean Stravinsky?
So Scott Pelley sat down opposite the leader of Iran and
spanked him. How dare you supply weapons to Iraq, as George Bush has
been telling us? How dare you try to build a nuclear bomb as those old
reliables, the CIA and NSA have been telling us? How dare you display
ingratitude to the nation that deposed your arch foe?
Here are some questions Scott Pelley could have asked but
didn't:
How does an Islamic state fit into the world's family of
nations?
Who are opposing you, in your quest to create a more just
society that provides more benefits to the poor and disenfranchised?
Are there some in your country who exploit Islamic beliefs
for the purpose of acquiring personal wealth?
What role should Iran play in the future of Iraq?
How close are your ties with Shiite tribal leaders in
Iraq?
Do you believe that the U.S. will invade your country?
What evidence do you have that freedom-loving America would ever consider
invading an Islamic Arabic State. Oh yeah-- other than that.
Is Iran a democracy?
What is the role of women in Islamic society?
Is there any common ground between you and George Bush--
are you both religious fundamentalists?
Will Iranians ever forgive America for installing and
supporting the Shah for all those years up to 1979?
We feel that only a subhuman monster of epic malevolence
would ever consider exploding a nuclear bomb in a populated area. How
would you ever learn to live with yourselves if you did that? Oh...
If we agree to allow international inspectors into our
nuclear sites will you? Scratch that...
All contents copyright © 2007 Bill Van Dyk All rights reserved.
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