Fox news slanders Bobby Sands

by Lone Gunman Tue May 06, 2003 18:38

In Britan it was known as the slim for Ireland Campain.
JOKE. John Lennon in heaven,is a bit pissed off with eternity.Steve Mc Queen hears about it and invites him over to a bit of a do.As John is leaving to go to the party,he meets Bob Marley. Bob tells him that the party had to be cancelled.Whys that ?asks a shocked John Lennon. De Irishman Bobby Sands arrived early at got to de buffett first!!!

by Justin Moran - Sinn Fein Tue May 06, 2003 18:42 maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

Is this a wind up? I wouldn't have thought even a Yank anchor could be such an incredible gobshite.

by Ailin Tue May 06, 2003 19:00

Definitely not Justin. I got it from a RSF source but the 32CSM support group in America are also reporting it. Their is no love lost between the two groups so I wouldn't imagine that there was communication between them.

by Noone Tue May 06, 2003 19:13

I think my views on the hunger strikes are a little different to most peoples, but that was just sick.
I know the guy your talking about. Fat head with glasses. I've seem him say some other crazy shite in the last few months.
A french man wrote to him by email saying something to the likes of " It's not just France that is against the war, it's the world. Do you think that America is right and the entire world is wrong?" He replied with a sarcastic meaningful grinn "Yes".

Everytime he makes a smart arse comment, I can see in my mind all the multi-millionaire fat cats laughing with their ciggars after a good day of at the stock.

Write an email. I dont think you will even get a reply. If so, organise a sit in on their site.

That was just sick.

by Justin Moran - Sinn Fein Tue May 06, 2003 19:18 maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

Emals sent and sending it out on the lists I have. Fucking jingoistic Fox News bastards, the people who brought us the war on Iraq as little more than a cartoon and who threw the election to Bush by calling the result early, helped that he had a relative in there too.

by James McKenna Tue May 06, 2003 20:12

What about the "Gunman" and his joke. That surely beats the Fox guy for insensitivity.

Maybe the Fox comment was a throwaway attempt to lighten the humour for his listeners after the sad talk of men starving themselves to death, I guess you would have yo hear it. But what remeeding quality has "gunmans" joke?

Which one of the editors are you gunman ? It's a strange campaign your on to heckle and discredit. Very interesting.

by Limerick1919 Tue May 06, 2003 20:47 limerick1919 at hotmail dot com

Somethings never change, boycott the whole fucking lot - sun through to the sunday times through to sky.

murdoch is scum

by veni emmanuel Tue May 06, 2003 21:46

We've a situation here in ireland, where totalitarian tinpot toff Tony thinks he can hold his smug smarmy gob up high and swan about in Ireland playing little lord fauntelroy Brit overlord. While he gets his NF/BNP foot soldiers to throw eggs at George Galloway in Scotland. Well two can play at that game, watch out for a bucketful of horse manure totalitarian tony it's coming your way soon.

by Brian Tue May 06, 2003 22:26

sinn fein can do nothing but whinge about someone cracking a joke at the God or sorry Bobby Sands

by Noone Tue May 06, 2003 22:34

not just this Bobby fella. After reading this, I decided to to have a wee look at good old FOX NEWS. I swear to god this happend. The same guy who made the comment, was blabbering on how France was a new enemy to America. That it was not only unhelpful to America in (FOX NEWS very own "Opertation : Iraqi Freedom") the war, but how it was now partners with the same terrorists that occupied Iraq. I thought this was amazing. This was said on one of Americas most watched news channels.

by Ailin Tue May 06, 2003 23:27

http://www.petitiononline.com/5may1981/petition.html

by Josef Wed May 07, 2003 09:20

I've just signed. That ignoramus was bang out of order.

by Avi H Wed May 07, 2003 09:35

Free speech means that you can say good or nasty things about people. Hell, I get slandered all the time. Unless you want to live under totalitarianism...then, of course, people saying things you don't like isn't a problem.

by Huh Wed May 07, 2003 09:43

You throw a shit fit anytime people say anything remotely critical of Isreal so whats the deal?

by Glen Moran Wed May 07, 2003 10:23

Avi is free to throw the shit fit, we're free to criticise israel.

by Sean Wed May 07, 2003 11:41

"Free speech means that you can say good or nasty things about people"
What are the chances of Bush being slandered by an anchorman on any of the US´ TV Channels and keeping his/her job?

by pat c Wed May 07, 2003 11:54

How would you feel if he had said: "Klinghoffer should have learned how to swim"?

by Mags Wed May 07, 2003 13:12

Report in the latest Private Eye about a journalist with Fox New who was searched going back to the US from Iraq and 12 looted Iraqi paintings found in his luggage.

Also Shepard Smith was arrested by Florida police in November 2000 and charged with aggravated battery with a motor vehicle after arguing with another reporter over a parking space (both were covering the Bush-Gore Florida vote debacle).

Nice people.

by Des Wed May 07, 2003 19:33

On this occasion at least Justin, I would agree with you. A very sick joke, but then what else should we expect from such an integral part of our "free media" as news international.

by goldfish Thu May 08, 2003 01:55 goldfish at hotmail dot com

people,
If you read any of the literature on the period of the Hungerstrikes. you'll realise that those lads where just ordinary people in extra ordinary circumstances. Prisoners in the blocks regularly took the piss out of each other
it was a survival thing.

In particular those involved in the hungerstrike remained upbeat in face of Death, they fought the British Government with the only thing they had left, their lives.
We can hardly expect a puppet from FOX to
understand the complexities of thesituation.

1981 was a hard time for Republicans, those that give their lives are nothing short of heroes but we cannot forget that they were ordinary blokes , they enjoyed a laugh!

by kevin morrison Thu May 08, 2003 12:23 slinnian at hotmail dot com

as an individual who lost someone very close to me during the hungerstrikes i would like to express my disgust and annoyance at the total insensitivity of your employee shepard smith. i am quite sure mr smith would not be too keen on abusive and insulting remarks regarding the causes of death of some members of his family, but obviously mr smith is a very cold and insensitive individual who has no due regard for either your viewers or people with feelings and emotions. i am aware that these remarks may have been said in jest or with a touch of humour, but it is insensitivities and midsets like these that have resulted in the death of thousands of people in this conflict in ireland, something which is still not resolved. i would appreciate it if mr smith was made aware of his adhorrent disregard for human emotion and how he has affected my family and i in a very negative manner.

yours kevin morrison, belfast

by Eamonn Thu May 08, 2003 15:48

Dear Sirs,

Whilst I did not hear the incident in question I am informed that one of your employees - Shepherd Smith - had the audacity to publicly insult the memory of Irish MP and Hunger Striker Bobby Sands on the 22nd anniversary of his death.

Demeaning the tortured death of a principled man who died for his beliefs is nothing less than disgraceful! We do not have Fox News here in Norway but we do have Fox Kids to which I will not be renewing my subscription.

Rest assured that Irish people worldwide will be mobilising to protest your outrageous insult.

Yours Sincerely,

by Shepard Smith Thu May 08, 2003 16:29

Who is Shepard Smith? Is he a newscaster, a talk-show host? Why would he make such a clearly hostile remark, seemingly out of the blue? Anyone have any insights? Has he any interests in Northern Ireland?

by Lone gunman Thu May 08, 2003 19:45

Thsat ol bobby Sands was a convicted terrorist.Wether the bleeding hearts for ST Bobby like it or not.He was convicted by a recognised court of law,and went off on his ...er..rather extreme diet for Ireland by his own free will.Which was of course exploited by his terroristic chums for their own purposes.He deserves no sympathy.

by Liam - None Thu May 08, 2003 22:24 sheck at penn dot com

Greetings. It is my belief, from reading some of the very misinformed posts in this forum, that many Americans still are quite ignorant as to the plight of the Republicans in the Occupied Six Counties of Northern Ireland, despite the efforts of such heroes as PIRA Volunteer Bobby Sands. Due to extensive British propoganda, mostly formulated during reign of terror via Margret Thatcher, you all still seem to be spouting off the same nonsense that CBS reported in 1974, and that seems the limit of your experiences with this struggle. Some of you seem to find it very easy to label members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army as terrorists. However, in light of new findings in Britian's highest military courts, the British military, at least fifteen high ranking officials, are guilty of collusion, and working with death sqauds in the Occupied Six Counties, in order to assasinate and torture the men, women, and children associated with the Irish Republican movement. These British military sources are linkes to bombings, rapes, and the elimination of civilians not even considered members of any Republican military organization. And yet, you can sit here, and call any member of the PIRA terrorist, because Maggie Thatcher and her butcher squads made it safe via the media for everyone to believe such is the case.
Right now, in Ireland, the Provisonal Irish Republican Army has maintained a very ardent decade long ceasefire, as requested by the leaders of the Republican community. And during this time, the Loyalist groups, trained by the British military, funded by the British government, contine to kill, maim, and destroy Irish Republicans daily, and are not censored. Take for example the many atrocities committed by the Red Hand Defenders, one of the Occupied Six's most notorious loyalist bands, and also a band with former direct links to the British Crown. And yet, no one stops to consider, when they should disarm, or when they should show inspectors their weapons, or whent they should sign this document or that. Why? It is simple. Because the British are allies of the US, and no one has to answer for atrocities committed by these nations. The United Nations has called upon Great Britian time and again to answer for tortures and killings in the Occupied Six Counties. With no results.
Bobby Sands was a true hero. This was a man, a patriot, who was jailed for supposed crimes agains the British Crown. During that time period, internment, and expedient imprisonment of Irish Republicans was key to the process of breaking the unfication movement. In prison, Mr. Sands, along with many other Irish prisoners, decided to defy the British methods of torture and internment with the only method available to them. Long Kesh, the prison in quetion, has long been known in the Irish community as a den of true horrors for our people. And for once, some patriots stood up, and said, this is far enough.
What Bobby Sands did, few can realize. Because, it was with his voluntary death that some people, though not all, started to really look at the situation in the Occupied Six Counties. He did, with his death, what so few could ever do, with any other methods. He brought worldwide attention to the hopelessness and degredation of the Republicans, the Catholics of the Occupied Six Counties. And from there, others who were his comrades, men like Gerry Adams, and Martin McGunniess, took up the struggle. And these are the men today, who have made the peace process possible. Without Bobby Sands, really, would the world know anything at all as to what is happening in the Six? Would we even have a ceasefire, or a peace process?
Bobby Sands died, so that we might know what is going on. He didn't choose to die, for some vague political ideal. He died for hundreds of years of tyranny inflicted by the British Crown, on a poor but very proud people. And he died, so that we might know, and see, and understand the truth of what was happening, when for so long, everyone else looked away.
What was said about Bobbie Sands, by the reporter for Fox, is beyond apology. I believe it is time we go beyond that, and demand that Fox remove this person from their ranks, once and for all. To attempt humor, when so many tears have been shed, is a travesty beyond comprehension.

Liam Sheckler

by Lars Schou Thu May 08, 2003 22:42 Norway

FOX News is the most right wing extreme news network in the US. During the Iraq war they had Oliver North as a correspondent. Their panel usually consists of people from the ultra right in american politics, namely the people behind www.newamericancentury.org and the Weekly Standard magazine.

They enjoy insulting europeans (except the British, their brothers in arms) moslems, and other groups, and do it on a regular basis.

This time Mr. Smith have provoked a large portion of Americas own citicens, the decendants of Irish immigrants, but to be honest i am not expecting they will apologise.

In contrast, the chances of them saying the same about the Jewish is, shall we say, slim..

by Ailin Thu May 08, 2003 23:30

[moved by R Isible, it's a comment on pre-existing story]
Apparently Shepard Smith apologised for his comments about Bobby Sands* on his show last night. He described them as "my ill conceived attempt at humor, to Fox viewers I am sorry" Fox Corp office has also promised a full retraction after receiving hundreds of angry emails and phonecalls from outraged viewers.

*"On this date Bobby Sands died after 66 days on a hunger strike in prison in Belfast N.I.. The moral of the story eat more often"

add your comments
COMMENTS

If.....
by sigmond Thu, May 8 2003, 9:19pm
address: the putrid, rotting, and fecal dripping bowels known as the u.s.a. [email protected]

If shepard smith, or as his friends & lackeys refer to him "shep," had to eat shit more often I would happily donate to that cause.

God bless you & rest in peace Bobby Sands.

Never Forget the Hunger Strikers
by Leon Thu, May 8 2003, 10:21pm

Remember brave Jimmy Sands and all the others who died for our freedom.

Saoirse

by sigmond Fri May 09, 2003 00:01 sigmondd at hotmail dot com the putrid, rotting, and fecal dripping bowels known as the u.s.a.

If shepard smith, or "shep" as his friends & lackeys' call him, would eat more of the shit he spews I would gladly donate a load for his consumption.

God bless you & Rest in Peace Bobby Sands.

by El Lanse - ExposingIrishIndyHypocrisy Tue May 13, 2003 08:32 howaboutDaithi at IMC dot org

Imagine what an armchair piece of tripe such a complacent animal that can make mouth sounds would have to be to write the Below comment.

"thousands are dying of war, famine and other injustices and...
by Brian Tue, May 6 2003, 9:26pm

sinn fein can do nothing but whinge about someone cracking a joke at the God or sorry Bobby Sands "

Such as these are of the same asshole ilk that giggle at Jesus Christ on the cross or at the torture of Kevin Barry. These parasites exuding nastiness do nothing for Future Ireland as Sinn Fein attempts to do - and Did. They are the moral and spiritual rot of human life. Perhaps they exist just so most of those with a degree of decency will be able to recognize the most worthless type of humanity.

'Brian' - justifying the trashing of a patriot's sacrifice of his life for the future people of Ireland on the basis that there are a lot of other bad things happening now also. What a mindless jejune Fop.

by Cato Tue May 13, 2003 14:28

Brian Cahill is in the SP. What do you expect?

by Saorise Tue May 13, 2003 22:40

Does it? It comes from a nation of jokers! Their main aim is to "set people free!" Me scrotum! None of them have the guts to actually stand up to what they believe in and make a protest like Bobby Sands their so afraid of it they killed each other out in Iraq they were so afraid of it. Shepard you could really do with NOT eating more often

by Brian Cahill Wed Jun 18, 2003 17:47

Actually the Brian above is not me.