Chinese lawyers file suit over CNN 'goons' comment

[ShogunOfFear]

http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/chinese-lawyers-file-suit-over-cnn-goons-comment
BEIJING —

A group of lawyers are attempting to sue the international TV news network CNN after one of its commentators described the Chinese government as “goons and thugs,” state-run media reported Wednesday. The lawyers say the comments made by political commentator Jack Cafferty in a program aired earlier this month damaged the reputation and dignity of Chinese people, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

CNN apologized for any offence caused by Cafferty’s remarks, saying they were directed at China’s government and not its people, but the head of the network’s bureau in Beijing was summoned to the Foreign Ministry last week after the government claimed the apology was not sincere. The government has publicly called for the TV network to make another ‘‘genuine’’ apology.

I hope CNN doesn't back down here.  I'm no fan of Cafferty but I like free speech just fine and I think this is just China's way of seeing how far it can flex its muscles on the international stage.  I'm not a law expert, but can they even sue for this?  Thoughts?

[Mupepe]

i'm pretty sure that kind of thing is said all around the world about multiple governments, including ours.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

the problem with China is that they're all a bunch of damned communists

[Mupepe]

the problem with China is that they're all a bunch of damned communists

QFT

This

.

Nailed it

[ShogunOfFear]

Agreed and if we could sue for every bad thing said about our own government we'd have enough money to balance out our economy.

[Eric P]

the problem with China is that they're all a bunch of damned communists

well kinda

[CurseoftheGods]

I still think the whole concept of free speech is a little sketchy. I do support it, but there must be some limits and boundaries - especially with regards to racism.

[AdmiralViscen]

I still think the whole concept of free speech is a little sketchy. I do support it, but there must be some limits and boundaries - especially with regards to racism.

And how will you define racism?

You'd be banning hundreds of slang words and then you'd have the police trying to figure out context when you say "I haven't had food this good in a coon's age!"

[Eric P]

I still think the whole concept of free speech is a little sketchy. I do support it, but there must be some limits and boundaries - especially with regards to racism.

And how will you define racism?

You'd be banning hundreds of slang words and then you'd have the police trying to figure out context when you say "I haven't had food this good in a coon's age!"

i'm a life long member of the ayran front for repurification of america and i've never heard the term "coon's age"

[AdmiralViscen]

It gets said.

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcoonsage.html

[Eric P]

so it does

and it looks like it carries the connotations that "niggling" (as in small) does

[CurseoftheGods]

I still think the whole concept of free speech is a little sketchy. I do support it, but there must be some limits and boundaries - especially with regards to racism.

And how will you define racism?

You'd be banning hundreds of slang words and then you'd have the police trying to figure out context when you say "I haven't had food this good in a coon's age!"

Yeah, that's kind of a different topic. I was talking with a friend about this very subject yesterday. I don't want to derail this thread and turn it into a GAF OT topic so I'll give a simple (but a little extreme) example.

Statement that I would not find racist:

"I don't find Asians very attractive. I personally don't find their facial features to be appealing."

Racist:

"Man, chinks are ugly. How can they see through those slits in their faces?"

As for the OP, I didn't find Cafferty's comments to be racist or discriminating. To me, it looks like he just voiced his dislike for the Chinese government (although he could have done it a bit more tastefully). I am not Chinese or Asian though so what would I know?

[AdmiralViscen]

And what happens if someone says the latter phrase?

[ShogunOfFear]

I still think the whole concept of free speech is a little sketchy. I do support it, but there must be some limits and boundaries - especially with regards to racism.

How can you limit it though?  Then you'll have people choosing random words that offend them. And should we fine the offenders or toss them in jail?  Obviously it has limits at your job for example you  cannot work in customer service and call a customer a racist slur or you'll be fired (Or I hope one would be.)  I don't think though you can limit a man's speech on his own free time, if we don't like what he says we can choose not to listen or walk away.

[FlameOfCallandor]

$100 says CNN caves in and apologizes.

[FlameOfCallandor]

I still think the whole concept of free speech is a little sketchy. I do support it, but there must be some limits and boundaries - especially with regards to racism.

You my friend are a fucking dumb ass. People like you make me sick.

[AdmiralViscen]

I still think the whole concept of free speech is a little sketchy. I do support it, but there must be some limits and boundaries - especially with regards to racism.

You my friend are a fucking dumb ass. People like you make me sick.

Lock this queef* up.

*not taco

[CurseoftheGods]

And what if you say it as a quote rather than for yourself?  I mean, curse, you'd still get locked up for saying what someone else could've said. 
Racist.

Point taken. I apologize.

I don't think I am racist, though. Well, I at least try not to be.

[CurseoftheGods]

Joking on the racist bit, buddy

[Mupepe]

so it does

and it looks like it carries the connotations that "niggling" (as in small) does

niglett is far funnier

[Tauntaun]

$100 says CNN caves in and apologizes.

Enough to fill a tank of gas. 

 

[Tauntaun]

We should have let Patton spank Russia after WWII.

[BlueTsunami]

Why have a show like the one Cafferty does and back act all responsible when he says something a Government doesn't like? His views shouldn't reflect back on CNN. This is just China trying to deflect some of their own bad PR.

[Ganhyun]

Why have a show like the one Cafferty does and back act all responsible when he says something a Government doesn't like? His views shouldn't reflect back on CNN. This is just China trying to deflect some of their own bad PR.

This is just China trying to deflect some of their own bad PR.

This.

Edit: wow, and I just noticed the amount they want. 1.3 Billion? wow

[Eric P]

they want to give everyone a dollar in their country

[Ganhyun]

they want to give everyone a dollar in their country

then they are still short.

Chinese Population: 1,321,851,888 (July 2007 est.)

[Eric P]

they want to give everyone a dollar in their country

then they are still short.

And yellow

ha ha

well done

[Ganhyun]

they want to give everyone a dollar in their country

then they are still short.

And yellow

ha ha

well done

Agreed. lol. I wasn't even meaning it that way, but it came out perfectly.

[FlameOfCallandor]

Chinese special agents are monitoring this thread right now I bet, lawsuit incoming you racist fucks.

True Story:

When backpacking through China their Police woke me up 7 in the morning to check my papers because according to them I didn't fill out a paper in the hotel I was staying good enough (i.e not enough info where I was heading and where from). Then when I was checking out of the same hotel 4 hours after they woke me up they came to check my papers again. They were pretty friendly, but the whole deal just showed how paranoia and communist they really are.

Socialism rocks dont it?

Papers please.