IF the Archbishop of Canterbury happened to see yesterday’s MSN UK news website, he might consider suing their reporters.
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GOOD morning. Readers will be aware of the current brouhaha over the comments by the Archbishop relating to sharia law. The prelate is reportedly appalled by the wave of anger since generated in Britain and abroad. He should be – much of the outrage has been carefully engineered by the sensation-hungry British press that delights in stirring public emotions to boost sales.
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MSN’s Internet news pointer yesterday said: “The Archbishop of Canterbury’s suggestion that elements of sharia law should be adopted in the UK has prompted widespread criticism. MSN UK News investigates.”
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THE Archbishop said nothing of the sort; he merely commented that it seemed inevitable that elements of sharia law would come to be adopted in Britain. There’s a gulf as wide as the Grand Canyon between “ … elements of sharia law should be adopted in the UK” and suggesting that the adoption of aspects of those laws was inevitable.
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THAT’S the kind of irresponsibility by reporters that gives the media a poor reputation. Not that the situation in PNG differs; the amount of locally-generated “near enough is good enough” reporting in print and on television and radio is a sad comment on our current media standards.
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THE British public’s reaction is in itself saddening; there’s little sign of the famed thoughtful analysis that once helped create the British reputation for rational and measured reactions. Or is it a case of the intelligent minority struggling to be heard above the uproar of the mindless mob, an increasingly typical phenomenon worldwide?
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SO migration matters are now being handled professionally at Waigani, right? Wrong. One example: a young overseas citizen has applied for a student visa to study at one of our universities. Accepted by the university, all forms lodged and airline ticket purchased, one month has passed despite his being told the process would take 10 days – and there’s still no word from Waigani. The university year is about to begin. Does Migration have the right to mess with people’s lives in that way?
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- Dee Nesenolis