BBC Radio 2 DJ Jeremy Vine has decided to mark the occasion of the British Army leaving Northern Ireland by playing the racist hate song “Go on home British soldiers”, which not only wallows in the slaughter of the last four decades, but also delivers up these delighful lines to all Unionists still left in Northern Ireland:
“Throughout our history We were born to be free
So get out British bastards leave us be”
Lovely stuff for a nice sunny Tuesday afternoon!
Lightweight, offensive and facile as ever Jeremy… such a shame you’ve got a meal-ticket for life on the BBC gravy train.
There’s more on O’Neills own blog, A Pint of Unionist Lite, in Operation Banner: Thanks for a job well done. While you’re there, scroll down to the next post, The BBC and Britishness, for another take on that dodgy BBC poll from the other day.
Dave T posted this comment from a Canadian commenter on ARRSE (The ARmy Rumour Service):
I was watching the BBC World Service this morning and was dismayed by their coverage marking the end of Op Banner which focused on the account of a Sinn Fein spokesman who essentially portrayed the British Army as cold blooded murderers. In the clip I saw there were no other representatives interviewed nor ordinary NI citizens asked for their opinions.
Keep ’em peeled for more BBC revisionist coverage of this milestone.
And try listening again to Eddie Mair marking the end of Army operations in NI with a lengthy (no interruptions) interview with an unreconstructed nationalist who clearly still thinks it was all Britain’s/the Army’s fault. Completely unchallenged by our Eddie.
God knows why the IRA bombed the BBC offices – they were always quiet supporters of the cause. I imagine the whackos thought that wasn’t enough and wanted 100% pro-republicanism instead.
My email this afternoon:
Mr Vine
Thanks for playing ‘Go home British soldiers’ by the Wolftones this afternoon thus ensuring that the sacrifices of 700 odd British soldiers were treated with contempt and disdain.
It is thanks to the British Forces that you are able to do such things without fear of being dragged outside your studio or harassed/injured or killed etc as happens in many of the socialist paradises so many of you at the Beeb seem to love.
I am 80 per cent disabled in part due to injuries received in Crossmaglen. Oh and I am a Catholic ex soldier who fought to stop the murdering scum that called themselves Nationalists from killing even more of my fellow religionists as did the 1/3 of my Scottish Highland battalion that were also Catholic. We treated everyone the same and many of my comrades died defending Catholic and Protestant alike.
An absolute disgrace Sir!
Email ends
I have also submitted a formal complaint as well.
BRITISH Broadcasting Corp? My bare bottom!
The local B-BBC news report in Northern Ireland contained numerous images of soldiers with riot shields, on top of Divis Flats etc. and incessant shots of 30 Jan 1972. Strangely enough no shots of La Mon, Warrenpoint, Enniskillen, Kingsmill, Omagh, Shankill, Tullyvallen – the list goes on.
The BBC is a place for white, middle-class Oxbridge types from the Home Counties to pretend that they are interesting, subversive, anti-establishment figures well past the age when it is forgiveable to act in such an adolescent manner. It’s the unique way it is funded that is to blame. When your income is guaranteed whatever your behaviour, why grow up? They remind me of aristocratic types with a private income who preach to us on ways to live a better life, Zac Goldsmith for example. At least he does his preaching with his own money, not ours.
The BBC portrays it as Catholics vs Protestants but the IRA, INLA etc. killed many Catholics. Terrorists always operate by intimidating their “own”.
Anybody else find it strange how that BBC report while finding the time to quote this;
“The Army killed 301 people on operations, around half of whom were nothing to do with any paramilitary organisation.”
Didn’t have the time to quote the full figures on the deaths in NI
(Taken from Wiki)
Between 1969 and 2001, 3,523 people were killed as a result of the Troubles.
Approximately 60% of the victims were killed by republicans, 30% by loyalists and 10% by the British, Irish and Northern Irish security forces.
Responsibility for killing
Republican Paramilitary Groups 2055
Loyalist Paramilitary Groups 1020
Security Forces 368
Persons unknown 80
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Troubles#Casualties:_brief_summary
Kind of puts a different perspective on things.
Still nothing back from Vine or the Complaints Unit…. how unusual. Next step is letters to all the national dailies I think.
dave t | Homepage | 31.07.07 – 8:07 pm,
That’s a fine e-mail, dave t. Hopefully it will awaken some dormant spark of ethical conscience in the BBC – if it ever had one.
I’m woefully ignorant on Northern Ireland, but I did notice that the World Service gave a prominent place in its “report” to a woman complaining that soldiers would barge into houses and use foul language.
So here’s the question: does the BBC colour its reporting on everything with its own subversive agenda? It’s evident in all its output from sport to politics to science to children’s shows and back again. Can someone point to anything on the BBC that is agenda-free? I don’t know, maybe a bloody 10 a.m. cooking class on a local TV channel.
I penned a complaint to the relevant department and have received an email reply. I’m not satisfied with it and would like to give it wider publicity, however the following cavaeat is at the bottom:
This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated.
If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system.
Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender immediately.
Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received.
Further communication will signify your consent to this.
Does this have any legal standing?
A lot of companies use similar wording.
No, is the simple answer. But lawyers suggest that they are good practice.
Ok, if this is dodgy legally please delete it.
This is the line that particularly grated:
“XXXX, our aim was to highlight the bravery and resilience of British troops. I fail to see how any of this including playing part of the rebel song was prejudiced, but like the rest of our listeners, you are entitled to your views”
Now read this again, am I being over-sensitive?
http://artists.letssingit.com/wolfetones-the-lyrics-eire-og-go-on-home-british-soldiers-mrp3x3p
Perhaps the BBC, as sender of the letter, could claim copyright in order to prevent you re-publishing it. However, I don’t see that they have any legal leg to stand on when it comes to you paraphrasing what they said, or quoting small amounts of it (as, for example, book reviews quote small amounts of the book they are reviewing).
Hi O’Neill, I wouldn’t worry about the BBC’s disclaimer at the bottom of the email – it’s just there to intimidate you. There’s nothing practical they can do to stop you publishing what they said. They could claim copyright on the text of the letter, but in reality there’s nothing they could or would do about it. If it were a real letter on paper then you would become the ‘owner’ of the physical letter as soon as it is in the hands of the Royal Mail – to dispose of it as you wish – even if the words are owned by someone else. I wonder if this applies to emails too? Anyway, you haven’t agreed to their terms in advance, and their terms are likely unenforceable anyway if you are the intended recipient of the email.
It appears that it was a standard E mail sent out to all who complained;
http://ourweecountry.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=18959&st=15
check out post number 29,
It’s exactly the same wording on mine.
And almost one month later, a rather more considered response from the BBC:
Dear Mr Watterson
Thank you for your e-mail regarding Jeremy Vine’s Radio 2 show broadcast on 31 July.
Please accept our apologies for the delay in replying. We know our correspondents appreciate a quick response and we are sorry you have had to wait on this occasion
We spoke to the producer of the programme Phil Jones who has stated:
“We felt the item on the withdrawal of British Troops from Northern Ireland was particularly strong because it focused primarily on what it must have felt like to be a British squaddie during the Troubles and endure the hatred of at least one section of the community. Jeremy spoke to 3 people, 2 of whom were former British soldiers: Colonel Bob Stewart, who gave a very moving account of what it was like to serve during that difficult period and Bill McDowall, who was a young British soldier during the time. We only played a section of the rebel song to illustrate the strength of feeling on the other side and show the awful pressure our troops must have been under. Later we spoke to the wife of an officer who was in the process of leaving the province.
Our aim was simply to highlight the bravery and resilience of British troops. I hope you continue to listen to the Jeremy Vine show.
Please be assured Mr Watterson that your obvious displeasure has been fully registered and has been made available to senior BBC management.
Thank you once again for contacting us.
Thank you again for your interest and for taking the time to contact the BBC.
Regards
Geraldine Walsh
BBC Information
A bit curious getting a second response which basically just confirmed what the first e-mail said.