This one is strange and a little on the humorous side. A couple of Chinese citizens have decided to file suit against CNN for comments that they and their government deemed offensive.
A Chinese primary school teacher and a beautician have filed a suit against CNN in New York over remarks they say insulted the Chinese people and are seeking $1.3 billion in compensation — $1 per person in China, a Hong Kong newspaper reported.
The case against the Atlanta-based cable channel, its parent company Turner Broadcasting and Jack Cafferty, the offending commentator, comes after 14 lawyers launched a similar suit in Beijing alleging that Cafferty’s remarks earlier this month violated the dignity and reputation of the Chinese people.
Wow - pretty hefty and, I think, unprecedented. So what, pray tell, was the offense that was uttered and caused such a backlash?
Cafferty said the United States imported Chinese-made “junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food” and added: “They’re basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they’ve been for the last 50 years”.
This baffles and befuddles me for two reasons. #1: I can’t believe that a CNN commentator would actually make such an un-PC claim that would speak to the absolute truth of a matter. #2: I can’t believe that anyone, even in China, would be offended by the obvious truth.
Of course, on #2, I guess I can sort of understand. PC types in this nation are offended by the truth quite frequently. I guess that I am more amazed that a CNN commentator would actually get one right for once.
steveflesher
Philip
Mel Maguire
Mark Ciavola
