Posted on 12/24/2008 9:13:24 AM PST by Alex Murphy
Jewish groups were up in arms today when it was revealed that Channel 4's "alternative" Christmas Day broadcast is to be delivered by President Ahmadinejad of Iran.
Mr Ahmadinejad's speech will go out at 7.15pm, four hours after the Queen's traditional Christmas Day message is broadcast on the main channels. His message is a spiritual one but includes some more nakedly political elements - including the implicit claim that if Jesus Christ were alive today, he would oppose US hegemony.
“If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would stand with the people in opposition to bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers,” Mr Ahmadinejad will say in a speech to be shown in Farsi with English subtitles.
“If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over. If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would fight against the tyrannical policies of prevailing global economic and political systems, as He did in His lifetime.”
It is no the first time that the broadcaster has courted controversy since Quentin Crisp delivered Channel 4's first alternative Christmas message in 1993. In 2006 a fully-veiled British-born Muslim woman used the message to attack Jack Straw, then Home Secretary, for his criticism of the niqab (face veil) earlier the same year.
Stephen Smith, director of the Holocaust Centre, said Mr Ahmadinejad's message should be treated with caution. The Iranian President has repeatedly called the Holocaust a “myth” and called for the annihilation of Israel.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
...."To invite him to deliver a Christmas message, even a so-called alternative one, fills me with disgust. Whatever he may say in his 'message', his words on other occasions and his actions towards minority groups in Iran should have disqualified him from filling this television spot."
Jesus would likely oppose wiping Israel off the map, as well, but that’s just a guess.
Is this at “The One’s” inaugeration?
Ouch! *chuckle
Political propaganda has no place in Christmas.
I suppose in WWII, Channel 4 would be airing “alternatives” to Winston Churchhill from Lord Haw Haw, another antisemite.
I wonder how this guy would take if a person of non Islam got on TV and began to tell them how and what Mohammad would do today if he saw the way the Islamics were terrorist and such. They would blow a gasket and start burning flags!!!!
This is an excellent example of what happens when television is funded by the taxpayers.
I wonder if any PBS stations carried this "alternative Christmas message" in this country.
Makes you wonder if Iran had a heads up about Isreal’s actions a couple of days later?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.