Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Outofin]

Yesterday watched a ABC news reporting about Dubai. Dubai is definitely a rich country. They're building the tallest tower in the world, 800+m!!!

And the host asked the Dubai spokesman, the workers building the city are living in a condition worse than your prince's horses, how do you feel about it?

The host seemed to be older than 40. He took 40 years to learn poor people's lives are not as good as the rich's pets? I can't believe he doesn't see the same problem in the US and even thinks "we are better than you". And his intellegence is not good enough to link the middle east wealth with his SUV gas tank.

[CP]

You don't think the reporter would ask the same question of an American if his horses (or his boss's horses) lived better than his workers? How does the reporter's question prove that Americans are hypocrites?
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[asterix]

I guess Allah has ordained it that way.

[CP]

Waiting for your reply, Outofin. You started this thread. What do you say?
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Bob S.]

[Outofin]

CP, no, I don't think the reporter will ask the same question to American moguls. I never heard of this moral accusation while interviewing the rich people. Say, I have a hair cut for $10. How much do they pay for their dogs' hair? $50? I don't care. To me, it's not a question. It's a fact that I could accept that poor people live not as good as the rich's pets.

Pretending you believe in morality while you actually don't is hypocrite. That's why I called the reporter hypocrite.

[Lorikeet]

[asterix]

Actually, American and British reporters are extremely hard on all kinds of wealthy and powerful people they interview.
The American president, for example,is alway being asked hard questions by reporters.
You should watch the BBC programme, "Hardtalk", sometime.
You can't blame the Americans for being rich and successful.
You should ask yourself why they are rich and successful and you are not.
Why isn't everone in Iran driving a brand new Mercedes, for example, considering the trillions of dollars the country has made from selling oil to the west?
Before you criticise the Americans you should sort out your own corrupt politicians.
They are the ones responsible for your standard of living - not the Americans.

[CP]

The critical, penetrating questions and investigations by American journalists are what give them the scoops, the information for stories, their very bread and butter. If Donald Trump's workers were living in hovels, earning less than minimum wage, while his horses ate gourmet oats and wore cashmere blankets, you can bet that a real journalist would ask Trump about it and tell the world what he said. Bob S. put his finger squarely on it with his information about the money earned by American construction workers as contrasted with that earned by Dubai workers. The injustice has to exist before the journalist can get the story out.

While some TV interviewers are just softball chat masters who want to give the celebrity or politician a platform to pitch his / her latest movie or political position, they are not journalists, and you shouldn't confuse Larry King (softball mush mouth) with Mike Wallace (relentless prober and critical journalist). And you shouldn't confuse either of them with the bloviating loudmouths like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly, screaming out the talking points of the day from their favorite political party, spinning every story to favor one side in blatant disregard for the truth.

Now, Outofin, let me echo Lorikeet's question and ask how you know that the reporter is immoral, a hypocrite? Who is this reporter? What facts do you have to support your statements?

It is facts, rather than unsupported guessing, that make the difference between reporting and speculation. What are your facts?
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Outofin]

[CP]

You doubt it, but why? If the same conditions existed in the U.S. as in Dubai, any reporter would ask the questions. And I don't doubt that in the least.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Outofin]

[redset]

I think these questions are asked quite often in the US - poverty isn't ignored, and the gap is constantly addressed (even if a complete solution hasn't been found). That's no reason not to ask these questions of Dubai though. I think the difference here is that Dubai is an international symbol of wealth and opulence - like that sail-shaped hotel, and the man-made islands covered in mansions. There's nothing hypocritical about saying 'hey, don't you think it's strange that this incredible wealth is being built by people who are living in extreme poverty?' You have to realise that an American journalist isn't necessarily representing America. A valid question is still valid no matter who is asking it.

[CP]