WTF Fox News

I just watched my national news, and man, I am mad and outraged!

I'm still looking for the complete report, but apparantly Fox News did an item about "killing babies in the Netherlands", to be more precisely: in my home town, Groningen.

The Netherlands (or Holland, as some prefer to say) do have some other visions on some items comparing to the rest of the world. Yes, you can buy soft drugs here. Yes, prostitution is legal here. Yes, gay people can get married over here. No, you can't buy guns here.

And yes, euthanasia is legal here. I don't hope I ever have to make the decision, but if one of my parents would be terminally ill, and there was no chance of things getting better, and if they would suffer, I would be glad that I had the chance of letting them die peacefully, without weeks or months of suffering. My parents agree. We talked about that. If I would be terminally ill and suffering, I sure hope someone would pull the plug on me, or even speed things up a little.

Now, for the "killing babies" part.
Very rarely the Groningen Academic Hospital ends the life of a baby with extreme deformities or an incurable disease, when the baby would have to be on life support for the rest of it's life. This happened 13 times in the last 4 years.

I think things like this happen in hospitals all over the world. At least this hospital is trying not to hide it, and to open the discussion.

And no, we are NOT killing babies because they are missing a few fingers!
The Groningen Academic Hospital is one of the best hospitals in the Netherlands. If normal hospitals can't treat a patient, they are taken to this University Hospital. They are the best hospital in this region of the Netherlands. And now Fox News is portraying them as kiddie killers...

I have heard some very doubtfull stories on Fox News before. This time I know for sure. It's a right winged propaganda station, and they twist the truth.
Don't base your opinion on foreign matters on this station.


Groningen Academic University Hospital

I live in this town. I love it. We don't kill babies randomly...

Fox News is a joke. It makes its money by pandering to the ultra-jingoistic paranoid religous right. They sell the worst kind of sensationalist fear mongering propoganda. As an American, it embarasses me that anyone watches it at all.

I concur. What gets me is that Fox claims it's out there to battle the 'leftist media', when to me the other media sources are ALSO too conservative! I'm still waiting for "Anarcho-Syndicalist Weekly" or a piece on "Violent Revolution: It works! "

Haha, I couldn't agree more! They're all trying to cut into Fox's market share. Our tv news media is really pathetic. Thanks so much Michael Powell. May you be the first one against the wall!

You know, I was reading Bill O'Rielly's column in my local newspaper the other day, which I like to do when I'm not feeling disgusted enough with mankind, and I just didn't get it. He was talking about how we gotta watch out here in the states or we'll get like canada. The key points he was making were that we're in danger of:

* Legalized Gay Marriage
* Legalized Abortion
* Legalized Drugs (I enjoyed that he called this a 'secular cause'?)
* Legalized Euthenasia

And as I'm reading this, i realized he never really explained why i should be against this, it was just sort of assumed that I'd be aghast with fear (I'm thinking i'm not the target audience here; I read books and stuff).

He left out the Universal Healthcare, of course, but I wouldn't expect him to put the 'good' stuff in there. I was just so shocked that his list of 'dangerous things' were all so, well, also 'good'.

what a jerkoff.

oh i forgot to add for you, Riffey4, that he mentioned how canada borrowed all this terrible stuff from the dutch

I do not watch Fox Network....PERIOD!! Here is a great film to watch.

OUTFOXED

He never does explain why we should agree with him or be afraid. He just loves trying to shove his version of morality down other people's throats, all whilst he is paying off a woman he sexually harassed...

You shouldn't be. The United States is a 'puritan' nation where religion dictates anything from whether you will get a promotion, to whether you will get elected to government, or even with your rights to die peacefully and painlessly.

It has nothing to do with Republicans or Democrats; I can guarantee you will not find but a handful of elected officials that would admit not being Christian or pushing Christian agendas. It is almost impossible to get elected if you are not a Christian. We are not even safe from religion while watching sports.

I actually read an article weeks ago on The Groningen Academic Hospital and the subject you refer to, unfortunately don't remember the publication. So it is not only Fox news snooping and criticizing the issue.

Just keep in mind that if you wanna get lynched in the USA, all you have to do is openly support abortion or euthanasia, so don't take it personally.

I just hope the wise and kind people of The Netherlands welcome me when my time comes and I need your help, since my physician will not.

- T -

ps. Beautiful country by the way. I have been there a couple of times. The people among the friendliest in Europe.

Let's tell the whole story... or at least try to.

Fox did not originate the story. They picked it up from the AP - who routinely use stringers to provide leads.

Nov 30, 2004
Netherlands Hospital Permits Euthanasia for Terminal Newborns

Also... Nov 30, 2004
Dutch Hospital Euthanizing Gravely Ill Babies


Specifically note that Fox did not whitewash the US on this issue.
"However, experts acknowledge that doctors euthanize routinely in the United States and elsewhere, but that the practice is hidden."

Before you slam Fox as totally biased, you might want to check your sourcing - or at least find out a bit more before you run around making strange accusations of it pandering to zealots with fear-laden propaganda.

Blasphemer!!!! *points at Tito and does the Invasion of the Body Snatchers "not one of us" shriek*

HaHa that truly made me laugh Chip thanks !!

You might also want to note that Fox was NOT the only US media org to carry the story.

Dutch ponder 'mercy killing' rules

Death by Committee

-----------
Added in edit
Netherlands Hospital Euthanizes Babies

Netherlands grapples with euthanasia of babies
------------------

It is possible that this was the originally filed report by/for the AP.
Netherlands Hospital Euthanizes Babies

Then again, this story predates it
Euthanasia debate in Europe focuses on children

Tnx all, this makes me feel a lot better

Like in all countries, you have dumb people and more or less clever ones....
I'm not blaming the US of A. It's just a warning that, in my opinion, one of the biggest news channels "flavours" the truth, and on the other hand manage not to lie. They didn't lie, they just had some "experts" comment on it, and from what I saw, they weren't unbiassed.

Korg: I'm not saying there isn't euthanasia on newlyborns. There is. All over the world. Some call it death by natural cause, while it is not. Whether they stop the life support system, stop feeding the children or "accidentally" overdose them. This hospital is the first one to tell: yes, we could have let them live a bit longer, and let them suffer, but we decided not to.

And I don't mind that being mentioned in the news.

As I said in my first post: I'm still trying to find the whole Fox video. If you can find it, I would be greatful.

The report ended with someone saying:

"And that.... in the country....where Anne Frank.... was killled.... in the second world war.... by the Nazi's...."

wft... where's the link?
That's what I meant... They don't actually lie... in a very clever way. Yes, Anne Frank was killed by the nazi's, and yes, sometimes a dutch hospital euthanizes newlyborns.
But if you mention the two things in one report, you suggest we do the same as the Nazis did...

I don't like things that are "unbiased". I actually prefer bias -- specifically when it's openly stated. I would say "fair and unbalanced" news reporting but I think Second Life Herald already has a grab on that.

Yep, that's what I figured. I don't think the problem is with FOX reporting it, because like any news agency, they get newswires form several sources. I suspected that Riffey took offense at the way FOX presents things of this nature, that is, with a political, editorial, and judgemental slant. They don't seem to be able to just present the news without making assinine remarks like the one Riffey referenced above. If you don't believe me watch FOX & Friends one morning...bleh.

Fuck Fox News! Fuck Rupert Murdoch and the Neo-cons! FOR REAL!

Nice Papi

Who watches news on tv? it's slow, narrow, and sensational. search the network websites for headlines, or use newsgroups. Then google (or your search engine of choice) the headlines and read all the viewpoints. We have this cool thing called the internet. why do so few people use it?

Indeed Richard!

The slam on fair and unbalanced is to be expected from this decidedly liberal group that seems to dominate the forums. Funny, neither I nor any of the conservatives I know feel threatened by the continued denigration of practically the only "alternative" news service in broadcast media in the US today.

Then again, I provide links to two different Fox News website stories on the issue in question and those are not deemed sufficient to point out that the story was NOT Fox's imagination and did not originated with Fox in the first place.

I provide links to what could be the original AP report.... that is not considered suffiicient to take the onus of blame for "propaganda" and fear mongering -- slandering an entire culture -- away from Fox.

I provide links to similar stories from other major networks and THOSE do not remove the onus of blame from Fox.

Instead, there are explanations of "well, what do you expect from Fox", "well, you know that wasn't the transcript of what he probably heard", and of course, the perfectly ridiculous editorial cartoon (which was of course subject to cheerleading from the cartoon posers wife).

You know, it's really sad that some of you can't get past your biases. What's next, if I get the transcrips for you (which you should be able to find yourselves), you are going to insist on seeing copies of the original news reporter's notes? For what? What would that prove?

It's a story. It's a newsworthy story by most modern news standards. It was reported variously (in tone and content) by any number of sources. You don't like Fox's coverage? Watch something else.

Sheesh.

I dont watch it dude but that is not to say I am unaware of Rupert Murdoch's neo-con agenda and the fucking trash that FOX broadcasts to mindless masses. In all honesty Samir Khader and Al-Jazeera is more well balanced then FOX.

Oh and by the way Fuck Ann Coulter, Fuck Hannity and O'Reilly.

I seriously recommend the following documentaries: Control Room and Outfoxed.

While I agree in part to the rest of what you have said, I must point out that the United States of America is far from a puritan mindset.

While not unlike any other nation in the world, the size and international focus on the US has made it a standing figure in almost every moral debauchery known to man. Sex, sexualization, violence, fear and hate mongering, pornography, gambling... no where in the world does it like the good ol' US of A.

Sure the politicians put on the front, but I bet they go back from their rallies to hookers and blow. And laugh their asses off.

You don't have to be a good religious puritan Christian to be involved in politics in the US. You just have to act like it.

As for Fox News... it's a joke. It's a tabloid media and has little bearing or respect for truth. You might even call it lame propaganda.

I for one do keep a close eye on what Fox News is reporting (even though I despise everything it's meant for). It gives me a heads up on what the Neo-Cons are trying to push or ideals that they're trying to get out, that way, I'll be ahead of the game instead of suddenly being baffled as to why I'm doing something, or something is being put into law etc. That way its easier to fight.

Again, it was the Nazi reference that upset Riffey. That is something you surely will not find in any online report. It was unnecessary, yet they allowed it to be said, while claiming to be "Fair and Balanced".

I personally take just as much exception with the left as I do the right when it comes to these issues. In my view, we are quagmired in hate born of what is basically a two party sytem. I dislike NPR just as much as I do FOX news. NPR gets a LOT of it's feeds from MPR, which is based here in the Twin Cities, something I am not proud of to be honest. If I want to listen to talk radio I have a choice of the feel good, hold each other's hand kumbaya people or Rush Limbaugh. It sucks. Until I have a station that doesn't project a bias, I will have to flip between MSNBC, FOX, CNN, NPR, EIB, etc., etc.

For an insightful and thorough review of press coverage of the Iraq war, and the failure of the press to affect the election, take a look here.