%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Editorial Board of CBS Incident Committee %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Tuesday, June 14, 1994 (No. 5) ============================================================================= *** Special Issue: Discussion on the comments *** ============================================================================= Table of Contents # of Lines ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. We Definitely have to fight back CBS .................................. 17 2. It is no time to quit our fight ....................................... 50 3. How will we fight ? What is our reachable goal ? ..................... 65 4. Get Positive Report about CSS here ....................................103 5. CBS wants to make money at the cost of minorities .....................120 ============================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------- 1. We Definitely have to fight back CBS ----------------------------------------------------- Yes! We Definitely have to fight back CBS. I just got a real-life feed back information of the CBS influence on one of my American friends. The following was the conversation between us: Bob:"David, I read yesterday's Newspaper about you held a Memorial service to honor those died in 1989 Beijing massacre." David:"Yes. June 4 th is a sad day for Chinese. It was a low turned-out, but I understand that those didn't come to the Memorial are also against the massacre ." Bob:"Is this low turn-out related to the Chines spies they fear of?" David:" Are you refer to the CBS Cunnie Chung story?" Bob:"Yes." David:"Well, Cunnie Chung and CBS sensationalized the news, and distorted Chinese's image. We are very angry at this. They owe us an open apology and we are fighting it back. that is another story......." Listen, my Chinese fellows, this was from an ordinary American friend who I go to the same religious group with, and he is frank with me. Don't just assume that American's are blindfolded, they respond to the news just as you and I do. we are not shouting nice slogans, we are not fighting a right to live here but fighting how should we live here. How far you can be humiliated that's your own business. But we, the majority of Chinese shall fight for a decent life in America. No trash. ------------------------------------------------------ 2. It is no time to quit our fight ------------------------------------------------------ In response to Mi Mi's analysis, I'd like to point out that the news media don't always know what they are doing and they are not always mature enough. The task of journalists is to make news interesting, so it is always the case to make something sensational at the expense of sacrificing the objectiveness. Please keep in mind, the response from the VP of CBS news is the typical business-like correspondence lacking sincerity. It is no time to quit our fight. Nobody care about us but ourselves. Jay G. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. How will we fight ? What is our reachable goal ? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Of course, We should fight back CBS. But my questions are "How will we fight ?" and "What is our reachable goal ?". I think it is time for us to think about them. (1) How will we fight ? I think there are three approaches. (i) launch a law suit -- impractical. As several lawyers pointed out, this is a very tough suit. How likely that we will win? We do not have concrete arguments against CBS report. CBS' comment of "potential spy" issue might be useful if we file a class action. But how can we get money for it ? It is easy to talk about donation. But how many successful donation drives CSS had before? What if we lose ? What if we cannot pay the fee ? (ii) Confront CBS (demonstration, boycott, etc.) -- destructive. These are means we can use but I do not think they will work well. In the same time, the bad news will be widely spreader. (iii)Dialogue -- might constructive We can show CBS the news report is far away from the truth and demand a redress to mend the wrong reporting. For example, show the CSS's contribution to the U. S. in a positive way. Again, CBS might piss us away with its bureaucratic bullshit. At this stage, all are only 'might'. But dialogue is the most possible way to get our job done. (2) What is a reachable goal for us? It is almost impossible to make CBS apologize publicly. We are not as strong as GM. I think it is reachable to make CBS post positive program. ----------------------------------------------------- 4. Get Positive Report about CSS here ----------------------------------------------------- I do not think CBS can apologize to us on public. It cost too much for them, even more than they pay us several million dollars. Even a apologize to us, it is not the best thing for us, it will make the report even well know by public. We do not want the bad report get spread too much. However, a positive report about CSS in here is a very good idea. It can reduce some bad affect by that report and would not cause CBS nothing, maybe even increase it rating. Because now the China MFN still a hot issue. This Sunday, NBC meeting the press show about it and Clinton will fight with congress for it. We should use the law suit and misinterpret the book to push CBS to do something for us. Yes, you said is right, give them some room. We can achieve our goal. The bottom line is let CBS know this CSS is not like she can be kill whenever them want. --------------------------------------------------------- 5. CBS wants to make money at the cost of minorities --------------------------------------------------------- This is totally wrong! Do you think someone wants to "distinguish between facts and fictions" because it is a "giant" and has been foraging in the media realm for years? I hope you take some courses in economics and psychology: the major objective of individual human being is to maximize his/her own profit, which is the most basic foundation of modern economics. CBS does not want to satisfy all the audience. It wants to make money by any means, particularly at the cost of minorities since minorities' human rights do not have much influence on its money-making process. Take a look at the human rights of the Native Americans: how much has CBS cared them?