Humour - PC Journalism

[The Lighthouse Keeper]

A biker is riding by the zoo when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion's cage . Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her before the eyes of her screaming parents. The biker jumps off his bike, runs to the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch.

Whimpering from the pain, the lion jumps back, letting go of the girl, and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him profusely.

A New York Times reporter has watched the whole event. The reporter, addressing the biker says, "Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I saw a man do in my whole life."

The biker replies, "why, it was nothing really: the lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger and acted as I felt right."

The reporter says, "well, I'll make sure this won't go unnoticed. I'm a Journalist from The New York Times, you know, and tomorrow's paper will have this story on the front page. So... what do you do for a living and what political affiliation do you have?"

The biker replies, "I'm a United States Marine and a Republican."

The journalist leaves.

The following morning, the biker buys a copy of The New York Times to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads on the front page:

U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH

[code twinkle]

A biker is riding by the zoo when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion's cage . Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her before the eyes of her screaming parents. The biker jumps off his bike, runs to the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch.

Whimpering from the pain, the lion jumps back, letting go of the girl, and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him profusely.

A New York Times reporter has watched the whole event. The reporter, addressing the biker says, "Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I saw a man do in my whole life."

The biker replies, "why, it was nothing really: the lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger and acted as I felt right."

The reporter says, "well, I'll make sure this won't go unnoticed. I'm a Journalist from The New York Times, you know, and tomorrow's paper will have this story on the front page. So... what do you do for a living and what political affiliation do you have?"

The biker replies, "I'm a United States Marine and a Republican."

The journalist leaves.

The following morning, the biker buys a copy of The New York Times to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads on the front page:

U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH

[Kev408]

Classic!!

[Pidge]

*leaves Politics.ie forever*

[mothball]

*leaves Politics.ie forever*

I think not; you seem to be forgetting something..........Politics.ie addict

[zakalwe]

*leaves Politics.ie forever*

no you won't, even though you got a few people's hopes up (not mine tho, i'd miss the single emoticon replies too much!).
and it was a passable joke. two stars out of five.

[geraghd]

I don't get it.

[Kev408]

I don't get it.

Not sure if you're joking by saying that you don't get it. Anyway, it reflects on how the PC brigade (of which some here would say I'm a member, and in this case the New York Times) can occasionally bring PC to extremes that are simply ridiculous.

[geraghd]

I don't get it.

Not sure if you're joking by saying that you don't get it. Anyway, it reflects on how the PC brigade (of which some here would say I'm a member, and in this case the New York Times) can occasionally bring PC to extremes that are simply ridiculous.

I actually don't get it. What is the reference about an immigrant and his lunch got to do with the story? Either I still don't get it, or it was a very bad joke.

[LowIQ]

It would be funny if it were true. But the NY Times employed Judith Miller whose shamefully inaccurate and propagandistic reporting prior to Iraq was a large reason Bush was able to wage war on that country. Even after Miller's articles were debunked, the Times was very slow in correcting her errors.
Having said that, the joke would be very funny if the right target was used. I can't think of any in the States (the military is sacrisanct there) so maybe the English Guardian would do as a stand in?