BBC apologises to Japanese over atomic bomb jokes

[The Straight Story]

BBC apologises to Japanese over atomic bomb jokes

LONDON: The BBC on Sunday apologised to Japanese viewers over jokes about a man who survived both atomic bombs dropped on the country in World War II, following complaints from the embassy in London.

In the comedy television quiz show “QI”, screened in Britain last month, panellists joked about the experience of Tsutomu Yamaguchi, who survived the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The British Broadcasting Corporation said it would be writing back to the Japanese embassy shortly.

Presenter Stephen Fry called Yamaguchi, who died last year aged 93, “the unluckiest man in the world”.

He was on a business trip in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 when the first bomb struck, leaving him with serious burns. The following day he returned by train to his home city of Nagasaki, which was bombed three days later.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/23/bbc-apologises-to-japanese-over-atomic-bomb-jokes.html

[Brilliantrocket]

1. Damn

I have to say he IS the unluckiest man in the world.

[billybob537]

2. Ouch

where's the humor?

[DCKit]

5. Gallows humor. So sad, you can either laugh or cry. nt

[HighLowRoller87]

3. Dag! That happened?! That is unreal...

That reminds me of the girl who graduated from Columbine, was in the mess created there, only to experience it once again at Virginia Tech. Something tells me a man who survived 2 nuclear bombs and was able to live to the age of 93 to share his experience doesn't sound so unlucky to me. That's hella lucky. Wow.

[Ferret Annica]

4. Does that make the Kamikaze joke

about thee pilot who flew several successful missions as a Kamikaze pilot insensitive too?

[dipsydoodle]

9. Shouldn't that be

unsuccessful missions ?

[Ferret Annica]

12. It wouldn't be funny then

As these pilots were locked into their cockpits and were not to survive their missions if they couldn't crash into an appropriate target.

The humor needs the outcome of the flight to be more implausible then that to be humorous.

[dipsydoodle]

6. I saw that program when it broadcast.

It was an apt statement.

The subject was discussed in friendly humorous terms but I wouldn't describe anything said as being jokes.

[cowcommander]

7. How much longer until all humor is banned?

[Swamp Rat]

11. The BBC apologizing for satire - the definition of 'irony'

[Swamp Rat]

8. You are the BEST, Stephen Fry!!

:applause:

Screw the BBC for apologizing for satire (oh, isn't THAT ironic!).

[Codeine]

10. Stupid decision.

Mustn't have any humor. :puke: