'US Fascist' can't hack open discussion

dublin | arts and media | opinion/analysis Tuesday March 08, 2005 16:34 by Grace Walsh - Griffith College Dublin Grace_Walsh at hotmail dot com

An Evening Herlad journalist walked out on an indept discussion on a Griffith College radio show, seemingly not able to hack a difference of opinion on the issue of the war in Iraq.

A panel discussion took place live on air on Saturday morning on the Griffith College radio station, Griff FM, in which a number of different aspects of the war in Iraq were discussed. The guests inlcuded Richard Boyd Barrett, Vincent Browne, Constanin Gurdiev of the Open Republic Institute and Eoin Dubsky from Paris, as well as Evening Herald columnist Richard Delevan.

The latter I was familiar with for a reference to him on this website in which he was called 'a US fascist'. Being open-minded however, I had not made any pre-mature judgements on the man, and was happy to have his contribution to the discussion, to allow and element of fairness if nothing else.

However it appeared clear after a short time, that Mr Delevan was not interested in any real discussion. The only comments he made were to what he deemed as the indisputable success of the elections in Iraq. When any other members of the panel attempted to raise questions over the nature of the war, or its legitimacy, he refused to participate in the discussion. Following a knowledgable and intelligent contribution from Vincent Browne, he then left the studio, refusing to participate further and acting in an extremely rude manner towards myself, and my presenter.

He then made one or two comments on his blogsite slagging off the show, and when I responded sent me an insulting email, questioning my competency as a journalist.

I find it fascinating that a so-called 'professional' journalist has the audacity to criticise me for the very things he displayed so remarkably himself - incompetency and unprofessionalism. Although personally I may not agree with his politics, I have no problem with people making intelligent, coherent arguments in support of Bush's policies or the war i Iraq, as Constantin Gurdiev has shown is possible. This "journalist" however, seems to be typical of some elements of the political right who rely on intimidation, bull-boy tactics and plain evasion of facts to get their opinions across. I'm just glad that other journalists who participated in the show - Vincent Browne, Lara Marlowe and Pat Leahy to name a few - displayed the fairness, objectivity and intelligence that should be prominent in the work of journalists.

For those who feel the need to relish the gems of wisdom that this columnist has to offer will find his blogsite at the following address:

http://richarddelevan.blogspot.com/