Time for making your mind up...
...about what we should talk about on today's programme. And the appalling pun is because of a suggestion from a listener that we talk about the Eurovision song contest. It doesn't take place until May, but it's already got people talking thanks to Israel's entry. It's called "Push the button" and may be banned from the competition on the grounds that it makes an 鈥渋nappropriate鈥 political message.
The song is said to be a response to Iran's nuclear ambitions and its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But the rules of the contest state that "no lyrics, speeches or gestures of a political nature shall be permitted," and that "a breach of this rule may result in disaqualification.
Over to Donnamarie in Switzerland:
Shame, shame shame!! on the organizers if they allow anti-Semitism and perceived political correctness to exclude this exciting song. C'mon-for years the whole competition was a bad joke. Sure, there was ABBA and Celine Dion, but most of the stuff was just schlock, pure and simple. So when an exciting act comes along, the best the competition organizers can do is ban it so as not to reflect badly on the boring acts that are standard for the competition, and use the anti-Semitism card to claim some sort of reverse political correctness. What a crock.
Incest in Germany
Boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, have children....turns out they're brother and sister separated at birth. , the scenario is "astonishingly common", and asks if we should treat it as a taboo. Incest is a criminal offence in Germany, I'm not sure how other countries treat it, but perhaps we should look into it on the programme.
Scooter Libby
News broke just before we went on air yesterday that . We heard some of your initial reaction ("fall guy" was a term that came up a lot) but shall we talk about the case in more detail today? Will the verdict impact on the Bush administration?
Wounded Warriors
Speaking of the President Bush, he wants to The "wounded warrior" commission has been set up following revelations on conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre in Washington. are so fed up with conditions they're taking action themselves and forming a union to advise and support soldiers. It's always tricky to talk to serving soldiers, but perhaps we should at least ask about their welfare...
Other dangerous professions
over the past 10 years according to a new survey. I'm pretty safe sat behind my computer in West London (though I'm sure the lack of sunlight in the windowless room isn't particularly good for one's health) but there's clearly plenty of risks for reporters. Has murder become the best way to stop damaging stories?
Ethiopa kidnappings
We haven't yet discussed the five British men and women who have not been seen since last weekend. on who is responsible, with locals in Afar pointing the finger at Eritrean soldiers. But an Ethiopian, who says he was kidnapped along with the five Europeans but later released, said they were taken by Afar rebels dressed in Eritrean military uniforms. Who is to blame? What about earlier
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