"It was one small comment by a presenter. Apart from that, for anyone watching yesterday's coverage, it was very detailed and very balanced"

Didn't we say so? A CNN journalist has apologized for an anchor's remark (one lone, innocent remark, it need be pointed out) comparing the riots in France to the tragedy at Tien An Men square. Never mind what this says about free speech in the country of openness and dialogue and never mind what this says about the willingness of the mainstream media (American or otherwise) to cave in when summoned by the authorities.

The French hysteria when their country is targetted by the criticism of foreigners, journalists or otherwise, shows how prevalent opinions and judgments about their society and about the world in general must be self-serving (the French are more lucid and more reasonable and more avant-garde than everybody else, even (those rare times) when they are wrong) and, within certain parameters, must not be deviated from. Otherwise, all hell breaks loose…