NBC commentator was fired after he offended Koreans everywhere

AMERICAN TV network NBC was forced to fire one of its Olympic analysts after he inexplicably said Koreans are grateful for Japan’s role in their economic development — while ignoring the one-time imperial power’s brutalisation of the peninsula.

The network was left red-faced by the comments of former journalist Joshua Cooper Ramo, who worked as a commentator during coverage of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

Japan ruled Korea with an iron fist from 1910 to 1945 in a bloody occupation that still strikes a raw nerve. Koreans around the world criticised Ramo’s remarks on social media and a petition soon circulated online.

“Every Korean will tell you that Japan is a cultural, technological and economic example that has been so important to their own transformation,” said Ramo, who sits on the board of Starbucks and FedEx while working as co-CEO of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s consulting firm.

The Korea Times reported Sunday that the network had planned to use Ramo for other Olympics events — but then had no choice but to axe him.

“It was possible for him to do more with us here, now it is no longer possible,” an NBC official told Korea Times.

Ramo made the comment after noting that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in attendance.

NBC said it’s “grateful” PyeongChang’s organising committee accepted the network’s apology.

NBC didn’t catch the mind-boggling gaffe despite broadcasting the opening ceremonies on tape in the United States — 14 hours after it happened.

The network had no real explanation for the crazy comment other than to say sorry.

“We apologised quickly both in writing and on television for a remark made by one of our presenters during Friday night’s opening ceremony,” according to a 30 Rock statement.

NBC anchor Carolyn Manno had also read a statement on-air Sunday, trying to limit the damage of Ramo’s nonsensical comment.

“We understand the Korean people were insulted by these comments and we apologise,” she said.

Japanese domination of Korea remains a sore point between the two Asian economic powers.

Tokyo only formally lukewarm-apologised two years ago for the sexual enslavement of thousands of Korean women during World War II.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/winter-olympics/olympic-analyst-fired-for-insensitive-remarks-about-korea/news-story/53b60f3f8579bdd8b09c6036b87ec6d8

Cass wrote:To be fair HT, you bash those who say things about the British in WW2. You should really read up about the history of Japan invading China and Korea during the same time period. Why shouldn’t the South Koreans feel as outraged as you?

Cass wrote:More prudent yes, but there is still a terrible animosity against Japan in SK, and rightly so IMO, as they have only given a very reluctant apology. He should have just kept quiet.

Cass wrote:Well I guess we will agree to disagree.

Off to make dinner. Steak with a truffle butter sauce and fried potatoes and green beans.

Plus the cats are climbing all over me as it’s their dinner time too. Makes it difficult to type. I’ve had to redo this twice!

Night Didge

Cass wrote:Well I guess we will agree to disagree.

Off to make dinner. Steak with a truffle butter sauce and fried potatoes and green beans.

Plus the cats are climbing all over me as it’s their dinner time too. Makes it difficult to type. I’ve had to redo this twice!

Night Didge

Didge wrote:

Cass wrote:To be fair HT, you bash those who say things about the British in WW2. You should really read up about the history of Japan invading China and Korea during the same time period. Why shouldn’t the South Koreans feel as outraged as you?

Well lets look at the comment here.

Had he said imperial Japan, I could understand, as what happened to the Koreans was appalling.
What I am sure he wwas talking about though is post war Japan, that did through its investment in manufacturing exports. Which did help dramatically help the economies of SouthEast Asia grow.

From the 1970's Japan had an abundance of cash, which they used to invest, offering aid and building factories in South East Asia. After the Plaza Accord Act 1985, which increased the valued of the Yen. Many Japanese companies moved to SouthEast Asia. It helped create a boom in the economies.

So how was it really a poor comment?

Is now what Japan did before and during WW2 only going to be the factor that Korans look at towards Japan in history?

Surely what happened later helped the country.

Like we condemned the Nazis, we should condemn Imperial Japan, but not what Japan did as a Democratic nation.

So why should this commentator have been sacked for being factual?

Why are then people wrongly associating two different points in history?

As many Koreans did benefit from the Japanese investment. Should the Japanese that did help from the 1970's be condemned based on what Imperial Japan did?

Maybe it would have been prudent to say the Japanese from the 1970's.

veya_victaous wrote:

Didge wrote:

Well lets look at the comment here.

Had he said imperial Japan, I could understand, as what happened to the Koreans was appalling.
What I am sure he wwas talking about though is post war Japan, that did through its investment in manufacturing exports. Which did help dramatically help the economies of SouthEast Asia grow.

From the 1970's Japan had an abundance of cash, which they used to invest, offering aid and building factories in South East Asia. After the Plaza Accord Act 1985, which increased the valued of the Yen. Many Japanese companies moved to SouthEast Asia. It helped create a boom in the economies.

So how was it really a poor comment?

Is now what Japan did before and during WW2 only going to be the factor that Korans look at towards Japan in history?

Surely what happened later helped the country.

Like we condemned the Nazis, we should condemn Imperial Japan, but not what Japan did as a Democratic nation.

So why should this commentator have been sacked for being factual?

Why are then people wrongly associating two different points in history?

As many Koreans did benefit from the Japanese investment. Should the Japanese that did help from the 1970's be condemned based on what Imperial Japan did?

Maybe it would have been prudent to say the Japanese from the 1970's.

WTF  Please never say that to a Korean, or Taiwanese Or Vietnamese

you are totally wrong. even till today most of Asia has not forgiven Japan and Japan has Not apologized for crimes against humanity that eclipsed anything the Nazi did (literally the Nazi asked the Japanese to show some humanity)

PLUS the Emperor was still around, how do you think Jews would feel if Hitler was still around and respected in Germany

veya_victaous wrote:No what I am saying is that Like the fact you don't Praise Slavers to African Americans,
Anyone with even the Basic social skills knows you don't say shit like that, And that even in another 50 years the victims of the Japanese will still be upset about it. the Japanese Oppression of Korea is a HUGE element of recent Korean History.

AND no the Koreas have fucking NOT!!!  that is NOT FACT that is Your made up Bullshit that I can Assure You NOT A SINGLE Korean would agree with!!!
they Earned it themselves often INSPITE of the Japanese that wanted to use them like the American uses Mexicans for cheap labour

You got No Clue mate, Just shut up before you make a bigger disgrace of your self.

veya_victaous wrote:No, You are wrong. this is not a debate and your opinion of morals is TOTALLY IRRELAVENT. Again would you say the same to an African American? Would you say the Same to Mexican that they should be grateful for all the Sweatshops the US opened down there?

Koreans didn't Benefit from Japanese Good will after the 1970's. Japan tried to use them as Sweatshop 'slave' labour. the Fact that Korean Made something of it's self was INSPITE of the Japanese.

and NO to all of the irrelevant stuff you posted. it is not just about Imperial Japan anyway. it is also 1970's 1980's hell EVEN modern Japan's attitude (out right Racism) towards Koreans.

Cass wrote:To be fair HT, you bash those who say things about the British in WW2. You should really read up about the history of Japan invading China and Korea during the same time period. Why shouldn’t the South Koreans feel as outraged as you?

veya_victaous wrote:

Didge wrote:

Well lets look at the comment here.

Had he said imperial Japan, I could understand, as what happened to the Koreans was appalling.
What I am sure he wwas talking about though is post war Japan, that did through its investment in manufacturing exports. Which did help dramatically help the economies of SouthEast Asia grow.

From the 1970's Japan had an abundance of cash, which they used to invest, offering aid and building factories in South East Asia. After the Plaza Accord Act 1985, which increased the valued of the Yen. Many Japanese companies moved to SouthEast Asia. It helped create a boom in the economies.

So how was it really a poor comment?

Is now what Japan did before and during WW2 only going to be the factor that Korans look at towards Japan in history?

Surely what happened later helped the country.

Like we condemned the Nazis, we should condemn Imperial Japan, but not what Japan did as a Democratic nation.

So why should this commentator have been sacked for being factual?

Why are then people wrongly associating two different points in history?

As many Koreans did benefit from the Japanese investment. Should the Japanese that did help from the 1970's be condemned based on what Imperial Japan did?

Maybe it would have been prudent to say the Japanese from the 1970's.

WTF  Please never say that to a Korean, or Taiwanese Or Vietnamese

you are totally wrong. even till today most of Asia has not forgiven Japan and Japan has Not apologized for crimes against humanity that eclipsed anything the Nazi did (literally the Nazi asked the Japanese to show some humanity)

PLUS the Emperor was still around, how do you think Jews would feel if Hitler was still around and respected in Germany

nicko wrote:Just as an aside,   in Japanese prison camps in WW2 the Korean guards were as guilty as the Japs for brutality.

HoratioTarr wrote:

Cass wrote:To be fair HT, you bash those who say things about the British in WW2. You should really read up about the history of Japan invading China and Korea during the same time period. Why shouldn’t the South Koreans feel as outraged as you?

I only say things in support of those who died in the war, when others are criticising their bravery and what they died for.        We could all keep bashing the Germans for what they did in WW2 but what's the point?   It's done and dusted and whilst we should never forget, and learn from past wars there's little to be gained from perpetually picking at the scab and regenerating the outrage at the slightest faux pas.

Do you see us screeching on about Hitler when Germany has held the EU  whip over our heads?

I know all about the Nanking atrocities.   Don't forget that the Japs were equally geranium to British POWS and other prisoners.  

Have you read up about South Korean war crimes, BTW?

HoratioTarr wrote:How many times do you want them to apologise?