After American television channel CNN's host Jack Cafferty said in a TV show that Chinese products were "junk" and the Chinese people were "basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years", Chinese around the world have been condemning the veteran journalist's prejudice and discrimination against Chinese people and his lack of professionalism.
Chinese netizens have also been bashing CNN for its bias against China, some calling for a boycott of the TV network.
In the meantime, there are also calls in China that urge consumers to boycott French retailer Carrefour in response to the protests that accompanied the torch relay in Paris. People are saying that a major Carrefour stakeholder supports the Dalai Lama, who intends to seperate Tibet from China.
An article carried on Shanghai Daily says it's rational to demand CNN and news commentator Jack Cafferty to apologize. But it's irrational to boycott Carrefour, since there's no proof that the French company has been part of the anti-China conspiracy.
The commentary suggests extreme emotions should give way to reason and wisdom in an era of globalization.
It says there are some French people who are hostile to China, but by no means are all French people. At any rate, boycotting is not the best way to earn respect, the commentary says.
But, the article notes, CNN must apologize to China as it insulted the Chinese people and the Chinese government with dirty words.
It says some American commentators are accustomed to telling other countries to copy the American model of free speech, but they are not aware that even the US Constitution does not protect dirty words or aggressive words.
In conclusion, the commentary says that CNN has insulted not just the Chinese people, but also the American Constitution.