Mediocrates
07-08-2005, 08:22 AM
http://www.standwithus.com/news_post.asp?NPI=358
Is the Rachel Corrie tour coming to your city? Here is some advice
Posted: 7/7/2005 2:29:00 AM
Author: StandWithUs and American Jewish Congress
Source: http://www.standwithus.com (http://www.standwithus.com/)
On June 24, the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles featured a 2600 word article about the Rachel Corrie/ Nasrallah Los Angeles tour. We found the article, which was written by Howard Blume, to be an extremely one-sided, anti-Israel piece.
You can read the article in question at:
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=14265
In a joint effort with the American Jewish Congress, we decided to write the following editorial/response which the Jewish Journal was unfortunately unable to print.
We would like to advise our readers/members to do the following when the Rachel Corrie and/or home demolitions related tour comes to your local cities. Please advise your communities of two things:
CONTEXT and SPONSORS. Put Rachel Corrie's tragic story into context (Israel is at war, the need for counterterrorism measures, etc...read the information below) and secondly, find out who is FUNDING the Corrie tour to your city. For example, would it make a difference to your community if a tour was funded by an extremist group like the Edward Said Foundation that wants a one state solution? We suggest that you write letters to the editors of your local papers in order to make sure that Israel's side of the story is told. Please feel free to use the information and points in this editorial response to the Jewish Journal.
HALF THE INFORMATION; HALF THE STORY
Anti-Israel groups have expanded their propaganda campaign on campuses, in churches, in the media and local communities. As organizations committed to ensuring that Israel’s side of the story is told, we are deeply concerned that the media—either intentionally or unintentionally—often repeats anti-Israel perspectives in what appears to be neutral coverage of the events hosted by radical groups.
One example of this campaign is the recent national lecture tour of the parents of Rachel Corrie who was accidentally killed while demonstrating against Israel in a military zone. When the grieving parents tell Rachel’s story, they demonize Israel by stripping away all context for Israel’s military and counter-terrorism actions.
The media often promotes views like the Corries', by uncritically reporting their presentations, as the Jewish Journal did in Blumes recent article (printed on June 24th 05). Like the Corries’ speeches, this articled failed to mention or delve into the continuing terrorist war against Israel, the lawlessness in the Territories which victimizes ordinary Palestinians, the intense anti-Semitic incitement in Palestinian society, the terrorists’ goal of obliterating Israel through jihad or the call for genocide of Jews everywhere. In one-sided articles like Blumes, the realities which put Israel’s counterterrorism measures into context are either given only lip service or not examined at all even though the article was written as if it were an objective portrait of the complicated issues involved in how Israel is to stop gun-smuggling and terrorism in Gaza.
Speakers like the Corries—and other victims or eye-witnesses to the ongoing conflict—are not Middle East experts, yet Blume's article gave them infomercial-like space (2600 words!) to distort facts and make unverified accusations. Blume simply repeated their mistakes or added historical distortions of his own. Like the readers of this article, community audiences are not told that Rachel Corrie’s comrades in the International Solidarity Movement have supported Palestinian terrorists and called suicide bombing “noble.” Nor do readers or audiences learn the agenda of the group that sponsored this event.
The Corries’ lecture in Los Angeles was sponsored by the humanitarian-sounding Rebuilding Alliance, a self-proclaimed ‘peace group.’ But the organization’s website shows that it is composed of perennial anti-Zionist crusaders including Noam Chomsky, Not In My Name, the Edward Said Foundation and Women in Black.
It should be noted that the many letters that were sent to praise the Jewish Journal’s coverage of the Corrie tour were unfortunately yet another component of the propaganda campaign. The letter-writers were likely not regular Jewish Journal readers. Instead, they were responding to the email blast that many of our own SWU members received, sent out by anti-Israel groups in Southern California who urged their fellow activists worldwide to flood the Jewish newspaper with compliments and encouragement to produce other, similar articles. We learned that the vast majority of letter-writers who were supportive to Blumes article (20 out of 21 of the writers actually printed) are affiliated with a network of organizations that systematically demonize the Jewish State, such as Al-Awda, Women in Black, Palsolidarity, and the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
Though these groups have appropriated the term ‘non-violent peace groups,’ they don’t promote peace, but rather victory for the most radical Palestinian agenda. Nonetheless, as Blume has done in his article, journalists often simply accept their description of themselves, failing to alert readers to their not-so-hidden, hidden agendas.
The Corries’ LA visit had all the hallmarks of anti-Israel propaganda. There was no sympathy for or reference to Israel as a democracy under siege, for the 1000 Israeli men, women and children who have been victims of this war or for peace-minded Palestinians who are trapped by extremist groups and corruption. The Journal ‘s lengthy article about Rachel Corrie and home demolitions served as a springboard for a one-sided, biased analysis.
Our organizations are gravely concerned about these attacks on facts and on Israel and about the media often failing to alert readers to the affiliations and motives of those it covers. Journalists should be more cautious when reporting what are clearly more radical anti-Israel events and at least let readers know the perspective of the organizers and speakers. In uncritically reporting these events, journalists do a grave disservice to readers who trust that news stories will be objective, well-researched and informative. This uncritical coverage does not make the press seem open to opposing views. Instead, it becomes an accomplice and a mouthpiece for the distortions in this toxic anti-Israel propaganda campaign.
Events like the Corries’ lecture are planned for large and small communities across the country. It is critical that journalists, editors and the general public be aware of the techniques, agenda and affiliations of those sponsoring and performing in the events. Otherwise, misinformation will prevail and the mutual understanding, fairness and realism needed for peace will continue to elude all of us.
Roberta P. Seid, PhD, Educational Consultant, StandWithUs
Roz Rothstein, National Director, StandWithUs,
Allyson Taylor, Assistant Executive Director ,
American Jewish Congress, West Cost Division
Esther Renzer, National President, StandWithUs
Is the Rachel Corrie tour coming to your city? Here is some advice
Posted: 7/7/2005 2:29:00 AM
Author: StandWithUs and American Jewish Congress
Source: http://www.standwithus.com (http://www.standwithus.com/)
On June 24, the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles featured a 2600 word article about the Rachel Corrie/ Nasrallah Los Angeles tour. We found the article, which was written by Howard Blume, to be an extremely one-sided, anti-Israel piece.
You can read the article in question at:
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=14265
In a joint effort with the American Jewish Congress, we decided to write the following editorial/response which the Jewish Journal was unfortunately unable to print.
We would like to advise our readers/members to do the following when the Rachel Corrie and/or home demolitions related tour comes to your local cities. Please advise your communities of two things:
CONTEXT and SPONSORS. Put Rachel Corrie's tragic story into context (Israel is at war, the need for counterterrorism measures, etc...read the information below) and secondly, find out who is FUNDING the Corrie tour to your city. For example, would it make a difference to your community if a tour was funded by an extremist group like the Edward Said Foundation that wants a one state solution? We suggest that you write letters to the editors of your local papers in order to make sure that Israel's side of the story is told. Please feel free to use the information and points in this editorial response to the Jewish Journal.
HALF THE INFORMATION; HALF THE STORY
Anti-Israel groups have expanded their propaganda campaign on campuses, in churches, in the media and local communities. As organizations committed to ensuring that Israel’s side of the story is told, we are deeply concerned that the media—either intentionally or unintentionally—often repeats anti-Israel perspectives in what appears to be neutral coverage of the events hosted by radical groups.
One example of this campaign is the recent national lecture tour of the parents of Rachel Corrie who was accidentally killed while demonstrating against Israel in a military zone. When the grieving parents tell Rachel’s story, they demonize Israel by stripping away all context for Israel’s military and counter-terrorism actions.
The media often promotes views like the Corries', by uncritically reporting their presentations, as the Jewish Journal did in Blumes recent article (printed on June 24th 05). Like the Corries’ speeches, this articled failed to mention or delve into the continuing terrorist war against Israel, the lawlessness in the Territories which victimizes ordinary Palestinians, the intense anti-Semitic incitement in Palestinian society, the terrorists’ goal of obliterating Israel through jihad or the call for genocide of Jews everywhere. In one-sided articles like Blumes, the realities which put Israel’s counterterrorism measures into context are either given only lip service or not examined at all even though the article was written as if it were an objective portrait of the complicated issues involved in how Israel is to stop gun-smuggling and terrorism in Gaza.
Speakers like the Corries—and other victims or eye-witnesses to the ongoing conflict—are not Middle East experts, yet Blume's article gave them infomercial-like space (2600 words!) to distort facts and make unverified accusations. Blume simply repeated their mistakes or added historical distortions of his own. Like the readers of this article, community audiences are not told that Rachel Corrie’s comrades in the International Solidarity Movement have supported Palestinian terrorists and called suicide bombing “noble.” Nor do readers or audiences learn the agenda of the group that sponsored this event.
The Corries’ lecture in Los Angeles was sponsored by the humanitarian-sounding Rebuilding Alliance, a self-proclaimed ‘peace group.’ But the organization’s website shows that it is composed of perennial anti-Zionist crusaders including Noam Chomsky, Not In My Name, the Edward Said Foundation and Women in Black.
It should be noted that the many letters that were sent to praise the Jewish Journal’s coverage of the Corrie tour were unfortunately yet another component of the propaganda campaign. The letter-writers were likely not regular Jewish Journal readers. Instead, they were responding to the email blast that many of our own SWU members received, sent out by anti-Israel groups in Southern California who urged their fellow activists worldwide to flood the Jewish newspaper with compliments and encouragement to produce other, similar articles. We learned that the vast majority of letter-writers who were supportive to Blumes article (20 out of 21 of the writers actually printed) are affiliated with a network of organizations that systematically demonize the Jewish State, such as Al-Awda, Women in Black, Palsolidarity, and the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
Though these groups have appropriated the term ‘non-violent peace groups,’ they don’t promote peace, but rather victory for the most radical Palestinian agenda. Nonetheless, as Blume has done in his article, journalists often simply accept their description of themselves, failing to alert readers to their not-so-hidden, hidden agendas.
The Corries’ LA visit had all the hallmarks of anti-Israel propaganda. There was no sympathy for or reference to Israel as a democracy under siege, for the 1000 Israeli men, women and children who have been victims of this war or for peace-minded Palestinians who are trapped by extremist groups and corruption. The Journal ‘s lengthy article about Rachel Corrie and home demolitions served as a springboard for a one-sided, biased analysis.
Our organizations are gravely concerned about these attacks on facts and on Israel and about the media often failing to alert readers to the affiliations and motives of those it covers. Journalists should be more cautious when reporting what are clearly more radical anti-Israel events and at least let readers know the perspective of the organizers and speakers. In uncritically reporting these events, journalists do a grave disservice to readers who trust that news stories will be objective, well-researched and informative. This uncritical coverage does not make the press seem open to opposing views. Instead, it becomes an accomplice and a mouthpiece for the distortions in this toxic anti-Israel propaganda campaign.
Events like the Corries’ lecture are planned for large and small communities across the country. It is critical that journalists, editors and the general public be aware of the techniques, agenda and affiliations of those sponsoring and performing in the events. Otherwise, misinformation will prevail and the mutual understanding, fairness and realism needed for peace will continue to elude all of us.
Roberta P. Seid, PhD, Educational Consultant, StandWithUs
Roz Rothstein, National Director, StandWithUs,
Allyson Taylor, Assistant Executive Director ,
American Jewish Congress, West Cost Division
Esther Renzer, National President, StandWithUs