Comments on: Not siding with us is patriotic http://antonyloewenstein.com/2008/11/03/not-siding-with-us-is-patriotic/ Thu, 24 May 2012 13:43:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Reuben Brand http://antonyloewenstein.com/2008/11/03/not-siding-with-us-is-patriotic/comment-page-1/#comment-473852 Reuben Brand Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:32:19 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/?p=6893#comment-473852 A pattern emerges when journalists cross the illusory line to the “other side” and dare to report on a story that breaks the ethnocentric shackles of our early morning newspaper ritual. Nir Rosen brings an important story to life that would have been otherwise unknown. Instead of commendation he is highly criticised. Robert Fisk is another who comes under attack for speaking out and talking to strangers, who, by US standards, don’t fit with the type of media coverage they want their war to receive. Actor, John Malcovich stated in 2002 that he would like to shoot Fisk in the head because of the kind of work he does. I would imagine that our very own Antony Loewenstein cops his fair share also. So whether embedded with the Taliban or reporting on stories from afar, it is absurd to attack and condemn journalists who put their lives on the line and speak out. Who report what is not being widely reported. Who give you insights otherwise unattainable and dare to say what is not being said. Wasn’t it Sun Tzu, the fifth century Chinese military strategist, who said that in battle it is a foremost rule to know your enemy? “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. A pattern emerges when journalists cross the illusory line to the “other side” and dare to report on a story that breaks the ethnocentric shackles of our early morning newspaper ritual.

Nir Rosen brings an important story to life that would have been otherwise unknown. Instead of commendation he is highly criticised.

Robert Fisk is another who comes under attack for speaking out and talking to strangers, who, by US standards, don’t fit with the type of media coverage they want their war to receive. Actor, John Malcovich stated in 2002 that he would like to shoot Fisk in the head because of the kind of work he does.

I would imagine that our very own Antony Loewenstein cops his fair share also.

So whether embedded with the Taliban or reporting on stories from afar, it is absurd to attack and condemn journalists who put their lives on the line and speak out. Who report what is not being widely reported. Who give you insights otherwise unattainable and dare to say what is not being said.

Wasn’t it Sun Tzu, the fifth century Chinese military strategist, who said that in battle it is a foremost rule to know your enemy?

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War.

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