Should Antony Loewenstein sue Greg Sheridan for libel? In his rather hysterical article in yesterday’s Oz, Sheridan slates various people for failing to condemn the actions of the Iranian government with the vociferousness with which they condemn Israel.
Leaving aside the fact that Israel claims its legitimacy from the West in a way that Iran does not — making a continued protest against its actions necessary to avoid silent consent — it’s clear that Loewenstein has made repression in Iran a subject of his blog, with three posts among the last dozen focusing on the protests, and featuring a letter from Iranian bloggers asserting their rights, which The Australian seems to have missed.
By no fair assessment can that be called ‘listless’ — indeed Iran occupies more space in A-Lo’s blog than it has in The Australian’s op-ed section.
This is clearly a deeply unfair attack on Loewenstein’s reputation — particularly since A-Lo’s book, The Blogging Revolution, was partly written out of a trip to Iran to meet dissident bloggers, a venture not without risk (as the fate of Roxana Saberi demonstrated).
Cross-examination of Sheridan’s recent reporting record would be fun. “Ever been to Iran to talk to dissidents?” “No.” “Iraq, outside the green zone?” “No.” “Pakistan tribal areas, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Venezuelan beaver cheese?” “No. I did once go in a flight simulator, though.” “Why?” “Dictators won’t give me helicopter rides anymore.”
Forget the letters page, forget the press council. Put on the writs…
Sheridan was picked up early, with his contemporary Abbott, to be attack dogs for reaction.
They both got an immediate leg up into journalism (thanks Kerry) to fulfil their destiny. But Abbott’s trajectory was all over the place and, ironically, it has been Sheridan who has paid off his apprenticeship in spades.
One demeans oneself by engaging with this wrethced lowlife.
Sheridan doesn’t have a clue.
Even casual readers of this blog could not fail to notice Antony’s continuing advocacy on behalf of Iranian opposition groups.
How anyone could miss this will remain one of nature’s great mysteries, (unless he just hasn’t read the blog and he is writing about something that someone told him about).
I should point out that I have somewhat different views to Antony about Iran, (Hey Greg, I know that because I’ve been reading his blog). I take the view that it is more about derailing Mr. Obama’s efforts to initiate a dialogue with Iran than it is about domestic Iranian politics.
As for the whingeing about robust criticism of Israel, let me refer you to a speech given in Israel recently by Ms. Julia Gillard.
“…for me, the true root of democratic freedom is conversation.
Without readiness to exchange our beliefs and experiences freely and fiercely, we cannot build the understanding we need for collaboration and compromise.
And while I have been privileged in recent days to speak with individuals who play a global role, we know that the choices and options available to leaders actually depend on a different kind of conversation.
A conversation that is happening in cafes and at school gates. In churches, mosques and synagogues. Around dinner tables. In front of television screens and behind closed doors. Between teachers and students. And across the internet.
If the root of democracy is conversation, then the true root of friendship is honesty.”
- Julia Gillard – Speech to the Australia Israel Leadership Forum
Written by Julia Gillard
Did you get that last bit Greg, “the true root of friendship is honesty”.
P.S. Besides the Israel right or wrong crowd have nothing to fear, Antony is a voice in the wilderness. They have made sure of that…