“I first realised the enormous pressures on American journalists in the Middle East when I went some years ago to say goodbye to a colleague from the Boston Globe. I expressed my sorrow that he was leaving a region where he had obviously enjoyed reporting. I could save my sorrows for someone else, he said. One of the joys of leaving was that he would no longer have to alter the truth to suit his paper’s more vociferous readers.
“‘I used to call the Israeli Likud Party ‘right wing,” he said. ‘But recently, my editors have been telling me not to use the phrase. A lot of our readers objected.’ And so now, I asked? ‘We just don’t call it ‘right wing’ anymore.’
“Ouch. I knew at once that these “readers” were viewed at his newspaper as Israel’s friends, but I also knew that the Likud under Benjamin Netanyahu was as right wing as it had ever been.”
What are these readers thinking? If the Likud Party isn’t right wing, when who is?
It makes sense, I suppose, in such a radically shifted spectrum, to call Sharon a ‘centrist’ and a ‘man of peace’.
It is the same policy as refusing to call the Palestinians, who murdered a pregnant woman and her 4 daughters, at point blank range, putting abullet in the head of each to ensure they were dead, terrorists.
The same reason as eddie has posting a picture of himself, punching his own mouth.
So would you classify the Likud Party as ‘right wing’ Ibrahamav?
Ask the Likud party how it classifies itself. Maybe they are concerned about the opinion antisemites.
I would suggest a return to school.
The extent of your education seems to have been Lame-arse Insults.
One requires knowledge in order to formulate opinions. Clearly, you lack the former, and thus are incapable of the latter.
Welcome to 2006 to both Edward and Ibrahamav.
AL, any outline for the changes that you might make to this site ?
‘Content is King ‘ as thay say about the media so I hope we can all move away from the apparently endless rounds of insult and repost , smear and counter attack.
One proposal I’d like to suggest is that we all identify ourselves.
Abuse from an unidentified writer is absolutely meaningless and childlike.
I would ask contributors here to respect themselves and others by trying to engage in the conversation , not scream insults from offstage , so to speak.
Bored,
I have no issue with any of your suggestions.
Changes to the site will not be happening right now, probably later in the year. Far too many other things to deal with right now - like finishing a book.
As for remaining civil, this is something I completely agree with. But how to impose it? Very hard, unless censorship occurs, and I’d rather not. BUT, I encourage all people to remain civil.
Identifying ourselves would be a good start.
Good suggestion bored. But who cares if an antisemite actually reveals his identity? Is doesn’t change what he is.
Racist hide behind their annonimity. Such people are less lilely to be as brazen when using their own names.
So you and eddie are out in front about your racism. How nice.
Racist towards whom Ibraham?
Yes, Ibrahamav. Racist toward whom?
Why are you concerned? Your annonimity keeps your reputation safe.
No just curious as to whom we are supposed to have exhibited racism.
Surely if you were accused of being a paedophile, you would like to hear the evidence against you, would you not?
Identify ourselves? Are you guys kidding? There are lunatics out there dudes.
If posters are insulting etc., can they not be blocked?
One of the attractions of posting on a blogg is precisely to remain anonymous - at least for me. Not necessarily to avoid being identified by other posters but how about work - supervisors, employees, etc. ?
Addamo, was the evidence presented to you when you were accused of pedophilia? Could you refute the testimony of a child? You could, couldn’t you?
Just curious
Never happened. Now back to evidence Ibby. Where is it. Put up or shut your hole.
I’m not quite convinced. Your trollish comments regarding holes makes me suspect you are hiding something.
borderinkh
You can call me gutless, a chicken, lacking in conviction, or any thing you like because I will freely admit, I am VERY concerned that a group of mad Muslim males would come around to my house, rape me, and then murder me.
Now, do you understand why I would not like to sign my name and contact details? My fear about radicalised politicised Islamic males is very, very, VERY sincere. I have come close to death from them twice before, and as a wise people once said “never again!”