Israel makes people write stupid things, I’m glad that The Times has been caught out.

People are so convinced their “side” (its a bit peep show at times) is right that they have to look for malfeasance in their opponents. Although I’m quite content to see some Tories as nice but wrong, when it comes to Israel and Palestine that option is rarely employed, they’re not only wrong, but wrong because they’re bastards. [1]

I saw this this weekend.

Here’s a pop quiz that I’m sure nobody will have a hard time passing: Which of the following two stories made it into the New York Times?

1. One of the top leaders of Hamas, Mahmoud Zahar, a man who has been written about on hundreds of occasions in the Times, responded to the dedication of a synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem by delivering a viciously anti-Semitic rant in which he promised the annihilation of Israel and said that the Jews “killed and murdered your prophets” and “have always dealt in loan-sharking” and are “destined to be destroyed.”

2. A Vatican preacher compared condemnation of the Church over its sex-abuse scandal to the persecution of Jews, remarks from which Church officials immediately distanced themselves.

The first story, of course, was not covered. The second was not just covered, but given above-the-fold, front page treatment. Why is this?

Is it because this is Easter weekend? This fact probably elevates media interest a little bit — but enough to land the story on the front page? Maybe it’s because Jewish groups complained about the sermon? Sure, but Jewish groups routinely complain about anti-Semitism and incitement and are routinely greeted with yawns from the press. So why the different treatment?

The reason, I think, is because the Times is a left-wing paper and adheres to one of the central tenets of enlightened progressivism: people who can be identified as Third World, or who are not members of the Judeo-Christian/European world, must not be held to the same standards to which white, First World people are held. This double-standard — it is the racism of the enlightened — pervades the treatment of different cultures and religions in the strongholds of Western liberalism, that is, in the media, academia, and the “human rights” community.

The insinuation here is a bit mad. The obvious view, that the Vatican story is simply more news worthy, is ignored and evildoing is suspected.

Israel; making people think the worst of others since 1948.

@1, the mag from which you quote, Commentary, is a neo-con publication. Hence it drones on about “progressivism” in a similar way to the increasingly erratic Glenn Beck, “star” of Fox News Channel (fair and balanced my arse).

The bottom line with the Times, as with the rest of the Murdoch press, is that it’s having to produce more content with less resources over time, as a read of Nick Davies’ excellent Flat Earth News will show. Far easier not to bother with the research and do a cheap hatchet job and then, if the subject bites back, consider a correction (or if they haven’t got any money, maybe not, as they won’t be suing any time soon).

And this is a publication that is about to charge for its content. Arianna Huffington was right when she said that the Murdochs don’t get the New Media.

A Murdoch piece of trash attacking anyone who is criticising Israel.

I am shocked, shocked……….

that anyone thinks that right wing pro Zionist Murdoch is a reputable media outlet.

Commentary mag – urgh.

. Tim Fenton
‘… increasingly erratic Glenn Beck ‘

The man is self-described borderline schizophrenic. The most amazing thing is Faux Snooze gives him a platform and people actually pay attention to his bizarre rants.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-01-22/the-making-of-glenn-beck/?cid=hp:mainpromo5

Times and ST are sending their journalists to the Sun school of journalism!

Just waiting for the hordes of Harry’s Place commenters to flood this thread with their nonsense…

@blanco

yeah – i’m just waiting for HP to post the correction, or perhaps this “blockbuster” correction…

Just saw this:

“Some international rights groups that have been critical of Israel, like Human Rights Watch, have said Israel’s government was “waging a propaganda war” to discredit them. A senior Netanyahu aide affirmed in an interview last year that Israel was “going to dedicate time and manpower to combating these groups.” ”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/world/middleeast/06israel.html

Israel makes people write stupid things

Painfully, painfully true that and I really wish it wasn’t that way.

Pathetic — the implication that Garlasco is a nazi-sympathiser due to his hobby is also revolting.