Anti-semitism at a Texas High School...
Gee, where on earth do they get their history???
Jewish parents at Klein High School want to know what Terri Hall, the academic adviser to the student newspaper, was thinking when she allowed what some of them consider an anti-Semitic news article and editorial to be published in the January 30 edition of the Klein Bearchat.
The banner story in the 20-page tabloid-sized paper was "Students protest for Palestine freedom" by Halleh Ghaemi, the paper's sports editor. The story covers the January 1 rally outside the consulate of Israel in downtown Houston by supporters of the Palestinians and a follow-up local rally on January 9 at Westheimer and Post Oak -- all protesting the recent warfare between Israel and Palestinians.
The article continues with a mini-history lesson that somehow manages to leave out the Six Day War, also known as the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.
"The news article is factually incorrect," one parent told Hair Balls. "It leaves out entire pieces of history. In the Six Day War, Israel was invaded. None of that's here."
The article also states as fact that:
"Another activity people have used to get their message across is boycotting. Famous companies and businesses such as Coca-Cola, AOL, Disney, Estee Lauder, Johnson and Johnson, Revlon, Home Depot, Starbucks, McDonald's, L'Oreal, Nokia and Nestle are proven supporters of Israel as they donate a certain percentage of their profit to benefit the Israeli economy or display Zionist points of view."
The writer then quotes a fellow student who says he is boycotting Starbucks because the chairman of Starbucks and his company actively support Israel. This father, who said he didn't want his name used for fear that his children might be retaliated against in school, says that while the chairman of Starbucks is, in fact, a Jew who supports Israel, that it is an urban myth debunked several times over that Starbucks, a public company, sends a portion of its profits to Israel.
posted by GayandRight @ 6:00 PM
6 Comments:
It hurts to be on the wrong side, doesn't it?
Whine away. Justice for the Palestinian refugees is on the horizon, no matter how many times their supporters are maliciously called anti-semitic. There are many Jews who do not support the Israeli government.
Look at http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/
If one is anti-semitic because one criticizes Israel or supports the Palestinians, then there would be a lot of anti-semites around.
The next point I will make is that the writer needs not make every historical reference to justify his/her viewpoints. Just because the 1967 War was left out doesn't mean that the writer is wrong.
As for editorial control of the content, the editors can decide if they wish to allow for the publication of a pro-Israeli viewpoint. I do recall Macleans magazine having problems with some Muslims who wanted a say over editorial control and content.
I will say that like many high school newspaper stories, this one was somewhere between being an article and column. As a result, the writing may be a bit sloppy. Had the story been an article about the protest and a couple of comments about students boycotting Coca-Cola and some other companies, it would have been fair game.
I'm not sure of the cartoon "Peril Juif" was included in the article/column. Had the cartoon been about a Jewish man hungering over Israel/Palestine, that would have been fair in my opinion. The fact that it showed him wanting control of the whole world could stretch things too far.
Wow, the excuses people now feel free to make for anti-Semitism never cease to amaze me. Leaving out important parts of history in order to make your side look better is deeply wrong and it's a shame these kids have never learned that. I believe this country is doomed to Euro-socialism or worse because children have been so indoctrinated with propaganda by the time they get out of high school. It's unlikely that they will ever learn to think for themselves.
Given that your average Palestinian's definition of peace excludes the continued existence of Israel, Jews who support the Palestinians are indeed self-hating Jews - there's no other explanation for it. Hamas's charter is quite clear: Israel must cease to exist. A victory for Palestinians means a new Holocaust
I used to live in that school district and it is an extremely diverse school district. Don't think for a second that just because it's in Texas that this was a case of redneck hating on poor Jews.
http://undertheradarmedia.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=877
Wasp is unbelievable. The sweeping generalization of Muslims only shows that she is either clueless about the entire conflict or that she has bought into the ridiculous Jewish narrative of the Middle East.
The last time I checked it was Palestininas who were getting wiped off the map with only 13 Israelis dead vs 1300 dead Palestinians.
While both sides are guility, don't forget that Hamas has been provoked by a blockade by Israel, which is an internationally recognized declaration of war.
The smear of anti-semitism doesn't work anymore because I have debunked that liar Abraham Foxman. Don't believe me? Well listen for yourself:
http://www.archive.org/details/MythOfTheJewishLobby
The students at this high school had no problem with the article. It was the parents who complained and blew it out of proportion (do you really think most students even read an article on the Middle East? come on!) and wish to stifle any intellectual diversity with regard to one of the most important issues of our day. However, as a great man once said, "Ignorance and obscurantism have never produced anything other than flocks of slaves for tyranny." We've suffered from intellectual dishonesty on this issue for too long. Good job to the writer of this article.
as a survivor of klein high school (i live in vancouver bc now) the article didn't surprise me. i could tell you such stories - lol.
interesting blog. i'm glad i stumbled in here.
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