I can't imagine how to explain Tuesday's hallucinatory editorial from the Seattle Times. Did someone spike the office coffee pot with LSD? Are their writers sequestered in a sensory deprivation chamber and forbidden to read the news? Are they bored with their jobs and just make this stuff up for the hell of it? Or do they misinform their readers on purpose?
An alternative peace plan making the rounds of the Middle East is opposed by most everyone with the notable exception of the Israeli and Palestinian people.They are talking about the Geneva "Agreement", which was promoted by the losers of the last Israeli election and which has been soundly rejected by the Israeli people.
Palestinians would concede the right of return for four million refugees.Such a concession exists only in the Seattle Times hallucinations about the "Agreement". The Palestinians are split on the question of what the "Agreement" actually says. Those who fear that the "Agreement" renounces the "right of return" are shooting at the Palestinians who supported the "Agreement". On the other hand, some of the Palestinians who smiled at the "Agreement" deny that the "Agreement" relinquishes the "right of return".
The most effective remedy after reading such a reality-bending editorial is twofold: (1) Go read what the Israeli people really are saying about the Geneva "Agreement" (start with Tal, Shai and Allison) (2) Send an email to Seattle Times owner/publisher Frank Blethen (fblethen@seattletimes.com) and let him know that printing such nonsense on the editorial page diminishes his newspaper's otherwise fine reputation.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at December 10, 2003 07:00 AMStefan,
After reading your comments on Seattle Times how can I say "otherwise fine reputation"? You don't want me to be dishonest, do you?
Couple of years ago I dumped the Globe and Mail, (Canada) so I can emphatize with your suffering from your local rag.
Posted by: marek on December 9, 2003 11:15 PMThey suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). They need sun lamps, tanning beds and massive doses of vitamin C. With proper treatment, the whole tenor of editorial content would improve, be much more grounded in reality. SAD is at the root of much liberal guilt and pessimism; note the long New England winters, the frigid climate of Minnesota, and the perennial overcast of the Pacific Northwest.
Posted by: Zacek on December 10, 2003 05:17 AMPoor anti idiotarian residents of Seattle. Not much of a choice in newspapers between the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Seattle Times. Where do they find reporters in the Northwest? Seattle is giving San Francisco a run for its money as looneyville USA.
Posted by: Joel on December 10, 2003 06:11 AMHi,
Have you read this about the Geneva road to hudnas where? It was published in Yediot Ahronot December 1st. so a lot of Israelis have had their eyes opened.
Academic: 'Geneva' authors duped the public
http://www.jnewswire.com/news_archive/03/12/031205_duped.asp
"A respected left wing Israeli academic this week leveled a broadside at the authors of the rogue "Geneva Accord" for failing to furnish the Israeli public with the whole truth about their unsanctioned agreement."
"Finally, Avineri censors the authors for failing to adequately tell the public of how the implementation of Israel's obligations would be placed under the supervision of an international monitoring group, including representatives from Arab states."
"In effect, Israel will cease to be a sovereign country regarding substantive matters and will turn into a kind of international mandated territory," he notes.
"Who would by a used car from these people? Not I."
Posted by: Barry on December 10, 2003 09:06 AMHeh, Seasonal Affective Disorder - just what I said about Boston Globe columnist James Carroll last May.
Posted by: Solomon on December 10, 2003 03:56 PMBarry and Shark
Is that the Avneri founder of Btselem or Gush Shalom? who went to Arafat's headquarters and was photographed hugging him when Israel threatened his life a few months ago? Or Shlomo Avineri?
IMRA has the latest survey on Geneva and only 29% approve of it, the Maariv headline is "Even After Carter" it only bumped up 2% points from October.
Also, now you have Likud Knesset members openly talking about unilaterally withdrawing!! and no kissing ass articles from the European or even American press, and even dissallusionment from the State Department of THE NERVE of Sharon to make Unilateral Withdrawals that they "can't take credit for" (/ahem) or wasn't on their guidelines......
If an Arab PLO or even Hamas guy says yesterday in Arabic "Kill all the Jews" but the next week makes some vague comment about "hudna" or "wanting peace of the brave" the EU nicks will all swoon and run to get on their fucking knees to lick this guy's asshole!!!!
AND ISRAEL SHOULD EVER ENTRUST THE SAFETY OF THEIR PEOPLE, THEIR HOLIEST SITE OR ANY HOLY SITE (Hebron, Rachel's Tomb) TO THE 'INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'......
Mike
Posted by: Mike on December 10, 2003 08:04 PM