posted 07/11/10 05:19 PM | updated 07/12/10 05:26 AM
Featured Post! | Views: 173 | Comments : 2 | National & International News

Crossing the Red Line

By dliebich
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Last fall while I was attending a conference in Washington D.C., I took the opportunity to visit the newly opened Newseum, which chronicles news media from the First Amendment to Twitter and YouTube. At one of the exhibits, I was a little surprised to note that Israel’s press had been downgraded by Freedom House from free to partly free, now ranking 71st in the world. (The U.S. ranks 24th.) Israel, similar to other countries in the region such as Iran and Jordan, has long had some degree of overt government censorship, but the downgrade was a result of an increase in self censorship.

In a self censorship environment, media outlets respond to pressure and establish red lines that cannot be crossed without serious consequences. The US has been home to this practice as well, particularly with respect to Middle East issues. The phenomenon does, however, appear to be on the increase.

Helen Thomas, Dean of White House Correspondents, was forced to resign from Hearst News as a result of comments questioning the whole premise behind the Zionist project. Last week CNN Senior Middle East Editor, Octavia Nasr, was forced to resign for expressing her respect for Lebanese cleric Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Fadlallah and sadness at his death (See here) after the pro Israel bloggers went into full attack mode. (See here)

When I met with Ayatollah Fadlallah two years ago he revealed himself to be a complex character who defies labeling. In his role as a “source of emulation” for Shias and leader of one of the largest social services organizations in Lebanon and Syria, he was extremely influential, ranking with Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Iraq.

A fierce critic of US Middle East policy, he issued “fatwas” (Legal opinions under Islamic Law) supporting resistance against the US/Israeli occupation of Lebanon. These opinions may have led to the bombing of the US Marine Barracks and the US Embassy in Beirut and certainly led to Hezbollah’s successful campaign to drive Israel out of Lebanon. On the other hand, he promptly condemned the 9/11 attacks as acts of terror.

As a result of his outspoken opinions, he has enemies as well as friends. One of his enemies was the CIA who in 1985, with assistance from Saudi Arabia, attempted to kill him with a massive car bomb which failed in its goal, but did kill 80 innocent civilians and wounded 256. (This story is here.) 

Whatever one thinks about Fadlallah, it is disturbing that expressing respect for him should be a red line that if a member of the press crosses it, she will lose her job. It is also disturbing that the main stream media has been largely silent on the issue. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the Constitution are only words on paper unless citizens are willing to defend them. Without this we start a slide down the same slope as Israel.

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Freedom of speech works both ways
The press, individuals and institutions are free to criticize whoever they please about whatever they please. The reader can choose to believe whoever he/she pleases. Usually people believe propaganda that agrees with their point of view, regardless of the evidence.
Comment by Mick Garcia
1 month ago
( +1 votes )
Not Quite...
Mr. Liebich, it is refreshing to have another perspective on the affairs in the middle east, but when you make statements like this one
"Helen Thomas, Dean of White House Correspondents, was forced to resign from Hearst News as a result of comments questioning the whole premise behind the Zionist project" it is hard to see you as intellectually honest.
"tell them to get the hell out of Palestine... to Germany, to Poland, to America" It was the utter ignorance of history and complete lack of sensitivity evidenced by her comments that spelled the end for Helen Thomas, not her questioning of Zionism. This is her exact quote... go to Youtube to see it in it's entirety. Ms. Thomas SURELY must have heard of the Holocaust and possibly is also aware of the other historical connections between the Jews and Israel. But the purpose of this comment isn't to debate Ms. Thomas; it is simply to point out that I can't take the remainder of your article as honest. If your goal was to raise awareness and challenge people to investigate these matters for themselves, then I can say you were succesful on at least one count.
Comment by Steven
1 month ago
( 0 votes )
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