New York Times Publishes Hate Ad:
Professors Against Hate Ads
30 April 2012
By Stephen Lendman
The Times notoriously provides one-sided
Israel/Palestine coverage. Jewish rights and all
things Israel matter. Palestinians don't count.
Times articles, commentaries, and editorials turn a
blind eye to egregious violations of international
laws, norms and standards. Endorsing wrong over right
is policy.
On April 24, a glaring example was published. The
Times shares responsibility with David Horowitz's
Freedom Center. With apologies to Alan Jay Lerner, his
racist ad could make sailors blush.
It accused the Global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS)
movement of promoting hate. It claimed it supports
murdering Jewish children.
College professors were also targeted for "us(ing)
literature in classes to attack Israel." They endorse
BDS. Their names were listed for added emphasis. The
ad called for "publicly sham(ing) and condemn(ing
them) for the crimes their hatred incites."
It said:
It's "time for supporters of the Boycott, Divestment
and Sanctions movement (BDS) to ask themselves what
they did to contribute to the atmosphere of hate that
spawned" the killing of Jews.
It invoked the Holocaust. It's always used to claim
unique Jewish suffering. Others don't count,
especially Palestinians under repressive Israeli
military occupation for decades.
"The Holocaust," it said, "began with boycotts of
Jewish stores and ended with death camps. The calls
for a new Holocaust can be heard throughout the Middle
East and Europe as well."
Horowitz is a notorious Islamophobe. Fairness and
Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) top-featured him in its
"Dirty Dozen" Islamophobia list. It called him its
"premier promoter." He made himself its "chief
publicist."
He's also editor and owner of FrontPage Magazine. It
features racist hate and Islamophobia. It calls Occupy
Wall Street "the Communist movement reborn." It said
planned May Day activities include "terrorism." They
intend "violent acts (to) disrupt the US economy."
Its Jihad Watch page might make some racists blush.
It's that bad. It's Wall of Truth page runs neck and
neck. It calls Brandeis University students for
Palestine "stormtroopers." It labels supportive
Florida Atlantic University ones "blood libels (and)
Israel-hating."
Anything Horowitz writes or says tops everything. His
David's Blog is hate-filled. It calls "racial outrage
over the tragic death of Trayvon Martin....a national
disgrace."
It includes comments like "Muslim countries have no
tolerance for others. If you're not Muslim, then they
consider you to be a pig or a dog or a monkey. These
backward Muslims really are still living in the stone
age."
Years ago Horowitz ran ads in college newspapers
saying Blacks should be grateful for slavery. More
recently, he defended Robert Spencer calling Norwegian
mass murderer Anders Breivik "a man of great courage
and decency."
He's off the rails. He menaces free societies. He
spews hate in public appearances, print, and on
scoundrel TV. He participates as well as promotes. He
equates Islam with terrorism. He's not fit for polite
company.
The New York Times published his hate ad. Doing so
violated its own "Advertising Acceptability
Guidelines."
It states in part:
"The Times may decline to accept advertising that is
misleading, inaccurate or fraudulent; that makes
unfair competitive claims; or that fails to comply
with its standards of decency and dignity."
"If an advertisement contains statements or
illustrations that are not deemed acceptable, and that
The Times thinks should be changed or eliminated, the
advertiser will be notified."
"The Times will attempt to negotiate changes with the
advertiser; however, if changes cannot be negotiated,
the advertisement will be declined by The Times."
Professors Against Hate Ads
The New York Times spurned 148 US college professors.
Their April 28 letter to the editor denounced
Horowitz's hate ad. The Times wouldn't print it. Why
needs explaining. Its full text said:
"We are professors who teach in universities across
this country. We are appalled at the advertisement by
the David Horowitz Freedom Center (Op-Ed page, April
24, 2012) which compares the international movement
for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel (BDS)
to the Holocaust and ancient blood libels. It also
asks that professors who support it be 'publicly
shamed and condemned.' "
"It grossly distorts the statements of such
professors, which are publicly available online and
can be verified."
"The Horowitz Center's advertisement seeks to shut
down informed debate. Free speech and thought was a
crucial right at stake in 1930s Germany and it remains
so today."
"The discussion that took place at the University of
Pennsylvania did not use any objectionable language,
and included many Jewish participants, including
rabbis. Your readers can hear for themselves what was
said at www.PennBDS.org."
"It is Horowitz who uses the language of hatred and
bigotry. Even those of us who do not support BDS are
alarmed at your carrying an advertisement that
misinforms and names individuals who do not have the
money that Horowtiz has to defend themselves through
his chosen medium."
"We hope you will publish this letter to make this
point."
They all signed their names. UCLA Professor David
Delgado Shorter was among them. His academic freedom's
at stake. His department chair rebuked him for posting
content criticizing Israel.
So did UCLA Academic Senate chair Professor Andrew
Leuchter. Palestinian rights activism is dangerous.
Academic and speech freedoms are risked. Careers
supporting right over wrong may end.
Shorter signed his name with others. UCLA was well
represented. He was joined by Kathleen A. McHugh, Lucy
San Pablo Burns, Carole Browner, Michelle Clayton,
Nguyen-vo Thu-huong, Shu-mei-Shih, Ismail Poonawala,
Gabriel Piterberg, Sondra Hale, and Professor Emerita
Karen Brodkin.
Others included Jews. Universities nationwide were
represented. They include UC Berkeley, Colombia, Yale,
the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Duke,
Swarthmore, Barnard, NYU, and University of Illinois.
Doing the right thing is easy. Major media journalists
trying seldom get second chances. Repeated offenses
end academic careers. Target Israel enough times and
it's practically certain.
Sensitive truths in America aren't tolerated. Only
wealth, power, and Israeli support are welcome. Some
learn the hard way. Their honor and integrity remain
intact. What's more important than that.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached
at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is
titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War" http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html Visit
his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on
the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive
Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are
archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour.
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