| Alpha | | Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 5:21 am Post subject: Kerry/Edwards Website Censors Discussion of Israel/Palestine |
| http://www.counterpunch.org/burke09132004.html
September 13, 2004
When It's "Unreasonable" to Talk About Palestinian Rights
Kerry/Edwards Website Censors Discussion of Israel/Palestine Issues
By MIKE BURKE
The administrators at Kerry's website have shut down all discussion of
the
Israel/Palestine conflict, and told everyone to be good boys and girls
and
go along. This was just after a number of Pro-Israel posters complained
of
un-civility and insensitivity, anti-Semitism, etc etc. It is worth
noting
that virtually no one critical of Israel was calling for the board to
be
silenced. The old posts are in the archives, here're some links to
those..... check posters like heart, redcake, teacher731,mbig,Dr.
Strangelove, dan wingfoot....,all of whom seem to think that the fact
they
were hugely outnumbered was part of some "far left" plot, and who
become
un-hinged when anyone suggests that maybe it reflects how people
actually
feel.
I have posted links to CounterPunch, the Nation, Guardian UK and have
been
rather viciously attacked for doing so. I often posted responses to the
Kerry website official I/P policy (see below), with links to Kerrys
love
letter to the lobby, the recent Forward policy statement, and his
wonderful
"what I did in Israel" trip report, which seemed to annoy. Posting
links to
"a clean break...", were also less than enthusiastically received. Even
links I posted from "the Forward" critical of the occupation incurred
the
wrath of my fellow Democrats (or whatever). One poster kept using
palestinefacts.org as his source, and when I posted a reply showing the
WHOIS information of that site belonged to "Mogen David systems", which
I
thought showed they might have a slight bias, the mods yanked the post
right
away, claiming it was against the rules to post WHOIS info, despite the
fact
it is public information. Anyway silence on this subject is a victory
for
the AIPAC fan club. Now the Foreign Policy forum is joke, you can talk
about
anything relating to the conflict, its so absurd.
Here's the message they sent when they slammed the door shut......
Thank you for sharing your opinions with our community at the
Kerry-Edwards
Online Forum!
We have no desire to suppress civil and reasoned debate, but due to the
continued lack of civility, insensitivity toward race or religion and
use of
offensive language, this forum will no longer host the debate about
Israeli-Palestinian issues. This action has the approval of both the
Arab
and Jewish constituency outreach desks at campaign HQ in Washington,
DC.
This forum is about the election of John Kerry and John Edwards to our
Nation's highest political offices and we sincerely believe that is
time for
all of our supporters to embrace the positive vision of our candidates
and
start working toward a more peaceful and prosperous America and world.
If
you are interested in learning more about John Kerry's views on these
matters, they are posted below. Thank you for your understanding and
cooperation.
Middle East
Restoring American Leadership In The Middle East
John Kerry and John Edwards believe that bringing security and
stability to
the Middle East is vital to American national security, to the security
of
Israel and other countries in the region, and to the aspirations of the
Palestinian people for a viable Palestinian state. In a Kerry-Edwards
administration, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not be an
afterthought, but a priority that will always get the consistent,
high-level
attention it deserves.
John Kerry and John Edwards are fundamentally committed to the security
of
our ally Israel and the creation of a comprehensive, just and lasting
peace
between Israel and its neighbors. John Kerry and John Edwards support
the
creation of a democratic Palestinian state dedicated to living in peace
and
security side by side with the Jewish state of Israel. John Kerry and
John
Edwards believe that history, our own best interests and our shared
values
of freedom and democracy demand that the United States always maintain
its
special relationship with and steady policy of friendship and support
for
Israel. For the past two decades, John Kerry has built a record of
support
for Israel in the US Senate that is second to none. The commitment he
and
John Edwards have made to Israel's safety, security and existence as a
Jewish state has never wavered, and it never will.
>From his many trips to the region, John Kerry knows a majority of
Israelis
and Palestinians share a desire for peace and a better tomorrow -- a
day
when a viable Palestinian state exists alongside the Jewish state of
Israel.
>From his own trip to Israel in 2001, John Edwards shares this view,
and a
conviction to restoring American leadership in the Middle East. John
Kerry
and John Edwards will bring determined leadership to ending the
violence and
developing a new Palestinian leadership - one that is committed in word
and
deed to fighting terror and meeting the needs of its people.
John Kerry and John Edwards will work tirelessly to achieve a stable,
lasting peace with security in the Middle East and ensure that American
leadership is a source of hope in the region.
Mike Burke can be reached at: m.michaelburke@comcast.net | |
