The following post is slightly adapted from an article I wrote for sister publications in Vermont, where I live and work when I’m in the United States.
Thank you, Sheri. I can only speculate about the motive behind those newspapers' decision to censor my voice. However, it is certainly censorship. Sad.
Thank you, Marcia, for reading and affirming. I agree with your view of those demonstrations in the heart of the Vermont town where we reside; they reflect anti-Jewish ignorance and bigotry. The censoring occurred over about a week or so. Last week, through intervening advocacy of helpful members of the Jewish community, the newspapers (they are sister publications) agreed to publish the piece because I finally agreed - reluctantly, holding my nose as it were - to a few wording changes that, I gather, the editor apparently thought would soften the article's hard-hitting tone. In my view, the newspapers, while not breaking any laws, violated a sacred ethical principle, namely, respect for freedom of expression. I decided - on the premise of not making the "perfect" the enemy of the "good" - not to stand on principle and not to stand in the way of these good-hearted congregants' effort to get my message out as best as possible. The editor with whom we were in communication never stated clearly what his objections were to my writing. An irony crops up. One of the congregants helping me with this project (she is in fact the person who encouraged me to keep trying with those publications) shared with me a recent paid ad in one of the two newspapers. Purporting to publicize a weekly "nonviolent protest" to "Free Palestine," it is headlined with this phrase: "Standing Against Mass Murder" and continues with these words: "Never Again - Ever." The ad uses a phrase, "Never Again," that arose out of Jews' response to the Holocaust but turns it into a smear against the Jewish State and, in effect, an attack on Israel's existence. The newspaper had no problem censoring my pro-Israel writing but allowed incendiary rhetoric that borders on, or crosses over into, anti-Israel hate speech. Hypocrisy writ large.
Marcia, I'm happy to fill you in on the details. We could do that offline. Other readers: Likewise, let me know if you want to discuss, via email, anything, relating to a blogpost of mine, of local interest or particular concern to you. I'm happy to keep the conversation going! Seth
Thank you, Sheri. I can only speculate about the motive behind those newspapers' decision to censor my voice. However, it is certainly censorship. Sad.
Wonderful essay. How long has it been since they censored you? Try again?
Can you submit it as a letter to the editor?
The four corners performance is frustrating and offensive, racist and misguided.
Thank you for submitting it but hopefully you can still get it ou
Thank you, Marcia, for reading and affirming. I agree with your view of those demonstrations in the heart of the Vermont town where we reside; they reflect anti-Jewish ignorance and bigotry. The censoring occurred over about a week or so. Last week, through intervening advocacy of helpful members of the Jewish community, the newspapers (they are sister publications) agreed to publish the piece because I finally agreed - reluctantly, holding my nose as it were - to a few wording changes that, I gather, the editor apparently thought would soften the article's hard-hitting tone. In my view, the newspapers, while not breaking any laws, violated a sacred ethical principle, namely, respect for freedom of expression. I decided - on the premise of not making the "perfect" the enemy of the "good" - not to stand on principle and not to stand in the way of these good-hearted congregants' effort to get my message out as best as possible. The editor with whom we were in communication never stated clearly what his objections were to my writing. An irony crops up. One of the congregants helping me with this project (she is in fact the person who encouraged me to keep trying with those publications) shared with me a recent paid ad in one of the two newspapers. Purporting to publicize a weekly "nonviolent protest" to "Free Palestine," it is headlined with this phrase: "Standing Against Mass Murder" and continues with these words: "Never Again - Ever." The ad uses a phrase, "Never Again," that arose out of Jews' response to the Holocaust but turns it into a smear against the Jewish State and, in effect, an attack on Israel's existence. The newspaper had no problem censoring my pro-Israel writing but allowed incendiary rhetoric that borders on, or crosses over into, anti-Israel hate speech. Hypocrisy writ large.
Oh wow. So which banner editor? I wish i could have been at services yesterday. Im sure this was discussed. Outrageous
Marcia, I'm happy to fill you in on the details. We could do that offline. Other readers: Likewise, let me know if you want to discuss, via email, anything, relating to a blogpost of mine, of local interest or particular concern to you. I'm happy to keep the conversation going! Seth
Excellent and informative. Shame on those publications for not printing it.