Guardian Held Hostage by Islamophobic Pressure Group
By Mary Rizzo • Oct 7th, 2008 at 12:40 • Category: Hasbara Deconstruction Site, Israel, Newswire, Opinions and Letters, Quotes, Religion, Resistance, War, Zionism
Soraya Terani, an Iranian mother who lives and works in London at a children's charity, was commissioned to write 2 pieces to Comment Is Free (CIF) chronicling the routine horrors endured by Arab women whose lives have been ravaged by the US and Israeli invasion. But then, due to mounting pressure from Zionist “watchdogs” and blogs her pieces were dropped. Seemingly, Terani also posted comments on an open blog forum which, according to editor Matt Seaton, betrayed all the hallmarks of 'anti-Semetic racist discourse'. However, on reading both her editorial contributions and comments one is struck by Terani's sharp, eloquent political criticism that is totally devoid of any racial, ethnic or religious reference whatsoever.
Yet, Guardian Editor Seaton promptly banned Terani from CIF and sent an apologetic letter to notorious pro-war Zionist smear campaigner David Toube promising to improve the Guardian's 'moderation policy' and work on curtailing anti-Semitism from leaking into the Guardian's blog sphere.
As if it is not enough that a Guardian editor was sending an apologetic letter to Islamophobe Toube, a few days later editor Seaton took part in an interview with the Jewish Chronicle assuring its Jewish readers that he would not tolerate 'racism' or 'hate speech' in any form.
Let's see what Editor Seaton regards as racism and hate speech. Here is one of Terani's most offensive ‘anti-Semitic’ comments:
“The republicans have killed millions across the Middle East and elsewhere to please their darling Israelis, what more are you moaning about??? What else the American-Israeli gov’t in Washington can do to please their SUPER-masters in Tel Aviv??? More killings, may be this time they are after Persian bloods??? Who knows, these gods always get what they want…mindless, selfish, arrogant lot….”
Where is the anti-Semitism here? To admit that recent American wars were serving Israeli interests is nothing but telling the truth. It is hard to understand how blaming Washington for war crimes in the Middle East is an ‘anti-Jewish’ racist slur. Clearly, the issue of race or ethnicity was not mentioned once by the woman who, thanks to the Liberal media, has found her political voice temporarily struck dumb.
In another deleted comment she said, “ Star of David has been flying inside number 10 since Thatcher days".
The Star of David has, unfortunately, been transformed into a Jewish nationalist symbol. It is depicted on Israel's flag, airplanes and tanks. As long as Israel is dropping bombs on civilians from airplanes decorated with such a Star, any reference to the given symbol must be realized as a legitimate political criticism.
However, bearing in mind the fact that Labor's number one fundraiser is no other than Lord “ Cashpoint” Levy who is described by the The Times as “a pillar of British Judaism and a leading international Zionist” the ties between the Star of David and Downing are clearly established.
Regrettably, due to Israel’s genocidal policies and practices, the Star of David is a reference to a murderous expansionist ideology. Yet, far more concerning is the fact that a ‘leading international Zionist’ star was financing the Labour Government at the time Britain was taken to an illegal war.
Terani, however, does not divulge the substantial list of Zionist Jews (Wolfowitz, Libby, Levy, proxy donation masters, etc.) working within the fabric of the US and British governments to champion the Israeli cause. Instead, she refers merely to 'Republicans', 'Israelis' and to a national symbol.
As people who fight for the Palestinian cause confronting Zionist racism on a daily basis, we are eager to learn from the Guardian and its editors what are Muslims and Palestinian supporters entitled to say? What is permissible? Can we not even criticize the Republican Party or the Zionist Genocidal policies? What is really left for us to do except lay down and allow ourselves to be killed by the tanks and cluster bombs decorated with the ‘Star of David’?
Mr Seaton has been contacted telephonically and by email on numerous occasions in the past two days. We would like him to justify his policy of censorship and labelling a person as one who writes material that is Anti-Semitic. We would like him to clearly analyse the writing that is quoted and to state how this can be used to smear a person and to silence her.
He has not yet gotten back to us.
Mary Rizzo is an art restorer, translator and writer living in Italy. Editor and co-founder of Palestine Think Tank, co-founder of Tlaxcala translations collective. Her personal blog is Peacepalestine.
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I was shocked to hear about this incident. I have always respect the Guardian and considered it the number one to offer unbiased platform for all views. But reading the blog and following the feedback and consequences I don't know what to think any more.
But great newspapers sometimes have employees who are not immune against pressure groups, and this does not mean that the newspaper in general adopts his policy.
We have to wait and hear what the Guardian have to say, it would not be fair to judge the newspaper by an act of one of its employees, his response might not represent the newspaper's policies after all.
The Guardian has rarely been any better (not a compliment). It's always been a right-wing rag which allows a bit of limited soft-left comment to give it a different market niche. For a few years after 9/11 it actually got quite good - Tariq Ali said somewhere that was because of Seamus Milne' s editorship of the comments pages. Whatever, under the current team of Rusbridge and Kettle, it's the worst I've ever known it, possibly actually the most right-wing paper of the lot- totally Nu Labour.
It would be hopeless to look in the MSM for any conception of antisemitism that varied from ' gentiles repeating what the jews boast about'.
This is a strange article, Mary Rizzo. You said "her pieces were dropped", but I can see them published on the website. What do you mean they were droppped. It does not make sense.
Also, you said "chronicling the routine horrors endured by Arab women whose lives have been ravaged by the US and Israeli invasion" But her articles are not about Arab women, but Iranians! I'm sure you know that Iranians aren't Arabs. And Iran hasn't been invaded by US or the Israel…
Well done, Guardian - at last you are cleaning up your act!
May it continue!
Dear President Obama
I enjoyed the Drama
Of your campaign and your fight
And your movement and flight
I really admired you
And your entire crew
For opposing the big war
And also rule of terror
I loved your words of wisdom
On your pathway to become
The president of USA
On this moment and this day
Unlike Candoleezza Rice
You sounded lovely and nice
I enjoyed your speeches
In big halls and big churches
Your speech on Dr King
Was very fascinating
I loved the passage you chose
And the way you did compose
The words from the scripture
In your wonderful lecture
You talked about the big wall
Which was so steep and tall
A wall that stopped all kinds
Unite in their hearts and minds
How the chorus and echo
Destroyed wall of Jericho
How the people’s unity
Destroyed evil and vanity
You talked about deficit
And you were explicit
Deficits of different sorts
In groups and in cohorts
You talked about empathy
The kindness and sympathy
You talked about civil right
And Dr King’s clean fight
Of his methods and his team
And his fantastic dream
Of his great compassion
And his love and his passion
How he forgave his jailers
And those dreadful rulers
How he pardoned all of those
Evils who used fire hose
Of the madness of segregation
And the chains of discrimination
Of people being in exile
In their own land and their isle
That the blacks and the whites
Both should have equal rights
That both the Jew and gentile
Should have the same lifestyle
The words you were firing
Were very inspiring
In your victory speech
You told everyone and each
No one can now argue
That his dream came true
You said those who support peace
You will certainly please
And those who tear the world down
They will face the crackdown
Where are you I can’t see?
There is a catastrophe.
Please come out of your shell
Gaza has turned into hell
It is worse than Montgomery
They are deprived and hungry
Innocent kids are slaughtered
Hundreds are killed and injured
Put an end to this nonsense
Please stop this offense
If in US and Germany
People can live in harmony
If in London and Paris
Jews and Muslims live in peace
So can a Jew in Jerusalem
Leave in peace with a Muslim
Please listen to Khatib
Who donated heart and rib
Of their child who was murdered
By a military coward
To children in Israel
For hope of peace and good will
Father said in this fashion
I want peace for everyone
There are millions on both sides
On either sides of divides
Who would like to coexist
And they would like to assist
Did you know that little boy?
Was playing with his toy
What sort of a self defence
Is this dreadful offence
These are the words of George Bush
To justify the ambush
The victims of 2nd World War
Don’t want to see this horror
The descent Jews and Muslims
Are sufferers and victims
My dear Muslim brothers
And also my good sisters
In their prayers every day
In a kind and caring way
Call a compassionate god
And the most passionate god
A god that is merciful
Lovely and beautiful
When they talk about Jihad
It means working very hard
So to become passionate
And the most compassionate
In the twenty first century
Guns and bombs are history
Just like King and Mandela
They believe in kind Allah
And will appeal to public
In every world republic
This is not the people’s war
We don’t believe in terror
The war is for super rich
Who target and aim to reach
Many thousand billions
That is many trillions
The Muslim kings and rich Jews
Do their utmost to abuse
The faith and the religion
In every and each region
They build and sell the rockets
But we go out of pockets
They use “Christian” Bush
To sell for them and to push
The big wall in Palestine
I don’t know how to define
Like that passage in Bible
Physically divides people
Come on “Dr Luther King”
Sound your horn so we can sing
Please please ring the bell
So we can march and sing well
And hope like Jericho wall
Will crumble and will fall
Unity is what we need
Please turn your words to deed
Make up your mind and decide
If you are on our side
Please stop this at once
And stop this nuisance
Important Links
Palestinian's organs go to Israel
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4417354.stm
Barack Obama Speaks at Dr. King's Church
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf0x_TpDris
The transcript of the speech
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf0x_TpDris
Obama: Victory Speech
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/speeches/obama-victory-speech.html#
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