Kesher Talk

The Hometown Paper Blows It: The Seattle Times, my hometown rag is not exactly known for its support of Israel. But in today's letters to the editor they print a letter that refers to "Palestine" and then take the same tack calling the section "Picture from Palestine." This affront to my Seattlite sensibilities could not stand so I sent this letter to the editor:

To the editor:

On the July 5th page of letters to the editor, you printed a letter from Carla Fisher of Kirkland who says that the picture of a toddler dressed as a Hamas suicide bomber "was used by Israel to build animosity toward Palestine." If I were to speak with Ms. Fisher I would respectfully point out that there is currently no state, provisional or otherwise, called Palestine. Her purpose in referencing the geographically non-existent "Palestine" was most likely to grant the Palestinians a greater claim of legitimacy, an understandable, though self-deceptive motive.

But for the Seattle Times to have printed her letter and two other under the heading "Picture from Palestine" must mean something different. An accurate, impartial, and professional newspaper would never print a factual untruth such as the existence of a phantom country. In this case, I can only think of two possible explanations.
Either the Times is using maps from before 1948, when the British ruled a country called Palestine, or they are using maps from Arab/Muslim Madrassahs which consider all of Israel "Palestine."

Sarcasm aside, it is crucial that accurate terms be used in a situation where both sides lunge for the slightest edge in media coverage. With claims of bias being tossed back and forth, the use of outright falsehoods only serves to fan the flames. The Times should take extra care to avoid this. And should get some new maps.

The original version of the letter had a request that they also refer to other former countries like the USSR, Ceylon, and Rhodesia or refer to Tel Aviv as "Occupied Palestine" just to be consistent with the maps. Unfortunately, I had to cut that stuff out so they'd print it. But it's there in spirit.

posted by Rami @ 7/05/2002 04:47:21 PM