Nas drew my attention to the fact that The Jerusalem Post ran a story today about the on-line reactions to Jordan’s upcoming Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts (RSICA). First of all, the title of the Post’s article — Arab bloggers upset Jordanian school open to Israelis — is completely inaccurate. It was not Arab bloggers who were upset. In fact, both Amin, Laith and myself were absolutely thrilled about the project. It was on-line commenters, most of whom were anonymous, that expressed dissatisfaction with the project. Obviously, the journalist who wrote this piece does not know the difference between a blogger and a commenter.
I also noticed that the journalist — Ruth Eglash — decided to highlight the exact same comments that I highlighted on my blog last week without mentioning the fact that I, the blogger, was excited about the project and without making any reference to my blog. It is obvious here that the journalist did not do a fair and forthright job, as she focused only on the negative comments and reported inaccurate information by referring to commenters as bloggers. What irresponsible journalism!
There is a good reason why posters don’t want to mention their names including but not limited to the possibity of dire consequences such as loss of emplyment and harassment, and, in not so few cases, arrest, and in few documented cases, torture. Fact is many have paid a dear price for their views in this part of the world, so to assume that those who post with fake names are not real people reflects a lack of understanding our reality. but for those who object to takign anonymous quotes seriously, ask them what citizenships they have and then ask them to renounce their citizenships and come and live in the Not So Free World. Then lets see what you think of speaking your mind.
Jeff, i don’t know you but here is the question: that will quickly tell us whther you are a supremacist jew or not:
Do support the right of return for jews and expelled non-jews alike? this has one good answer and one racist answer and please spare us your attempt to sugarcoat the second answer.
Who are you talking to? Certainly not me. And more to the point, who are you that you think you know me and my position on anything other than what I have mentioned here. I think my attitude towards the Arab world and my position on the activities of Israel is well known to those that actually know me, and that certainly does not include you. I remain appalled by the actions of the Jewish state, most recently the needless bloodshed inflicted on the people of Lebanon. I made mention of the fact you highlight because it was made mention of by an Arab-Israeli on this blog. And I think it’s a valid point. But that sidesteps the issue yet again.
The article in question was a sham. It’s author should be made to answer for her actions.
“And you also fail to make note of the fact that there are Arab-Israelis that might attend this institute”
How sinister of you. Trying to use the backs of the Arabs as bridge for the Israelis. But that’s what Oslo did. It’s cynical of you to suggest that some how we are depriving Arabs if we shut out Israeli soldiers from the school. But you have always been good at blackmail. Case in point is the palestinian MPs you took as hostages. But I have good news for you. Arab Israeli, are welcome, if I were in charge, but they must not have served in the Israeli military.
But here is another question for you. If you are so much into fairness, why don’t you open your universities to Gazans? You know why? Because you are a supremacist or teh worse kind, the sort that succedded where the KKK, Afrikaaners, and skinheads failed.
Nice try, but you only offended instead of narrowed the gap.
Omar (and Hassan) that’s simply unfair and inaccurate. The point here is that this story was based upon a blog post and that post was not cited. That’s simply irresponsible journalism. It has nothing to do with pride. You cite or take from a source, as a journalist you have to cite that source. That’s how it works, you don’t sell it as your own, or worse, take it and manipulate it for your own purposes, though if you did, you could see why you’d want to hide it.
While you may think that these bloggers don’t represent the majority of opinion, you seem so certain that you do. You are making the same mistake you suggest these three are making, though, again, these three aren’t suggesting they represent all of Jordan, only that they are three bloggers, the only three, that are writing about this institute and they are happy to see it happening.
But that misses the point, there’s no evidence that is verifiable here that suggests what you or this JP writer are suggesting. In fact, the posted evidence suggests the opposite of what the JP writer suggests. You may think that what she is saying is true, but she cites Jordanian bloggers as the proof for her theory. And that’s simply not in evidence. If you want to go out and round up a bunch of Jordanian bloggers, write up a negative opinion of the institute to prove her theory, more power to you. But that fact is not in evidence now.
So her story is inaccurate and irresponsibly sourced. It’s crap journalism plain and simple.
And you also fail to make note of the fact that there are Arab-Israelis that might attend this institute, not just those you regard as your irreconcilable enemy. An Arab -Israeli makes note of his excitement about the project in the post that precedes this one on this topic. I happen to agree with one commenter from the previous post that I wish that every new and exciting initiative that comes Jordan’s way didn’t have to be another round of political experimentation: Let’s put them together and see what happens. It makes what should be a wholly upbeat occasion have this inevitable down side. But in watching and listening to much of that blowback, I have to wonder if maybe it does serve a valuable purpose.
Omar you spoke my mind !
I feel that you’re upset only because your blog wasn’t mentioned! I mean, who said it’s inaccurate to say that Arabs or Arab bloggers are not upset with the fact that there’s an institute inside Jordan that accepts Israelis freely! You, Laith, and Amin are not all the bloggers in the Arab world, you might be the only ones who mentioned it, but it absolutely doesn’t mean that Arab bloggers are not upset! I’d be more than happy (and I’m too sure that I’m not alone) to protest against and reject this kind of project.
You might be “thrilled” about accepting Israelis inside Jordan (it’s the same as saying that you’re thrilled about the project!), but there’s at least 99% of Jordan that is not! I see that you got a poll on your blog, why don’t you check that! But, you must mention that the project involves accepting Israelis inside Jordan sitting next to Palestinians, Lebanese, and Jordanians, and then see if Eglash was that accurate…
I posted the following talkback on that story:
I don’t know if they’ll have the fortitude to print this, but in the “Talkback” section of the article I left a comment. I would encourage others to do the same, the link is right after the title on the right. Let’s see that Ruth Eglash is made to answer for her action. Her intent seems clear. My comment in whole is as follows, on the JP site it is spread across several entries, as they don’t allow more than about 100 words per comment:
Let’s get the JP blogging community to flood the Jerusalem Post with the truth. Yella, ya shabaab!