13
Anecdotal? Perhaps. Disturbing? Very. Can Wrap Joke Around It? TBD.
In a Salon piece on the sinking fortunes of the media ombudsman, former NPR ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin writes:
At the beginning of the [al-Aqsa] Intifada, my e-mails were running 6-to-1 accusing NPR’s coverage of bias in favor of Israel. But in March 2003 [sic*], a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Passover seder just outside Tel Aviv, killing more than 40 people. Within a day, my mail switched and began to run 8-to-1 accusing NPR of being pro-Palestinian, even though the tone and volume of the reporting had not changed.
I think the shift was due to two factors: 1) the Patriot Act appeared to silence a lot of pro-Palestinian opinion. I suddenly stopped hearing from people with Middle Eastern names. 2) The Passover bombing marked the first time in the Intifada that Israelis were killed in a specifically Jewish (as opposed to Israeli) circumstance. For many NPR listeners, that raised the existential threat of anti-Semitism and many pro-Israel and Jewish listeners responded passionately.
So the Patriot Act, in Dvorkin’s opinion, had the wonderful effect of stifling one side of the debate about Israel and Palestine. And in really stark numbers, too. How is this good for democracy again?
*Dvorkin’s timeline is pretty confusing. It’s not helped by his misdating the Passover massacre or Netanya bombing as happening in March 2003. In fact, it happened on March 27, 2002. The Second Intifada started in September 2000. The Patriot Act became law on Oct. 26, 2001, meaning there was a roughly five-month gap between its signing and Dvorkin noticing what he believes were its effects on discouraging pro-Palestinian NPR listeners from calling him … but not the nearly year-and-a-half gap his mistaken dating would lead us to believe. Also, it seems 30 people were killed in the massacre, not ‘more than 40′. Man, Dvorkin needs his own ombudsman, or at least a fact-checker, don’t he?**
**The promised joke. Such as it is. Rim shot, BWAHAHA etc. et. al. op. cit.
Fozzetti said,
February 14, 2008 at 0:00
Bush, Cheney and the Administration, with the help of the Dems in Congress, are Terrorists, plain and simple. They are no different from al queda, except for their motivation.
White Male, Jew of Liberal Fascism said,
February 14, 2008 at 0:01
Ask not, “How is this good for democracy again?”
Ask, “Less taxes and more war, please?”
pedestrian said,
February 14, 2008 at 0:20
Bush, Cheney and the Administration, with the help of the Dems in Congress, are Terrorists, plain and simple. They are no different from al queda, except for their motivation.
This is really really horrible. I mean, really bad. The more I think about it, how cool was 9/11? I mean, how the fuck did they get away with that? It’s like Luke Skywalker taking out the Death Star with a single proton torpedo! One tower is crazy enough, but both of them and the Pentagon! Yeah I know it was just a one off thing, sort of lashing out in frustration at something to big to ever beat in a fair fight, but it will be a long time before anyone gives them a scare like that again.
For awhile I thought it was just a temporary panic, but after the FISA vote it’s looking like we’re settling in. I don’t want to think that the purpose is to monitor and control citizens, but when you consider that it all started BEFORE 9/11 and that every attempt to limit it to something that only targets actual terrorists has been struck down - well occams razor and all that. I didn’t want to believe that Iraq was about oil either but hey look, wtf, it is after all.
pedestrian said,
February 14, 2008 at 0:33
I obviously don’t think that things are so far gone yet that I will be “disappeared” for that statement. But, if I don’t post for awhile, come look for me, hmm? Eh, you won’t look.
mikey said,
February 14, 2008 at 0:39
Here’s what I do, pedestrian.
I planted a suitcase nuke in the bathroom at taco bell.
Then I left a letter with my attorney, well, actually my veterinarian, that if I didn’t make contact in any consecutive six-week period, he was to contact the Secretary of Agriculture to let him know that if I wasn’t released and returned in good heath in 48 hours taco bell, along with the surrounding environs, was gonna be hot GLASS!!!
It’s worked so far…
mikey
sagra said,
February 14, 2008 at 0:45
Remember that kinda cool guy that used to post here? What was his name? Footpath or something, I think. I wonder what ever happened to him.
pedestrian said,
February 14, 2008 at 0:47
Thanks, mikey.
That’s a pretty good plan, actually. I happen to have a suitcase nuke and a vet - now all I need is a Taco Bell. I think there used to be one of those Taco Bell/ KFC mutant manimal abominations over in Allston, but it may have closed after the “rat incident”.
Alls I remember is, we got a free beef taco at Taco Bell for something about the World Series awhile back, only there weren’t any Taco Bells. Like I wanted their soggy taco anyway. Puh.
t4toby said,
February 14, 2008 at 0:47
Well, that’s one approach, mikey.
Might backfire, but you’re the fire expert, not me.
I’d think actually obtaining the nuke would be the stumbling block. I have enough trouble keeping the sweet leaf a-flowin’.
t4toby said,
February 14, 2008 at 0:49
I saw a KenTacoHut in the nineties.
Kenucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut all in a little self contained food court.
Effin’ gross.
Scott said,
February 14, 2008 at 0:51
I remember Dvorkin.
What a grade-A douchebag he was… Never saw a criticism he couldn’t dismiss by screaming “BLOGERRRR!” at the critics…
pedestrian said,
February 14, 2008 at 0:52
I have enough trouble keeping the sweet leaf a-flowin’.
No kidding. You would think in a college town that’s not so far from Canada, but nooooooo.
LiberalFascistLover said,
February 14, 2008 at 1:23
Just for the record, being heavily involved in pro-Palestine activism, I do believe there is something to the notion that the Patriot Act - and other anti-Arab, anti-Muslim measures that happened after 9/11 - did in fact discourage a lot of our Arab and Muslim friends from actively participating in activism. This was really apparent when the gov’t began attacking various Islamic charities (though to date none of them have been convicted of any wrong doing whatsoever, much less supporting terrorists) and really freaked out a lot of the established community.
Luckily, most of this intimidation has faded and our Arab & Muslim friends are re-engaging nowadays.
LiberalFascistLover said,
February 14, 2008 at 1:24
I planted a suitcase nuke in the bathroom at taco bell.
No playing tappy-toes while in there?
mikey said,
February 14, 2008 at 2:03
Why do you think it’s called a Permissive Action Lock?
mikey
Lawnguylander said,
February 14, 2008 at 3:27
The more I think about it, how cool was 9/11?
What?
RandomObserver said,
February 14, 2008 at 3:48
I’m too lazy to repeat my comment there in full here (I post under Margalis there), but my basic point was that ombudsmen are worthless anyway and don’t do anything except PR. There is an obvious and fundamental conflict of interest that ensures highly critical ombudsmen can’t remain employed. They exist to provide the illusion of customer service.
If you read his piece it’s clear he spent most of his time talking nice to listeners, defending NPR and smoothing over issues.
robert green said,
February 14, 2008 at 5:29
t4toby
move to LA. the sweet leaf (i love you…SWEET LEAF) doth floeth here, and it does so legally. at stores.
D. Aristophanes said,
February 14, 2008 at 9:00
Just for the record, being heavily involved in pro-Palestine activism, I do believe there is something to the notion that the Patriot Act - and other anti-Arab, anti-Muslim measures that happened after 9/11 - did in fact discourage a lot of our Arab and Muslim friends from actively participating in activism.
Thanks, LFL. The evidence keeps piling up.
sagra said,
February 14, 2008 at 18:42
mikey: I planted a suitcase nuke in the bathroom at taco bell.
And it’s not like they’d find it in the course of a thorough cleaning.
RobW said,
February 14, 2008 at 22:15
They exist to provide the illusion of customer service.
I remember thinking exactly the same of Cox Cable tech support.
Thursday said,
February 14, 2008 at 23:08
One note:
Your comment
His comment
Why do you think he considers this a “wonderful” effect? It is certainly something remarkable, and to not mention it would be ignoring what was the tidal shift in who wrote and spoke to him. I don’t see where Dvorkin’s supposed glee is coming from, unless you’ve added it yourself.
Motes, beams; you know the rest.
tigrismus said,
February 14, 2008 at 23:18
I think that was snark about the effect, not imputed glee. I don’t think DA is really expecting anyone to tell him how it’s good for democracy, either.
Thursday said,
February 15, 2008 at 4:23
I certainly could be reading it wrong: that the criticism is of the results of the Patriot Act rather than implying Dvorkin thinks the effect (starkly reducing certain voices) is “wonderful”.
I hope I am, and if so, my apologies!