Dead Children Names Too Threatening For Israel

[DeSwiss]

The Young Turks * Published on Aug 2, 2014

"The Israeli Broadcasting Authority has banned a radio advertisement from a human rights organisation which listed the names of some of the scores of children killed in Gaza since the conflict began 17 days ago.

B'Tselem's appeal against the decision was rejected on Wednesday. It intends to petition Israel's supreme court on Sunday in an effort to get the ban overturned.

The IBA said the ad's content was "politically controversial". The broadcast refers to child deaths in Gaza and reads out some of the victims' names."* The Young Turks hosts Ana Kasparian and John Iadarola (TYT University) break it down.

*Read more here from Harriet Sherwood / The Guardian:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/israel-bans-radio-advert-listing-names-children-killed-gaza

I don't know how it is possible for anyone to live with themselves knowing that they've cold-bloodily murdered children and babies.

[BillZBubb]

1. I despise what Israel is doing in Gaza, but would any country allow this during a conflict?

There are many reasons to criticize Israel, but this one is unfair.

[DeSwiss]

2. Yes, I find that it's always better to shut one's eyes to the TRUTH.

Rather than look at the blood and gore and then know who they are.

Who I killed.

Or, whom I supported in having killed.

Or even nonchalantly giving a damn who it was that ''they killed.''

Yes, its unfair for us to know their names.

To have to hear the sounds that no one will utter again.

It's better they died ignominiously.

Shamed into nonexistence.

Unknown.

Uncherished.

And unremebered.

That's the way to go.

- That way, NOTHING, NOR WE EVER HAVE TO CHANGE.

[stone space]

3. Allowing this would be like allowing the names of the children killed at Sandy Hook to be read.

...but would any country allow this during a conflict?

After all, what would the NRA think if we allowed that? We wouldn't want to hurt their delicate fee-fees, would we.

[BillZBubb]

9. Terrible analogy. But nice try.

[stone space]

12. Not a terrible analogy at all. If the NRA had the power to do what you suggested, they would.

I've chatted with enough of their gun nut supporters to know how they respond to the naming of children.

They don't like it at all. Not one bit. They can't stop it because they don't have the power, but if they did have the power, they'd do precisely the same thing.

The name of the game is dehumanization. And reading the names humanizes the victims.

[GeorgeGist]

7. Cop out.

Everybody does it, is not a rational excuse.

[BillZBubb]

10. It is a fact, though. Singling out Israel for this is a stretch.

[jimlup]

8. Yeah the truth is pretty much an inconvenience

I'm sorry but it is a legitimate truth. War is the opposite of an a reason for censorship in a democracy.

[BillZBubb]

11. Yes, but all democracies do it. I wish they didn't, but they do.

[stone space]

13. You say that you "wish they didn't", but you continue to defend it, ...

...calling criticism of such behavior somehow "unfair".

That doesn't make any sense at all.

You can't have it both ways.

It is quite obvious that you support the censorship of the naming of dead children.

[BillZBubb]

14. I'm not defending it. I don't support it. You logic is flawed.

What I am saying is that Israel is no worse than anyone else on this score. So, to me it is a very weak point of criticism.

There are so many other areas where Israel has gone far beyond what most nations do in this situation, why waste time criticizing them for something virtually everyone does? It just isn't effective.

I would much rather those of us opposed to Israel's actions focus on the murders of civilians, the criminal use of anti-personnel weapons in civilian areas, the bombings of schools, churches, and UN refugee facilities, etc. Those are war crimes where with enough pressure, Israel could be made to face war crimes charges.

Their internal propaganda actions may be disgusting, but other than raising emotions on DU, they don't really satisfy what should be the real goal.

[stone space]

15. I fully expect you to defend censorship of the naming of children killed...

...by the US in Afghanistan and Pakistan in a similar ad at some point, using Israeli actions as justification.

After all, by your so-called "logic", if Israel does it, then it would be "unfair" to criticize the US for doing the same thing.

Why waste time defending something that you yourself claim not to support?

[BillZBubb]

16. Again, your logic is flawed.

You are trying to paint me into a corner that doesn't exist.

Inside the US, I would favor allowing the ad to be played. I would support it. I am a US citizen so to me the first amendment should allow the ad to be aired. My guess, though, is that the powers that be would take it to court so that if it aired, it would happen well after it could have the most impact. I wouldn't be happy about that, but there is not much I or you could do about it.

[stone space]

17. This "flawed logic" thingie is getting annoying.

I'm a Logician by profession. It's what I do for a living.

In know it's minor in the big scheme of things, but it really grates on the nerves.

[DeSwiss]

21. !

- Keep working at it! Stick only to things that are consistent and apply to everyone, then you'll be headed in the right direction!!!!

[countryjake]

19. Did you also excuse Shrub when he began hiding the return of our dead soldiers?

Our own war dead, flag-shrouded coffins from Iraq and Afghanistan, planes full of them, off-limits to the media?

The more that we ignore and make excuses for such neo-fascist right-wing encroachments on truth in democracy, the easier it will be for them to destroy that democracy, totally.

The USA never even attempted to count the millions of people that were slaughtered in their various wars on "terror", let alone name them. That is a disgusting reflection on our government and the silencing of B'Tselem by their government is equally repugnant, to me.


Temporary website for B'Tselem til they are able to restore web service:

https://btselem.nationbuilder.com/donate


B'tselem FaceBook page:

https://www.facebook.com/btselem/timeline



Free Palestine!
Let Gaza Live!

Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions
Free Palestine!

[King_Klonopin]

4. If Netanyahu and the Likud party feel so justified and righteous about their war,

why then do they go to such great lengths to hide so much information
from the light of day and to control the narrative ?

What the Israeli military is doing to Gaza, under Netanyahu's orders, can
only be described more as a massacre than as "defending" Israel. Objective
facts like photos, faces, numbers, etc. would expose this reality quickly and
plainly. Netanyahu is basically using the "stand-your-ground defense", but
on a much larger scale. If some Palestinian randomly shoots a rocket into
Israel, they have the right to reduce an entire town to corpses and rubble.

This mindset has roots which are thousands of years deep, dating back to
the days of Joshua in the Old Testament when the Israelites were instructed
by God -- given permission, even -- to exterminate (like rats in a death cage)
all of the indigenous tribes who were living in Canaan before the Exodus.

This history helps to justify and defend the heavy-handed Israeli retaliation
and the "acceptable" genocide of the Palestinians (i.e. the Philistines) who have
always been perceived as a thorn in the side of Israel and illegitimate squatters
in the land of Canaan.

The Palestinians in Gaza have been on desperate ground for a while. "When on
desperate ground, one must fight.", according to Sun Tsu. And, when out-
numbered or fighting against a more powerful foe, one must resort to tactics
like guerrilla warfare in order to survive. Those tactics will surely be denounced
as "terrorism" by the opposition, rather than the desperate acts of people who
are over-powered and face annihilation.... PEOPLE.

[DeSwiss]

5. The corruption is systemic on a global scale now.

All the world's leaders are involved in it, in some way. Either directly. Or when they cover for the other's sins.

- Few are brave enough to stand up THE CANCER.

[GeorgeGist]

6. Hate is a great emancipator.

I don't know how it is possible for anyone to live with themselves knowing that they've cold-bloodily murdered children and babies.

[countryjake]

18. Did you know that B'Tselem's website is now off the grid?

They experienced a cyber-attack late last week that knocked them completely offline.

One can only imagine who might have been responsible for such undemocratic censorship, eh?

Donations to help them in their continuing struggle to speak truth to power can be made here, at a temporary site they've established since they were shutdown:

https://btselem.nationbuilder.com/donate


If anyone does FaceBook, that B'Tselem page is here:

https://www.facebook.com/btselem




Free Palestine!
Let Gaza Live!

Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions
Free Palestine!

[DeSwiss]

20. I was not aware of that.

- But I am not surprised in the least.