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Wallaby

Published Letters: 140

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 11:43 AM
Original article: The Israel rules

It's telling (yes it is)

That comments that equate Israel and Jews with the worst filth of humanity ever are permitted even encouraged here and most opinions that say 'nay' to that are deleted and the posters names turned off.

I'm not sure of what each state's laws are but you could make a case that Salon permits racist hate speech intentionally. It would be at minimum a libelous offense in many European Union countries.

Perhaps Salon needs to take a closer look at what it lends its name to if it hopes to maintain its status as a somewhat neutral yet partisan advocate for dialog. Additionally Salon perhaps needs to have a 3rd party ombudsman review these threads and the complaints that come from them.

I for one will be investigating with California's AG what the definition of all this is.

Thank you.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 11:44 AM

It's telling (yes it is)

That comments that equate Israel and Jews with the worst filth of humanity ever are permitted even encouraged here and most opinions that say 'nay' to that are deleted and the posters names turned off.

I'm not sure of what each state's laws are but you could make a case that Salon permits racist hate speech intentionally. It would be at minimum a libelous offense in many European Union countries.

Perhaps Salon needs to take a closer look at what it lends its name to if it hopes to maintain its status as a somewhat neutral yet partisan advocate for dialog. Additionally Salon perhaps needs to have a 3rd party ombudsman review these threads and the complaints that come from them.

I for one will be investigating with California's AG what the definition of all this is.

Thank you.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 11:51 AM
Original article: The Israel rules

They're starting to torch Jewish homes and schools Belgium

2 or 3 instances today.

I know there are many pro Israel rallies planned in the US this week. But frankly, the people who need to know about them already do and putting up that information here worries me that some of you would show up with guns and fire bombs. But I suspect that putting the fear into Jews is a bit of what you had in mind.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 11:51 AM
Original article: The Israel rules

They're starting to torch Jewish homes and schools Belgium

2 or 3 instances today.

I know there are many pro Israel rallies planned in the US this week. But frankly, the people who need to know about them already do and putting up that information here worries me that some of you would show up with guns and fire bombs. But I suspect that putting the fear into Jews is a bit of what you had in mind.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 11:51 AM

I will take my examples to the appropriate authorities.

Thank you.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 01:03 PM

It's not about insulting people.

It's about what the law IS. You are free to hold whatever views you like. You are even free to repeat them. But when a forum such as this promotes race hatred, racial violence and worse then it crosses over into the legal realm. I don't plan to engage you, rise to your bait or otherwise 'debate' with hate mongers. I plan to look into how to stop it.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 01:06 PM

"Mooser"

You are correct it is not against the law to be antisemitic. At least you acknowledge that. Fomenting hate speech is quite another thing entirely.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 01:15 PM

Reagan ran away from Lebanon after Hezbollah murdered 241 Marines there

I would not think that Obama would do more or less. Other than rhetoric it's hard to see what he has to offer. Now the mainline of people here will interpret that as a conspiracy, that the Israelis secretly control the US government, etc. But in reality there are few practical options. I suppose we could embargo them. Then the US loses a vital intelligence asset. Moreover many US medical and high tech companies would lose going operations there and all the intellectual capital they garner. It seems like an outside option for the US to bomb Israel. They couldn't very well attack IDF ground troops w/o killing the same Palestinians they purport to save. Bombing inside Israel is, what? A rational pragmatic option? In either case we do still only have one President and the shooting will be over by the 20th. After that, who knows?

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 01:17 PM

Everything on my iPod comes from one Gnutella network or another.

Never paid for a thing, and until it is technically impossible otherwise, never will.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 01:18 PM

He can probably sway public opinion better than most

The SG position is one more of public advocacy. Who better to do that than a professional media person?

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 01:21 PM

I don't need you to give credence to my charges

Sorry but I'm not playing that 'citation needed' game with you. You are not the arbiter I need to deal with. Thank you anyway. Racists don't get to decide how the targets of their slurs and attacks can feel about that.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 01:23 PM

Chris

That sounds like a ton of projection coming from the people who's voices are in the 98% majority. Much like Christian fundamentalists who complain they're being oppressed. that's what you sound like. But more to the point - feel free to slur me. It makes no difference. To me it's a legal issue about inciting violence and hate speech. Thank you.

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