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Politics – September 2012
Support is sought to facilitate the work of the Middle East Study Group.
Information
at
http://www2.hull.ac.uk/fass/mestudygroup/informationfordonors.aspx
I
also
welcome
promoting
http://www.hull.ac.uk/rca/campaigns.html
the
two-state
solution.
See
Call Ehud Barak Netanyahu’s loyal servant. This is exactly what Barak is. There is no
greater insult to Barak. Bibi loves it.
~Raphael Cohen-Almagor
With Mitt Romney’s official nomination as the Republican Presidential candidate, the
election campaign has started. We should expect fascinating months leading to the
November elections. It will be close, very close, and very tense. It is very difficult to say
who will clinch the win, and I suspect that every vote will count. What a thriller!
In Israel, Iran continues to dominate the headlines as the debate whether Israel should
attack the known nuclear plants intensifies. Prime Minister Netanyahu is a great
believer in the power of the media. I have never seen a leader who uses the media so
much, for better and for worse, for spins, communication, news, quasi-news, spreading
of rumors, befriending some, attacking others. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s presence in
the media is unprecedented. It seems that he has more media
consultants/advisors/activists than advisors on all other issues, including security,
combined. Prime Minister Netanyahu almost breathes via the media. He could be the
media’s dream if he did not try to censor them and see that they publish only what he
wants.
And now, on September 2, 2012, even Judge Eliyahu Winograd, the darling of the
establishment, the loyal conformist, came out publicly to criticize Prime Minister
Netanyahu and his loyal servant, Defence Minister Ehud Barak. Winograd, who failed to
demand Olmert’s resignation following the fiasco of the Israel-Hezbollah War said: “I do
not trust them”.
Israel suffered immensely from the Hezbollah rocket attacks in the 2006 war.
Winograd warned that if Israel were to attack Iran, missiles might become a common
feature in Israeli daily life and he, Winograd, does not know to what extent Israel is
capable and ready to absorb such attacks.
Former head of Mossad Meir Dagan does not trust the duo Netanyahu-Barak. Former
head of the SHABAC Yuval Diskin does not trust Netanyahu-Barak. Former head of IDF
Intelligence Uri Sagi does not trust Netanyahu-Barak. Former Chief of Staff Gabi
Ashkenazi would rather sleep with snakes. It is clear that President Shimon Peres
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does not trust Netanyahu-Barak. People who worked closely with the duo do not trust
their ability to make wise decisions.
The problem, however, remains that for some obscure, complicated reasons the Israeli
public continues to trust Prime Minister Netanyahu and, to date, does not seem
convinced that there is a better person to replace him.
The Israeli media are preoccupied with the question who in the cabinet will vote how,
calculating the votes for and against an attack. Make no mistake: the cabinet will vote as
the prime minister wishes. Mr Netanyahu has filled his cabinet with enough Caligula
horses to get any result he wishes on issues that are of importance to him.
Shana Tova – Happy New Year
Reflections on August Newsletter
Obituary - Pete Stanley Steffens
My New Book Public Responsibility in Israel
Poverty
Rockets from Gaza
Iran-North Korea
The United States Tripled Weapons Exports Mostly to the Middle East
Sam Nunn, Richard Lugar First Recipients of Nuclear Security Award
Golden Pen of Freedom Awarded to Anabel Hernández
Visit to Washington DC
New Books
Religion in Manchester
Monthly Poem
Light Side
Shana Tova – Happy New Year
Shana tova, Gmar Chatima tova, Good Health, Peace and love to you and your loved
ones. Have a wonderful, productive and happy year.
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Reflections on August Newsletter
Bob wrote from Australia:
Thanks Rafi!
More than can be said by Mr Assad. The trouble there is that he is taking too long to lose
his power to hit those who lack his weapons, and a lot of good Syrians are going to die
as a result.
Iran looks to be building up political and diplomatic support among developing
countries, which will only make it harder to bring their nuclear weapons program to a
halt. Indeed the Non-Aligned conference in Tehran may help to proliferate it elsewhere,
and the principal loser then would be the US.
Romney's foreign policy continues to make me despair. He could be so much better than
he looks at present - but I don't think foreign policy is going to play much of a role in
this election, and will be neglected until much too late.
All the best, and as always with Middle Eastern affairs, I keep my fingers crossed!
All the best to you and your family!
Bob
Dr Yoav J. Tenembaum wrote from Tel Aviv:
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Rafi,
Thank you very much for your August 2012 Newsletter.
As ever, it was interesting.
I fully agree with your comment regarding the intentions of Iranian regime towards
Israel. You quote to very good effect. Those who argue that the Iranian regime does not
intend to see Israel destroyed should advance clear-cut proof for what they say. The
Iranian leadership has been consistent and quite clear in its intentions. To claim that
these statements do not reflect the real wishes of Iran's leaders, one should provide
concrete evidence and not just engage in fanciful and wishful thinking.
I liked in particular your comments on Wanda Teays, Seeing the Light (Malden, MA.:
Wiley-Blackwell, 2012). Very interesting!
As someone who loves (and writes poetry), I was intrigued by your poem. I had to read
it several times, to be quite candid with you. I liked its rhythm, its music, so to speak. I
am not so sure I fully understood its meaning, though. It wouldn't be the first time I like
a poem due to its rhythm and music, so to speak.
Your quote of Netanyahu's statement against racism and violence is important. I think it
was important that the prime minister uttered those words in public and that you have
decided to quote him in your newsletter. Any manifestation of racial hatred, let alone
violence against innocent civilians, due their being of Arab origin is a moral crime
against everything we Jews believe (and should believe) in. I find the phenomenon to be
repugnant.
Thank you for an interesting Newsletter!
Yoav
Obituary - Pete Stanley Steffens, distinguished journalist and academic
I was saddened to hear that Pete Steffens - journalist, academic, and son of the great US
'muckraker', Lincoln Steffens, died August 23, 2012 in Nanaimo, British
Columbia, Canada.
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Pete was born in San Remo, Italy on November 21, 1924 and grew up in Carmel,
California. His parents were Lincoln Steffens, sometimes called the first investigative
journalist, and the activist and writer, Ella Winter. His stepfather was the Oscar-winning
Hollywood screenwriter, Donald Ogden Stewart.
He was educated at Harvard and Balliol College, Oxford and pursued further studies in
Florence and Prague. He was on the rowing team at Oxford and while in Florence,
qualified for the Italian Olympic swim team. Before he could join, the Second World War
took him back to the United States, where he served in the Navy.
He began his journalism career as a copy boy on the San Francisco Chronicle and worked
for Reuters in London and the Middle East, Time Magazine and other publications and
broadcast media.
He taught at Columbia University, Western Washington University and University of
California at Berkeley, where he influenced and supported students who founded the
Free Speech Movement in the 1960s.
He was fluent in at least eight languages, including Russian, Czech, Italian, Hebrew and
Greek, and was the world authority on Sir Thomas Gainsford, the first English language
news editor. Among Pete's notable works were articles on the young Golda Meir, the
young King Hussein, and other Middle Eastern leaders, and a cover story on Charlie
Chaplin for Ramparts magazine, whom he interviewed at Chaplin's home in
Switzerland.
Pete loved people from all places and walks of life, and was eternally modest and
humble, often hiding his credentials and connections.
Pete spent his last years in Nanaimo with his wife, Valerie Alia, a writer and academic.
He is also survived by two daughters, two stepsons and a granddaughter. At the time of
his death he was completing a book of memoirs and helping to research a film on his
father's life.
Valerie is interested to establish a scholarship fund for Native American journalists in
Pete's name. Here are the details:
The Western Foundation accepts contributions in Pete’s memory to begin building a
scholarship fund.
You can send a check, or contribute online form. To contribute online, please click on
the following link:
http://www.foundation.wwu.edu//waystogive.html
In the upper right is a sunburst that says "give to WWU." Click there and it takes you to
the online form.
If you prefer to send a check, make it payable to the WWU Foundation and mail to:
WWU Foundation
MS 9034, 516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9034
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For further information, please contact [email protected].
I convey my sincere, heartfelt condolences to Valerie and family.
My New Book Public Responsibility in Israel
My new book Public Responsibility in Israel (Achrayut Ziburit Be’Israel), co-edited with
Ori Arbel-Ganz and Asa Kasher, was published (Tel Aviv and Jerusalem: Hakibbutz
Hameuchad and Mishkanot Shaananim, 2012, Hebrew), 607 pp.
The project started in 2006. Here is the book’s rationale, as it was written then:
The year 2006 was a difficult year for Israel. It started with Ariel Sharon’s departure,
continued with elections that resulted in a new government in power, headed by a new
party, “Kadima”. Then three soldiers were kidnapped, and war erupted. We have
continued Qassams landing in the south of Israel, and continued tension in the north of
Israel. Above us hovers the Iranian nuclear threat and we await the results of the dozens
of inquiry commissions established to investigate the war misconduct. Are they aimed
to calm the atmosphere, or to seek substantive responsibility?
Anywhere you turn you hear and read about violence, scandals and corruption: violence
on the roads, with hundreds of people killed in road accidents, most of which were the
result of nervous drivers who don’t respect their fellow drivers; violence in discos,
where youth go to party with knives in their pockets; violence in football stadiums,
where people come to watch games with hand grenades in their pockets; violence
directed at city mayors, including firing at them and throwing hand grenades at their
homes; violence in roadblocks vis-à-vis the Palestinians; violence at home, where
husbands express their feelings toward their wives by murdering them; violence at
school, where a 14 year-old was found dead in the toilet and the identity of her killer is
yet uncertain. Violence is part and parcel of Israeli life.
Scandals are endless, with the State President under investigation for sexual
harassment against several women who worked under him. The Prime Minister’s
conduct is under the Attorney General’s investigation for three separate affairs and we
await Mazuz’s decisions. Several ministers are also under such investigations. The
Minister of Justice stood trial for kissing a young soldier.
Corruption is everywhere: allegations against the prime minister, ministers, state
president, members of the Knesset, city mayors and other public officials. Football
players are under investigations for selling games. Who is responsible for all this? Are
we all? The leadership? Somebody? How do we deal with those phenomena? How do we
redeem the concepts of responsibility and of accountability, and better Israeli society?
Public responsibility is rather an ambiguous term. While politicians define their Public
Responsibility in terms of administrative and constitutional laws, the public's approach
seems to be significantly broader.
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Human understanding of the responsibilities of a public servant might be influenced not
only by formal codes, regulations and laws, but also by culture, norms, moral. Ideology
may lead to different definitions of reality and therefore may create different
expectations regarding policy. Similarly, as religious authorities structure their own
rules and philosophies, they may define loyalty and moral priorities differently.
Public responsibility is often conceptualized as an objective and universal expression
beyond time and era. However, the individual's understandings and interpretations
may emphasize the personal perspective of bureaucrats and elected officials' duties.
The question is, therefore, what does public responsibility really mean? Is it possible to
define a theoretical and/or analytical term that will consist of and cover all aspects
mentioned above? Is it necessary? Finally, how can one bridge between citizens'
expectations and subjective concepts of the term public responsibility and the limited
definition drawn by the public sector?
These and other related questions are addressed in this seminal volume. For the first
time, leading Israeli scholars and experts have gathered to explore the meaning of
public responsibility. Each of the distinguished authors - historians, political scientists,
sociologists, social-psychologists, philosophers, literature, education and cultural
scholars, law professors, policy analysts, economists, former judges, legislatures and
ministers – had clarified a different aspects of Public Responsibility based on his/her
professional discipline and resulting understandings of the discussed concept. The
result will be a thorough review of the meaning of public responsibility.
The issue is of utmost importance, and I’d be happy to promote the book in England, the
USA, and other places.
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Public Responsibility in Israel
Edited by:
Raphael Cohen-Almagor, Asa Kasher
and Ori Arbel-Ganz
Prologue: Public Responsibility by Yitzhak Zamir
Introduction: On Public Responsibility by Raphael Cohen-Almagor
Part I: Theory
1.
2.
3.
4.
Public Responsibility's Typology and its Behavioral Expression by Ori Arbel-Ganz
Public Responsibility and Ethics by Asa Kasher
Halakcha and Public Responsibility by Rabbi Yuval Shrlo
Public Responsibility as Rational Choice by Gideon Doron and Assaf Meydani
Part II: Institutions
5. The President’s Public Responsibility by Suzi Navot
6. Public Responsibility of the Prime Minister by Arye Naor
7. The Legislatures’ Public Responsibility by Naomi Chazan
8. Public Responsibility of Judges by Eliahu Mazza
9. Public Responsibility of the Local Government and Municipalities by Nahum BenElya
Part III: Public Administration and Executive Agencies
10. Public Responsibility of the Public Administration by Eran Vigoda-Gadot and
Jacob Cory
11. The Legal Advisor to the Government – A Clerk or a Leader by Talia Sasoon
12. Public Responsibility of the Bank of Israel by Ohad Bar-Efrat
13. Public Responsibility of Citizens' Representatives in Public Committees by Ruida
Abu-Ras
14. Public Responsibility of the IDF's General Staff by Yagil Levi
Part IV: Non-Governmental Organizations and Players
15. The Citizens' Public Responsibility by Avia Pasternak
16. Public Responsibility of the Mass Media by Dan Caspi
17. Public Responsibility of the Israel Press Council by Moshe Ronen
18. Truth, Power and (I)responsibility: Optimist Thesis on Words Manufacturers by
Merav Rosenthal-Marmorstein
19. Public Responsibility of the Private Sector and Firms by Aviva Geva
20. Integrative Corporate Governance and Ethics Programs – Keys for Public and
Social Responsibility of Corporations by Elie Bukspan
21. Public Responsibility of Third Sector Organizations by Nisan Limor and Benjamin
Gidron
Part V: Policy Issues
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22. Public Responsibility for Gender Equality by Orna Sasoon-Levi and Orli Benjamin
23. Public Responsibility for the Israeli Arabs by Sami Smooha
24. Public Responsibility for Education by Orit Ichilov
Epilogue: Public Responsibility in Israel by Raphael Cohen-Almagor and Ori Arbel-Ganz
Index
Further information at
http://www.kibutzpoalim.co.il/htmls/public_responsibility_in_israel.aspx?c0=44494&bsp=19662
http://www.mishkenot.org.il/hebrew/HebEthicsPagesContent.aspx?pageId=30
I dedicated the book to Gad Yaacobi (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L3442660,00.html ) who was a “rare bird” in Israeli politics: ethical, responsible, wise,
passionate about Israel and utterly committed to whatever he took upon himself. Gad
was supposed to write the chapter on government responsibility but died prematurely.
I miss him.
Poverty
According to official figures published by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, 32% of
Israeli-Jews and 46% of Israeli-Palestinians spend more than they earn, unable to pay
for the day-to-day expenses and accumulate debt.
Around 52% of bank account holders find themselves in overdraft at least once a year,
and 21% of them are in the red (overdraft) most of the time.
Banks blocked the accounts of 11% of all account holders over the past year.
Nearly a third of all account holders were contacted by their bank because they had
exceeded their credit ceiling in the past year. Of those, 12% were contacted once and
5% four or more times. Seven percent said their accounts were routinely blocked.
The survey found that 14% of all Israeli hold three or more credit cards while 22% of all
Israelis don't have credit cards. Among Israeli- Palestinians the plastic-free population
reaches 54%.
Seven percent don't have a bank account at all, although the difference between
Palestinians and Jews is massive. Only 5% of Jews have no account, compared with 20%
of Palestinians. Among the unemployed, 19% say they don't have a bank account,
compared with 5% of people holding jobs.
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Source:
http://www.haaretz.com/business/52-of-israelis-go-into-overdraft-once-ayear-1.464396
Rockets from Gaza
The relationships between Gaza and Sderot are one dimensional. I wish to see the day
when I would write about normal, neighbourly relations between the two cities.
On August 31, 2012, two rockets exploded in Sderot. One of them hit a house, causing
damage to the property. Luckily, no one was wounded. The second landed in an open
field and did not explode. Later on the same Friday morning, a third rocket landed in an
open field in Sha'ar Hanegev, causing no injuries or damage.
Mayor of Sderot David Buskila said: "We can't relax here, we are going back to the tough
days [of rockets falling] in Sderot. Sometimes there are lulls but the shooting has gone
on for 12 years now. There was a miracle here.
Buskila emphasized that schools would continue to operate as usual. "Our schools are
protected, and our students will go to school as usual."
Source: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/gaza-rocket-hits-home-insderot-causes-damage-to-property-1.461899
And the fire continues. On September 8, 2012, two homes were severely damaged by a
Grad rocket in Netivot, in southern Israel, near the border with the Gaza Strip. An
additional rocket was fired at Be'er Sheva, and fell in an open area. No casualties or
damage was reported.
Mayors of Be'er Sheva, Ashdod and Omer decided to cancel school on the following day.
Netivot’s Mayor, Yechiel Zohar arrived at the scene of explosion. “The home here is
completely destroyed,” said Zohar. “There was an Iron Dome system here, but it’s
currently not here. The defense establishment needs to rethink its deployment of the
systems – unfortunately this is not the first time a house in Netivot has suffered a direct
hit”.
“Fortunately there were no casualties or injures, but it’s still luck – it could have hit a
house with a whole family inside. This needs to end. The Iron Dome needs to come back
here – over the last few weeks they’ve been shooting at us nonstop,” said Zohar.
The week before, sources in Gaza reported that Hamas arrested 20 people on suspicion
of affiliation with armed Salafist groups operating in Gaza and trying to fire rockets into
Israel. Hamas has been confronting these radical groups over rocket fire, as it tries to
maintain calm in the Strip and ensure its continued rule.
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These groups, some of whom are comprised of former Hamas operatives, continue their
efforts to launch missiles into Israel, while Hamas and the Isamic Jihad try to maintain
calm.
Source:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/grad-rocket-fired-fromgaza-severely-damages-two-houses-in-netivot-1.463607
Iran-North Korea
Good news. For Iran and North Korea. The two countries have signed an agreement to
cooperate in science and technology. The two countries will cooperate in research,
student exchanges and joint laboratories, and in the fields of information technology,
engineering, biotechnology, renewable energy, the environment, sustainable
development of agriculture and food technology, the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA)
reported.
North Korea has had close ties with Iran. Leaked U.S. diplomatic cables from 2010
showed that U.S. officials believe Iran has acquired ballistic missile parts from North
Korea.
Pyongyang's Communist government and Iran's Islamic republic share little in the way
of ideology, but they have common enemies. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei explained: "The Islamic Republic of Iran and North Korea have common
enemies, because the arrogant powers do not accept independent states."
Source:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/iran-north-korea-sign-scienceand-technology-agreement-1.462065#
The United States Tripled Weapons Exports Mostly to the Middle East
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According to a U.S. Congress study, the United States tripled weapons exports last year,
mostly to allies in the Middle East in a major drive to counter Iran's ambitions in the
region.
The study by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, a division of the Library
of Congress, said U.S. weapons exports totalled $66.3 billion in 2011, out of a global
weapons market of $85.3 billion.
By contrast, Russia's arms exports stood at a distant second at $4.8 billion in the same
year.
The study said the 2011 figures for U.S. arms exports constituted an "extraordinary
increase" in just one year over the $21.4 billion in 2010 sales. The U.S. exported
weapons worth $31 billion in 2009.
In addition, the U.S. had worked out a policy goal with Arab allies in the Gulf to build a
regional missile defence system to protect cities, oil refineries, pipelines and military
bases from possible Iranian military attack.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman were major buyers of U.S. weapons.
In agreements with the U.S. worth 33.4 billion dollars last year, Saudi Arabia agreed to
buy 84 advanced F-15 fighters, ammunition, missiles and logistics support and pay for
upgrading 70 of the F-15s. The U.S. also sold military equipment that included dozens of
Apache and Black Hawk helicopters to the Saudis. The UAE purchased a Terminal High
Altitude Area Defence and an advanced antimissile shield, which includes radars, which
were valued at $3.49 billion, as well as 16 Chinook helicopters for $939 million. Oman
bought 18 F-16 fighters for $1.4 billion, the study said.
Source:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/u-s-tripled-weapons-sales-in2011-to-counter-iran-s-threats-study-shows-1.461050#
Sam Nunn, Richard Lugar First Recipients of Nuclear Security Award
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar and former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn are the first recipients of
a new international award created in their honour to recognize individuals or
institutions dedicated to advancing the cause of nuclear security.
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The award is cosponsored by Carnegie Corporation of New York, a philanthropic
foundation, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, an international think
tank, to mark the occasion of their centennials. Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie
Corporation, and Corporation trustees presented the award to Senator Lugar and
former Senator Nunn at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
The Nunn-Lugar Award for Promoting Nuclear Security will be awarded every two years
by Carnegie Corporation and the Carnegie Endowment to an individual or institution
whose work has resulted in clear, discernible progress toward strengthening global
security and peaceful co-existence among nations by preventing the proliferation of
nuclear weapons and reducing the risk of their use. The award, which carries a $50,000
prize, is a tribute to Andrew Carnegie, who dedicated much of his philanthropy to the
goal of achieving world peace and built the Peace Palace as a symbol of his faith in the
ultimate realization of that goal.
Senator Richard Lugar and Senator Sam Nunn authored the Nunn-Lugar Act in 1991,
establishing the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program (CTR). The program sought to
help the states of the former Soviet Union safeguard and dismantle their enormous
stockpiles of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, related materials, and delivery
systems.
The CTR program reduced the spread of nuclear weapons by helping former Soviet
republics meet arms-control treaty requirements such as START (the Strategic Arms
Reduction Treaty). With CTR funding, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus became nonnuclear weapons states. The program also helped to improve the safety and security of
facilities housing biological weapons under the Cooperative Biological Threat Reduction
program.
Since its creation, CTR has contributed to the deactivation of more than 7,500 nuclear
warheads, neutralized chemical weapons, safeguarded fissile materials, converted
weapons facilities for peaceful use, mitigated bio-threats, and redirected the work of
former weapons scientists, and engineers, among other efforts.
See http://www.carnegieendowment.org/2012/08/29/sam-nunn-richard-lugar-firstrecipients-of-nuclear-security-award/donm
Golden Pen of Freedom Awarded to Anabel Hernández
Mexican journalist Anabel Hernández was been awarded the Golden Pen of Freedom,
the annual press freedom prize of the World Association of Newspapers and News
Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
14
Ms. Hernández was honoured for her commitment and dedication to investigative
reporting that revealed corruption at the highest levels of Mexican society and has
placed her life in danger.
“Personally, this award is a light that shines on my dark path, a light in the lonely and
unequal struggle between a journalist and a whole apparatus of corruption,” said Ms
Hernández, accepting the award.
“As a Mexican journalist, receiving the Golden Pen of Freedom tells me WAN-IFRA and
its members refuse to remain indifferent to the slaughter of journalists and freedom of
expression in Mexico, and that their joint denunciation will pressure the international
community to stop this from continuing”.
WAN-IFRA has presented the Golden Pen of Freedom since 1961 to recognise the
outstanding action, in writing or deed, of an individual, group or institution in the cause
of press freedom.
Ms Hernández is a Mexican journalist who has worked for several important national
dailies, and was driven to become an investigative journalist after the kidnapping and
murder of her father in Mexico City in 2000. Her recent book, ‘Los Señores del Narco /
The Drug Lords’, details the complicities between organised crime and high-ranking
authorities, from government officials to the police, military and prominent
businessmen. As a result, she has made herself the target of death threats from both
state and non-state actors.
“In presenting this award, WAN-IFRA recognises the unyielding stance Anabel
Hernández has taken, at great personal risk, against drug cartels, organised crime and
corrupt officials,” said Erik Bjerager, President of the World Editors Forum, who
presented the award. “Her actions have helped ensure the development of high quality,
unrestricted investigative journalism in the region, and by presenting her with the
Golden Pen of Freedom we express our solidarity with all Mexican journalists who
remain defiant in the face of constant threats and horrendous violence.”
WAN-IFRA again called on the Mexican authorities, and in particular in-coming
President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto, to take urgent measures to end the violence against
journalists.
WAN-IFRA has recorded 44 journalist deaths in Mexico since 2006; five have been killed
15
this year, three in the state of Veracruz in the span of a single week. These figures make
the country one of the most deadly beats in the world for media professionals.
“Upholding international standards of freedom of expression and freedom of the press
is the responsibility the state; the people of Mexico deserve nothing less,” said Mr
Bjerager.
To read Anabel Hernández’ acceptance speech in full visit http://www.wanifra.org/node/62404/
To read WEF President Erik Bjerager’s speech in full visit http://www.wanifra.org/node/62406/
Visit http://www.wan-ifra.org/node/62386/ to download WAN-IFRA’s latest report on
press freedom in Mexico.
More on the Golden Pen of Freedom can be found at http://www.wanifra.org/microsites/golden-pen-of-freedom
Visit http://www.wan-ifra.org/pressfreedom for more information on press freedom
worldwide.
Visit to Washington DC
On 10-21 October 2012 I intend to be in Washington. I’d be happy to meet colleagues
and friends and to deliver lectures to interested audiences. I am particularly keen to talk
and promote the idea of two-state solution.
New Books
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Jeremy Waldron, The Harm in Hate Speech (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University
Press, 2012).
The Harm in Hate Speech is important and an invaluable resource. I read it with great
interest.
Waldron argues that there is a sort of public good of inclusiveness that our society
sponsors and that it is committed to. Hate speech undermines this public good, or it
makes the task of sustaining it much more difficult than it would otherwise be. Hate
speech creates an environmental threat to social peace, a “sort of slow-acting poison,
accumulating here and there, word by word, so that eventually it becomes harder and
less natural for even the good-hearted members of the society to play their part in
maintaining this public good”.
Waldron maintains that hate speech undermines the dignity of the person. A person’s
dignity is not just some Kantian aura. It is their social standing, the fundamentals of
basic reputation that entitle them to be treated as equals in the ordinary operations of
society. Hate speech aims “to besmirch the basics of their reputation, by associating
ascriptive characteristics like ethnicity, or race, or religion with conduct or attributes
that should disqualify someone from being treated as a member of society in good
standing”. Hate messages undermine the targets’ equal status in the community, their
entitlement to basic justice and to the fundamentals of their reputation.
In his critique of Ed Baker’s view, Jeremy Waldron rightly notes that it remains the case
that hate speech damages the dignity and reputation of individuals in vulnerable
groups; it undermines the public good of socially furnished assurance with which the
dignity of ordinary people is supported; it remains the case that the hateful disclosure of
racist attitudes through public speech defaces and pollutes the environment in which
members of vulnerable groups have to live their lives and bring up their children.
In his critique of the American First Amendment position, Waldron notes that Britain
has laws that prohibit racial and religious hatred (Public Order Act 1986) and racial
discrimination (Race Relations Act 1976). Are these laws illegitimate? Was their
enactment inappropriate and their enforcement morally wrong? Furthermore, almost
all democracies have hate speech laws. Are they all wrong and only the United States,
which protects hate speech, is right?
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The Harm in Hate Speech is the best comprehensive book from a liberal perspective,
written by legal philosopher, endorsing hate speech legislation. Waldron makes a
powerful argument that surely promotes exchange and debate.
Some of Waldron’s American colleagues might now tag him as pseudo-liberal and quasifascist. Some of them might drop the ‘quasi’ qualification. Most non-American liberal
scholars will find Waldron sensible and applaud his careful reasoning.
Kudos to Waldron for this important contribution. Kudos to Harvard for publishing it.
Anita Fatchett, Social Policy for Nurses (Cambridge: Polity, 2012)
This is a great learning book on nursing in Britain, discussing policy issues, the NHS and
its reforms, health inequalities, diversity and working with chronic patients. The book is
very lucid, with many examples and activities to illustrate problems and to evoke
discussion and debate.
I thank Polity for a copy of this book.
Religion in Manchester
In Manchester, the Cathedral stands next to the National Museum of Football: the old
shrine of religion next to the new shrine of (civil) religion.
Monthly Poem
She Walks in Beauty
She walks in beauty like the night
of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
meets in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
had half impair'd the nameless grace
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which waves in every raven tress,
or softly lightens o'er her face –
where thoughts serenely sweet express
how pure, how dear their dwelling - place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
so soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
the smiles that win, the tints that glow,
but tells in days of goodness spent,
a mind at peace with all below,
a heart whose love is innocent.
George Gordon Byron
Light Side
Shana Tova, and Gmar Chatima Tova,
Yours as ever,
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Rafi
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