From: hernlem@chess.ncsu.EDU (Brad Hernlem)
Subject: Re: ACTION ALERT!! An Arab village is to be wiped out
Reply-To: hernlem@chess.ncsu.EDU (Brad Hernlem)
Organization: North Carolina State University
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 14:42:26 GMT

In article <JD2qTB1w163w@peewee>, peewee@infoserv.com (Philip Stromer) writes:
> 
>         >By what definition do you categorize UPI as "Arab press"? ...
>         >nationality of the investors? 
> 
> The UPI, as if you didn't know, is now owned by the Saudis.  Take
> the NY Times as an example of a "Jewish" newspaper, since you'll
> do it anyway.  Anthony Lewis writes scathing articles about Israel
> all the time.  When I see the UPI run a wire story by Binyamin
> Netanyahu, I'll be convinced of their sincerity and objectivity.
> 
> Like I said, when the UPI prints just ONE story critical of the
> Saudi regime, I'll be convinced that they're on the level, and
> not a mere government-sponsored rag.
> 
>         >If we are to take you seriously, Phil, then I guess we have 
>         >to believe Mr. Schmidling's Zionist media conspiracy as well. 
>         
> Which "Zionists" own TPM?  This is media.  Mr. Schmidling is so full        
> of himself, he even refuses to stand by his own claims when presented
> with facts.  He still hasn't apologized, as he promised he would, if
> John Sununu was made co-host of Crossfire on CNN.  He said "if CNN
> ever hired an Arab, I'll be the first to admit I was wrong.  But it
> won't happen, so I won't have to."
> 
>         >What do you think...are the U.S. media biased because of the 
>         >Jews that invest in them or work for them? 
>         
> The term "U.S. media" covers everything published in this country.        
> Some newspapers are owned by Jews, some by Arabs, some by Martians.
> 
>         >What about the U.S. concerns which are now owned by Japanese 
>         >investors... or others? 
>         
> It's a bunch of baloney.  When someone sells his property, he doesn't        
> care about whether the buyer is Japanese.  Then he complains later
> that "the Japanese are buying up our country."  It's xenophobism,
> plain and simple.  
> 
>         >Are we supposed to believe that Arabs are somehow different than 
>         >other people? 
>         
> If you're talking about Arab *states*, they're sure different in their
> views on the necessity of having a free press than "western" states
> (you know, the GOOD states).

Here is my point. If you say it is baloney to think that it matters
whether a company is owned by Japanese or Americans, why do you think it
matters if a company is owned by Arabs? Why don't you equate Japanese
ownership of companies in the U.S. with ownership by the Japanese
government? Correct my if I am wrong but I was not aware that UPI was
purchased by the Saudi government or that UPI's offices were all carted
off and set up in Saudi Arabia. 
 
>         >What is it Phil....are you a.....a ..........RACIST?
> 
> In your view, anyone that supports Israel is a racist.  So I qualify.
>               ^^^^^^              

Just for the record, I don't support the notion that Israel or any other
country has a "right" to exist. I do, however, support the right of
Israelis to exist and live in peace just as I support that same right
for the native Palestinians, etc... According to your presumption of my
views, does that make me a racist?
  
> --Philip Stromer (peewee@infoserv.com)
> 
> -----------
> 
> "For all I care, you can send your money to the Hitler memorial fund,
> too, if that pleases you."
> 
> >From arens@vaxa.isi.edu (Yigal Arens) in article <9323@venera.isi.edu>


Also for the record, I DO NOT support Mr. Schmidling's thesis any more
than I support yours, Phil. I believe that all media is inherently
biased. Some of that bias does indeed come from the interests and
experience of the people who work for and own the media. That does not
mean that the media should be declared invalid ... only that we should
try to be aware of examples of bias. We should try to glean the news
from the garbage. It is also a good idea to get news from a wide variety
of sources. Probably more problematic in the U.S. media, in my opinion,
is the emphasis on profit. Afterall, the media are businesses just like
any other. The problem is that the media try to present the news that
they think the public are interested in. That is the primary cause of
the "bias" in the media. The U.S. government knows this full well;
Reagan was a master at manipulating our "free press". All the government
need do is suggest that something is news and the media will lap it up.
Want to draw attention away from a government embarassment? ... have a
news conference and draw the media's attention somewhere else.

Brad
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast,soc.culture.lebanon