Dear Editor,
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not everyone is entitled to their own fact. Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi’ editorial "Place anti-Israel remarks in context" [Nov. 5, 2005] is filled with more invented facts than real ones. Israel has not threatened Iran with nuclear attacks nor instigated violence in the Muslim world.
The Iranian leader’s threat to wipe Israel off the map is not the first time an Iranian leader has made such a threat. There is no other pertinent context necessary. Any camouflaging of these genocidal remarks is dead wrong and dangerous to propagate.
Michael Berenhaus
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Exchange with Ombudsman at The Washington Post
The following is an excerpt from the ombudsman’s Sunday column of which I responded (her response follows mine):
The Limits of E-Mails En Masse by Deborah Howell [Nov. 13, 2005] “A ton of email was prompted by a photo of the grieving mother of a Palestinian suicide bomber with a story about a bombing that killed several people in Israel. I thought the picture was inappropriate and said so in my second column, on Oct. 23. This did not stop the mail, which led me to believe that it didn’t matter that I had dealt with it; people were e-mailing on the basis of a lobby’s request.”
From: Dr. Michael Berenhaus [mailto:mberenhaus@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2005 9:56 PM
To: 'ombudsman@washpost.com'
Subject: your Sunday column [ what else :-) ]
Dear Ms. Howell,
It did matter to me that you dealt with the inappropriate picture of the grieving mother of a Palestinian suicide bomber, and I thank you for that. Whether you got a bunch of email after your comments or not doesn’t negate that what you did was the right thing to do – and that shows integrity.
Thank you for your good work.
Michael Berenhaus
-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah C Howell [mailto:HowellDC@washpost.com] On Behalf Of Ombudsman Internet DropBox
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 2:44 PM
To: Dr. Michael BerenhausSubject: Re: your Sunday column [ what else :-) ]
Thanks! I felt like I was being punished for doing the right thing. Deborah
The Limits of E-Mails En Masse by Deborah Howell [Nov. 13, 2005] “A ton of email was prompted by a photo of the grieving mother of a Palestinian suicide bomber with a story about a bombing that killed several people in Israel. I thought the picture was inappropriate and said so in my second column, on Oct. 23. This did not stop the mail, which led me to believe that it didn’t matter that I had dealt with it; people were e-mailing on the basis of a lobby’s request.”
From: Dr. Michael Berenhaus [mailto:mberenhaus@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2005 9:56 PM
To: 'ombudsman@washpost.com'
Subject: your Sunday column [ what else :-) ]
Dear Ms. Howell,
It did matter to me that you dealt with the inappropriate picture of the grieving mother of a Palestinian suicide bomber, and I thank you for that. Whether you got a bunch of email after your comments or not doesn’t negate that what you did was the right thing to do – and that shows integrity.
Thank you for your good work.
Michael Berenhaus
-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah C Howell [mailto:HowellDC@washpost.com] On Behalf Of Ombudsman Internet DropBox
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 2:44 PM
To: Dr. Michael BerenhausSubject: Re: your Sunday column [ what else :-) ]
Thanks! I felt like I was being punished for doing the right thing. Deborah
Friday, November 11, 2005
Letter to New York Times
Dear Editor,
After the recent terrorist attack in Jordan, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher said “terrorist attacks on civilians should not be justified for any reason... This culture of bombing people for whatever reason or whatever cause should not be justified." (AP, 11/10/05). This from a leader in the same Arab world that has turned a blind eye toward, or even encouraged and supported, the Palestinian murder of innocent Israeli civilians for decades – all over a dispute of dirt.
Perhaps this tragedy will point out to the Arab world that they have only reaped what they have sown. We can be sure that Jews will not be celebrating this catastrophe, as Palestinian Arabs do when Jews are the victims. We will be mourning and shaking our heads ruefully about the Arab double standard that has thwarted any serious hope of peace in that region.
Michael Berenhaus
After the recent terrorist attack in Jordan, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher said “terrorist attacks on civilians should not be justified for any reason... This culture of bombing people for whatever reason or whatever cause should not be justified." (AP, 11/10/05). This from a leader in the same Arab world that has turned a blind eye toward, or even encouraged and supported, the Palestinian murder of innocent Israeli civilians for decades – all over a dispute of dirt.
Perhaps this tragedy will point out to the Arab world that they have only reaped what they have sown. We can be sure that Jews will not be celebrating this catastrophe, as Palestinian Arabs do when Jews are the victims. We will be mourning and shaking our heads ruefully about the Arab double standard that has thwarted any serious hope of peace in that region.
Michael Berenhaus
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