the media

I hate to get political, especially about a place that is so political, and complicated. But I figure it's my blog. And it's my place. And well, here goes...

The BBC has been my homepage for about 6 years. Not because I particularly like it, but because it provides me with better coverage on issues around the world than any local news source (in Israel or the States).

Two things I dislike about the BBC.
One: they generally ask readers opinions on trivial stories, instead of important ones.
Two: they are overtly biased in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Several days ago the frontpage headlined a story about the blasting of a home in Gaza which killed a Hamas militant or leader, along with his family, and a baby. While Israel generally takes responsibility for such actions, it has denied involvement in the incident. Hamas retaliated by firing rockets into Israel.

Two days later in the Middle East section was the following update: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7452540.stm Hamas militants, in preparation for an armed operation, were responsible for the blast which they blamed and retaliated against Israel for.

If the first story was important enough to make the front page, shouldn't the correction, or follow up? Afterall, the Austrian cellar incest case made the front page, as did EVERY subsequent story. In case we didn't know the family was upset, or the father would be incarcerated...

In college I majored in Human Rights and protested in Quebec, D.C., and Miami. At some point I began to feel that the activist moment was hypocritical and the media was unreliable.

New students interested in coming to protests would admit knowing little about the issues. They were told to come along and learn on the way. I felt if you were going to a protest you better know why you're there.

Around the same time I realized that the independent media was no less biased than the CNN, BBC, or NYTimes they criticized. If I wanted to learn about an issue I'd have to read it all and piece it together myself.

So see, I understand the reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel isn't something I learned to point to on a map in late 2000 on the way to a protest after the second intafada began. I had been educated from a left wing perspective on the conflict my whole life. And now I live in Israel.

It's my own experience with Israel that has made me question every other protest slogan. Every other story around the world. How much is missing from what we hear?

I've changed a lot since my college days... I still believe in equality, justice, and human rights. But I also believe in rallying and working for peace, tolerance, and understanding, instead of protesting and yelling against war.