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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The
Washington Post dropped its sponsorship on Monday of a walk organized by the
Pentagon to remember victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks and to support
U.S. troops, saying it was possible the event would become
"politicized."
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The newspaper's news employees'
union had urged the newspaper to reconsider co-sponsoring the Defense
Department's "Freedom Walk," which it said was a political event.
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My God, but that's tone deaf, not to mention
timorous. Congratulations go to Editor-in-Chief Richard M. Smith, I imagine.
Guess a couple of the usual suspects complained that any
participation by the major newspaper in Washington in a memorial designed to
remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks or show support for the soldiers
fighting the country's war smacked of politicization. See, the victims were
little Eichmann's or something. Not victims at all, as it turns out. Especially
not those serving in the belly of the military-industrial beast right there in
Arlington. Right across the river from the WaPo. And those soldiers? Political.
Otherwise why would they be fighting our country's Mr. Bush's
war?
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Peace activist
Bill Dobbs
yesterday welcomed the
Post's change of heart.
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"The reason why this was the right
thing to do is that the press needs to have an arm's-length relationship with
the government to hold them accountable," said Dobbs, a spokesman for United for
Peace and Justice, a national coalition participating in three days of antiwar
activities -- also including a concert and march -- scheduled to begin Sept. 24.
"This is a victory for . . . people who cherish The Post's
reputation."
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Well, bully for them. Cherishing the Post's
reputation, and all. Prolly free speech enthusiasts, every livin' one of 'em.
Looked up the "peace activist," Mr. Dobbs - did a little peeking under the hood
of his "United
for Peace and Justice" organization. Illuminating:
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Let's see, who do we have here: Judith Leblanc,
Communist Party - USA. You know, for your hard core skull-cracking and mass
murdering - in the name of peace, I mean? There never was a group that could
hold a candle to the Communist Party. And their passion for a free newspaper's
reputation has hitherto gone unremarked upon.
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Who else? Ah: Sobukwe Shukura, National Network On
Cuba. Quoted here in the Communist Party's weekly newspaper
(Motto: Free speech for me, shut up if you want to live):
"Sobukwe Shukura, from Atlanta,
co-chair of the National Network on Cuba and part of the African Awareness
Association delegation, said, 'Anytime a country with such meager resources,
such as Cuba, can spend so much on education and health care, it shows that the
government is interested in people first and foremost. Development in Cuba means
helping humans. Development in the U.S. means building prisons and expensive
housing.'
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Guess it's lucky for Mr. Shukura that with all
that prison building we've been doing, we still haven't gotten around to
building one to silence political prisoners. Like in his beloved Cuba. I mean, sure it's hard, wondering if
you'll ever get charged for committing a crime, much less see the inside of a
court as you sit in a hellhole, wondering, "What did I say?" But at least they
get affordable health care. Right?
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There's also Efia Nwangaza, of Not In Our Name
(NION), who has a website saying, well: Not in his name, you know.
And offering the opportunity to upload an MP3 supporting his efforts to ensure
peace from peace officer murderer Mumia Abu-Jamal, among others. What a coup
that must have been to get that. All the other movements were so jealous. The
peace movements, I mean.
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And then there's Lisa Fithian, of the Root
Activist Network of Trainers (RANT). Cute name, innit? Haven't heard of her?
Here's a nice profile in the International Socialist's
Review. It appears their tactics continue to evolve, and she's got no problem
with property damage, per
se. It's just glass and stuff. Can't wait to
see where their tactics evolve to.
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I get shivers.
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And because no organization of fellow travelers
would otherwise be complete, there's Kymberlie Quong Charles, of the US
Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. Had to dig a while to find out
what they were about, apart from asking universities to divest from stock
ownership in Israel, preventing the US from helping the Israelis out with their
withdrawal from Gaza (because we want to end the occupation!) and protesting
against the separation wall that ended the bloodbath of the second
intifada.
Because, with groups like these, you always want to know what exactly they mean,
by "occupation." It can be a pretty fluid term, for folks who are friends with
folks who are friends with Hamas. But persistence pays, so
finally I found their vision of the future in the Holy Land, under this article
asking the question: Is a two-state arrangement really fair and based on
justice?
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(Any guesses which side of the question they come
down on?)
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"Many, perhaps most, Palestinians
and at least a few Israelis believe that once an independent and sovereign
Palestinian state is consolidated, that the long-term best interests of both
peoples will be found in merging the two small states into one, based on
absolute equality for both nationalities and for all its
citizens."
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Which based only upon the current population
numbers (and not taking into account the Palestinian refugee "right of return,"
which Ms. Quong Charles' group also supports) means demographic suicide for
whatever is left of Israel when everybody moves in together. But hey, at least a
few Israelis agree that it's a good idea. By the way, nice house. I really like
what you've done with it. I mean,
really.
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I could go on, but it does get rather boring after
a bit. These were the same folks who worried that having the WaPo sponsor a
memorial to the victims of the worst attack our country has ever known, and the
soldiers who have volunteered to defend us (even you, Mr. Nwangaza, whether you
asked them to or not) took the risk of seeming, hmmm... you know: Political.
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Tough call, WaPo.
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And Mr. Dobbs? Yeah, well whatever. If this got
politicized it's only because you chose to make it that way. Thanks for choosing
sides, because at least we'll know you the next time we see you. You and all
your little friends in the "peace movement."
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Update:
Welcome Instapundit readers! Have a look around, leave tracks if you'd like, we
clean up on weekends. And by the way, this is the old home (snif) the new place
is over
here . Welcome to drop in there, too of course. Make yourselves at
home.
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