I think you should consider the choice of calling the genocide “the Israel-Hamas war”. You discuss journalistic bias in your article, but referring to it as such is a bias on its own. In particular, Hamas is a political/governmental group while Israel is a nation, and framing this as a war between Israel and Hamas entirely omits Gaza from the picture. There are two editorial choices being made here that are inherently biased: one to frame this conflict as one between Hamas and Israel rather than between Gaza/Palestine and Israel, and the second to call this a war despite the objectively lopsided nature of the killing that has occurred thus far.
Thank you for the comment. My reasoning behind using the term "Israel-Hamas war" was that it is the official language used in sources such as the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Pew Research Center. Because I am not a professional, I decided to adopt the terminology used by academics and professional journalists in an effort to be as accurate as possible. I understand your argument that doing so omits Gaza, but I think that recognizing the distinct militant groups involved is not mutually exclusive with recognizing the immense civilian casualties in Gaza that have resulted from the conflict, as I discuss at the end of the article.
I especially like that you compared current college protests with anti-war protests in Vietnam war era. I have tried to make this point several times where comments are allowed in mainstream media articles. Why isn't this a more important comparison to be making? It feels to me, having lived through the Vietnam war period, civil rights period etc., that we (Americans) are always reinventing the wheel, and learning very little from experience.
Appreciate the feedback! I agree to some extent, as I've personally observed some people completely dismiss today's protesters, essentially making the argument that many of them are clueless and that their ignorance is unique to this generation. It was very interesting to read historical documents of government officials, students, professors, etc. making the same argument sixty years ago during the Vietnam War protests. What I'm attempting to do with this article is to combat that close-minded spirit and encourage productive, civil discussions regardless of one's stance and beliefs.
Back in late March I headed to Sydney to join its weekly Sunday pro-Palestinian rally and peaceful March through the centre of the city - noting First Australians and Holocaust survivors presence - there was definitely no Anti-Semitism - only pro-Palestinian sentiment - I was wearing my keffiyeh as a mark of respect. Later I visited the Campus Protest at my alma mater - Sydney University (back in the latter 1960s) and spoke with some of those in the encampment and listened to an excellent address from the Student Representative Council President. I have long been a supporter of the Palestinian People (reading Ali Abunimah, Miko Peled (The General's Son), Antony Lowenstein (The Palestine Laboratory) among others including writers such as the multi-awarded Refaat Alareer (editor of Gaza Writes Back - 2014) poet "If I Must Die"- 2011 and co-editor of Gaza Unsilenced - 2015 - who have been killed in the Zionist genocide. I am opposed to the political stance taken by my federal government which appears lock step with whatever Biden-Blinken Kamala Harris/Trump/Starmer say - but the assumption I make in the case of politicians is that they are either (a) being blackmailed by the Epstein/Weinstein Mossad entanglements or (b) they have been bribed with free trips to Israel and other electoral funding support - or threats! I am not an anti-Semite - I am opposed to the murderous, supremacist ideology of Zionism, however. Jim
I think you should consider the choice of calling the genocide “the Israel-Hamas war”. You discuss journalistic bias in your article, but referring to it as such is a bias on its own. In particular, Hamas is a political/governmental group while Israel is a nation, and framing this as a war between Israel and Hamas entirely omits Gaza from the picture. There are two editorial choices being made here that are inherently biased: one to frame this conflict as one between Hamas and Israel rather than between Gaza/Palestine and Israel, and the second to call this a war despite the objectively lopsided nature of the killing that has occurred thus far.
Thank you for the comment. My reasoning behind using the term "Israel-Hamas war" was that it is the official language used in sources such as the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Pew Research Center. Because I am not a professional, I decided to adopt the terminology used by academics and professional journalists in an effort to be as accurate as possible. I understand your argument that doing so omits Gaza, but I think that recognizing the distinct militant groups involved is not mutually exclusive with recognizing the immense civilian casualties in Gaza that have resulted from the conflict, as I discuss at the end of the article.
Good article
I especially like that you compared current college protests with anti-war protests in Vietnam war era. I have tried to make this point several times where comments are allowed in mainstream media articles. Why isn't this a more important comparison to be making? It feels to me, having lived through the Vietnam war period, civil rights period etc., that we (Americans) are always reinventing the wheel, and learning very little from experience.
Appreciate the feedback! I agree to some extent, as I've personally observed some people completely dismiss today's protesters, essentially making the argument that many of them are clueless and that their ignorance is unique to this generation. It was very interesting to read historical documents of government officials, students, professors, etc. making the same argument sixty years ago during the Vietnam War protests. What I'm attempting to do with this article is to combat that close-minded spirit and encourage productive, civil discussions regardless of one's stance and beliefs.
Back in late March I headed to Sydney to join its weekly Sunday pro-Palestinian rally and peaceful March through the centre of the city - noting First Australians and Holocaust survivors presence - there was definitely no Anti-Semitism - only pro-Palestinian sentiment - I was wearing my keffiyeh as a mark of respect. Later I visited the Campus Protest at my alma mater - Sydney University (back in the latter 1960s) and spoke with some of those in the encampment and listened to an excellent address from the Student Representative Council President. I have long been a supporter of the Palestinian People (reading Ali Abunimah, Miko Peled (The General's Son), Antony Lowenstein (The Palestine Laboratory) among others including writers such as the multi-awarded Refaat Alareer (editor of Gaza Writes Back - 2014) poet "If I Must Die"- 2011 and co-editor of Gaza Unsilenced - 2015 - who have been killed in the Zionist genocide. I am opposed to the political stance taken by my federal government which appears lock step with whatever Biden-Blinken Kamala Harris/Trump/Starmer say - but the assumption I make in the case of politicians is that they are either (a) being blackmailed by the Epstein/Weinstein Mossad entanglements or (b) they have been bribed with free trips to Israel and other electoral funding support - or threats! I am not an anti-Semite - I am opposed to the murderous, supremacist ideology of Zionism, however. Jim