By Getzy Markowitz
Following a long day of work, my colleague and I left the commercial kitchens that we had converted to Kosher to retire for the evening. With an escalating war on Israel’s southern frontier on our minds, we did what millions were doing in hotel rooms around the world and tuned in to CNN as an IDF spokeswoman was being interviewed.
Because of her humanity, the official did a superb job in speaking on behalf of the world’s most moral army. This decent woman was clearly troubled by the devastation the war has brought onto innocent civilians. She condemned Hamas, but also apologized for the unavoidable, inadvertent casualties suffered by the Palestinians as Israel used maximum restraint and precaution. She might have had children, because she spoke with motherly compassion. She answered sharply, while at times speaking softly. She regretted the loss of innocent life on both sides. She represented the forces of Israel with perfect eloquence.
Yet as she spoke to the world, responding to questions, it was as if the CNN anchorwoman was not listening. She interrogated the IDF representative, even as her relentless questions were empty in light of the soldier’s earlier statements. For a number of minutes CNN did not move off the feed, even as the answers were satisfying. We sat there watching the misuse of journalism and wondered how the Israeli spokeswoman kept her cool. No matter the remark, there was an obnoxious and biased counter-question to follow. She did her best to answer each query that was posed, and made it clear which nasty ones she opposed. She did us proud, even as her thoroughness was ignored.
The injustice continues. As my friend and I sat waiting for a flight in an airline lounge this week, CNN outdid themselves by apparently reporting for Hamas. The images they chose to broadcast were of Gazan carnage. Sarcastically, I thanked G-d that Israel was not suffering casualties. Realistically, I realized that our character was being brutally assassinated by the media.
It is beyond me how such shameful reporting could creep into the international living room, and how victims who bear the Star of David could be depicted as a savage Goliath by giant news corporations who know better. Hamas stations their weapons near the homes of the innocent, and CNN has been using their access to millions of homes to harm the innocent.
But we have heard this story before. In ancient times, Joseph saved Egypt from starvation, and the Hebrews he imported enriched the land and culture. However, following Joseph’s death, his people were enslaved by a new Pharaoh who “knew not of Joseph.” Either this new ruler was an ignorant fool who hadn’t the faintest knowledge of Egypt’s recent history, or as an opinion in the Talmud suggests, he conveniently chose to be unaware of Joseph for his own gains.
Forgetfulness is one man’s curse and another’s blessing. An entire people could be doomed for Pharaoh’s benefit. A principled nation could be vilified, their enemies dignified, due to a malicious news network’s neglect.
“And a new monarch arose in Egypt.” CNN is no news at all.
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ahh more wimpering
stop complaining what everyone says about u do what u think is right and stop worrying about what everyone else things and what the swedish think it will hurt ure chanced of the few opposite the many
besides we must not be beholden to cnn u have to do what is right for u not for cnn period i stopped caring or waiting for acknowledgement from the media u should do the same
The same arguments can be extended against just about every other news outlet from BBC to Al Jazeera, with the exception, perhaps, of Fox news.
But this is occurring especially now because all footage leaving Gaza is Hamas-controlled, if the IDF would allow foreign reporters in, it would be easier to see a balanced picture in the media.
We need to ban CNN now as a united group and show them we mean business.