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In his 108th Capital Times column of the year, Associate Editor John Nichols pays homage to Jack Newfield and advocacy journalism. It appears that Nichols’ promotion of Russ Feingold is modeled on Newfield’s of Bobby Kennedy. Newfield was a “great fighter for civil liberties and human rights” who, sad to say, couldn’t tolerate criticism of Israel. He was “troubled by Dean’s recent suggestion that America ‘shouldn’t take sides’ between Palestinian terrorists and Israel…it suggested an amateurish foreign policy and insensitivity” (Newsday, Sept. 17, 2003).
The Newfield/Nichols credo is that only “lazy” journalists strive to be “fair and balanced.” Newfield “saw a world of heroes and villians” and realized that “the search for truth led, ultimately, to the point where the journalist had to take a side.” The goal is to “produce the rarest of all commodities: truth, and sometimes justice.”
That’s the ideal, for the reality consider the Capital Times’ stance when a proposal to sanction the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project was before the city council this summer. Obviously, Nichols avoided the subject in his column or there wouldn’t be a countdown. There was, however, a series of editorials.
The first suggests the proposal be expanded (i.e., balanced), to include an Israeli city as well. In the process it criticizes the tactics of Madison Jewish Coummunity Council director Steve Morrison.
The second calls for compromise in the battle between Morrison, who calls Rafah “a hotbed of terrorist activity against Israel and anti-Semitism” and the projects’ supporters, who want Madison “to show solidarity with Palestinians.”
The third, on the day of the vote, criticizes and praises both sides while enjoining the council to “tinker with the proposal” in order to find common ground.
The fourth praises both sides, notes that, while the proposal got a majority of the votes cast, it lost, and criticizes the mayor for not having tried to mediate.
Two weeks before the council vote, the International Court of Justice, speaking with upmost clarity, ruled 14-1 that Israel’s separation wall is illegal. Even the dissenting U.S. judge agreed that its “settlements in the Occupied Territories (including East Jerusalem) have been established in breach of international law.” The Capital Times didn’t mention the ICJ decision any more than it “took a side” on the proposal that was voted on by the Madison City Council.
A real eye-opener were letters to the editor from two pillars of the Madison arts scene. Both Sidran and Kadushin praise the Jewish Community Council for its dedication to local social justice, never mind how it carries out its mission “to affirm, support and strengthen our relationship with…the State of Israel.” Kadushin takes pride in the angst of some of the Rafah opponents, and then notes something “especially ironic”–right before the vote it was announced that the Goodman brothers had donated millions for a “public pool designed for the underprivileged.” Obliviously, he introduces real irony–a central point of Israel’s colonialism is to exert control over scarce water resources, the settlements’ swimming pools are a primary symbol of the occupation’s grotesqueness.
Israel’s occupation is fundamentally illegal and immoral, yet U.S. support for Israel is “immutable.” Thus, as Russ Feingold said on the senate floor in another context, “our power to lead, to persuade, and to inspire” is “squandered.” “This power will not convert the extremists…But it can thwart their plans by denying them new recruits…”
Ray McGovern may think it doesn’t take special courage “to tell it like it is,” but he’s not in John Nichols’ shoes. John doesn’t write a column and then move on to the next locale for the next gig, he stays put. Not only does he risk being called a name and losing circulation, he faces the decidedly unpleasant prospect of firmly and repeatedly telling proud and esteemed fellow “progressives” that there is a fundamental right and wrong; despite Palestinians’ acts of terrorism, they are fundamentally in the right; despite the Holocaust and Jews’ civil rights activism, Jewish state power in Israel backed by Jewish (and other) institutional power in the U.S. is fundamentally in the wrong; and finally, the longer the wrong is not righted, the likelier we will keep seeing our resources squandered and our freedoms curtailed in an endless “war on terror.”
If John’s not up to the task, it’s understandable, but then he should ease up on the “truth” and “justice.” And have the decency to see his streak through to the end, not mention “Israel” this year. That’s 108 columns down, two to go.