For anyone who doubts that there is a double standard regarding racism in the U.S. media, read Marty Peretz’s blog post (New Republic, 6/19/10) on the “crooked little emirate” of Dubai, in which he glibly comments that “Arabs are deft at disguising reality.”
Peretz will certainly be able to continue to freely publish his anti-Arab screeds with little condemnation, yet Helen Thomas was pushed out of her job and rebuked by President Obama himself (AP, 6/8/10) and some pundits (FAIR blog, 6/14/10) for her comments telling Israelis to “get the hell out of Palestine” and to “go home” to Poland, Germany or the United States. Thomas promptly apologized (FAIR blog, 6/9/10) and announced her retirement, but Peretz has written similar rants in the past regarding Arabs and Muslims that didn’t raise many eyebrows. Apparently, anti-Arab sentiment remains an acceptable part of the discourse on the Middle East.
Here’s Peretz again, in language that was later scrubbed from the New Republic’s website without comment (Salon, 3/6/10):
There were moments–long moments–during the Iraq War when I had my doubts. Even deep doubts. Frankly, I couldnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t quite imagine any venture requiring trust with Arabs turning out especially well. This is, you will say, my prejudice. But some prejudices are built on real facts, and history generally proves me right. Go ahead, prove me wrong.
One more from Peretz (New Republic, 3/19/10):
Alas, in the Middle East, itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s mostly continuity and cruelty. This is a culture so unhinged by modernity that it clings to its crippled civilization. And who will tell me that the civilization of the Arabs, the civilization of Islam, is not crippled?
Where’s the media outrage on this one?
(H/T Matt Yglesias.)
Get ready for another long comment thread, I imagine.
Alex, comparing Thomas’ and Peretz’ remarks is off the mark, don’t you think? At worst, I think Thomas did a poor job of expressing a valid view – that Israel is an occupier and oppressor, and if its Jewish citizens can’t bring themselves to live in a land open to all, with dignity and respect for all, they should leave.
(Of course, many Jews in Israel are willing to do so.)
She might owe an apology – or more fairly, an explanation – to those who truly mistook her meaning, but that doesn’t include the bastards who’ve used this to their own ends, does it?
(And, as I’ve said elsewhere, maybe someone should ask her precisely what she meant.)
Peretz is an out and out racist, though, isn’t he?
A case of oranges and rotten apples, I’d say.
Good post, Doug. Agree with both Alex’s column and your view. Racist stereotyping of Arabs reflects a lot influences. Certainly the fact the few Americans actually know any people of Arab heritage is amplified by the lack of Arab cultures and perspectives (which, like Jewish/Israeli views are not monolithic) in our corporate media gives even more tacit approval to the bigoted racist ranting of someone like Peretz. Unfortunately, his views aren’t subject to the censure given Helen Thomas. Might be worth a few emails to Howard Kurtz for his Media Critic show on CNN. Wanna bet it never makes the show?
There is certainly nothing new about Arab-hatred in the US media and press. The American media and press have been vilifying and dehumanizing them for decades. The phenomenon of using the city of Dubai as a magnet for this kind of hatred, however, is a relatively new phenomenon.
Helen Thomas had become slightly unhinged. Marty Peretz has no such defense. Substitute Jew for Arab in his rants and you’d get actionable anti-semitism. I think a lot of U.S. coverage of Arab culture is pretty good. Unfortunately a majority of Americans react negatively to the mere depiction of Muslims, so the commentary is almost irrelevant.
Thanks Alex for the article. Arabs like me really appreciate this. There is no justification for what the media writes against an entire ethnic group with sweeping generalizations bordering racism. Thank you again.
Racism is Racism and unacceptable by Helen Thomas and Marty Paretz. The main difference is Helen Thomas was famous well before her remarks. This is the first time I have ever heard of a Marty Paretz.
Two points
In reviewing WW2 we easily throw Hitler and his SS henchmen into the category of evil.But what of the millions who screamed and saluted in the light of the fires that they lit upon themselves, and the world.Is there any collective guilt at all?And is that racism?I am not sure.But if the films were reshot and those screams were against Hitler.If the cheering crowds in Palistine on 9/11 were instead cheering for the American Flag raised in the rubble.If daily we witnessed huge Arab Muslim parades and demonstrations against the evil that tries to claim their voice…….
Helen Thomas spoke for all displaced people on the one hand.So as the Native Americans reclaim America.The French- Canada.As all Blacks are returned to Africa….As the movement of assimilation of all the world is moved back to fit Helen Thomas’ view of the world…Im sure it would be fascinating to see where all the board pieces would line up.Maybe not so much though.Israel exists.It has fought for its life.Blacks have fought and bled for their place here.To talk of sending them back ,either of them is the oldest form of rascism…..
This country has gone to hell in a handbasket. Helen Thomas answered a question and gave her opinion. She didn’t write an article or give a speech anywhere demonizing Israel. Yet all the MSM and the talking jerks jump on the “No One Can Say ANYTHING Bad About Israel” bandwagon. And some still think we live in a democracy. That’s a joke. The MSM is in the tank, Operation Mockingbird is still in effect, and we are turning into a fascist nation. You can take that to one of those ripoff banks.
Boots is absolutely correct. Casting any negative light on Israel is tantamount to treason, while we can spit at Arabs ad infinitum without incident. The double standard is scandalous.
you don’t even have to cherry pick damning quotes from paretz….his entire blog is a daily hate fest
Bigotry/Racism is a form of insanity/delusion. To assume that you are all that different, or better in some way, than any other human being is a delusion.
To send any mothers child off to kill another mothers child and that they have the blessings of a deity for so doing is irrational. insane, and blashemous.
~;^}>
Well, michael e, more unhinged gibberish from you . . . two points? The only point you made was to prove again that you’re a semi-literate dope. Think before you write. You’re exactly the type of American whose ignorance scares the living shit out of the “blacks” and the “Palestinians” and every other marginalized group. Think! That’s an order, son. Go now, and only return to this space, this denizen of hated liberality, when you’ve done schooled yourself.
Alas, it is not merely a question of impunity for anti-Arab hate speech in North America and Europe, but also for dropping bombs and rockets on Arab peoples (Afghanis and Pakistanis are also killed and maimed with impunity, given their status as «honorary Arabs»). Naturally, all these things are done in the name of «Peace» and «Democracy», with a little dollop of «Stability», what else ? And no one ever ever mentions how profitable it all is for those selling the goods and services (bombs, planes, drone, ammunition, on the one hand, «security services», on the other), funded by levies on taxpayers….
Henri
Thanks for the loving advise TimN.I will get back to school toot sweet to get” eduamicated” in a second Doctorate.And it is all because of you.Thank you oh thank you. All Joking aside, of course we can not forget, or throw aside the feelings of marginalized people.Native American’s,blacks,Tibetans, or Palestinian’s.But i think there is a sad truth in that 100% of Muslims are not terrorists.But a very high percentage of terrorists….. are Muslim!If you lay the cause and effect of that fact at the feet of America and Israel………..and I suppose Sarah Palin.We will probably have to agree to disagree.Though I don’t know your actual views all that well since your blogs are mostly personal attacks……………on me!
fuck these amercans they fuck there heads off with being rasist