Is it Anti-Semitic?

Last week we reported on a skit by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show, where he correctly pointed out that Republican Candidate Ron Paul wasn’t even invited to participate in the Jewish Republican Coalition Forum and cynically stated, “We wouldn’t want to turn [this fawning] into a debate”. Let’s connect a few dots and ask a pertinent question. Considering the Jewish domination of the US media, and recognizing that, in the clip Stewart played, Ron Paul said he will end all U.S. foreign aid – including to the Jewish state – is it “anti-Semitic” to suggest that the reason he’s been given such limited media exposure is because powerful Jewish interests are reacting to his campaign with a tactic that author Benjamin Ginsberg calls “dynamic silencing”?

End of Michigan Peaceworks

It is with mixed emotions that we report that Michigan Peaceworks (formerly Ann Arbor Area Committee for Peace, and Ann Arbor Ad-hoc Committee for Peace) will be closing its doors on December 31. We have often reported on the failure of this organization to address the ethnic cleansing of Palestine at Jewish hands, and can only surmise that perhaps they would still be in business had they honestly addressed these questions from an ad hoc group of former Michigan Peacewords members called “Break the Silence”:

– Why won’t Michigan Peaceworks act on its own “Call for Peace in the Middle East” which was duly approved by 78% of voting members?

– Why did a majority of AAACP Directors vote against the “Call for Peace in the Middle East”?

– Why has Peaceworks—ostensibly a “grassroots” organization—quietly eliminated its membership? Is this “a viable community organizing model”?

– Why does Peaceworks—supposedly an organization “dedicated to … democracy”—have a self-selected Board of Directors?

– Why has Peaceworks removed its “Call for Peace in the Middle East” from its web site?

– Why did the AAACP permit arch-Zionist Joan Lowenstein to speak at its rally on the first anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq while it banned speakers who would not agree to a gag rule against speaking about the plight of Palestinians?

– Why won’t Peaceworks endorse or publicize the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission’s “Resolution in Support of Ending U.S. Military Support for Israel”?

– Why didn’t Peaceworks support a divestment resolution put before the Michigan Student Assembly in March 2005?

– Why have Peaceworks leaders maintained a studied silence regarding the assault of a peaceful protester committed by its then President on Sept. 24, 2005?

AATA Board Meeting

This writer used his allocated two-minute public access time to address conflict of interest issues at the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority’s monthly meeting at the Ann Arbor District Library on Thursday, Dec, 15, 2011. Text of speech follows signature.

Disturbing News Flash

On the heels of this conflict of interest existing with AATA Board members and Counsel, comes this: according to U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith’s biography, “[Goldsmith] has also served in the leadership of several community organizations, including …the B’nai B’rith Anti- Defamation League.” We have also determined from a separate and reliable source that his leadership included Board membership on the ADL. How many foxes does it take to guard this henhouse? Will someone ask Judge Goldsmith whether he supports Israel’s claimed right to exist as a Jewish state (the ADL sure does), and whether that answer might influence his ability to render a fair verdict?

Five vigilers
Zionism: A Jewish Tribal Preservation Project
Henry Herskovitz
Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends

Comments?

Good Evening,

I’m here to speak as a taxpaying supporter of AATA and frequent rider. I’m concerned about at least three conflicts of interest existing within this Board on the matter of the recent lawsuit brought by the ACLU. This lawsuit contests the rejection of a political ad, critical of the state of Israel, on the AATA busses.

Before I begin I’d like to say that I support the right of anyone to join any group they like, so listeners should not take my words as an ad hominem attack on any particular person.

It merits pointing out, however, that the Chair of this Board, Mr. Bernstein, is also on the board of directors of the Michigan Israel Business Bridge, an organization which was “established to facilitate business and investment opportunities between Michigan and Israel for their mutual economic benefit.”

Mr. Lax is legal counsel to our AATA, according to an article in the Ann Arbor Chronicle, and is also a member of the pro-Israel Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. Mr. Lax’s name also appears on a campaign advertisement “Michigan Jews Who Support Senators Obama and Biden”. That ad contained a number of pro-Israel messages.

David Nacht is a member of this board, and is also a supporter of the pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League.

I’ll conclude by identifying this conflict of interest. These three men clearly support the state of Israel; they are free to do so. The conflict arises, however, when they are polled for their vote or opinion on a proposed ad that criticizes the very state they support.

Thank you
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