Anyhow, this reader helped me to look over my stand point when it comes to the freedom of press, when I realised that in a short moment of emotional turmoil I had not been completely consistent in my argumentation. This can happen to the best of us and I appreciated the lesson. Nevertheless, after some thorough thinking I am still convinced that I am a true defender of the freedom of press and a complete separation of press and government. However, I was later also reminded (not through the comment exchange, though) that the Swedish government has not been that consistent after all, if we look back...
During the Muhammad caricature crisis in 2005, the website host Levonline, pulled the plug on the website of the Swedish Democrats' SD-Kuriren newspaper after consulting with the government. You might say that consulting is not the same as giving an order, but we can only speculate on what happened behind closed doors during their consulting. In that case the Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds said in an official statement:
"I will defend freedom of the press no matter what the circumstances, but I strongly condemn the provocation by SD-Kuriren. It displays a complete lack of respect."
But of course, then we had a different government, and guess which one... I wonder what makes the violent reaction from the Muslim world over some drawings more acceptable and mature than the Israeli/Jewish reaction over these very severe accusations. But once again, different rules for different people.
Update: Laila Freivalds actually resigned after this scandal.
I can admit that during a period of my younger adolescence I was completely impregnated with the Swedish Pro-Palestine/Anti-Israeli attitude and I fully believed that Israel represented the devil himself and that the Palestinians merely were poor victims. Luckily I am blessed with a critical and curious personality and I soon discovered that things are not always what they seem, and this conflict could not be blamed to merely one of the parties.
When I met Yoram and suddenly had personal ties with Israel, my interest in the conflict grew, for natural reasons. I started reading both history and news from diverse sources and the more I learned, the more I realised that the solution is far-fetched and there is nothing as clear as a good and a bad side. Tragically enough, after having monitored the Swedish media reports on the matter for a while, it stood clear to me how biased the information fed to the Swedes really is. The socialist media basically glorifies Jihad and martyrdom, and exclusively puts the blame on Israel, while the liberal media acts as if intimidated, by being quite sparse with their positive words about Israel.
Boström must have been aware that this publication would become a clear incitement against Israel that will only increase hate and prejudice (i.e. anti-Semitism), and create a stronger polarisation, that in turn will damage the peace process. If he really was interested in working for peace in the region, a better strategy would be to offer some constructiveness. But I am quite certain that this is not his goal. As with so many others, he wants to see Israel collapse before he is satisfied. Why do you think that is..?
Now the energy battery in the politics section of my brain has been emptied and it will probably take a while to refill it...
23 comments:
hi jojo
the problem concerning israelis about his article is not that the swedish government dosn't want to condemned it - its the fact it hides the fact that the swedish ministry of foreign affairs financed this research back in 2001 - a "research" that is based on rumors - a palestinian friend told the reporter about the "organ theft" by IDF soldiers...
not sure why the newspaper chose to publish it now...
Assi (IDF reserve, 2nd kidney squadron...)
Yeah, I know that this information also popped out from the abscess... Sad to hear...
By the way, do you know anyone in a liver squadron? I have been drinking too much lately, and could use a new one.
As you said: the Foreign Minister of the time, Laila Freivalds, had to resign for not having respected the freedom of speech. Concecuently it doesn´t seem possible for the actual Swedish embassador to continue on her post, as she has shown a clear disrespect towards the constitutional freedom of speech.
If the Swedish government would start to take the responsibility of everything that the newspapers - or the bloggers, or anyone - utters, it would never end. They would be in the hands of every state and every company, even every person, whose feelings have been hurted, and they could demand a governmental statement in every single matter. China could start a diplomatic war if Aftonbladet, or any newspaper, writes about Tibet, etc etc.
Israels government is committing a big auto goal in this issue, as far as the Swedish-Israelian relations concern. The demands are ridicilous. I think many Swedes come to the same conclusions as I do: the israelian government is so weak that it has to create an alien enemy - i.e. Sweden - to distract their people. You shouldn´t let that happen.
You should argue against the Aftonbladet-article, not scream like some drama queens. There´s a war going on, bad things have happened as happens in every war, it´s not THAT strange that a people far from the scene might find the suspicions reasonable enough to claim for an investigation. If those who think so are wrong - and appearantly they are - please argue, but don´t scream, and be a little more careful with the anti-Semitic accusion. Please! It would be a great loss if that word would loose it´s meaning, and begin to mean something like "anti-Semite=a person who doesn´t like the politics of the Israel government". I´m afraid that´s already happening. You should be more careful.
As Laila Freivald had to resign your article lacks of relevance, Jojo.
Not really, since I am not any longer discussing the freedom of press. In this case the point is that there is a stronger tendency that someone (even a foreign minister) goes head over heels to protect the Muslims against insulting publications, than it is when the insults are pointed towards Jews or Israel. The damage was done, Laila fell into the trap since she victimises the Muslims...
Well, in the first matter the concern was insults, in the second suspicious not too strange in a context of war, where the dominant part have been criticized (?)for nearby issues. And there were no direct accusation, but a claim for further investigations. So... I think the example is quite badly chosen if you want to claim that the acceptance is higher towards Israel criticism. So far the embassador hasn´t have to leave her post, as the foreign minister had to in the other case.
How could I ever expect you to be satisfied, Mattias..? ;) Of course it is not the exact same type of event, but still sufficient to serve as a comparative example. I know that you get my point and to start fucking flies is only a way to take the focus off of the subject and dive into an argumentation orgy.
"And there were no direct accusation, but a claim for further investigations." Come on, Mattias, now you are really downplaying the impact of the statements in the article. You cannot deny the fact that many readers will take the words for being true! Even yourself took it for being reasonable before Anna Veeder provided you with acceptable arguments against.
I think it is more severe when a foreign minister commits such a major mistake, than when an ambassador does it, and we have not yet seen whether she can stay put or not. There has been voices arguing for her resignation.
What you suggest is that people are stupid and short of sight. I don´t think they are, and I think you are projecting your own feeling of not understanding the situation.
Could I be right?
There is always an "if", but I hardly think so. Do you think that I am arrogant if I believe that the common "Svensson" generally trusts the media..?
What is it I don't understand..?
My experience is that you should put trust in peoples´ capacity of thinking and reasoning.
Funnily enough, I often find common people, like the majority of Aftonbladets readers, far wiser than the highly educated ones...
And I think the swedish majority has a quite good criteria on this matters. It has been said in the debate, though I don´t remember were I saw it, that Sweden actually is the least antisemitic country in Europe. Could that be so?
I guess I am a little bit more cynic than you are on this matter. Bottom line is that it is the sum of the cardamon that decides the reception and if they are already fed with a lot of shady publications and if they already have started growing a slight touch of anti-Semitism, then they will surely swallow this without any water. Mark, that I moved away slightly from the general "Svensson", even though I truly believe that anti-Semitism is flourishing there too among some.
If Sweden is the least anti-Semitic country is very hard to tell. If you take Malmö as an example, we will probably end up quite high on the list...
I guess so. I also guess that you have read what our friend Stefan just wrote on the issue? His still our aikido master, isn´t he? ;-)
Of course I read him! He is a brilliant thinker and writer, and he certainly does not leave any openings in his reasoning.
That he acknowledges the fact that this actually could be true - in theory - is one of the ways through which he removed any loose ends from his post... I am convinced that he does not believe in the story in any way.
We have discussed Israel before, him and me, during our after-aikido-beers and he has a very well balanced attitude, as well as he has with all other things.
Yeah... But what do say about those dirty bastards from Växjö?
Just joking, I´m trying to start a quarrel on a blogpost of Stefan about Falkenberg... I gained energy from our discussion, I´m afraid. Poor world...
Speakin´ seriously... Stefan´s blog is one of just two that I follow constantly. Enough said.
After all this praise I am embarrassed to appear here, but about the Swedish government reactions on the Muhammed caricatures, I remember that Swedish media, too, forgot about freedom of the press isssues.
They scolded the Danish newspaper for publishing the caricatures, and refused to publish any of the images - although they were of general interest.
I think that their failure at that time is one reason for their distinct positions this time around. The same may be true for the Swedish government. They don't want to repeat the mistake of the former government.
After reading Stefans analysis of the article (in Aftonbladet)I have partly changed my opinion: it´s really tendentious and a bad piece of journalism.
Still I think that doesn´t mean, automatically, that it is antisemitic. After all, there is a war going on and people die. You should value the word antisemitic higher.
Nice to see you check in here now and then, Stefan! I heard that your blog is under spam evaluation and that accusation is of course about as true as the Boström article... You are welcome to guest blog over here any time if your fingers are itching! ;)
Mattias, you are a little quarreller after all! ;) You like to throw in a lure here and there and hope that your opponent bites. Now I figured out how you work and I found balance enough to approach you with aiki instead of kiai. ;)
Jojo: I can´t deny that. But I´m beginning to realize that the internet isn´t a perfect dojo. The rules ain´t any good. My problem is that the closest physical dojo from where I live is at 1,5 hours bus trips distance... So it´s just not possible for me to take up my aikido.
I will have to just focus harder on my meditation and learn to shut up when I shouldn´t speak. That´s a challenge, for sure.
I enjoy querrelling with you, though, but then there were mutual respect, I think.
Sorry, enjoyed I meant to write. It´s not my intention keep on messing you, don´t worry.
:-)
Of course the internet is not a perfect dojo. Written words are not the best media to reveal emotional and intellectual nuances, which makes the communication somewhat tedious sometimes. However, writing has always been the media I prefer, and maybe that has to do with the introvert side of my personality...
Feel free to keep up the commenting when you feel obliged, Mattias. I have previously requested some dynamic interactions on the blog and now you provided it for me.
Well... I read Gideon Levy´s comment on the issue in translation in SvD today. I think it couldn´t be said any better. Israelans can (have already, I guess) read it in Haretz.
I also admire the coolnes of Anna Veeder. I´m quite critical towards Jonathan Leman, though, but I´m not going to get into that, especielly as I have to stay away from the blogs for a while. An aching shoulder from too many hours by the computer (I sometimes even work...).
Shalom! or how do you say?
After that very long discussion, it feels puny to come in wit anything at all!
My comment was only; Why is anybody ever surprised with the lack of objectivity of Aftonbladet?
Tintin, I am not surprised at all. This is a trend in Aftonbladet that I really think they should look into... But I guess that they consider it being perfectly fair journalism and will leave it at that.
Mattias, take care of your shoulder, and yes, shalom is exactly what we say, and I presume that you know that it means peace, just as salaam...
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