WBFO AND ISRAEL, REDUX

I was glad to read the many replies to Walter Simpson’s letter of August 31, 2006, regarding WBFO’s bias and claims toward “balance” (“Letters to AV,” Artvoice v5n35) A few months ago I submitted a listener comment online in response to one of Dan Leonard’s more insufferable commentaries. I find Leonard utterly infuriating at the best of times (not just because of what he says, which is generally biased while claiming to be objective, but because of his tone, which is always patronizing, self-righteous, and has that “listen-to-me-while-I-tell-you-how-things-really-are” quality about it). I received in response a thoroughly vitriolic reply from Mark Scott, severely reprimanding me for being unable to tolerate opinions that are contrary to mine.

I was quite shocked to get such a reply, but since the email from Mr. Scott landed in my junk mail folder (how appropriate) and I did not address it or reply quickly enough, it was deleted automatically within a couple of days, as is all junk mail. I was sorry to have no record of this caustic correspondence, since I fully intended to reply to it. The recent dialogue concerning WBFO’s broadcast policies and the removal of Walter Simpson from their roster of commentators only strengthens my vow to Mark Scott of a few months ago: WBFO will never get a red cent out of me or my family while broadcast policies like theirs prevail at a station purporting to represent the public at large.

Jackie Durfee

Buffalo

ISRAEL AND HAMAS, REDUX

Walter Simpson’s letter in Artvoice about Israel is contradictory and distorted. On the one hand he says that Israel has a right to defend itself. On the other hand he says that Israel had no right to invade Lebanon after a deadly and unprovoked cross-border raid by Hezbollah.

Hezbollah used the six years that Israel has been out of Lebanon to amass a vast, sophisticated arsenal of weapons for the expressed purpose of wiping Israel off the map. During those six years there has been a reign of terror by Hezbollah launching rockets against Israeli civilians into the northern part of Israel. Hezbollah crossed into Israel, killed some soldiers and kidnapped others. At that point Israel responded to the threat of its security. During the war thousands of Israeli buildings were destroyed, one-third of its population was displaced and those living in bomb shelters were traumatized.

Mr. Simpson questioned the ethics and response of Israelis because of the number of casualties and damage to Lebanon. However, few people would use that logic to claim that the British, who had fewer deaths than the Germans during World War II, used a disproportionate response.

By hiding behind women and children, Hezbollah not only shows cowardice but, more importantly, is responsible for any deaths that ensued. Hezbollah deliberately targets civilians and rejoices in their deaths. Israeli soldiers, on the other hand, put themselves in harm’s way by giving advance notification of their actions so that Lebanese civilians might live. No other country in the world phones occupants of homes that may be in danger so that they have time to leave.

Mr. Simpson says that he respects Israel’s right to exist, which is a Zionist position. On the other hand he implies that Zionism is unjust. He blames the conflict on “Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands since the Six Day War in 1967.” However there were riots and pogroms against Jews by Arabs before the State of Israel even existed. Five Arab armies invaded Israel immediately after Israel was created.

Perhaps the cause of the conflict is the desire to destroy Israel.

Elinor Weiss

East Amherst

CORRECTION: In last week’s cover story, “Three Men in a Room,” we mistakenly wrote that the September 13 panel discussion and book signing with former State Senator Seymour P. Lachman was co-sponsored by Hallwalls, along with Talking Leaves Books and the League of Women Voters, and that it took place at Hallwalls at the Church. In fact, it took place in Asbury Hall at the Church and was co-sponsored by Talking Leaves, the League of Women Voters and the Righteous Babe Foundation.