C.C. reader. ([Middletown, Pa.]) 1973-1982, December 06, 1974, Image 11
Page 11 An open letter to the C.C. Reader The following open letter is printed in an abridged form due to space limitations. THE EDITORS Your reporting of H. Hussaini's talk (Vol. N, No. 8) is wrong-headed on several counts: 1. Concept of Journalism Implicitly, you subscribe to the theory that whatever occurs becomes a de facto "event", meriting full reportage if sufficiently sen sational to be "newsworthy." No matter if it be obscenely vicious and distorted, the "event" must be delineated in full because this is the stuff of "objective" journalism. In the instance before us, the Arab Information (euphemism for propaganda, financed by oil revenues) Office gets free coverage (photographs and all) for a presentation replete with hatred and racism —. and all because it is now enshrined in the "history" of Capitol Campus. This concept grants academic respectability to apologists for deliberate terror, sky-jacking and murder (note the latest atrocity aboard the commandeered British airliner). By the C.C. Reader's own admission, Hussaini's appearance was not under University sponsorship. Hence, this tirade was undeserving of major feature treatment. . . . I reject this approach to "neutral" journalism. 2. Cie-sailed Reporting The C.C. Reader has engaged in partisan pam phleteering. It has permitted its pages to become the vehicle for a P.L.O. message. This may not have been its in tention, but this is the tran sparent consequence of un critically adopting the tran scription approach to jour nalism. The article in question suggests that there was some effort at rebuttal of Hussaini. Yet, while setting forth Hussaini's contention, this article contains not the slightest hint regarding the content of an opposition viewpoint. Accordingly, the doctrine of neutrality has been breached. Neither does the reporting allude to the frenzied behavior of Hussaini at the formal conclusion of the session. At that time, our Capitol Campus Information Officer raised questions respecting the unauthorized presence of Harrisburg newsmen -- a situation obviously designed to maximize free coverage for a propagandist. This too is part of the total situation, requiring inclusion in an objective transcription of "events." 3. The Character of the Presentation Hussaini's "impassioned plea" was racist in appeal. It adopted an obscurantist ap proach to specific Palestinian issues. Instead, it dragged the red herring of "Third World," "apartheid", and other irrelevancies across the trail. It clearly sought to arouse support from the Blacks in the audience by identifying the Cause of Israel with the per petuation of colonialism and discrimination along lines of color. This rhetorical tactic might be suitable for uneducated audiences, but is assuredly out of place at an institution of higher learning. I would expect that a C.C. Reader reporter would have caught this most unsubtle tone of presentation and would have referred to it in his "objective coverage." 4. Audience Questions and Comments (with some elaboration) The following questions were among those put to the speaker, and were responded to evasively, obscurely, and testily. Since they are central to an appreciation of the Israeli-Palestinian impasse, they must be dealt with ' honestly and realistitally: a) In view of . Soviet geopolitical interests in the Middle East and the adv vantages accruing to it of :"keeping the. cauldron, 'boiling," will not the . - U.S.S.R. encourage We - Arab states to persist in their belligerent posture towards Israel? b) Is it not likely that a P.L.O. dominated Palestinian state would become a Soviet client. state, with emplaced missiles poised for strikes against vulnerable Israeli cities and other major targets? c) Is there not an in consistency in Hussaini's argument in that he declares the P.L.O. merely wants part of Palestine but subsequently indicates a design to "re-possess" Haifa and other portions of the Israeli heartland? d) Is it not true that over 50 percent of the Jewish population of Israel consist of refugees from the Arab states? (Indeed, this element has experienced direct -persecution and economic degradation at Arab hands. It is most resolute in denouncing P.L.O. guile.) e) Have not the Arabs pursued a policy of per secuting defenseless minorities everywhere: Kurds in Iraq and Syria, Copts in Egypt, Druzes in Syria and Lebanon not to mention Arab military campaigns slaughtering thousands of Blacks in southern Sudan? f) The P.L.O. calls for a secular democratic Palestinian state. But all of the Arab states are Islamic and none are democratic. By what act of folly can the Israelis be expected to abandon their skepticism and surrender their futures to the P.L.0.? g) Arafat purportedly offers Israel a choice of the musket or the olive branch. Yet, does he not seek the dismemberment of Israel in stages, leading to its total annihilation? Was not appeasement of Hitler prelude to World War II? h) Did not the P.L.O. have a "contract" on the life of King Hussein at Rabat? Is assassination (an Arabic word) not the typical way the P.L.O. deals with its opposition? Is there room for moderates in the Palestinian leadership? C.C. READER Are not excess and ex tremism the only way to legitimate conflicting leadership claims among Palestinians? (There are moderates among the Palestinians but they are mute. Ironically, the Palestinian skyjackers of the British airliner owe allegiance to those who consider Arafat too "mild.") 8) Why does the P.L.O. refuse to declare itself on a guarantee of secure recognized boundaries for Israel? (Obviously, you don't set boundaries for your intended victim.) 5. Personal Aspects The article refers to me as a Zionist. I do not belong to any Zionist organization (although such membership carries no stigma). I am a member of APPME (American Professors For Peace In ' The Middle East). My organization con sists exclusively of academicians, Christians as well as Jews, drawn from all disciplines, and employing intellectual resources to allay conflict. AP.PME: has had occasion- to -critielze ,specify policies of the State of Israel in the toast and will continue to do so in the future whenever, in its judgment, the cause of pacification is not being promoted. However, it has always insisted that a just and lasting, peace cannot be brought about by recom mendations calculated .to damage the viability of Israel. The C.C. Reader represents me as having engaged in debate with Husssaini. Were I the visitor's debating antagonist, I would have prepared a formal statement and demanded equal time. As it was, the entire proCeeding, unannounced until the last moment, caught me by surprise. My participation was simply that of a member of the campus audience, exercising his academic freedom during the limited time allotted. Capitol imams Agent of Trailways Travel Bureau Corp Tours PRE-CHRISTMAS SKI TRIP To Quebec City, Canada Dec. 20 - 24 GEORGE HARRISON IN CONCERT At Spectrum MONDAY, DEC. 16 Leave Hbg., 4:30 P.M. $26.05 PER PERSON Prices Include Transportation And Reserved Seat Married Student Group Sessions to be formed The Counseling Center will be offering a Human Development Growth Group series of weekly sessions for married students and their spouses beginning Wednesday, January 15, 1975 and lasting throughout the Winter Term. The sessions will begin at 7:30 p.m. and last until 9:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Enrollment in these sessions will be limited. If you and your spouse are interested in participating, please clip out the form below and return it to the Counseling Center, Wll7, during the day from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Participants will be selected on a first come-first serve basis, so you are encouraged to get your form in early and to arrange for a pre-group interview with the Counseling staff. re I Name of Student I Name of Spouse 1 Address I Phone Number (hours when you Loa.lll.Fatastl ANNOUNCEMENTS Tom McMillen (XGI President) :talked about putting a banner of the Mittney Lion up in Vendor ville. C.C. owns the banner. Dave Shrader said that Beta Chi, XGI, PSPE* and the Board of Governors have' already agreed to pairlt . a wall each in Vendorville. D. Shrader made a motion that these clubs be allowed to paint' a a wall each on a priority system. To get a wall, each club would need to go thru the Physical Plant Com mittee for approval. Unanimous approval. PARKING PROPOSAL Mike McAllister dis ctisted -the priso6Sai that he and Russ Hogg wrote up. It suggested that an altern ative sticker be offered to those students who wish to use the parking facilities at the • athletic fields, the athletic building and the Placement Center. The sticker would cost $l.OO and would be in effect after 3PM on weekdays and from 3PM Friday till 9AM Mon day. The alternative sticker would be available to commutors who do not otherwise register their cars and to residents with restricted stickers. The letter also suggested that the 15 minute parking zone in front of the school be available to all vehicles in case of emergency. The proposal passed with only one "no" vole and one abstention. USED BOOK STORE Bill Jones said Beta Chi tried it last year and he talked of the problems they had. .He said that he would help set it up. Books were 50 percent of what the bookstore sold it for. The biggest problem was how much overhead, payments, control committees, theft and people to work. He said publicity should be good. More information will be gotten on it and then finalizations will be made. Dr. Lear Phone 236-9588 Harrisburg, Pa. A typical SGA meeting MBEft 6, 1974 BITCH BOOTH Paul Mathis suggested that it be set up in Vendorville every other Thursday to get sugges tions and opinions from students. It would start on December 5 and would go from 9AM to SPM. Posters and banners, the C.C. READER and the Radio station will be used, to advertiie the booth'. Unanimous approval and' commitment. APPROVAL OF A NEW MEMBER Janice Steffe was nominated to replace Nancy Wilt, as EI.Ed. Rep. A motion was made by Mike to approve Janice Steffe - :as- a new - serial& member. It was passed unanimously. Mike nom inated Scot Deardorff to become a new member representing Math Science as a Junior. It was passed unanimously. Hipp stated that the Board of Governors gave their proposal to Mr. Gautreau and it was ap proved. He asked that SGA support the Board of Governors proposal for waterbeds. Contracts be illfigned, fines would be given, a $lO.OO per year charge would be necessary and inspection would be needed. Mark Fey made a motion that we support the Board of Governors pro posal. It was passed unanimously. Russ wrote a letter to the faculty suggesting that they describe their courses and what is involved and requesting that this be publised to the student before registration. More discussion will be made and a proposal drawn up at the next meeting. Adjourned at 8:45 PM.