'Israeli War Crimes' signs to go on Metro buses

[REDWHITEBLUE2]

'Israeli War Crimes' signs to go on Metro buses

SEATTLE – "Israeli War Crimes," the enormous advertisement reads. "Your tax dollars at work."

To the right of the image is a group of children -- one little boy stares out at the viewer, the others gawk at a demolished building, all rebar and crumbled concrete.

It's an ad you'll be seeing soon on a handful of Metro buses in downtown Seattle.

A group calling itself the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign has paid King County $1,794 so that 12 buses will carry that message around town, starting two days after Christmas. That's December 27: the two-year anniversary of Israeli attacks on Gaza, aimed at stopping rocket attacks and weapons smuggling.

Ed Mast, a Seattle man who is a spokesperson for the group, says it’s not meant to be an anti-Israel message, but a message designed to generate discussion and awareness.

"I wouldn't say it's an anti-Israel message any more than any complaint about a country is anti-that country. We would like Israel to stop violating human rights. We would like Israel to give equal rights to its Palestinian citizens and its Palestinian subjects who live under occupation," said Mast.

At the Pacific Northwest office of the Anti-Defamation League, the ad campaign is seen quite a bit differently.

"We're dismayed," says Community Director Hilary Bernstein, who calls the bus-born advertisement grotesquely one-sided. "Citizens young and old will be seeing this sort of propaganda, this very one-sided distortion. It's unfortunate."

So, is the side of a public bus the right place for this kind of attack? Are the issues that regularly inflame one of the most flammable hot-spots in the world appropriate fare for people strolling the sidewalks of Seattle?

As far as King County is concerned, it's not really up to them what appears on the side of their buses, as long as it fits specific guidelines regarding:

•Pornography
•Alcohol
•Tobacco, and
•As long as the images and material used don't interfere with public safety or insult specific groups to the point that a riot could be incited, vandalism could occur or public safety could be threatened.
King County Metro Transit spokesperson Linda Thielke acknowledges some people will be offended by the campaign, but that is not enough to prevent the rolling billboards from hitting the streets.

"As a government, we are mindful of the provisions in state and federal constitutions to protect freedom of speech. So, we can't object these campaigns simply because they offend some people," said Thielke.

The Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign has targeted their advertising so the buses carrying their message will run mostly on Seattle routes


http://www.king5.com/news/local/Isra...112108154.html

[Noir]

Someone got paid to write this line

starting two days after Christmas. That's December 27

Dear blesses xD

As for the stunt itself, fair enough, it's a free country afterall.

[Kathianne]

Someone got paid to write this line



Dear blesses xD

As for the stunt itself, fair enough, it's a free country afterall.

Indeed. As is Israel. Unlike their Arab brethren. Many Israelis disagree with the Gaza policies, they write in their major papers constantly and people like Abso quote them ad infinitum. Now, where are the Arab articles about how Israel has a right to exist? That they've been circumspect in use of force, considering the rocket attacks from Lebanon?

They don't exist.

Yet for the left here and from the consensus in Europe, the only foul was stopping the Nazis before they were done. How much better the future would have been. Right?

[Thunderknuckles]

Someone got paid to write this line



Dear blesses xD

As for the stunt itself, fair enough, it's a free country afterall.

Yep, as long as they're within city guidelines they can do it.

That said, Hilary Bernstein is absolutely correct:

"Citizens young and old will be seeing this sort of propaganda, this very one-sided distortion. It's unfortunate."

I cannot stand guys like Ed Mast who hide behind the "awareness" bullshit. He and his group are clearly anti-Israel. So be it, just don't insult my intelligence with a bullshit line like this :

... it’s not meant to be an anti-Israel message, but a message designed to generate discussion and awareness.

[Noir]

Yeah, reminds me of idiots like Ben Stien who try and pretend that Inteligent Design is not creationism, and all they want to do is 'teach the controversy' xD

The least you can do is be honest with people about your convictions.

[fj1200]

'Israeli War Crimes' signs to go on Metro buses

That type of "advertising" should not be accepted by a PUBLIC enterprise.

[Gaffer]

I guess there's not enough Jews in Seatle to warrant worrying about riots. Therefore its not against policy. would a similar advertisement against hamas be appropriate. Think there would be any threats of riots from the the muslims and the left?

[abso]

Indeed. As is Israel. Unlike their Arab brethren. Many Israelis disagree with the Gaza policies, they write in their major papers constantly and people like Abso quote them ad infinitum. Now, where are the Arab articles about how Israel has a right to exist? That they've been circumspect in use of force, considering the rocket attacks from Lebanon?

They don't exist.

Yet for the left here and from the consensus in Europe, the only foul was stopping the Nazis before they were done. How much better the future would have been. Right?

who said that they doesnt exist, they exist but its your job to find them if you want, i dont have to find them for you.

you should read about the recent fires in Israel, and about the participation of Egypt and Jordan and Palestinian authorities in that crisis.

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/1...eath-toll.html

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news...g-massive-fire

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...993514,00.html

[abso]

I guess there's not enough Jews in Seatle to warrant worrying about riots. Therefore its not against policy. would a similar advertisement against hamas be appropriate. Think there would be any threats of riots from the the muslims and the left?

actually most of muslims doesnt care about Hamas, and i am one of those muslims who dont care about whatever happens to Hamas, i care about palestine, not Hamas, there is a big difference between both.

[fj1200]

actually most of muslims doesnt care about Hamas, and i am one of those muslims who dont care about whatever happens to Hamas, i care about palestine, not Hamas, there is a big difference between both.

What if Hamas is the major/one of the major reasons for the problems in Palestine?

[Kathianne]

actually most of muslims doesnt care about Hamas, and i am one of those muslims who dont care about whatever happens to Hamas, i care about palestine, not Hamas, there is a big difference between both.

Not surprised that the governments would send help for humanitarian purposes, not at all. Israel has come to the aid of other ME states when allowed to do so. Also, I'm not asserting that there aren't good Muslim people who would also aid out fellow humans. Nope, I'm addressing the intellectual elite that write op-eds and journal pieces, they are plethora from Jews for 'peace.' There's a severe absence of voices from the other side. People who demand that Muslim government leaders stand for the existence and security of Israel as a state. Those who acknowledge the mistakes made by Muslim countries and the Palestinians themselves. Then address the land issues, with fairness and security for all.

[Gaffer]

actually most of muslims doesnt care about Hamas, and i am one of those muslims who dont care about whatever happens to Hamas, i care about palestine, not Hamas, there is a big difference between both.

The majority of pals support hamas. As do a majority of the ME countries. If they did not have that support they would not exist except as a small fringe group.

You do not support hamas, but you are in a minority. Most of the world supports hamas.