Letters to the Editor
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
CBS and Political Affiliations of Viacom’s Board
Thank you for the article pointing out that the parent company of CBS is and has been run by a liberal Democrat for two decades [“Political Affiliations of Viacom Board Could Impact CBS Case,” Josh Gerstein, Page One, September 21, 2004].
I have always felt that Dan Rather was totally biased and now I know how he got away with it. This is an utter disgrace to the name of “free press.”
These elite news industry types are losing control, thanks largely to the Internet, and thank heavens for that. I am 61 years old and have had to endure their nonsense for most of that time.
The Dan Rathers pontificated while the average citizen endured them. With Fox News at least there is a chance for “the other side of the story.”
MAUREEN WAITE
Lake Mary, Fla.
‘An Israeli Civil War?’
Whenever Prime Minister Sharon loses credibility and significant broad opposition develops to his unilateral Gaza disengagement plan, his minority government demonizes the opposition, not only broad segments of the Israeli electorate, but also his own Likud Party, by raising the specter of an Israeli civil war [“An Israeli Civil War?” Editorial, September 16, 2004].
This has occurred repeatedly, first when the Likud members voted down the plan by 60% to 40%, though Mr. Sharon himself proposed such a party referendum. Then again a “plot against the government” when over 180,000 demonstrated in Jerusalem, and again when his own Likud Central Committee voted down the Gaza retreat, and then again when a human chain of 76,000 stretched 56 miles from Gaza to Jerusalem.
At no time has Mr. Sharon and his government ever presented any evidence to substantiate any planning for a civil war…no indictments, no administrative detentions. In fact, all the leaders of the opposition, including within his own party, have called for civil disobedience at most and requested a national referendum as Ehud Barak did when he called early elections at the time of the Taba capitulation, and he was soundly defeated by Binyamin Netanyahu. It was in fact subsequently that Mr. Sharon rejected Amram Mitzna and the Labor Party’s platform of “Gaza first” and proclaimed “Netzarim is Tel-Aviv.”
The New York Sun editors ap pear to be oblivious to the fact that, not only is Gaza part of historical and biblical Israel, but that the Gaza corridor represents the southern invasion route to coastal Israel utilized by Napoleon, General Allenby, and repeatedly by the Egyptians in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s…as they are now intimately complicit in the tunnels trafficking arms and terrorists into Gaza.
As mortars rain down on the Negev, so they will rain down on Ashdod and Ashkelon. Hamas and the PLO can and will rightly call it a victory and it will surely be a tragic defeat for Israel and the war on Islamic fundamentalism. So much for Mr. Sharon as a master of strategy and security. History will not view Mr. Sharon as a “giant” but just another pragmatist whose “flexibility” will place him among other failed military “leaders” such as Ulysses S. Grant, Charles DeGaulle, and Dwight Eisenhower, whose administrations represented mediocrity at best, but in the case of Mr. Sharon, tragically, a threat to the very survival of Israel.
MARVIN BELSKY
Manhattan
‘Selecting Judges’
Councilman Lewis A. Fidler’s answer to my letter about the problems in the Brooklyn judiciary was disingenuous [“Selecting Judges,” Letters, September 16, 2004].
The Manhattan Democrats’ screening panels for Civil Court and State Supreme Court judges is an impartial, merit screening panel comprised of non-political individuals appointed by the heads of bar associations, law schools, and community organizations, and not by the political leaders.
In contrast, the Brooklyn Democratic organization’s screening panel members are appointed by the political district leaders and the county leader.
ALAN FLACKS
Manhattan
‘Boycott the Boss?’
Yes, Bruce Springsteen is going way beyond having a personal opinion. He’s actually doing something about it [“Boycott the Boss? Brilliant,” Alicia Colon, New York, August 20, 2004].
Anyone can have their say, but his rallying of other like-minded folks to protest the current administration in song is in the spirit of peaceful protest.
Frankly, no one’s forcing anyone to buy a ticket.
In case you are not aware, there are literally millions of folks in this country who are dubious of Dubya.
And no, Mr. Springsteen is probably not sitting in on security briefings. Are you? Am I?
Does this mean we are not supposed to question something we feel is unjust?
Mr. Springsteen is no more “just” a singer than he is “just” a citizen. And I applaud him.
EMILY FURLANI
Brooklyn
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