An article in Thursday’s Emerald (“America funding conflict,” ODE, 6/4/09) compelled me to write. The article, by University faculty member Mohamed Jemmali, demonstrated the weakness of the Daily Emerald.
Although the article fell under the opinion section, as a member of the media, it is your responsibility to present information as unbiased as possible. This was as far from the case as possible. I disagree with placing such a volatile article in your paper at all; however, if you insist on publishing an article laced with unsupported judgment, the appropriate measure would have been to place an article arguing the opposing point of view right next to Jemmali’s article.
Additionally, I do not condone publishing works with assertions that are unlikely plausible at best. Jemmali stated, “Second, if politicians don’t support Israel, the Israeli lobbies make sure they don’t get re-elected, starting by calling them anti-Semites (such as President Jimmy Carter).” As a Jewish member of the Oregon community and a victim of anti-Semitism, I find this sentence repulsive in every aspect. It is not OK to accuse Israelis (most of whom are Jewish) of abusing the word. Jimmy Carter’s failure at re-election is attributed to other factors, not his truthfully anti-Semitic beliefs.
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