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Aref Assaf,
Aramica responds but does not answer
August 12, 2007
You
may recall our stance on Aramica's recent cover story on The Kahil Gibran School in
Brooklyn, NY. Noticeably, the newspaper devoted a full page editorial rebutting
our position. We became the subject of unwarranted personal attacks. The paper
erroneously states that our views were intended for publication in another NJ
paper. Our motives for writing the response were repeatedly noted and in a
rather silly tone, our writing style was reduced to being 'uncharacteristically
sloppy." Most important, Aramica danced around the emotionally-laden position
that Arab Americans must not work with American Jewish groups. We still stand by our
position that Ms. Debbie Almontasser was not provided a venue to answer her
accusers. Aramica's allegation of betrayal is a serious charge and we believe
that its quick
judgment is without merit.
 A "letter from the publisher" by Mr. Antoine
Faisal, responded to some of our views in a rather harsh and an unbecoming
manner. The editor
described our position as "defending the ADL", which we would
never do. It is also is
our point that the ADL and other groups irrespective of their degree of
hate/love for the Arab causes cannot simply be so dismissed. We can and
must work with these groups on issues that render benefit to our community. If
we follow the yardstick set by Aramica that we should never work with groups
that support Israel, then we may end up hopelessly hanging with only a
handful of left wing and menially influential groups. We are doomed if we
believe this well-meaning but irrelevant guideline will advance our causes.
The paper missed the salient point of mentioning Bill Gates and his foundation.
While Gate's
religious affiliation remains a questionable task,
his foundation is one of the donors to the state-wide program to create special
culturally sensitive schools such as the KGIA. It is not a leap of faith when
we call Aramica to task on this matter. If we object to dealing with pro-Israel
individuals or organizations, then we should include Bill Gates in this
blacklist for he has steadfastly supported Jewish efforts to settle in
Palestine. One of the largest Microsoft offices outside the US is located in
Israel.
We
disagree with the paper's claim that a need was not so evident to speak to the
accused since information was obtained from her employer. This is simply
injustice by proxy because it renders the truth untenable. Until Aramica can
irrefutably prove Debbie's 'betrayal', the accused shall be deemed innocent and
the burden of proof remains the mandate of the paper and the individuals from
whom it solicited quotations to strengthen its argument. We have long denounced
"guilt by association" as a means to procure justice.
For Aramica to
question our motives and loyalties seriously undermines its presumed
intellectual and moral high standards. We nevertheless admire Aramaic's courage
to present relevant but controversial issues. We believe Aramica' has a proven
track of igniting coherent discussions on vital community issues. But Aramica
cannot claim to hold the exclusive and final truth about both the substantive
and subjective issues. A need exists to differentiae between reporting and
editorializing news.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Aramica asking the tough questions and
demanding answers. But to choreograph answers and condition judgments on purely
circumstantial 'evidence is not a sign of a mature journalistic integrity.
Investigative journalism triumphs when it unearths important and compelling
facts about people or events. This is the noble mandate of the Fourth Estate. A
newspaper ceases to be so when it renders summary and tainted judgment. When it
persists in defending its indefensible position, Aramica fails our reasonable
expectation of a fair coverage and balanced reporting.
Audaciously if not comically, Aramica bases its claim to the truth on its
purported receipt of supportive emails. We similarly state that we have received
21 emails from readers of this post, most of who agree with our viewpoint.
It remains our desire that Aramica will refrain from debasing so irreverently
differing views. For if Aramica persists in denouncing opposing views, its
ethical and journalistic mandate will have been irrevocably extirpated. Sorry
Aramica, on this issue, you erred.
To read the original story, please click here.
To read our
response, please click here
To read Aramica's editorial, please click here.
Update: As if by twist of fate, Ms Almontasser was forced to resign her post as
principal of the school as a result of pressure from the NY Federation of
Teachers. Will Aramica feed Debbie to the wolves?
See below:
Principal resigns over 'intifada' flap
E-mail News Brief
Tell the Editors
Published: 08/12/2007 |
From JTA
Defending the use of the word "intifada" on a T-shirt has cost a New York City
principal her job.
Debbie Almontaser, who was to be the principal of the city's first public school
dedicated to Arabic language and culture, stepped down Friday under fire. She
was to lead the Khalil Gibran International Academy, a middle school scheduled
to open this fall in Brooklyn.
The controversy began when Almontaser was asked a week ago by a newspaper about
the phrase "Intifada NYC" that was printed on T-shirts sold by a group called
Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media. The shirts are unrelated to the Gibran
school.
"The word basically means 'shaking off,' " Almontaser responded. "That is the
root word if you look it up in Arabic."
She apologized later, saying in a statement that she regretted her remarks.
"By minimizing the word's historical associations, I implied that I condone
violence and threats of violence," she said in the statement. The word has come
to be associated with Palestinian attacks on Israel.
But Almontaser was rebuked two days later by the president of the United
Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, and newspaper headlines have continued
to flame the controversy.
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