(From TWD)
Though he is arguably "The Sunday crap shows'"most astute host (Christian Amanpour could always contend despite her middle of the road debut last weekend), Fareed Zakaria isn't one championed around most progressive circles.
As one who supported the Iraq war, Zakaria certainly has his deserved share of critics. But he is usually very thoughtful and well versed in a myraid of topics, anchoring a weekly show that actually doesn't contribute to further diminishing CNN's deteriorating band and the vapid stupidity of our Sunday news discourse.
However, analysis and perspective on Zakaria and his show aren't the focus here. Instead, this Newsweek columnist probably did one of the coolest things anyone has done all week.
And that's publicly abase one of the hate merchants of our time in such a classy fashion:
CNN host and Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria has returned an award from the Anti-Defamation League in protest of the ADL’s coming out against the mosque at Ground Zero.
Zakaria explained his decision in his column today:
Bloomberg’s speech stands in stark contrast to the bizarre decision of the Anti-Defamation League to publicly side with those urging that the center be moved. The ADL’s mission statement says it seeks “to put an end forever to unjust and unfair discrimination against and ridicule of any sect or body of citizens.” But Abraham Foxman, the head of the ADL, explained that we must all respect the feelings of the 9/11 families, even if they are prejudiced feelings. “Their anguish entitles them to positions that others would categorize as irrational or bigoted,” he said. First, the 9/11 families have mixed views on this mosque. There were, after all, dozens of Muslims killed at the World Trade Center. Do their feelings count? But more important, does Foxman believe that bigotry is OK if people think they’re victims? Does the anguish of Palestinians, then, entitle them to be anti-Semitic?
Five years ago, the ADL honored me with its Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize. I was thrilled to get the award from an organization that I had long admired. But I cannot in good conscience keep it anymore. I have returned both the handsome plaque and the $10,000 honorarium that came with it. I urge the ADL to reverse its decision. Admitting an error is a small price to pay to regain a reputation.
The timing on Zakaria's decision couldn't have been any better.
The move by the journalist obviously enraged the Defamation Anti-Defamation nutcases, so much so that they released a statement making them look even worse than the monsters they already have shown themselves to be:
"I am not only saddened but stunned and somewhat speechless by your decision to return the ADL Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize you accepted in 2005," Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, wrote in a letter responding to Mr. Zakaria.
"As someone I greatly respect for engaging in discussion and dialogue with an open mind, I would have expected you to reach out to me before coming to judgment," Mr. Foxman added.
Mr. Foxman said he hoped that Mr. Zakaria "will come to see that ADL acted appropriately" and would reclaim the award bestowed upon him.
To them, "acting appropriately" is acting like ignorant and scornful clowns who don't know any proper way of being in peace with anyone associated with Islam.
These sick people have no shame. And even if you give them a dose of public humiliating, these sick people will still be hard to cure.
Nevertheless, their continued hate isn't the top headline here, for they will have plenty of opportunities to remind the public how they are the opposite of their own title.
You just don't see corporate media journalists like Zakaria take a stand like he has done here. And no matter if you have any qualms about him in the past, he certainly should receive your felicitation today for this.
(From TWD and TWD Weekend, have a great rest of your Saturday folks. And always, I'm grateful for you even reading, let alone getting the rec'ds. )