It boggles the mind at how some news organizations operate. A former U.S. Congresswoman goes on a life endangering humanitarian mission, gets captured and is then held in jail against her will. Yet, it takes the MSM over two days to report this and they do it during the Friday 'news dump' where it will get lost in the shuffle.
Of course, Israel can do no wrong, right?
I'm tired of the American MSM covering up the atrocities that have been taking place in Palestine for the last couple years.
Sorry for the ranting.
Here's the story...
Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney revealed in a phone call posted online that she is in an Israeli prison with others who attempted to run a blockade to deliver supplies to Gaza.
Here's some links to the story...
For the current news...
http://www.ajc.com/...
From wednesday...
http://www.ajc.com/...
Would it be too much to ask kossacks to get this diary onto the rec list where everyone will see it?
Happy 4th.
Thanks
******UPDATE******
Wow, rec list on the Fourth of July. Thank you. The truth is, this diary didn't get rec-listed for my writing skills. It got rec-listed because it's an important issue. Cynthia McKinney may be trying to get attention, but the fact remains that she is in an Israeli prison right now and it's the Fourth of July. Let that sink in for a minute.
I also believe that if she is trying to get attention, then I'm okay with it. You know why? Because this issue needs attention. Palestinians have been killed at a ratio of something like 200 to 1 vs. the Israelis. Furthermore, it was their land to begin with. And now they are walled in and denied basic human needs like food and medicine. Is Israel trying to kill them all? And where is the global outrage at what Israel is doing?
Yeah, this issue needs attention. Cynthia, you go girl!
*******UPDATE #2*********
I am surprised at the number of kossacks here who don't appreciate how important it is that this issue receives attention. Let me spell it out for you as clearly as possible, so that you will understand. Here I go: Even though the U.S. is in a Depression, it still sends billions in financial aid to a country that is committing war crimes as I type this. This country also has the largest foreign lobbyist organization in the U.S. (AIPAC). Do you see the problem?
To say that this issue shouldn't be on the front page of every newspaper is absurd, considering what IS on the front page. Why isn't it on the front page? Because it's Israel, that's why.
I'm sorry, but that's not a good enough reason for me. And it shouldn't be a good enough reason for you either.
*******UPDATE #3********
Cynthia McKinney is not nuts. She's a hero. As impygirl rightly points out...
She introduced articles of impeachment against Bush, she was a consistent anti-war voter, and against the wishes of many Democrats she sat on a committee to investigate the response toward Hurricane Katrina. She fought hard to stop the mining by US companies of Coltan in the DRC which led to the further environmental degradation and impoverishment of the local people there.
This is the 3rd humanitarian ship she has taken to Gaza.
She is not nuts. She is a person who cares about people more than enriching herself.
******UPDATE 4********
For those of you that think what Cynthia McKinney is doing is wrong, or useless, or damaging or whatever, remember these words...
The only thing necessary for evil to occur is for good people to do nothing to stop it.
Out of every U.S. Representative we've had in the last 100 years, give me one example that beats what Cynthia McKinney is trying to do for the good of the people of Gaza and Palestine. I challenge you.
*********UPDATE 5********
Seems to be some misunderstanding with those of you whom are posting most recently. CNN is apparently reporting (I say 'apparently' because I don't watch CNN) that all Cynthia McKinney has to do is sign a document stating she's being deported. BUT... the news story for which I provided a link also states...
A blog entry Thursday on a MySpace page for McKinney said the passengers refused to admit in writing to violating the blockade and trespassing Israeli territorial waters.
Also, some are saying she is not in jail, but again the story says...
McKinney said in the online interview that she was in a prison cell block with women from different countries detained for arriving in Gaza.
Okay, hopefully that will clear a few things up around here. Thanks.
**********UPDATE 6**********
If I could, I'd like to turn everyone's attention to the ORIGINAL point of this diary. Here's the question I want answered:
Why didn't this story get major coverage from the mainstream media?
I mean COME ON! A former U.S. Congresswoman goes on a humanitarian mission and gets arrested and detained in Israel... this should have been a top news story.
**********FINAL UPDATE**********
Wow. What a run this diary had. Last I checked, the comments were over 1700. Thanks to those of you that participated in the many lively debates this diary created. Kossacks voted McKinney a hero by a 2 to 1 margin. It tells me that most progressives and democrats are aware of the real atrocities taking place in Gaza today. It also tells me that there are many progressives and democrats who know the mainstream media in America is a farce when it comes to these kinds of stories.
For me personally, I had but one reason for posting this diary today... I knew that if I got it on the rec list, it would bring more attention to what is happening in Gaza. Please understand, most Americans couldn't point out Israel on a map or tell you what the fighting is all about. The reason they don't know about it is because the media doesn't report it and the schools don't teach it. Maybe today's diary will help wake up a few more people. I sincerely hope so. Israel needs to be held accountable for its war crimes, and so do we.
Thank you DK. Happy fourth to all.