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Sunday, September 19 2004Response from Dagens Nyheter ombudsman
In response to our communique on the sad situation in Swedish media, HonestReporting readers flooded the inbox of Lilian Öhrström, ombudsman of Dagens Nyheter, the paper that published the highly offensive cartoon of a stereotypical, wicked Jew (at left, click to enlarge). Öhrström wrote a column in response, which has been kindly translated by the Stockholm Spectator -- see it here. Öhrström brushes aside HR subscribers' emails, claiming: ...in effect the campaign defeats its own purpose. Nowhere in our communique did we accuse the cartoonist of anti-Semitism -- though he certainly partook of classic anti-Semitic imagery and stereotypes, which was the focus of our critique. And while it is certainly possible (i.e. legitimate) to criticize the state of Israel through humor, the use of Der Sturmer imagery to do so is highly problematic. Any European journalist with even the slightest historical consciousness should be aware of that. Öhrström goes on to recognize the possiblity that HR was right: [the cartoon] can also be seen as a malicious caricature of a Jew with a long nose and curly sideburns. So HonestReporting is lumped together with neo-Nazis... But back to Öhrström's point about the caricature. The problem was not merely his use of a Hassidic Jew to represent Israelis (though it was that also -- Öhrström's other two examples are fictional characters, while Hassidic Jews are alive and well today). It was also the fact that Lindström's 'Jew' is plainly immoral. He rejects a perfectly legitimate statement by the Swedish 'Everyman' regarding walls separating people, without responding about the particulars of Israel's anti-terror fence. This also calls upon ancient stereotypes of the 'immoral Jew' who rejects the most basic humanitarian norms. Add that to the imagery, and we've moved disturbingly close to Goebbels. Note that Öhrström doesn't find any fault with the cartoonist Lindström himself, but rather laments that his imagery could be 'exploited for ulterior purposes.' Unfortunately, those with 'ulterior purposes' don't have far to go. Lindström has taken them to the very doorstep of Germany, 1938.
TrackBackTrackBack URL for this entry: Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Response from Dagens Nyheter ombudsman: CommentsThe Dagens Nyheter cartoonist has much more hateful anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic drawings. For example one of his cartoons portrays a Jew in a kipa (Jewish religious head cap) on skis and having a lot of ammunition. - Oh, how could it happen that you, Israeli, became so successful in biathlon? This is a typical portray of a Jew/Israeli on Lindström’s hate drawings. Read more about it and see more cartoons here: http://www.livejournal.com/community/israeli/357028.html it is shocking to realize that european left is no i think that you are wrong for saying that jews say to others that they are an antisemite. jews do not do that. it is just stereotyping them. it is not right to do that. cartoons are suppose to be funny and it is not funny to make fun on behalf of others. thats anti-semitic and the way that you portray jewish people and the state of israel is completely out of control!! that was way out of line, and you have no right to criticize other religions like that. i am personally never coming to sweden and spending any money there!! i will never support your economy. YOU are VERY VERY VERY unprofessional. and I am very very very furious with this injustice to jewish culture all over the world. goodbye. You are an completely incorrect! Stop talking about people if you dont know who they are. It's sad how people think that we blame everything on antisemitism because we don't. We just hate people who make our lives miserable and make other people think that we are that way. I think that its wrong that you steritype Jews to say that everything is anti-semetic. On the contrary a lot of anti-semetic acts ar done to Jews and Jews don't say anything. Your cartoon is biast and a case of injustice and you can get sued from it. Do you know that you are stirring up hatred for the Jews in these countries. These countries are supposed to have freedom of religion. Despite this fact, Jews can't practice their religion freely. i think that this comic is wrong. it is being byisat. you shouldnt stereotype Jews, its really wrong. we should all ahve peace in thisd world and trweat all pepople equally. Dear Sweden's Dagens Nyheter, This is an outrage you stupid anti-semitic jerks. jews do not blame everything on anti-semitism. It is unbelievable that after the Holocaust (which did happen) and in today's time that people are still accusing Jews of lies. It is a disgrace. i will never come to Sweden and spend money there you Jackasses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do you hate people who aren't like you? Just because people are different doesn't mean you're better than them. Sterotyping a group of people just because one did something wrong isn't right! How would you like it if we thought everyone in your religion was as rude as you! What in the world could give you the riddiculous idea that the arad TERRORISTS are the good guys. They go into public places, killing thoudands of inocent people and you have the nerve to call them the good guys. What is wrong with you? What the heck did the Jews ever do to you? Huh, well? Don't you have an answer? It just ocurred to me that maybe those swedes sre anti-semitic because their stern up-tight religion which makes their daily lives a misery has a dead jew for a god? Sweden has the highest suicide rate in the world, a very large muslim immigrate population, some of whose males are able to help satisfy those swedish blondes -the swedish male is usually too drunk to be of any use! (How about that for streotype racism? The Swedes live in a glass house; they shouldn't throw stones. It just ocurred to me that maybe those swedes sre anti-semitic because their stern up-tight religion which makes their daily lives a misery has a dead jew for a god? Sweden has the highest suicide rate in the world, a very large muslim immigrate population, some of whose males are able to help satisfy those swedish blondes -the swedish male is usually too drunk to be of any use! (How about that for streotype racism? The Swedes live in a glass house; they shouldn't throw stones. Now, in case you weren't aware of this little fact, the Swedish newspaper mentioned above (Dagens Nyheter) that published the supposedly anti-semitic cartoons is actually owned and run by the (jewish) Bonnier family here in Sweden... now how's that for irony? First off, it's "biased", OK? Go back to school and pay a little attention in English class this time. Second, this is bullshit... You people are proving the cartoonist's point (which obviously is that *people* are accusing anyone who says a bad word about Israel of being anti-semitic, not just jews). The guy draws a picture taking a slight shot at Israel, and you basically call Sweden a land of nazis? Jesus Christ, have a good look at yourselves and think before you speak. The terrorists (although, for your information, there are Arabs outside of Palestine, all Arabs are not terrorists, and all terrorists are not Arabs) aren't good guys, but hey... How about those Israeli soldiers, machinegunning down little kids who are throwing rocks at them? Is that your idea of what's righteous and pure? Of course, the little kids don't deserve to live anyway. Goddamned Arabs stealing our jobs and our land and having the wrong skin colour. Highest suicide rate in the world? According to this, Sweden isn't even in the top ten! And hey, explain how the Swedes live in a glass house. Is it the way no Jews are allowed to express themselves or have any rights in Sweden? Is it the way people accuse you of being a nazi for that comment you made? Didn't think so. The European left has come full circle? Oh yeah, we're gathering jews up in our concentration camps all over the place, aren't we? And let me tell you, there are so damned many wars in Europe right now, people are battling everywhere... Either that, or you're full of shit. Personally, I'm leaning towards the latter. "we should all ahve peace in thisd world and trweat all pepople equally"... Except those fucking terrorist Arabs, am I right? You people should be shot. Please don't acuse us because som leftwing newspaper. I love Israel and I always will. I live in Sweden and the red-green mentality here makes me vomit. Part of it is crying crocodile tears over the Holocaust and at the same time blaming Israel for all the third world's problems. I work as a teacher and know what goes on in Swedish education system. Teachers at schools are helpless against any budding fascist who just loves to walk around cursing Jews and prazing Hitler. As a Jew I feel highly insecure and think twice before I mention it in public. Little ties me to this country except the (relatively) high standard of living and the (relative) democracy that still exists here. But it will all fall apart sooner or later, a hypocritical democracy of the Swedish kind is simply doomed to fail at some point. Its education system already does. Fascist teenagers and helpless teachers, vandalism, mediocracy in the name of equality, and the famous Swedish neutrality, blast it. This has nothing to do with anti-smeitism. The ombudsman of the newspaper said that the comic shows what often is your response when criticizing the Israel government, observe that this means responses from a lot of Israelis and people closely bonded with Israel and not from Jews in general. And that IS the point of the comic, not that Jews are immoral or something. This is not an anti-semitic statement but an anti-Israel one. However, that does not mean that the comic can't be seen as stereotypical, for Israelis, but not for Jews. The problem is that many people confuse these two with each other, as well as they confuse "anti-Israel" with "anti-Semite", both in this "forum" or whatever and elsewhere. Which is exactly the point of the comic. Okay, the statement "I don't think one should build walls between people" isn't really critique of the Israel government, but more of a universal democratic statement. But, let's face it, the government of Israel hasn't exactly followed this statement, have they? The stereotypical image of the Jew or Israeli is simply used so that one shall recognize immediately that he is a Jew or Israeli. And, come on, it is a satire, they always use stereotypes. With these words, however I can still agree that this comic is slightly stereotypical and exaggerated, but it has a good point. I mean, think about it, why is it OK to criticize the Palestinian terrorists that fight for their country (I know they haven't got one now) and their people but not the government of Israel who also kills people (and HAS killed a lot of people) and limit their freedoms, for their country and their people? If you can answer that question, answer my post. If you can't but you just feel like calling me an anti-Semite, be my guest as well. And why was it not OK for Germany to build the Berlin wall and kill lots of Jews but OK for Isreal to build a wall and kill not as many Palestinians (but still many)? Why aren't you allowed to criticize it? Just because a people was oppressed and killed approximately 60 years ago doesn't mean that is OK for that people to now do the same against another people. Honest reporting my foot. this is nothing but blind support for a terrorist, racist bunch of neo-Nazis who cry victim while committing atrocities against innocent civilians. You people should be ashamed of yourself. God is watching and you will pay for it one day. All your total BS spin won't help you on that day. I won't at all be surprised if this comment won't be posted. You people are a bunch of liars and hypocrites. Post a comment[Comments are held for approval before appearing.]
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