Lies, Media Lies and Skewed Statistics

[eumelia]

I have a question?

Have you ever been accused of being brain-washed, having voiced an "unpopular" position or opinion?

I always find that kind of response to be such a cop-out from actually giving any thought to an opinion that doesn't fit the general consensus.
I mean if what I have to say causes you such insecurity maybe one should think about why and not just accept what you think as The Way Things Are.

A smart person told me that there are no facts, there are only opinions. I have to say, coming from this person I found it odd that they would have such a post-modern way of thinking (post-modern, because it basically says that there is no such thing as empirical data that can be trusted), and I agree with them... it's true. Facts have very little bearing on opinion and opinion in general is what accumulates fact.
Makes the little adage "Don't confuse me with your facts", so funny.

In any event, while "empirical data" is often skewed and changed to fit an agenda - Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics - material reality is something you can't change. It's representation in the world, yes. What actually happens... not so much.

Over the past months I've been called "brain-washed", "extreme", "strange", "provocative", "sitting in an ivory-tower", "out of touch" etc. etc.

All I can think when I hear those words thrown at me is: "I can't believe how much people refuse to look, listen and learn outside what we're spoon fed".
And then I *sigh* and shut up, listen to what's being said, what isn't being said and continue to feel confident in the security that my opinions can take the beatings the general consensus throws at them.

Here's for some mainstream media madness: Wednesday's bulldozer attack has yet to leave the News.
Apparently the guy who had done it was an affiliated with any militant group and that he has a history with substance abuse and had done time for the rape of his then Jewish girlfriend.

There's a lot of comparison between this incident and what the shooting that took place back in March at Mercaz Ha'Rav; both perpetrators were Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, both lived in villages annexed to Jerusalem and both were unaffiliated with any militant group.

Oh, and both the houses of these dead men are to be demolished in order to punish... um... their families and to act as a deterrent to others who maybe planning another attack.
And yes, you can read about it.

You know what I find the most disgusting, that there is no legal obstacle to razing these houses, because we all know the connection between what's legal and what's ethical is tenuous at best. No, I'm not being sarcastic.

Here is some more information. Skewed though it may be.
Israeli Commitee Against House Demolitions.

Comments

[thecityofdis.livejournal.com]

So I typed up a whole reply to this entry, and LJ ate it. And now I have to go board a plane to fly home... grrr.

Suffice it to say, I agree completely. And have other thoughts, that have since been digested by the internet.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Have a good flight!

I'm curious to know what your thoughts were, if you could try to comment again, it would be interesting.

[logicalargument.livejournal.com]

If I had stayed in Israel, I would probably have spent most of my adult life in jail, for protesting some of the craziness that goes on.

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

Do you really think most protesters "go straight to jail"?

I think you're confusing Israel with some other place.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Not your whole adult life, but getting arrested for "disrupting the peace" happen.

I'd rather not get arrested ever, as it is a bureaucratic pain after.
Plus, it's not pleasant.

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

You'll like this blog entry (tp://southjerusalem.com/2008/07/ehud-barak-lol). Yes, it's sarcastic, but it will make you feel less like the only Israeli who thinks that these demolitions are wrong. Of course they are wrong! Why is it so difficult to argue against violent and vengeful policies that don't work? We in the United States are seeking answers to that question, too.

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

Hi,
Your link is broken - http://southjerusalem.com/2008/07/ehud-barak-lol/

Anyway, most Israelis I've heard (personally and in the media) are against the demolitions.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

It has been a hugely unpopular move (except by a few factions of the Right who demand that something be done... collective punishment FTW :/)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_yggdrasil/]

Using your brain makes you brainwashed nowadays, hmm?

If people are accusing you of this, you must be pushing them out of their comfort zone by bringing to light information they'd rather ignore. I'd consider that a good sign, though I understand judgement from others sucks.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Your comment made me feel all squishy!

Thank you.

Yeah, the judgment is pretty sucky... but as I've said, I'm confident that I can take anything the "facts" throw at me :D

[nurint.livejournal.com]

Look on the bright side - at least we're not neutering all his relatives (yet).

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Emphasis on the yet.
But yeah.

[lishablog.livejournal.com]

Yes, and I'll admit to doing my part to help "brainwash" one of my daughter's friends today. We talked about this incident and I pointed out that it was no different than any other person going over the edge and doing something incredibly stupid and destructive. Had this been the US, they'd have said the man went postal. Being here in Israel, if he'd been a Jew, they'd have said that the man had just lost it. Oh, but he wasn't a Jew, so he's a terrorist, and now we should punish his family.

GRRRRR!!!!!!!