Mr Bagel

Friday, 25 August 2006

An Open letter to the Guardian. Is the Guardian a biased media outlet?

An open letter to the Guardian.

I was appalled by the printing of the cartoon by Martin Rowson [cartoonist] in the Guardian on the 19th of July, so much so, I was inspired to 'create' a cartoon that couldn't possibly be rejected if the Guardian is a balanced media outlet.

The original cartoon is featured here:

The 'recreated cartoon' is here:

For a much larger picture that still fits
in your web browser window click : Here

Or Click on this small picture to see a large picture

You will notice that the cartoon is in essence the same cartoon. I have 'appropriated' it and are using it for criticism and satire. This use is legal, this is not considered to be a breach of copy right.

You will also note that it features the Crescent and star that is synonymous with the Muslim religion. It features exactly the same number of symbols as Martin Rowson's cartoon does of the Magen David . [Star of David]
It features two public figures which are currently very related to issues in the Middle East, you will note that I have created them with some stylistic changes to infer they are 'different'(as per original cartoon). The wasp has been replaced with a more passive looking 'fly'.

The victim remains the same, the hand remains as well.

The level of violence is very similar if not slightly less. The use of the crescent and star is somewhat confronting, certainly no more confronting than the use of the Magen David .

As Kofi Annan is a very public figure, I feel it is reasonable to voice a personal opinion about him in the Media.

The cartoon is very topical. I refuse to believe an editor could refuse this carton on topical merit.
It is both a critique of a recently submitted cartoon, and portrays a situation in Israel of increased attempted suicide bombings.

I ask that you publish this 'satirical response' to Martin Rowson's cartoon in a similarly prominent position in The Guardian.

I look forward to your answer.

Kind regards Aaron

http://bagelblogger.blogspot.com/

[I request my details apart from my first name and my blog be withheld from publication. ]

N.B. : The cartoon has been created at 18.06cm by 13.34 cm at 200dpi.

This is certainly appropriate for Newspaper printing.

Reference:
The Guardian, 19.7.06 The Middle East Crisis

This open letter was sent to The Guardian, and: Honestreporting.com, Jpost, Coxand Forkum, DaveBender, Camera.org,aim.org and JewishPress.com

'subshelp@guardian.co.uk'; 'backspinAThonestreporting.com'; 'editors AT jpost.com'; mailto:'Contact AT CoxAndForkum.com'; 'davebrianbender AT gmail.com'; 'letters@camera.org'; 'info@aim.org'; jmaoz@jewishpress.com

Technorati Tags: * The Guardian * The Guardian * Media and Bias * Suicide Bomber * Israel * Jewish * BagelBlogger * Mr Bagel

Saturday, 29 July 2006

From Australia with Love

From Australia with Love.

If you ever wonder why sometimes Mr Bagel looks funny, well this is how my page looks down under in Australia.

In between furiously pedalling our generator to get enough electricity to drive our computer, I like to 'Surf the Web', although considering how far and remote I live its more like paddling the waterhole.

I live 400 kilometers from the nearest major town.
Living so remotely, I was trying to figure out how we could help Israel especially the I.D.F.

I came across PizzaIDF.com now I know its only a small contribution but I figure we owe the Soldiers of the I.D.F. big time.

Pizza IDF

This organisation was started in 2002 during Israel's Operation Defensive Shield. This military operation was designed to rid our area of terrorists following the bombing of the Park Hotel in Netanya and the murder of thirty innocent people, many Holocaust survivors, who were sitting down to their Passover Seder meal.

Sending pizza to our soldiers provides them a much needed moral boost by demonstrating support from around the world and at the same time providing people outside of Israel with a way to express their solidarity with Israel and her soldiers. See some pictures of the pizzas being delivered.

I've created some buttons for people to use.

There's a low resolution picture and a medium resolution picture.

Here is a link to the PIZZA IDF CODE for your side bar in your blog, its a worthy scheme and shows the soldiers we care.

If you can't tell the difference between the pictures then use the left low resolution picture, well use the low res picture, if you want people who have telephone internet to go to sleep later use the med resolution picture.

I've sent the code and pictures to PizzaIDF and I'm sure they'll organise to host the pictures.

In the mean time use the picture of my picture hosting if you don't have your own hosting but obviously check back at pizzaIDF for their address for the picture as I'm not to sure how many pictures my account will serve. I'm guessing a few people might get this blog 'button'.

Oh if you want to see the Blog button its right here on the right in my side bar.
[Its big because I want people to use it!]

Pizza IDF accepts credit cards and Paypal, apparently they will even let you mail in your payment, but I expect the Pizza might be a bit mouldy by the time the money comes.

The great thing is you get to leave a message that goes with the delivery, let then know how much you appreciate their bravery.

Click on the button and buy the soldiers a Pizza or put the button on your blog.

Or better do both!

P.S. Mr Bagel actually has real electricity, even thou he does live very remote. He has one of those big 2 way satellites that the IDF don't like, (most have seen the pictures) if you don't put the button in your blog, Bagel Blogger will point his Satellite at you and make you watch re runs of Elders of Zion in Arabic on al Jazeera for the rest of your life. Now as the Elders would say - the time has come!

Technorati Tags: * PizzaIDF * Help the IDF * Help+Israel * Give Israel a Hand * Tzedakah * Israel * Jewish * Bagel * Mr Bagel

Pro-Lebanese protesters

Violent Confrontation in Perth Australia

Violent scuffles broke out between police and pro-Lebanon protesters who mobbed Australia's prime minister Saturday demanding more government action to bring peace in the Middle East, a news agency reported.

Prime Minister John Howard was leaving a state conference of his Liberal Party in the west coast Australian city of Perth,when the prime minister, who has been supportive of Israel, was set apon by about 200 protesters that had gathered outside the venue, many waving Lebanese and Palestinian flags. A number of the protesters clashed violently with police .

Mr Howard had used his conference speech to attack Hizbollah, which is fighting Israel in southern Lebanon.

"It's not some kind of inspirational liberation organisation, it's a terrorist organisation," he said.

Mr Howard had said there would be no lasting peace in the Middle East until both sides accepted the right for independent Israeli and Palestinian states.

"There must be an unconditional acceptance throughout the entire Arab world ... of Israel's right to exist in peace and stability, behind secure, internationally recognised boundaries," he told the conference.

"There has to be an equally unconditional acceptance, including on the part of the Israelis, of the need and and the justice in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

"Until those two conditions are met there will never be a lasting settlement, there will never be lasting peace in the Middle East."

As the prime minister departed, the protesters surged towards his car, demanding an end to the war which has killed hundreds of civilians.

Protesters punched and kicked police and threw projectiles at the car, AAP reported.
Howard's entourage sped from the scene as police wrestled protesters to the ground, it said.

Several protesters were arrested and taken away by police.

Protest leader Muhammad El Khatib said he has family in Lebanon and the Australian government was not doing enough to broker peace in the region.
"Hizbullah is protecting Lebanon, they are freedom fighters, not terrorists," he said

Mr Bagel

References:

The Age: Howard flees angry mob
SMH: Two charged after attack on Howard's car

Technorati Tags: * NEWS * Lebanese * Lebanon * Australia * John Howard * Israel * Jewish * Bagel * Mr Bagel

Friday, 28 July 2006

Yalla Ya Nasrallah, Funny Hebrew Video Clip

Yalla Ya Nasrallah
A Funny and Funky Hebrew song from Israel,
leting Nasrallah know whats coming to him

[Has English Sub titles]

Its a funky beat and good imagery, well worth the watch.

You Tube is Having Problems,
if the video doesnt play Click Here

CLICK ON Porky to see the Video
if the Video Screen above doesn't appear

Technorati Tags: * Nasrallah * Yalla Ya Nasrallah * Nasrallah Video * Humor * Israel * Jewish * Mr Bagel * Bagel

Brave Aussie killed fighting for Israel

An Australian Jew fighting with the Israeli army has been killed during a fierce battle in southern Lebanon. Assaf Namer, 26, was one of nine soldiers killed in a Hezbollah ambush near the guerilla stronghold of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon yesterday.

Sergeant Namer, whose family lives in Sydney, was born in Israel but moved to Australia with his family when he was 10. The Australian citizen moved back to Israel two and a half years ago to enlist in the army, according to Israeli media reports.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff confirmed Sgt Namer's death.
"We were extremely upset to hear about the death as we are at all casualties of this war," Mr Alhadeff said.

Sgt Namer's sister and mother left Sydney today on their way to Israel.

The Israeli newspaper Yediot Achronot said Sgt Namer was from Kiryat Yam, and was serving in the Golani division of the Israeli army. Sgt Namer was due to be discharged from the army within a month and planned to settle down in Israel with his Tel Aviv-based girlfriend.

Mr Namer's grandmother was the first to receive news of the soldier's death after army representatives came to her house late Wednesday night.

The Israeli born soldier, moved to Australia at the age of ten and became an Australian citizen. He returned to Israel two-and-a-half years ago with the intent to enlist in the army and serve as part of the Golani division.

Assaf Namer, a volunteer with the Israeli army, was killed in a battle with Hezbollah. He was a month short of finishing his army service.

"In my eyes he was the perfect son," said his father,
speaking from Kiryat Ata, near Haifa in Israel.

He said he had premonitions of his son's death after speaking to him a week ago and learning he had been asked to serve in Lebanon.

"He sounded OK. He was not scared. I told him to be afraid all the time. That's the only chance. When we finished talking I started to cry."

Assaf Namer was born in Israel but moved to the Sydney suburb of Bondi with his mother when he was 12. He returned to Israel two years ago to serve in the army and joined an elite unit.

Asaf Namer with his childhood friend, Daisy Moreno

He had refused an offer by the army to complete his service in an intelligence unit. "He was a boy that had no fear."

His childhood friend, Daisy Moreno, 26, described
Mr Namer as "like a brother to me, happy, beautiful".

Mr Namer was one of eight soldiers killed on Wednesday in a battle with Hezbollah on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Bint Jbeil. The troops began entering the village at 5am in an operation to engage Hezbollah guerillas and destroy their weapon stores.

Mr Peretz also pointed out that Sergeant Namer had made a decision to come back to Israel and serve in the army despite it not being a requirement.

"Although his life was in Australia, he was a Zionist who chose to come to Israel in order to do his part," Mr Peretz said.