The American Jewish Congress has issued the following press release. Stay tuned for further developments ion this story.
January 10, 2008 — Ms. Magazine has long been in the forefront of the fight for equal rights and equal opportunities for women. Apparently that is not the case if the women happen to be Israeli.
The magazine has turned down an AJCongress advertisement that did nothing more controversial than call attention to the fact that women currently occupy three of the most significant positions of power in Israeli public life. The proposed ad (The Ad Ms. Didn’t Want You To See) included a text that merely said, “This is Israel,” under photographs of President of the Supreme Court Dorit Beinish, VicePrime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni and Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik.
“What other conclusion can we reach,” asked Richard Gordon, President of AJCongress, “except that the publishers − and if the publishers are right, a significant number of Ms. Magazine readers − are so hostile to Israel that they do not even want to see an ad that says something positive about Israel?”
When Director of AJCongress’ Commission for Women’s Empowerment Harriet Kurlander tried to place the ad, she was told that publishing the ad “will set off a firestorm” and that “there are very strong opinions” on the subject − the subject presumably being whether or not one can say anything positive about Israel. Ms. Magazine publisher Eleanor Smeal failed to respond to a signed-for certified letter with a copy of the ad as well as numerous calls by Mr. Gordon over a period of weeks.
Mr. Gordon noted that while Israel was apparently too hot to handle, Ms. Magazine did not extend that taboo to Arab and Moslem women. “What is even more amazing is that, while refusing to publish a simple ad praising three very notable women, women who embody the ideal that Ms. Magazine seemingly espouses, Ms. has run a cover article in the Fall 2003 issue on Queen Noor of Jordan, has featured a number of articles on Muslim women, and even ran an article in the Winter 2004 issue entitled, ‘Images of Palestine,’ which discussed the Ramallah Film Festival and gave sympathetic reviews to films concerning ‘the liberation of South Lebanon’ from Israel as well as numerous films which portrayed terrorism as legitimate ‘revolutionary’ activity against Israel and miscast Israel’s activities to counter terrorism as ‘oppressive.’”
AJCongress President Gordon concluded, “Ms. has the right to turn down our ad. But in exercising that right, it has spoken loudly about itself and its readership, and their lingering hostility to Israel.”
Mr. Gordon and Ms. Kurlander are available for further comment. Contact David Twersky at (212) 360-1586 or dtwersky@ajcongress.org.
Digg This
del.icio.us
PJM Home
The Death of Feminism: What’s Next in the Struggle for Women’s Freedom
Women and Madness
The New Anti-Semitism: The Current Crisis and What We Must Do About It
Woman’s Inhumanity to Woman
Women of the Wall: Claiming Sacred Ground at Judaism’s Holy Site
Letters to a Young Feminist
With Child: A Diary of Motherhood
Feminist Foremothers in Women’s Studies, Psychology, and Mental Health
Patriarchy: Notes of an Expert Witness
>Sacred Bond: The Legacy of Baby M
Mothers on Trial: The Battle for Children and Custody
About Men
Women, Money & Power
14 Comments
George Jochnowitz:As I always say, Golda Meir was the first woman in history to become a head of government who was neither the daughter (like Indira Gandhi) nor the wife (like Sirimavo Bandaranaike) of a previous head of government. Nevertheless, a surprising number of feminists are careful never to say anything pro-Israel. Islamic culture tolerates honor murders. Nevertheless, a surprising number of feminists are careful never to talk about the connect between honor murders and Islam.
Jan 10, 2008 - 9:25 pm David Thomson:Similarly, Israel has an annual gay pride parade and has drafted openly gay men into its army since Day One of its existence. Islamic culture tolerates honor murders of homosexuals. Nevertheless, most gay-rights activists rarely will say anything pro-Israel or anti-Muslim.
As we all know, the Left licks Islamic ass.
Things are much worse than I thought. We are no longer talking about a subtle and disingenuous rejection slip from an editor regarding a positive article on Israel. Ms. Magazine is turning down advertising dollars because it “will set off a firestorm” among its subscribers. The American Left has now declared open warfare on Israel.
Jan 11, 2008 - 12:48 am Norman Simms:The old intellectual Left has talked itself into a trance from which it cannot wake up on its own. How do we help them? While we all on this line appreciate Phyllis’ comments, can she be heard by anyone else? They seem to hear what they want, see what they dream, and sleepwalk towards a disaster into which all of us will be pulled as well. From the other side of the world, so far from any avenues of real action, I see no way out. What is to be done?
Jan 11, 2008 - 3:04 am Mama Palama:What is the truth about the women’s “liberation” movement? Under the rubric of “equal rights”, “consciousness raising” some good surely was done if nothing else to get out of the women stifling ’50s. However, much has gone askew as politicization by foreign interests have infiltrated and usurped the “feminist liberation movement” for purpose that have nothing to do with “liberation” nor concern for human rights much less those for women. To speak of “liberation” while serving masters with ambitions to enslave all, to be silent and abide the infiltration strategists to ensconce Shar’ia in non-Moslem democracy States is an abomination.
Concepts and slogans such as “liberation” carries the notion of independence, autonomy, self-actualization all Western terms of reference employed toward resistance of “patriarchal dominance, rule and oppression” instead are the euphemisms, the obsequies veils in the employment by hegemonic ambitioned States to achieve the opposite. Usurp and extinguish liberty and freedoms not just for all women - but men as well. Those who target Israel relish death. Hardly the “liberation” those of us once enjoined in the pursuit of women’s rights had in mind for either the world or ourselves!
The women’s “liberation” movement represented by Ms. Magazine serves a master who rules over States in which slavery is still practiced. “Honor Killings” endure and exported to non-Islamic countries including America and Europe. Corporal punishment by the State, human sacrifice the rule of law! Women’s “liberation” as rep by Ms. Magazine, qualifies the references mobilized by propaganda specialists to manipulate Western States to bring into place demise of democracy.
Indeed, as patsies for fascism and conduits for alien interests who sought and found - indeed perhaps even developed - the women’s “liberation” movement as a conduit arm for war against the very bosom of democracy where women in fact have come to enjoy freedoms and choices neither Stalinist/Leninist nor Islamic domination and dictatorship allow! Individualism and freedom!
The Soviets in league with Islamic States serving the deconstruction of Western democracy do it on the backs of the women’s “liberation” movement.
‘Ms. Magazine’ is a politicization instrument in the service of death merchants. Become tools and instruments of politicization ripe for the hijacking by Communist Manifesto strategists in axis with Islamic jihad warfare against America, against Western democracy and of course the pivot on which all this turns is anti-Semitism and Jew-hatred. Anti-Zionism, just another word for the same thing. Why indeed would and does Ms. Magazine collaborate?
The Marxist/Leninist/Islamic axis in its war against the Jews, against the one Jewish State in the world and democracy in the Middle East has achieved the occupation of the so-called “women’s liberation movement”. As such ongoing occupations of Western countries obfuscating truth by slander and demonization of both America and the legitimate Jewish State of Israel. Cultivated as patsies, disloyalists of America - Ms. Magazine and cohort instruments are hardly free!
Jan 12, 2008 - 2:07 am greenconsciousness:I have been thinking about this stunning development and thinking about the Ms resurrection. Most of the MS issues I read recently had a very superficial treatment of issues compared to the old magazine.
For a long time MS was just a foundation. You would think you were subscribing to the magazine, only to find out you made a “donation” to the MS foundation because there was no magazine.
I am thinking: WHO OWNS THIS MAGAZINE NOW? NOT, WHO IS THE EDITOR OR PUBLISHER, BUT WHO CONTROLS THE PUBLISHER’S STOCK SHARES?
The Saudi princes own 51% of Rupert Murdock’s media empire. Who controls the entities that control MS? Exactly who will be so offended by the ad? To whom is it so controversial? Names are what we need.
Certainly MS is not turning a profit - they are dependant financially on something or someone who is a front for the real money man. That is what The American Jewish Congress has to research and publish. The names of the publisher’s major shareholders and the names of large donors to the MS foundation.
BTW, the Feminist Majority has a good page on Afghan women and a page called Feminist News Service where I learned that the equal pay act is in trouble if you can believe it.
Jan 12, 2008 - 9:13 pm Ran:Predictable Ms.-ogyny. Is there even one individualist or libertarian-minded soul in Ms. management?
Jan 13, 2008 - 10:56 am Kevin:To keep their membership in the progressive club, feminists have had to submit themselves to being cheerleaders for very anti-progressive causes and above all, very unfeminist causes. They have become the “kept” women of the left.
Jan 13, 2008 - 12:06 pm dawn vickye:With reference to the lamentable but unsurprising thumbs-down to the Israeli women in Knesset ad, my sad realization is that I can no longer even proffer my nun’s habit for the cause any longer: “Feminism” is no longer anything I as a woman can recognize.
Jan 13, 2008 - 12:21 pm Mark Ducharme:MS, as a stand-in for the values of old on this platform, has blind-sided itself into a cul-de-sac that permits of no egress. If MS cannot champion the beaten, raped, dishonored and murdered women of shariah’s minions; if MS cannot condemn the shariah defenestration of homosexuals guilty of nothing save their sexual proclivity; if MS cannot see its way to rail against the infamy of ”honor killings” and shariah-sourced female genital mutilation which is part and parcel of the vile veil of shariah as practiced in 50-some countries–then this individual can no longer claim feminism as her rallying cry. I give back that particular dingy vestment, gentleladies and gentlemen.
In the heart of even the most ardent MS-ogynist, it appears, is a freezing zone for the liberties and hopes championed by Israel and Jews.
And don’t tell me that ’some’ of the mysterious management or ownership of this bra-zen (sic), blatant tool of the pathetic Left/Islamic genuflectors is ‘partially Jewish.’ I won’t believe it. And even were it so, this ugly manifestation of a once-noble theoretical formulation has been coopted and subsumed as a wholly owned subsidiary of extremely dubious and unholy dark masters.
Though they may still be alive, the embarrassed founders of this MStake should be turning in their graven images.
This is what always happens when identity is the “ideal” being pushed. The ultra racists Jackson and Sharpton and the absolute uber sexism that unrealistically exalts little girls and shames boys from the time they can express themselves rule our culture because anyone screeching the lefts brand of hate trumps anyone who differs substantively, because substance is secondary to victim status. Besides, the substance of every issue is already established.
We already know what blacks are supposed to think and thousands of laws have been written to define the “correct roles” for men and women etc. Anyone deviating from the established dogma is to be destroyed, especially if you don’t adhere to your assigned victim status. Just look what they do to Justice Thomas,Sec.Rice(whoa, a 2 for 1 deal!),Ward Connerly,Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin(Hey, another twofer! Nevermind,Asians are too successful to get their victim status notarized by the NAACP)
This story is not a shocker. The only thing shocking is that someone finds it shocking. Liberals knife each other all of the time. Hillary has been a victim for many years, so throwing around the standard,”Well, it’s time to scare the white southeners”, code lingo and dissing MLK are all acceptable. Ms. Magazine doesn’t promote “the fight for equal rights and equal opportunities for women”, they promote opportunities based on gender alone and as such, like every other liberal bulwark, if you even show the appearance of upsetting a group member with a greater victim status than you(just read the kos: anti-semitism? In - offending palestinians or muslims? Out)then you gotta take one for the team.
Sorry Obama, you and the jews just aint pathetic enough in the eyes of the white liberal class, so just go on ’bout yer bidness. Lani Guinier took it like a man, so don’t start whining about a little racism for the good of the Clint…er, the cause. Yeah, that’s the ticket, it’s FOR THE COS!(no not Cosby! He’s dead to us no matter how much he makes nice by ripping Justice Thomas.But keep it comin’ just the same Bill.)
Phyllis Chesler is right. No news to see here folks. Just another, “Dog bites man”, “Tiger being a tiger”, “Liberals being liberals” non-story here, that’s all. Move it along, nothin’ (new) to see here.
Jan 13, 2008 - 2:25 pm progressoverpeace:Maybe Ms. magazine just doesn’t want to point out the female contribution to the dumbest and worst government in Israel’s history?
Jan 13, 2008 - 2:58 pm greenconsciousness:Oh yeah, that makes sense - we should leave the word feminism to anti Semites? When the jerks started using the label “Feminists for Life” we didn’t turn the movement over to the ant-abortionists, did we? No, we fought for the feminist value of choice. We wrote and explained and insisted. And the pseudo feminists are gone now.
More and more Muslim women are starting gender equity groups just because of feminists such as Phyllis, myself AND all the republican women who are speaking out and Donna Hughes, and Elinor Burkett, Tammy Bruce, Hersi Ali WAFI and so many others in Phyllis’s book Death of Feminism.
All over the internet, women who identified as feminists voiced disgust at the leadership and the left. Even that group Marion is always pushing here, Equality Now, had its’ leader on Glen Beck the other night condemning Honor Killings. These groups below are women facing death in their own countries because of our encouragement and you want to stop fighting as a feminist because of your dislike of the attitude of other women who also think they are feminist or who front as feminists? These women below need feminism as a guide - the words and the theory:
Women Living Under Muslim Laws
http://www.wluml.org/english/index.shtml
Organization of Women’s Freedom In Iraq
http://www.equalityiniraq.com/english.htm
Change for Equality
http://www.we4change.info/english/
So don’t you dare hang up your feminist nun’s habit - repeat the feminist mantra: An Attack on One, will be Answered by All.
We need to go after MS AND the Feminist Majority. Ask them if Hamas and Sharia are preferable to Israel’s approach to governance. Tell them that we believe the refusal of this ad is the kind of thinking that led once to genocide. Tell that support of Palestinians is support of slavery for women under sharia. That puff pieces on Arab Queens without questions and demands for her economic support for the elimination of gender inequality within the Palestinian community is unacceptable.
I am disgusted by the males on this board who are using this issue to condemn all feminists when they know this is the bias of the women with money who control NOW and it seems maybe the Feminist Majority. Hatred for women does not become legitimate ever. The left has always tried to co-op every liberation group in this country; the civil rights movement, the feminist movement and now the environmental movement.
Ordinary people who work for a living cannot fight off the vampires who wait around to suck the blood from our abandoned institutions. Steinem and the Hollywood crowd do not represent feminists who are supporting the liberation of Muslim women because their politics are no longer feminist not vice versa. Get a grip people.
Jan 13, 2008 - 4:06 pm greenconsciousness:oops - forget the Organization of Women’s Freedom In Iraq
I think it is a Marxist front group - i should have known - lots of code words so i investigated and yeah - it is not a legitimate women’s organization much less a feminist group
Jan 13, 2008 - 6:57 pm tanstaafl:It seems that publishers and editors are increasingly using their publications to push personal agendas.
In both commission (what they leave in) and omission (what they leave out).
Other recent notable examples, The New Republic (”deeply frustrated by the Army’s behavior”) publishes Scott Thomas Beauchamp’s fairy tale.
And proceeds to defend it for months.
The Lancet publishes the (largely George Soros funded !) 2006 Johns Hopkins study with wildly exaggerated statistics of Iraqi deaths.
The left bias of Time and Newsweek are legion and the reason I suspended my subscriptions years ago.
I’ve read Ms. and am sure I never will.
Jan 15, 2008 - 1:31 pm Sylvia:I listened to your talk on U TUBE. It is always a pleasant respite from the Kafkaesque world of predictable left wing “uni-think.” I imagine that women who have not lived in the region as you have, cannot understand what the deal for women there actually is. I am giving them the benefit of the doubt, even though I believe that if they were not in lock step with Islamic propaganda they would be capable of thinking this through. There are a number of Muslim and Christian Middle Eastern women speaking out these days. They speak out so courageously. Perhaps they are the most courageous people on earth at this time. The “Feminist” movement does nothing to protect them or even recognize them. The obsession with demonizing Israel takes precedence over everything else emanating from that world. Their thought process seems to be something else we owe to the legacy of Soviet propaganda and techniques “channeling” to our time through the wholesale adoption of Muslim propaganda. Kol Hakavod, Ms. Chesler.
Jan 16, 2008 - 12:16 pm