Total Recall
Re: Letters, Editor's Note (Nov. 1-7)
I wrote to the Planet a few weeks ago, complaining about your coverage of the Sami Al-Arian academic freedom issue, noting that your articles had not disclosed (I used the word "concealed") Al-Arian's call for "Death to Israel." The following week, you responded that the Planet had reported the "Death to Israel" quote in 1998 and 2000.
I don't know how you missed my point. I certainly wasn't saying you had never reported his call for "Death to Israel." I don't pretend to such an encyclopedic knowledge of your past issues! Rather, I was saying that your coverage was incomplete, like that of certain other media organs. Not telling your readers that the subject of an academic freedom issue had called for "Death to Israel" is like describing marchers in Skokie, Ill., as "socialists" when in fact they are National Socialists or Nazis. You just weren't telling the whole story and my accusation that you had "concealed" that fact from your readers, while strong, was fair under the circumstances.
I accept the fact that you disagree with me, but you should not mischaracterize my arguments to your readers.
Peter J. Grilli
Via e-mail
