Last night Jon Stewart hosted the Israel/Palestine peace activists Anna Baltzer and Dr. Mustafa Barghouti. The angry response from the Pro-Israel crowd resulted in a backlash against the show for even having the discussion (including the show's first heckler in eleven years).
Baltzer, an American-Jewish author, has put out a public letter asking that people contact The Daily Show thanking them for hosting the discussion as a way to counter the angry response they've received so far.
Last night Dr. Barghouti and I were on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart talking about Palestine.
The show was overwhelmed with angry emails and phone calls prior to the appearance, and up until the last minute it seemed like they might cancel. During the taping the show had it's only heckler in 11 years. The entire staff were very nervous and may come to regret the monumental decision (and not make it again) as they will surely be inundated now that the show has aired.
That is why it is CRUCIAL that the show receive letters of support from anyone who appreciated the interview.
PLEASE take a moment to give a quick thank you to the Daily Show. I'm sure they will likely be affected by numbers rather than length, so it's OK to make it short, but spread the word to others! Be sure to put "Thank you" in the subject, and maybe Dr. Barghouti & my names. Fill out the form here: http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jhtml (make sure to choose The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as your topic).
I believe the interview wouldn't have happened 3 years ago. Times are changing. Keep on keepin' on...
Anna
You can also write a letter to: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 604 W 52nd St New York, NY 10019.
The unedited interview of Anna Baltzer and Dr. Mustafa Barghouti can be seen at the following links (Part 1 / Part 2) and you can watch the videos below the fold.
Anna Baltzer & Mustafa Barghouti Extended Interview Pt. 1
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Exclusive - Anna Baltzer & Mustafa Barghouti Extended Interview Pt. 1 | ||||
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Anna Baltzer & Mustafa Barghouti Extended Interview Pt. 2
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Exclusive - Anna Baltzer & Mustafa Barghouti Extended Interview Pt. 2 | ||||
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Jon, Thank you for once again being a more credible news source than FOX. War and hate are easy. Hope and Peace take work
It is nice to know that AIPAC honors the first amendment of
the United States Constitution with such tremendous respect.
For the record, I am a strong supporter of J Street.
By the way - I am certain that since I am a schizophrenic
[stabilized on medication for years] that AIPAC will now start
to launch a smear campaign against me for suggesting that
there is a "use anyone screw anyone" on their part.
Ventura Sheehan Perot Paul
Nader McKinney Kucinich Kaptur
Grayson Gravel Gonzalez Clemente
Choate Carter Baldwin Anderson
Number 4 are the politicians axed by the AIPAC
people and the Zionist controlled media (including
the Atlanta Constitution). I do not want this posted
anonymously.
Thank you, Jon -- especially for your courage and caring, and for reminding us of the Family of Man and human values.
Jon Stewart should be singled out for praise by journalists and members of the public for having the courage and good sense to put a sober and reasoned Palestinian position on his show.
Saul Landau
Thanks Jon for hosting the Israel/Palestine peace activists Anna Baltzer and Dr. Mustafa on your show! Thank you! More people should have your kind of integrity and commitment to reporting!
The link didn't work, but I sent an email to the network in support of Jon Stewart and the Daily Show. As a Jewish author, I support him and any efforts to encourage dialogue about peace.
Mustafa Barghouti came off as a strongly calm, focused and intelligent person in that discussion. I hope he beats Abbas (http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/9/newsid_45140…) in the next elections.
Abbas seems to have lost a lot of faith with "the people" recently, due to his handling then stalling of the "Goldstone report" (at the request of the Americans). Palestinians still seem to like Fatah, but not Abbas because of this; Barghouti could be the next in line...
There will never be peace until the palestinian people adopt a new mentality...if you want to understand what the Jews, and the rest of the modern world are up against, read The Closed Circle by Pryce-Jones. Educate yourselves. The arabs will never change.
Thank god, allah, jahweh, and/or just plain rational thought and human decency, for Jon Stewart
Thank you Jon for bringing these two guests and making people aware of the issues that don't show up in our media outlets.
I wish more journalists would follow the example of Jon and not worry about being sidelined. Great program but enjoyed teh uncensored one more as some of the facts were for some reason not played. keep up the honest work and expose AIPAC and how it controls the US foreign policy.
How refreshing to have honest discussion of the Palestinians' plight on television, from both a Palestinian and a Jewish American perspective. Barghouti showed us that there are voices other than Abbas worth listening to, and Baltzer showed us that many in the Jewish diaspora support justice. Kudos to them, the Daily Show and Comedy Central -- way ahead of the curve.
Good on you, Jon Stewart and the Daily Show team! We need more people with your courage and integrity.
It was an even handed interview. The conflict needs more peacefull activities and the global media should give them more exposure. peace.