Yesh Gvul
Courage To Refuse
Shministim
Pilots
Free The Five
New Profile
Refuser Solidarity Network


Name: Antony Loewenstein
Home: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Comment Rules
About Me:
See my complete profile



Google
Web antonyloewenstein.blogspot.com
Sweat-Shop Productions
Sweat-Shop Productions
Sweat-Shop Productions



Blogs

Sites




Previous Posts



Powered by Blogger

 


Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Issue goes international

US-based Counterpunch publishes my article on the recent controversy regarding attempts by Federal Labor MP Michael Danby to censor my forthcoming book on Israel/Palestine. Read it for a perspective on the wider issues at play.

Since publication, I've received dozens of emails from around the world, including Australia, Iceland and America. And I'll be appearing tomorrow on an LA radio station explaining the story.

UPDATE: I'll be on KPFK's "Middle East in Focus" program tomorrow.

11 Comments:

Blogger Ibrahamav said...

It is funny that there has been a call against the book before it has been written.

Perhaps he merely does not want the reputation of the University to suffer because of your prose.

But I say, "Let the University sink" if the book winds up to be nothing but rehashed horse shit.

However, if the book exposes the danger that the forthcoming 2nd islamist Palestinian state brings with its illegitimate birth. Then it will have done the world good.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 11:24:00 am  
Blogger James Waterton said...

Antony - how was Danby trying to censor your book? I ask this question in good faith, for there may have been correspondence between Danby and others that I am not aware of. If so, could you please enlighten me.

All I've read of Danby's regarding this issue is harsh criticism of what he perceives is in your book. He urges others not to buy it, and hopes your publisher drops the project. If this is all you're going on, please inform me how is this censorious? From these statements, he's not attempting to stop the publication of your book, or hinder its distribution. However, as I said before, if anything else has come to light that you do think counts as censorship, then I'd love to know. For example, is he trying to use the direct power of his office to force MUP to drop the book.

And please don't come back at me saying that the power of his office is used tacitly when he says he hopes MUP drops the project. The man is allowed to offer an opinion without being labelled censorious.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 11:26:00 am  
Blogger Unknown said...

Wonder if Antony will appear on KPFK's Radio Intifada program? If so, how fitting.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 4:04:00 pm  
Blogger James Waterton said...

dirtbikeoption - Danby's said his piece, I think. It's Antony who keeps crapping on about how Danby's trying to censor him. It's Antony trying to milk this for publicity. I imagine Danby's moved on.

I ask again - how is Danby trying to censor you, Antony? You really should answer this. It goes to the heart of a little something called your credibility.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 7:18:00 pm  
Blogger Antony Loewenstein said...

James,
It's pretty clear. Danby has moved on? Shows how much you understand the issues at stake.
When a MP threatens a publishing house, it's called attempting censorship. His comments subsequently only continue that feeling. Funny, most people seem to understand what Danby is trying to do...
My credibility? Yes, I'm devastated that you think it's in question...

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 7:21:00 pm  
Blogger James Waterton said...

How precisely is offering an opinion - "MUP should drop this project" - a threat? What has he threatened them with? This is an example of a threat, my semantically challenged friend - "If MUP doesn't drop this project I'm going to (insert calamity here)..."

THAT'S a threat. And that's not even close to what Danby said. He didn't attempt to censor you. He censured you, that is definitely a fact. Learn to differentiate between the two.

And which "subsequent" comments might you be referring to? How long ago were they made?

Face it, Antony, you're committing the same crime you censure the Packers and Murdochs for - you're beating up this non-event for profit and personal gain. Remember that next time you whinge about some phoney Today Tonight piece. You're no better than them, and your book promises to be equally as disregardable.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 8:15:00 pm  
Blogger Antony Loewenstein said...

I look forward to you buying a copy, my WA clueless soul....

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 9:05:00 pm  
Blogger James Waterton said...

Yeah, Antony, that's a truly pathetic riposte. Your lack of a counterpoint is extremely revealing.

But, from my perspective, it's nice to have my point so conclusively proven. Cheerio!

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 9:37:00 pm  
Blogger James Waterton said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 9:40:00 pm  
Blogger James Waterton said...

And Anthony - there's no way in hell I'd waste my time reading the output of a guy whose stock-in-trade is deception and misinformation.

Oh, hang on, I better not say that - Antony might accuse me of censoring him!

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 9:41:00 pm  
Blogger James Waterton said...

Let's focus on the point at hand, dirtbikeoption. Do you think Loewenstein was the victim of attempted censorship? And, since he's trying to flog this erroneous and deceptive notion far and wide to attract attention, how do you think this augers for his book? What else will Antony do in his quest to make a headline, especially in terms of what's in the book?

These are all reasonable questions. Feel free to dodge them if you don't like the answers, dirtbikeoption (and Antony).

Thursday, September 29, 2005 10:58:00 am  

Post a Comment

<< Home