The news this morning that former Israeli prime minister and great general Ariel Sharon has died seemed like a voice from the past. Sharon has been in a come for eight years, but he finally succumbed just this morning. That means that every news outlet across the world had more than ample time to prepare his obituary. It also means that what those obits say tell you a great deal about the media outlet making the report.
A first example is what local ABC radio had to say about Sharon. There, the reporter identified him as a former prime minister and said that he was loved by many and hated by many others. This is a station/network (I cannot say which) that is too hung up on being politically correct. Sharon devoted most of his life to the state of Israel. He fought in a series of wars. He was a commanding general in two great victories. Indeed, his strategy and leadership was one of the principal reasons that the Israelis avoided defeat in 1973 and then came back to crush the Egyptian army in that conflict. As prime minister, he took major risks for peace, among others turning Gaza over to the Palestinians. So the main take on his life is that some liked him and some did not? Really?
A second example came from CBS news. Their short obit only covered things he did while prime minister. That tells you that CBS is unaware of history. No one could report properly on Sharon's life without mentioning his military career. As I said above, Sharon is probably the individual most responsible for Israel's survival and eventual victory in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. That is not something to overlook.
I ought not write this piece an just focus on the media. Ariel Sharon was a great man, an Israeli hero and a friend of the USA. He deserves our prayers. May he rest in peace.
A first example is what local ABC radio had to say about Sharon. There, the reporter identified him as a former prime minister and said that he was loved by many and hated by many others. This is a station/network (I cannot say which) that is too hung up on being politically correct. Sharon devoted most of his life to the state of Israel. He fought in a series of wars. He was a commanding general in two great victories. Indeed, his strategy and leadership was one of the principal reasons that the Israelis avoided defeat in 1973 and then came back to crush the Egyptian army in that conflict. As prime minister, he took major risks for peace, among others turning Gaza over to the Palestinians. So the main take on his life is that some liked him and some did not? Really?
A second example came from CBS news. Their short obit only covered things he did while prime minister. That tells you that CBS is unaware of history. No one could report properly on Sharon's life without mentioning his military career. As I said above, Sharon is probably the individual most responsible for Israel's survival and eventual victory in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. That is not something to overlook.
I ought not write this piece an just focus on the media. Ariel Sharon was a great man, an Israeli hero and a friend of the USA. He deserves our prayers. May he rest in peace.
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