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FEEDBACK
Responses to our Daniel Pearl link
Dear Mr. Publisher:
The Phoenix's decision to run the Pearl decapitated head photo
was sound journalism. Readers learn by having truth stuck in
their faces. That the truth here is gut-wrenching is the exact
point. Some contend that the photo's news value is outweighed
by distress to Pearl's loved ones or insensitivity to readers'
tastes. I disagree. Daniel Pearl was American Man on a Mission
Abroad no less than were the much-photographed G.I.'s who were
gunned down on Normandy beaches. He had the same mission they
did, to take valuably perilous action at close range with enemies
of American freedom. That freedom includes the right to inform
in shocking ways, as well as the right to avert one's eyes.
Sincerely,
Martin Michaelson
Newton, MA
These pictures are brutal! Thanks for publishing them
in the Phoenix.
Regards,
Rabbi Rifat Sonsino, Ph.D
Temple Beth Shalom
Needham, MA
The fact that Stephen Mindich
and the Boston Phoenix would be a party to a wide dissemination
of the Daniel Pearl snuff video shocks me more than I can ever
say. Trying to justify this as a first amendment or "people
need to know" question is absurd. The world knows, due to the
September 11th murder of thousands, that America is deeply,
passionately hated.
A friend at the Wall Street Journal describes Danny Pearl
as a smart, funny mensch who would be every one of our best
friends, if we should be so lucky. It was sickeningly inevitable
that someone would go against the wishes of this wonderful reporter's
family and send out their heartbreak to be perused by prurient
voyeurs the Web over. But the fact that the Boston Phoenix
chose to go out in front with this makes me ashamed to be a
longtime Phoenix reader. This is publicity-mongering
of the very worst kind, without decency or empathy. Nothing
can really be done but leave Mindich et al. to their own karma.
But wait, there is one small thing I can do: I can stop reading
the Phoenix.
Jeanne Jordan
Cambridge
First, I would like to congratulate you, the Phoenix,
for your courage in presenting this video in the face of criticism
and threats. The FBI should go find the other possible terrorists
in this country, rather than spending their time and effort
trying to censor our Constitutional right to free speech.
I think it's important for the American public to witness
this, to learn just what kind of people (if you can possibly
dignify them with that title) that we are dealing with. Thanks,
and keep up the good work.
Dyke H. Morrison
Newburyport
I am saddened and angry that you
felt the need to provide the tape of Daniel Pearl's murder to
the public to satisfy their "right to know..." For all the benefit
of "discussion" that comes out of it, is weighed the negative
use for many sick, anti-Semitic and violent people who will
now more easily have access to this horror and perhaps use it
for evil purposes. I will not purchase your publication again.
It is quite a birthday present you have given to Daniel Pearl's
son.
Annonymous
Arlington
I'm still in shock over watching the video and reading your
editorial, so I will make this short. I could not agree more
with what you have said. This was a video made for propaganda,
but we as Americans can use it as well - if anything, as a grim
reminder of the extent these terrorist are willing to go to.
"It is beyond shocking that the international political leaders
who've seen this video have said so little about it and said
even less in the way of condemning the murderers of Daniel Pearl.
Truly, it demands a far more vigorous response than it has received
thus far."
Absolutely!
Thank you for allowing us to see what our government tried to
hide.
Bill Cook
Dedham
The fact that you are even considering printing pictures of
Daniel Pearl being killed and decapitated completely disgusts
me. I implore you not to do it, and respect the deceased,
his wife and child. While we, as Americans, are still enraged
at what happened to Mr. Pearl, we need to heal and move on.
Printing the pictures is like pulling the scab off a wound.
Making everyone hurt again WILL NOT solve the problem.
Amanda
Savio
Hartford, CT
I have to commend you for providing the link to the Daniel
Pearl video. I think the American public wants to brush the
incident under the rug, and not think about the implications
of what happened. Having just watched the video, I realized
everyone should have the opportunity or at least the choice,
to see what exactly happened. Viewing the tape does not belittle
what happened, but instead show the world what kind of inhuman,
insensitive people we are now dealing with - people are nothing
better than vicious animals, using other humans to promote
their beliefs. By viewing the tape, hopefully more people
will be stirred to action, and not be complacent about the
now very real threat of terrorism, or believe that someone
else can take care of the problem. Nothing could bring this
fact home more than seeing what was done to an innocent man,
only because he was Jewish. This person could have been any
one of us. In a way, he is every one of us. Every adult American,
regardless of religion, should view this video, and not let
what happened to Daniel Pearl be forgotten, or his death be
in vain.
Kelley Cronin
Weymouth
You should be ashamed of yourselves for posting a link to
the Pearl video. You are a bunch of sickos. Who's that supposed
to appeal to? Your snuff fans? Sick bastards.
Nancy Cohen
Taunton
I support your newspaper's decision to publish photos of fallen
journalist Daniel Pearl. Anyone who is condemning the idea is
a hypocrite. The American public pays big money to watch the
most gruesome of Hollywood productions ... even movies depicting
terrorist attacks on American soil less than a year after the
World Trade Center tragedy. Publish your Daniel Pearl photos
and do the American public a favor: wake people up to the fact
that human beings are dying tragically around the world, in
a battle for freedom that this country takes for granted.
Clementina
Pope
Hartford, CT
I was listening to a debate on talk radio today, where they
were discussing the showing of the Daniel Pearl video, that
you were doing so, that other news sources had opted not to
(for whatever reason/s), etc.
I came to your site to view the video for myself (and have just
done so). While I understand the point of view of those opposed
to it's showing, and I certainly feel badly for the Pearl family,
I also recognize the value in showing this video.
If we don't have an accurate picture of who our enemies are,
we can't understand how we must deal with them & react to them.
Clearly, these are not people with whom we can reason. They
don't view things as we do, they don't deal with things like
we do.
Americans are so "PC"-concerned that we get queasy at the mere
thought of war, of injury, of profiling, and so on. Yet we need
to comprehend (as much as possible) that these people are not
coming from the same mindset that we are. And in our ignorance
we can become complacent.
I'm sure that you'll be soundly criticized for showing the Daniel
Pearl video. And although I won't go so far as to call you courageous
for doing so (you won't suffer from the press coverage this
garners you!), I do think that you were correct.
Beth Rosi
Arlington
As a reporter and as a human being, I was frankly disgusted
to see that you published a photo of Daniel Pearl's severed
head in your paper and that you linked to the video on your
website. Furthermore, your editorial actually encouraged people
to see the gruesome movie on your site. "View it at www.BostonPhoenix.com?"
I don't think I will.
The fact that Mr. Pearl is Jewish and his killers are Muslim
clearly influenced your editorial decision making. The Phoenix
has clearly been on a pro-Israel crusade for some time now,
but I never thought it would stoop this low. You know who your
audience is. How many 18-25 year olds will now come to your
website just for a "thrill?" To disregard the wishes of Mr.
Pearl's family in the name of your own sensationalist agenda
is reprehensible. To try to absolve yourself by saying that
Mr. Pearl would have wanted it this way is a breathtaking act
of dishonesty and is clearly controverted by his colleagues
in the journalistic profession. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
I wrote off the Phoenix as a source of "progressive"
news and information a long time ago. Your support for the war
in Afghanistan and opposition to the Green Party, affordable
housing initiatives like the Community Preservation Act, and
the universal health care ballot initiative as well as your
shamelessly self interested editorializing regarding the plans
for a new Fenway Park (which I actually do NOT support) made
me realize that the Phoenix is just a business. You have your
market niche. If anything takes away from your bottom line,
you'll oppose it. Now I see that if something ADDS to your circulation,
no matter how ghoulish the story, you'll run it.
I've been picking up the paper primarily for the arts listings
and reviews. No more. I'm through with the Phoenix. I'm
through with WFNX.
My God. What were you people thinking?
Paul Massari
Senior Research Officer
Harvard University
I watched the Daniel Pearl video because it showed that the
man will never be truly dead, he will live on forever as a man
who is the voice of our rage against the people who hurt him
and his family, and all of us Americans as well. He was told
what to say but it is his demeanor that tells us he is true-blue
American, and that he knows that the people who did this will
not be safe from the American government, we will be the victors
of this war and we will not lose. We as Americans have to be
strong for him and his family, and make sure that this does
not happen again to any American or to the people of this world.
My only advise to Bin Laden or any of his followers is to give
it up and surrender and take what is coming to them. They say
that they are God-loving people but I don't think any God would
tolerate any of their actions. So the warning to all of them
is to watch their backs; we will be coming soon.
Richard Guignard
Concord, NH
I viewed the Daniel Pearl video twice, and then thought about
what I watched. Plus I thought back to an article I read in
GQ about the Middle East and the root of its problems.
My conclusion is this: the men that murdered Daniel Peal are
using the people of Afghanistan, and the Palestinians for their
own purposes. Until these people realize that they are being
used. These murderers will be doing their best to stir up trouble
around the globe using the Afghanistan and Palestine people.
The people in the Middle East need to stop this infighting.
They are being used by outsiders who claim to be helping, but
the outsiders are only adding to the problem. It was sad watching
what they did Daniel Pearl but it appeared he didn't suffer
a long painful death. I think the world shall now know that
these murders are insane. I guess they do not have mental institutions
in the middle east.
I am sure the family members of these murders wonder what they
did to have created such insane individuals. Plus I am sure
some of the followers of these murders are just followers who
are lacking self esteem.
Maybe in the end Daniel Pearl might do more to sort out the
Middle East mess than he ever intended to do while researching
a newspaper story. Only time will tell how the Middle East finally
settles its problems once and for all.
Patrick Dare
St. Joseph, MO
Issue Date: June 7 - 13, 2002
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