When Scum Calls You Scum, I Guess It’s a Compliment

Finish Amnesty International head, Frank Johansson, who referred to Israel as a “scum state” in a blog post –  then defiantly stood behind it before surreptitiously removing it – has explained why he took it down.

frank johansson
"When I said you're scum, I did not mean it in a bad way. Some of my best friends are scum."

In an e-mail to the Post on Wednesday, Johansson wrote, “I decided to take down my blog because I appreciate that my comments were ill-judged and appear all the more so when taken out of context, and have obviously caused offence to many people although it was not my intention, at all, to cause such offence.”

He added “I am especially conscious, and regret that my ill-judged action may be detrimental to Amnesty International’s work on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the valiant human rights work being undertaken by my colleagues working for Amnesty International in Israel.”

Amnesty spokeswoman Susanna Flood said, “Johansson remains as the director of Amnesty International in Finland.

“Obviously, we regret it if such a term was used by an individual whose personal views could be misunderstood as reflecting those of Amnesty International, and we disassociate Amnesty International fully and clearly from such comments and we are making this clear to Mr Johansson,” Flood told the Post. “Amnesty International has never described Israel as a ‘scum state’ or used any such terms to describe Israel,” she added.

Finnish media watchdog site, Tundra Tabloids, which exposed the blog on Monday, said that the post’s removal was “not good enough, there needs to be a full apology coming from AI chairman Frank Johansson.”

Notice what’s missing – an apology. He does not actually regret his comments, only that he got caught.

As for being taken out of context, here’s a reminder of what he said:

“A friend of mine who works in Israel, was visiting while piling wood in the shed, we got into his favourite topic. Several years of  residence in the holy country, he has come to the conclusion that “Israel is a scum state”. On the basis of my own visit, which occurred during the 1970s and 1990s for the final time, I agree.”

I wonder how that can possibly be construed in a non-offensive way.

Here’s hoping he gets Garlascoed.

7 thoughts on “When Scum Calls You Scum, I Guess It’s a Compliment”

  1. Well said, and well noted the lack of an apology. As an American, its amazing to me how many closet "Israel Haters" have come out of the hate closet since Obama took office. It seems that they believe that they have cover now to express their positions. Great blog, been following it now for awhile. Added you to my blogroll. Keep up the great work!

  2. Michael Zvi krumbein

    It's a shame. Amnesty International used to be a pretty fair organization. At the end, the result will be that they will lose the moral authority they need to stop the real abuses.

    1. I concur entirely. Once upon a time I was an AI member; now I'm embarrassed even to admit that. It is a shame, as that sort of organization can serve a tremendous purpose, but ONLY if it avoid ideology.

  3. JrMo,
    I looked right past your post before…. but I have to admit that your take on AIs acronym is probably currently more accurate of their current stance than what they claim it stands for….. so sad, so very sad.

    Millions of people around the world are oppressed, murdered, women raped, etc. but if you've been "wronged" by a Jew–by which they mean, "have you met/seen/or heard of a Jew?"–then register a complaint with us and we'll go straight to the press and the U.N. Oh, but they aren't anti-Semitic, they're just anti-Zionist…. or trying to be "just." Just full of shite!

    Okay, rant over….

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