Follow Up On The Dumbies of Dunbartonshire Council
Earlier this week, I posted about the West Dunbartonshire Council ban on Israeli books, due to what it termed ”the loss of life in Palestine.”
As part of my post, I included the contact details for all the sitting councillors, one of whom - Lawrence O’Neill - requested in the comments that his details be removed since he “was not one of the Councillors who made this decision.” In a subsequent comment, he stated that he opposed the decision and “it sends the wrong message out.” He also vowed to raise the issue again in the next council meeting, scheduled for yesterday afternoon.
I asked councillor O’Neill the following:
Could you be more specific about the decision being wrong. Do you think Israel is being unfairly singled out? Or do you agree that Israel committed atrocities but as a matter of policy, banning books is not a good idea?
To which he responded (via mail):
I have no comment on whether atrocities have been commited by either side other than that I do think that all sides need to address issues collectively.
I think that banning any books is wrong as it prevents education or insights being sought and views formed and established. I am more than happy to read any books of all genres and would encourage my children to do the same as they get older
Sounds to me like councillor O’Neill probably agrees with the council’s appraisal of Israel committing atrocities against the palestinians (because if he didn’t, he surely would have revealed that fact to a pro-Israel campaigner like me). He just is not comfortable with banning books.
I am yet to hear what came of yesterday’s council meeting, but I assume here also that had a positive result ensued, I would have heard from councillor O’Neill by now.
Assuming nothing has changed, I encourage you all to contact the councillors I listed here. Those of you in Great Britain may consider calling them.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
Two points:
1. We should be precise — its the Dummies of the WEST Dunbartonshire Council and not the entire Dunbartonshire (to the best of my knowledge).
2. I'm proposing a counter boycott against Scottish Whiskeys from the West Dunbartonshire region…so far, Ive found that Ballentine's, Auchintoshan, and Chivas are distilled there. Know any others?
Cheers,
Jameel
Phew, that means I can finish my current bottles of Glenmorangie and Laproaig?
Will you then stop using the telephone and television both of which were pioneered in Dunbartonshire?
telephone was invented simultaneously in America by a man named Elisha Gray…Bell was just lucky in that he got his version to the US patent office first. They fought huge legal battles in the decades to come. Don't take credit you do not entirely deserve. Also, I would like to see you boycott the intel chip, any sort of Instant messaging technology, the cherry tomato, and USB flash drives, all of which were pioneered in Israel.
Wow.
I dont like cherry tomatoes although my good lady loves them.
Penicillan? Anaethetic?
This isnt a beauty contest! I will end up embarrassing you!
please dont,
Another good reason not to have a TV! Must tell the wife.
iIdiot.
it is ashame i used to drink chivas while reading a good book .i guess i will try a good red wine frome spain ed.
I am allowed to post an email to the dummy of Israellycool?
Hi dummy of Isarelicool, Would you like to converse or are you the cowardly racist thug that I cxonsider you to be.
Tomorrow is no problem facsit guy.
Ach well. It's bedtime for me racist dummy, I hope you wake up with even a modicum of humanity within your prejudiced self.'
"due to what it termed ”the loss of life in Palestine.”
The ban is counterproductive if their aim is to support the Palestinians, not least because Israeli academics and journalists are at the forefront of reporting loss of Palestinian life.
Someone should tell these boycotters, that even Professer Stephen Walt co author "of "The Israel Lobby" praised the Israeli media for not censoring and capping speech the way it is in the USA and this was a man who was critical of the Lobby's influence on capping speech in the USA. He said no such restrictions exist in Israel.
[...] Jameel suggested we boycott Scottish Whiskeys from the West Dunbartonshire region, the commenter responded:Will you then stop using the telephone and television both of which were pioneered in [...]
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