Attending the World

bs”d

Nothing Someone who seems to have a messiah complex (we know what that often means for Jews) has posted an article by API about an Israeli couple, possibly an Orthodox couple (if they look really religious, they’re called “ultra-Orthodox” by detractors) who, while busily attending to their bags, children and schedule…forgot one of their children, and didn’t realize the child was not on the plane until 40 minutes into the flight. Now, this is very serious, and I’ll bet that once this terrible oversight was realized, no one was more upset than the parents involved.

The title on the API report was “Israel parents forget daughter at airport”

Others chose to emphasize certain aspects of the story, to be summed up in the following quote, as well as the title of his or her post, which was “Duty free bag more important than child”.

Anyone in the mood for a little spin?

Obviously the blogger chose to compress the API report, only including those parts which badly reflected on the parents, and leaving out the sections which would give the reader some perspective, maybe even a little sympathy. Compare ATW’s version with the API version,

Here some portions of the article that “ATW” decided to leave out.

“The incident happened on what Israeli media said was one of the busiest days of the year at the Israeli airport, with thousands of people leaving for summer vacations abroad.” … “Haaretz quoted the girl’s grandmother, who took the family to the airport, as writing, “We’re in shock. They’re very responsible and organized, top-notch people. Apparently one relied on the other, and this is what happened.”

The paper recounted that several days ago, an 8-year-old boy traveling alone boarded a flight to BrusselsMunich, and two weeks before that, a 10-year-old boy was left behind when the rest of his group flew to Copenhagen.”

Interesting. There is no mention of ethnicity, nationality or religion in those reports.

According to those who know the parents best, these are otherwise organized, together, responsible parents. Obviously, “ultra-Orthodox Jews” are not the only group of people who occasionally make — admittedly serious — mistakes. That is why movies such as Home Alone grip us all, even when we think they’re funny. (I never did) Almost all of us can relate. WHY? Because we know that we’re all THIS close to doing something very similar to what befell these harried parents, given the right mix of ingredients.

Add to that a description of the event by someone who just plain dislikes us, for whatever reason, and those reading or listening to the description can conclude that the parents are irresponsible, incompetent…whatever.

If we are going to threaten otherwise well functioning, well intentioned families when they reveal that they have clay feet, the G-d help us all. Who hasn’t breathed a sigh of relief at some point in their lives because they made a mistake which could have had dire consequences? Let’s just all be overjoyed that there are still good souls out there, and because of them, it all turned out well.

The kind of blatant baiting that occurs on some sites I’ve read of late should give readers pause. What is becoming of people? ISRAELI, ULTRA-ORTHODOX!! BOO!!!

The only thing that’s missing from the ATW version of this story is the thick-browed, hooked-nose cartoon with the crazed eyes with dollar signs in them. We know what you’re getting at. Get over it. If we were really what this sort of person claims, there never would have been a holocaust, because we would have really had all the governments, media and banks in our back pockets, and Hitler would have had to ask us for a loan before he could have invaded Czechoslovakia.

Jblog Ellie

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ATW comment:

Ah.. let’s not forget that these “organized” parents are accused by the Israeli police themselves of negligence.

Rosenfeld said police would question the couple when they return from vacation, on suspicion of parental negligence.

Your sick mind traveled too far. Is it because you have an inferiority complex?

ATW

Ellie’s response:

The police merely said they would question the parents, at least according to the published API version. No charges have been reported to have been filed against these parents, thus to say they’ve been “accused” is incorrect. Let’s not forget a principle of free nations: Innocent until PROVEN guilty. That doesn’t mean suspected, that doesn’t mean, “innocent until an investigation is considered”, or even, “innocent until an investigation is begun”.

The point I was getting at in my post was not that “These parents are organized, thus they must be innocent”. My post is actually much more nuanced. I refuse to try people as if I’m a court of law. That’s not just. I think bloggers should be responsible, just as paid journalists should be responsible. I know Heaven is paying attention.

The API report mentioned other families who’ve have had similar lapses with their children. No mention of their religious affiliation. I have a hard time imagining a Catholic or Lutheran family at an airport who experienced a similar mishap with their children…and the reporter writing something like, “the family were obviously devout Catholics/Lutherans” …or whatever.

Your anti-Jewish bias comes through loud and clear. And you are free to have an anti-Jewish bias. That’s your right. But, I am also free to take issue with what you write. How is that “going too far?” How does that indicate an “inferiority complex”? I am exercising my freedom to write what I believe is the truth. Here is a link to an Arutz Sheva article by Uri Orbach on this incident. I tend to agree with him on most points.

Ellie