Comments on: Rundown 11/11

By: Swords to Plowshares : HearVox

Swords to Plowshares : HearVox — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:43:52 +0000

[...] on PRI Hear & Now; by producer Alix Blair, “Swords to Plowshares” (0:00 mp3): var [...]

By: Susan M.

Susan M. — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:58:38 +0000

Robin, what is your agenda???? You were interrupting your guests yesterday and were very combative. As a reporter, I know sometimes you need to play “devil’s advocate” but you should also know that this MONSTER killed and wounded a lot of people, therefore should not be shown mercy or questioned the motives. He is a cold blooded killer and that’s it!

By: jryan

jryan — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:08:54 +0000

Dear J,

The music you’re asking about is by the group “A Perfect Circle”, called “Peace, Love and Understanding”.

Thanks for your interest,

Jill

By: Harriet Brickman

Harriet Brickman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:06:39 +0000

I was appalled by Dorothy Rabinowitz’s rage-filled voice and misinformed comments yesterday. Her performance discredits the Wall Street Journal, and stains Here and Now.

By: M. Olson

M. Olson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:08:48 +0000

As usual, Dorothy Rabinowitz showed her angry, hostile and hateful character. Sheessentially implies that all muslims have a tendency toward disloyalty and should be singled out for screening. What would she say if all Jews (or any other ethnic group) were assumed to have divided loyalties and were scrutinized before they entered into any government entity? Before drawing any conclusions about the motives of Major Hasan, let’s get all the facts.

By: Shannon Tubb

Shannon Tubb — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:04:47 +0000

Thank you for the story about the army seargant turned sustainable farmer, Matthew McCue. It reminded me of my grandfather, a Navy Veteran who I remember as a farmer in southern Ohio. I hope my young relatives and friends serving now consider this profession change as well. I also really enjoyed hearing A Perfect Circle on NPR!

By: Donald Mulcare

Donald Mulcare — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:36:53 +0000

I share the bewilderment of those wondering why D. Rabinowitz was given time to rail against failure of the media to treat these murders as something more than the act of an individual.

Her charge that the only reason we do not discuss how the acts of Maj. Hasan are part of a widespread threat posed by Arab-Americans is “political correctness” makes me wonder how she felt about Jonathan Pollard. He is a Jewish-American who betrayed this country by putting his loyalty to Israel over he duty and oath to this country. Anyone calling for a similar witch hunt against Jewish-Americans on the basis of a number of significant cases of Israel using American Jews to spy for them, would be met with charges of anti-Semitism. Judging a group by the acts of an individual is prejudice and contrary to the American ideal of judging individuals by their actions and not ethnic or religious background.

I agree with the view expressed that those attempting to place the murders as part of our struggle against Islam undermine our efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution in Iraq and Afghanistan. If we are at war with Islam, how can the people of these countries work with us?

By: j

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:00:04 +0000

What was the background music during the end of WED broadcast?

By: Etaoin Shrdlu

Etaoin Shrdlu — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:52:03 +0000

Regarding Mr. Gadiel’s memorial: while I sympathize with his loss, I see no reason to specify the religion of his son’s murderers.

I have a relative who was gunned down somewhere in the South because he was a Jew. Can I demand a memorial listing him as a victim of “Christian Terrorists”? What about the Holocaust? What about the doctors murdered by so-called “pro-lifers”? What about the victims of priestly sex abuse who committed suicide? Are all these examples of “Christian Terrorism”? Should they be memorialized as such? I say No! Neither should 9/11.

By: Linnea Larson

Linnea Larson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:25:48 +0000

I am troubled by Dorothy Rabinowitz’s anger filled voice in her interview on NPR. She insists, rather than demonstrates through and by example, that it is perfectly clear to all what the motives were of the shooter at Fort Hood. And she shoves her uninformed opinion through the airwaves. She was not held accountable. She completely rolled over the interviewer with her contemptuous responses. With inciters like her holding the airwaves, it is no wonder people reach for the lowest and meanest explanation of behavior.

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:34:55 +0000

The idea of an incompetent officer who was “shuffled around” and then responsible for the Fort Hood tragedy reminds me of the recent Catholic Church’s dealings with its priests who were guilty of inflicting tremendous mental and physical pain on their victims and their families. Rightly so, those priests and the Catholic Church were shown little mercy… our society and government should treat the Fort Hood killings no differently. Perhaps the military could learn from the Catholic Church leaders about how not to handle senior, trusted officials and steps to take to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:32:04 +0000

Dorothy Rabinowitz aside…this guy does sound like a terrorist.

By: Vicki Watson Walker

Vicki Watson Walker — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:29:37 +0000

The chest beating by people like Rabinowitz is so faux and not grounded in actual reality.
Reality – soldiers have a lot of stress – no matter what their religion
Reality – psychiatrists are not absolved from having stress
Reality – we don’t know if the 911 perpetrators showed their ID because everyone died. However, in 2001 – rarely were you asked for ID to get on a plane.

Rabinowitz and others like her believe in a black and white and that world exists no where but in fundamentalists countries and societies. The rest of the world lives in shades of color, because that is what life is.

NPR should have responded to some of her rhetoric with a list of facts and had her respond. Letting people spew lies or distortions on a news show does little to promote discussions.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:23:08 +0000

Thomas Ricks – What the heck was that comment about treating officers “different” and his proof was the TV show “MASH”. That was rich.

By: jane monaghan

jane monaghan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:09:17 +0000

From Swords to Ploughshares- former Army sergeant Matthew McCue

This was such an important and completely inspiring story. It really made me think about how we can do so much good for these countries and maybe it doesn’t need to be in a destructive and violent way. I really was touched by this Sergeants words.

By: Sidney Goldstein

Sidney Goldstein — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:32:36 +0000

Dorothy Rabinowitz of the Wall Street Journal is quite off the mark. She has no basis for the remarks that she made about the killer and the killings at Ft Hood. Why have someone like her on your show? Don’t we want to have people with sensible opinions? Is there a purpose to air crazy opinions?

By: Catherine D'Ignazio

Catherine D'Ignazio — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:19:33 +0000

Regarding the shooting at Fort Hood.

I think some are not considering that this is a workplace shooting, like those that occurred at US Post offices. How much is terrorism how much is mental health at workplace?

By: Todd Bria

Todd Bria — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:18:27 +0000

Dorthy Rabinowitz as a commentator what a train wreck, why does any Public Radio program give her a platform? She adds absolutely no value to any program other then to present a one-way ultra conservative viewpoint at the expense of any discussion. I guess she gives Public Radio some “cover” from critics on the right that their viewpoints are not presented. There have to be better sources who would at least present a more balanced approach to any subject.