Carter wanted debate, not hate, from book

[Purveyor]

Published on: 01/28/07

Former President Jimmy Carter visited Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., on Tuesday to address the furor over his new book on the Middle East, which has been criticized as slanted against Israel.

---snip---

Supporters of the book view it as a bold and aggressive look at problems in the Middle East and, particularly, how Israel has oppressed and abused Palestinians for years.

Critics view it as one-sided and thinly researched, adding that it promotes an agenda that could be easily construed as anti-Semitic.

---snip---

It is fifth on The New York Times' best-seller list for hardcover nonfiction and ranked seventh overall on Amazon. Wherever Carter goes to speak or sign copies of the book, he is greeted by hundreds of people.

"I think he is trying to take the discussion to a higher and more thoughtful place," said Michael Brown, a fellow at the Palestine Center in Washington, D.C. "He wants to get the subject back on the issue of persecution of Palestinians, and he wants to talk about how to renew a meaningful peace process and get the parties talking. Over the last six years that hasn't happened. I don't think we would be having this discussion if not for the title, but he has done an immense service and has helped to stir a long overdue conversation."

---end of excerpt---

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/01/27/0128metcarter.html

[TahitiNut]

1. "thinly researched"?

Imagine. A man whose own efforts and negotiations at Camp David is the subject of research? Hours if not days face to face in discussions with Begin and Arafat? I guess he forgot and failed to look it up again.
:eyes:

[MADem]

2. "Over the last six years that hasn't happened. "

And nothing will happen for the next two years, either, odds are good.

But you know, President Carter is a clever fellow. You have to plant seeds and nurture them for awhile before they bear fruit. He's planted this seed so it will be ready for harvest by the time we get someone sane in the White House.

He's gotta be bullshit that all of his hard work, and Clinton's, was just flushed down the crapper by this administration.

[Nutmegger]

3. I expected this from the M$M and the talking heads.

I seen Carter on Larry King around the time the book was being introduced and Carter stressed many times that he wanted to spark debate, which is why he chose such a title. He's being smeared for presenting a viewpoint that is (god forbid) contrary to the "mainstream".

I will always stand with Carter.

[ShockediSay]

4. "immense service and has helped to stir a long overdue conversation"

AGREED

I don't like any lobby running OUR government policy.

[illinoisprogressive]

5. I always knew that was his intention. I think he feels we need to put the

Israel guilt away and start looking at it as a country. an ally but, a country with it's own problems and not as the perennial victim. The issue there will not be solved until it can be discussed openly and honestly. Israel is not a victim or a poor put upon state anymore. It's a strong country and it has done some wrong things like all countries. but, in order for things to be righted the dialog needs to be honest and open including the wrong things on israel's side.