Last month, the Times of Israel news and commentary site published this:
Times of Israel removes an unacceptable blog post
Blog was blatant breach of editorial guidelines
The Times of Israel on Friday removed an unacceptable blog post, entitled “When genocide is permissible.”
This blog post, which was described by our Ops & Blogs editor as both damnable and ignorant, blatantly breached The Times of Israel’s editorial guidelines.
We have discontinued the writer’s blog.
The Times of Israel maintains an open blog platform: Once we have accepted bloggers, we allow them to post their own items. This trust has rarely been abused. We are angry and appalled that it was in this case, and will take steps to prevent a recurrence.
We will not countenance blog posts that incite to violence or criminal acts.
—
(The blogger concerned has issued a public apology for his post.)
The Times of Israel — like most publishers — has editorial guidelines and policies that prohibit inciting violence or criminal acts. Their polices — like those of most publishers — probably don’t explicitly state that this includes writing that promotes or defends genocide. That’s certainly covered, though, under the general prohibition against inciting violence or criminal acts, since genocide is the superlative, most extreme example of both of those — the worst violence, the worst crime.
One reason to have such a policy is to protect your publication from legal or civil liability. If you publish something that incites violence or some other illegal activity, you may soon find yourself in court, or in bankruptcy, or in prison.
Such legal prudence is part of why the Times of Israel acted quickly to remove and denounce that awful post on arguing that genocide is permissible. But they also did so because, again: genocide.
Concern about legal liability also may account for why the Times’ statement does not include an apology. They’re blaming a rogue blogger for breaking their rules and guidelines and betraying their trust. And it seems they think that if they offer an apology if would undermine their claim that this rogue bad apple is solely responsible for the repugnant piece published on their site.
I still think an apology from the Times itself was called for. But while assigning all the blame to one person seems irresponsible, at least the Times recognizes that something blameworthy has occurred. And I am pleased that they did: 1) remove the post; 2) reject and denounce the substance of the post as “damnable and ignorant” and “appalling;” 3) remind readers that the substance of that post was criminal as well as immoral; and 4) reassure readers that they understand something like this should never have happened and that they’re taking steps to ensure it never happens again.
Contrast that with what Stephen Strang and Charisma have done after publishing a similarly damnable, ignorant and appalling column late last week. That column, by Gary Cass, was arguably worse than the piece the Times of Israel removed. The Times blogger argued that genocide could be “permissible.” Cass argues that genocide is mandatory and divinely ordained.
After a Twitterstorm and other online criticism,* Charisma removed the post from their site late Sunday. Or, at least, the post is no longer there. We can’t know whether they intentionally removed it, or, if so, why — the article simply is no longer there. It’s just a broken link. (The column remains on the website of Cass’s right-wing “Christian Defense” group, and the hideous thread from Charisma’s comment section can still be found on Disqus.)
But while Charisma seems to have followed the first step of the process followed by the Times of Israel, Strang & Co. have not yet taken any of those other steps.
Charisma has provided no comment, no explanation, and no apology. They have not denounced the vanished article or in any other way attempted to distance themselves from its enthusiasm for genocide. They haven’t said who was to blame for publishing the column or even acknowledged that publishing it was blameworthy. They haven’t explained their policies or any changes in those policies that would keep future columnists on their site from advocating religious and ethnic cleansing. They just went all Minitrue, pretending as if nothing ever happened at all.
Look again at that comment thread to Charisma’s post. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise …” then you won’t find it in the comment thread of any Charismanews post involving Muslims.
This is what Charisma’s readers have learned from reading Charisma. By offering no explanation, no apology and no condemnation of Cass’s views, Charisma is just reinforcing those lessons.
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* Some good commentary out there, including:
• Hemant Mehta, “An Article on Charisma News’ Website Calls for Conversion, Deportation, Sterilization, and Death of Muslims”
• Ahab @ Republic of Gilead, “Two Religious Right Figures Weigh in on ISIS” and “Charisma Provokes Outrage After Posting Anti-Muslim Commentary Piece”
• Brian McLaren, “A ‘charismatic’ ‘Christian’ calls for genocide”
• Libby Anne, “Charisma News Publishes a Call for Genocide”
• h00die_R (RodTRDH), “Charisma Magazine, Islam & Racist Op-Eds: #CancelTheCrusades”
• Sarah Bessey, “Be Not Afraid: A Letter to My Charismatic Brothers and Sisters”
• Leah Nelson @ HateWatch, “CADC Calls for Deportation, Forced Sterilization, or War Against All Muslims”
(Nelson’s HateWatch piece also outlines some of Gary Cass’s links to the militia movement.)
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