NPRs Guy Raz
Being a journalist and asking important people tough questions is hard. I know, I’ve been one. Especially if you’re talking to someone who’s promoting the foundational myths of a country that faces global criticism for its human rights record.
NPR host Guy Raz last night aired a long interview of Israeli president Shimon Peres, who has a book out about his hero and former boss, David Ben-Gurion. What follows are Raz’s eight broadcast questions (presumably he asked many more). The answers were altogether predictable (including the claim, unchallenged, that we accepted Partition, but Partition created too small a territory for us).
1. Shimon Peres… sat down with us this past week to talk about the book, and I asked him why he thinks Ben-Gurion chose him.
2. You say that the most critical decision he [Ben-Gurion] made was his acceptance of partition… the concept of two states. For many people looking back today, it doesn’t seem particularly brave, but can you explain the context of why you believe that was such a crucial decision?
3. Let me ask you about Ben-Gurion personally, because you acknowledge that he could be prickly. He could be even mean to people who he loved, like his wife, even you, at times, right?
4. There was a narrative at the time before the state was created that Palestine was this empty land simply waiting to be populated. You remember that Ben-Gurion warned against pushing this idea; that in fact, he said, look, there are people living here, and we need to understand that.
5. Shimon Peres, Israel today seems to be increasingly isolated diplomatically. And in Ben-Gurion’s day, he talked about Israel being a light on two nations. I wonder what you think Ben-Gurion would make of Israel’s position in the world today. Would he be disappointed? Would he be surprised?
6. What do you think he would have made of Prime Minister Netanyahu?
7. If Ben-Gurion were still alive today, what do you think would keep him up at night about Israel?
8. Shimon Peres, one question for you. Now, you are one year older than when Ben-Gurion died. You are very vibrant. You’re engaged. You’re obviously the president of the country. What is your – what’s your secret? What’s your exercise regimen, by the way?
Guy Raz’s rise at NPR is just one more example of the “pervasive cronyism” that past employees have accused NPR of that clearly still exist. Guy Raz’s persistently promotes Israel’s perspective. When there is the slightest criticism of Israeli policies or the I lobby Guy Raz makes sure he quickly throws in a piece on Jewish history, books about the Holocaust etc.
He is as biased as it gets.
When Raz starts interviewing Barghouti, Saeb Erekat, Noura Erakat, Finkelstein, Weiss etc as much as he promotes pro pro right wing Israeli views then he might be looked at as a fair and balanced journalist…Will not be holding my breath
This is sad, the timidity and lack of imagination of these questions. For sure an interview with Amy Goodman would have been much more revealing. Ever since the Republicans politicized funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting some years back, NPR is afraid to tug at the leash for fear of offending the powerful on Capitol Hill and they toe the line on I/P.
Ay. This kind of questions ,using dead/not present person as the subject of the questions , are quite annoying.
“What do you think, honey bunny, should we give gramma a cookie??
Look, she is lying in the bed, not able to talk, and I can tell she is getting tiny bit upset. So what do you think??
IS gramma gonna enjoy this cookie or not?? Gramma , don’t move, the quesiton was for your granddaughter.”
“Do you think Ben Gurion would enjoy the cookie as well”?
Questions
1. Would you be willing to be injected with sodium pentathol and then asked the following questions? If your answer is no then there is no reason to ask any of the following questions
2. Has your persistent support of the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank and illegal housing in E Jerusalem closed the door to a two state solution?
3. Does Israel own the US congress on middle east issues?
4. Do you think your actions have hurt Israel (based on the 67 border?)
5. Do you think it was wise to execute international human rights activist on the Mavi Marmara?
6. Do you think a Jewish life is more important than a Palestinian life?
7. Why does Israel get away with demanding that all of their neighbors sign the NPT agreement and abide by it and then will not sign the NPT themselves.
8. When are you going to overtly attack Iran?
Exercise regimen!?! This Guy should be ashamed of himself.
Everyone on NPR acts like such condescending know-it-alls. That’s fine, but four months ago I finally had enough. Their I/P coverage is so ridiculous, that all the rest of their reporting just lost all its credibility for me. I thought after one story — “not only is what they just said not true, but I know they know it’s not true.”
When a journalistic outlet knowingly reports falsehoods, that crosses the line. Why should we believe *anything* they say?
I listen to HR-Info Radio now on my commute.