Letters written to the NY Times

 

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Dear Mr. Calame,

 

You are in a position of influence.  You must be aware of the power of  News on future News.  What I am suggesting is that the Times and other media does not only report the News, they are actually part of the creation of the News.  I preface my remarks with this statement in order to impress upon you your role in effecting change either for the good or for the bad.

 

The Gaza Disengagement was tragic.  Not only because of having caused homelessness but even more so because it took productive individuals and brought them down.  Most of the people disengaged from Gaza were productive farmers.  They were role models.  Many of their farming techniques were models for the international farming communities.  You must be aware that many scientific agricultural methods developed by Israel is presently being used all over the world to improve farming techniques and eliminate food shortages in Third World countries.  What comes to mind is drip irrigation which was developed in Israel, hydroponics which was used extensively in the disengaged communities of Gaza and just today I read in  Israel National News http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=106935 "Israeli Research Paves the Way to Grow Crops in Saline Land". 

 

The tragedy of the disengagement is twofold.  People are now homeless and are undergoing severe psychological and emotional trauma from being uprooted from their homes for no apparent good reason.  But the more subtle tragedy is to mankind who will be denied the lost fruits of their labor.  Maybe flowers and bug free lettuce can be grown elsewhere.  But it is not the same.  These people of Gush Katif (Gaza) have to start from scratch with many roadblocks.  They are emotionally scarred.  They are preoccupied with nursing their wounds instead of moving forward with what might have been great benefits to mankind.   

 

And more expulsions are in the works.  Please read http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=106948 Olmert: My Unilateral Withdrawal Plan is Still On.

 

This is where you come in.  If the Times and other papers as the Times would report on the tragedy of the Disengagement, not only to 8,000 people but also to humankind, perhaps Olmert who in very influenced by public opinion would choose not to continue with his Withdrawal Plan. 

 

Please do what you can in this matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Robin Ticker