Careful with your words

Jewish-American activist Phyllis Bennis, who supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, has reported that she is on a shortlist to replace United Nations Human Rights Council investigator Richard Falk.
http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Pro-BDS-Jewish-American-Im-on-UN-shortlist-to-replace-Falk-341155


In an article written by Ms.Bennis at therealnews, she referred to Ariel Sharon as "the Butcher of Beirut." She also wrote, "Oxfam’s decision to sack super-star Scarlett Johansson because of her high-visibility endorsement of SodaStream, whose manufacturing plant is located in the Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim in the occupied West Bank, was another indicator of the discourse shift."
http://therealnews.com/t2/component/content/article/51-phyllis/1959-states-of-the-union-states-of-war-states-of-the-middle-east--challenging-all

Oxfam's website acknowledges that Ms. Johansson decided to step down.

Oxfam has accepted Scarlett Johansson’s decision to step down after eight years as a Global Ambassador and we are grateful for her many contributions.
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/reactions/oxfam-accepts-resignation-scarlett-johansson


In a BBC interview, the director of policy for Oxfam stated that the actress resigned from the organization.

Why did Ms. Bennis write that Oxfam sacked the actress? Can we count on her to distort reality if she assumes the position to be vacated by Richard Falk?

A recent apology demonstrates the power of words, how we must be careful with them, and teaches us not to jump to conclusions.

John Hawkins wrotes how  he conducted an interview with Scott Walker and a sentence from the interview caught the attention of certain people who accused Mr. Walker of being a liar.


"I remember, I was a teenager, had just become a teenager and voted for Ronald Reagan — limited government, you know, smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense."


A blogger asked, "Why did Gov. Scott Walker lie about voting for Reagan?"  He opined, "Given the fact that Scott Walker was not ever old enough to vote for Ronald Reagan for president, he’s either lying about having voted for Ronald Reagan or he voted illegally."
http://bloggingblue.com/2014/02/why-did-gov-scott-walker-lie-about-voting-for-reagan/

John Hawkins issued an apology after he realized his transcriptionist had made an error.


A vote for Ronald Reagan meant limited government, you know, smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense.
http://www.rightwingnews.com/misc/correction-scott-walker-didnt-say-he-voted-for-reagan/

"And" versus "a" - one word that could damage a person's reputation.
Hachaim vehamavet beyad halashon.


During the State Department Briefing of February 12, in which  Ms. Harf states, "The United States does not – has not designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, " she was aslo asked another question about the peace process.


QUESTION: Do you have any sense that either the Israelis or the Palestinians are doing any of the tough political work domestically to prepare their people for an eventual peace deal, or is it too soon for it?


MS. HARF: Well, I think the answer is probably yes to both questions that you just asked, because I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive. I think we have seen both sides over the – first, in restarting the talks and then in doing a – both sides in taking a number of steps, the Palestinians by not going to the UN or other international organizations, the Israelis with the prisoner releases.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2014/02/221610.htm


So, the Palestinians are judged to be taking steps by not doing something while the Israelis are judged to be taking steps when they do something.