Weekly Question: The Board of Deputies of British Jews has rejected a resolution calling for a boycott of The Guardian. Was this the correct decision?

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January 19, 2012

26 Comments → “The Board of Deputies of British Jews has rejected a resolution calling for a boycott of The Guardian. Was this the correct decision?”

  1. Josephine Bacon

    4:53 pm

    Jan 19, 2012

    Boycotts of newspapers do not work and the Board of Deputies knows that not many people would take any notice. Anyway, Jews make up their own minds. I long ago ceased buying the Guardian and recent attempts to harass me by email and even telephone calls to get me to buy a subscription were brushed off. I should, of course, have explained WHY I no longer buy or read the Guardian, but I couldn’t be bothered, they ought to draw their own conclusions about their falling circulation. Jews are normally big newspaper readers and they vote with their wallets.

    Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 5

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  2. Fran Hurtner

    4:55 pm

    Jan 19, 2012

    I don’t agree with boycotts. And I recommend reading the Guardian. As one of my professors once said, know your enemy.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 17 Thumb down 21

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    • Geoff

      7:25 pm

      Jan 19, 2012

      Your professor’s views, whoever he is, are not relevant in this case. We already know the enemy well enough and need not support him by buying his worthless rag. Boycott it now!

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  3. Gill

    4:59 pm

    Jan 19, 2012

    We have thought about boycotting certain S African papers that continually print half-truths/rhetoric/blatant lies but the vote has always been a NO. I think the answer is to continually hound errant editors, and go to the ombudsman whenever possible. You may not win, but it’s a huge irritant to the newspapers, and costs them a lot in legal fees!

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  4. Jonathan Hoffman

    5:10 pm

    Jan 19, 2012

    It was my motion which proposed the boycott

    The procedure of the meeting was arranged so that not only did my motion not get discussed but I was not even allowed to oppose the motion that my motion should not be discussed…

    How utterly appalling for an organisation that prides itself on its democratic structure.

    http://networkedblogs.com/sUdKT

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  5. steve mann

    5:41 pm

    Jan 19, 2012

    There is an old saying- “Keep your enemies closer than your friends”.

    To do this you have to read the Guardian, follow its comments page- Only that way can one contradict -when its journalists Twist the truth- You will not necessarily get into print- But they know you are watching them-
    I was even banned from their comments page for over a month-All I did was write positive things about Israel in response to a pure anti-Israeli topic.

    If you do not want to buy it- Then at lest go to a library- In the UK you will find a copy.

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  6. Oleg

    6:41 pm

    Jan 19, 2012

    I always read Canadian French newspapers that publish anti – Israeli and antisemitic propaganda thinking Jews don’t know that; and I often live them comments and complaints. I see it works. I agree that you have to know your enemy and also your enemy has to know that you exist

    Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1

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  7. Katie

    6:49 pm

    Jan 19, 2012

    Instead of Boycotting the paper (Those never work.), boycott the advertisers. A boycott of the advertisers (every one of them) works faster and easier than one of a paper or network. Whether it is one or one thousand, their profits go down, they stop advertising on the targeted paper or network.

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    • Geoff

      7:28 pm

      Jan 19, 2012

      Very difficult to boycott the advertisers. Almost all public service job advertisements, especially those in the media (the BBC in particular) appear in the Guardian. Try boycotting the BBC!

      Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 4 Thumb down 5

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    • Jonathan Hoffman

      6:36 pm

      Jan 24, 2012

      My Motion advocated an advertiser boycott as well

      Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

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  8. minda

    7:46 pm

    Jan 19, 2012

    all of the above

    but you need to communicate with their policy makers(stockholders?)

    what is their circulation composed of?

    You should keep your enemy close to know him better but…kneh l’cha rav

    Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0

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  9. Anne

    2:51 am

    Jan 20, 2012

    If you really want to send a message to a newspaper do it through its advertisers. Make a big show of boycotting the advertisers. Not buying a paper for a few coins won’t make any difference. Advertising is the soft spot of the print media. Also, it is a good idea to keep reading this publication so at least you know what they are saying.

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  10. IamJoseph

    4:23 am

    Jan 20, 2012

    Boycotts are legitimate when based on acceptable, equitable laws. The Guardian and BBC News should be boycotted long ago – they have perpetrated great crimes in writ and diminished the standards of western Journalism to Talibanic modes. Obviously with the nod, wink and grants of its governments and cowardly citizens’ silence. The Media should be licensed as with doctors and lawyers. Israel bashing has become a good career move – in the short term.

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  11. Nathan Zafran

    9:58 am

    Jan 20, 2012

    This piece of untreated sewage, (The Guardian) along with it’s compatriot, The Independent, are worthy of any word of condemnation available. Maybe boycotts are ineffective, but these shitty publications, (among other similar ones), and their shittier reporters are worthy of boycotts and total contempt. DO BOYCOTT !

    Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1

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  12. Edward Bow

    10:07 am

    Jan 20, 2012

    I have never supported or paid towards the cringing policies of the Board Of Deputies. I believe The Guardian to be a true enemy of Israel and Jews everywhere. I often wonder at the source of its income.

    Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0

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  13. Harold Taback

    2:17 pm

    Jan 20, 2012

    Why does the Chief Rabbi and leaders in the Jewish community not speak out publicly in condemnation of the blatant anti-semitism of the Guardian and BBC !!

    Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0

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  14. jacob mandelblum

    5:12 pm

    Jan 20, 2012

    This action of the Board of Deputies tells me the Ghetto Jew, which anyone would believe went out the crematorium smokestacks, is very much alive and kicking…
    I remember our father telling us that in Warsaw, (Poland) when the Polish students went out on a rampage to beat old Jews and pull their beards, etc,., the Jewish youth was prevented from fighting back by the old folks, telling them not to do react as “IT MIGHT GET WORSE” and
    grateful they weren’t hit in the head….
    However,The GUARDIAN and its ilk will guard very carefully from “offending” in any possible way the Muslim “sensibilities”, knowing damned well what to expect from them but regarding Jews ? well, it is a known facts Jews are fair game for anybody…
    Now, who says boycotting The Guardin won’t work ???
    I don’t believe this piece of wet used toilet paper has Jewish subscribers but then again…! !
    But advertisemets will most assuredly hit it in the pocket and I guess Jewish business people
    could force the gentile firms they deal with, to cut off their advertisements to said paper or else
    Therefore, I believe The Guardian stands to lose way more than the boycotters…
    Of course, this calls for what is known as “cojones”, an item seemingly in very short supply at
    Jews anywhere, not only in the Diaspora but in Israel as well, just because, even there, the
    Ghetto Jew is alive and kicking….
    After all, one should only have read the letter sent by the Jewish Association to CHAVEZ for
    the assault on the Sephardic Synagogue in Caracas….

    Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0

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  15. jacob mandelblum

    5:20 pm

    Jan 20, 2012

    We have the same situation here with the New York Times, the one N. York JEWS revere
    more than the TORAH and which should have dissappeared long time ago, would the New
    York Jews be worth their salt….

    I dare guarantee that, if the New York Jews would cancel their subscription to the piece of
    Juedophobic filth this paper became and cancel their advertisements, I doubt even the
    Gestapowitz SOROS would carry them in his budget….

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  16. Harvey Rogers

    7:33 am

    Jan 21, 2012

    I don’t know how much good a boycott will do, but boycotting the “paper,” and the advertisers will at least show that Jews will try to fight back. It’s right to keep reading it, (but not paying for it.)

    Jews should try anything that will hurt the Guardian, and continue to write to it, exposing their lies and prejudice. If it doesn’t help, at least you will feel better about trying.

    Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0

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  17. taylor

    6:25 pm

    Jan 24, 2012

    It would be a great gesture, but probably not work. Some people will only read stuff that is boycotted.

    Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

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  18. Edward Bow

    8:23 pm

    Jan 24, 2012

    Three Jews were placed in front of a firing squad blindfolds were placed on two of them but the third refused the blindfold. The second Jew said” don’t make trouble, take the blindfold”. It reminds me of the Board. In my opinion the Guardian is a vile production. Jews need to fight back or suffer the consequences of open blatant and possibly violent anti semitism. I will never support the Board in any way

    Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0

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  19. Roy Chweidan

    6:13 pm

    Jan 25, 2012

    The Board of Deputies of British Jews are, in my opinion, as an Israeli Jew, lacking in courage, self respect and self pride in rejecting this resolution. I know that it is not my business but I only comment because when I lived in South Africa, the Jewish Board of Deputies there showed the same cowardly attitude in dealing with anti-Jewish behaviour. The answer was for the South African Jewish public to take their own action, which I believe British Jews should do and be prepared to defend themselves if necessary. I only talk from my own experience.
    Roy Chweidan, Netanya. Israel

    Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0

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  20. Mike lampard

    9:17 pm

    Jan 30, 2012

    I entirely sympathize with the sentiments that wishes to boycott the garbage pseudo intellectual garbage called ‘the Guardian’. It dresses its sewerage statement lies inflowery intellectual eye-wash language, and so convinces the public at large that it ‘knows’. The trouble with this is that the Guardian wil lstill publish because it has already duped the British public who are as stupid as they come, and boycotting will not have any impact that I can foresee. Arguing the toss with them regarding every article they print would be a better idea so that all can see what utter garbage they are and expose their sheer sewerage mentality.

    Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

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    • steve mann

      1:05 pm

      Jan 31, 2012

      Mike with your permission- May I DITTO all that for the Independent- a paper with columnists even worse !

      Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

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