Applying Pressure to Achieve Results for Israel
This article seeks to briefly explain the concept of applying pressure to a news or media source to change their reporting against Israel and the Jewish people.
Politics is a plethora of interests — individuals, groups of people, and lobbyists — who apply pressure to achieve a policy goal.
In the U.S., the Jewish community has not been properly applying pressure to achieve important goals for our community. If we had been, then Holocaust education would be required in all 50 states, but currently it is only required in 23 states.
As we continue our efforts to fight anti-Jewish activity, few things irk me more than people who are upset about false reporting or media bias against Israel but then never take the next step: ACTION. Let me explain.
Recently, "The View" host Rosie O'Donnell posted an image for sale at her website Rosie.com. The art piece, titled "Israel Begins Bombing Gaza" includes a description with this quote from O’Donnell: "This man carries a baby about the same age as the one I sit next to, watching Frozen."
People were outraged when they learned about the image, and took O'Donnell to task in the following ways:
1) They contacted her via the web form at her website Rosie.com
2) They commented on her Facebook page, Rosie O'Donnell
3) They commented on her employer's Facebook page, "The View"
4) They e-mailed ABC and Disney, two companies that employ O'Donnell in her various endeavors
These were concrete actions -- APPLYING PRESSURE -- which overwhelmed both O'Donnell and her parent companies. The result was that Rosie O'Donnell quietly removed the "art" pieces from her website.
In short: our side won.
Complaining to your friends and family about Rosie O'Donnell's actions would have no impact unless you ALSO convinced your family and friends to take the above steps to apply pressure to her and her networks. Complaining without action does not work. Complaining can work if it is accompanied by ACTION!
Pressure works. Use it.
We will continue to lose unless we can apply pressure against our enemies. That means calling, e-mailing, Tweeting, and Facebooking to let our opponents know that we, too, have a voice and are willing to use it.