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The Memo

© lawhawk

Did you get the memo? Apparently 4,000 Israelis did prior to the World Trade Center calamity on September 11, 2001. That's precisely what a whole bunch of media outlets reported in the days following the events on the 11th.

The source of this message? Well, some people attribute it to some media outlets in the Persian Gulf. Others, to the Pakistani press. Slate has a pretty good story on the subject of its origins.

The simple truth about this memo was that it was a complete hoax. I cannot stress this fact enough. It was a hoax.

Why was the message spread in the first place? Well, apparently there are a lot of people around the world who believe that the Israeli government is behind the events, not to mention controls the US media, US government, promotes Zionism (which is equated with racism by many Arab regimes, even though that notion was clearly discredited by the UN), switched new Coke for old Coke, and changed the uniforms of the Mets from their usual home whites and road greys to all number of permutations. The Israeli Mossad - the Israeli intelligence service is accused of masterminding a plan to inform 4,000 Israelis - Jews, of the situation that they would perpetrate on the 11th.

Of course, all the rumor and innuendo fall completely apart under inspection. But, that is completely besides the point. You would have spend a nearly infinite amount of time trying to debunk the rumor, but by then it would be too late. The next rumor would be on the way. This is the way that hoaxes, rumors, and propaganda can overwhelm the facts.

These hideous hoaxes, rumors, and innuendos come from a virulent anti-Semitism that has run rampant throughout the Arab world and spread by those who cannot deal with the reality of situations of their own making. Repressed societies have forced people to look to other groups to be scapegoats for their problems. Instead of focusing on improving their own situations and those of their people, the leaders in the Arab countries only seek to improve their personal lot. They enrich themselves at the expense of everyone else. They will pay off and buy out opponents. They will take steps to kick out those that might oppose them, but leave them with a bully pulpit from which to talk - as long as the talk is directed against someone or something that does not include the country of origin.

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