Here's a perfect example of the double standard we have come to know, love [some of you], denounce [one or two of us] but which  ought never to surprise anyone anymore.  

This appeared in the NY Post [September 27, 2006], a Rupert Murdoch publication, which tells you most of what you need to know.
 

SCHOOLS BACK ISRAELI
TEACHER COURSE


By DAVID ANDREATTA

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September 27, 2006 -- A year after barring a Columbia University Middle East scholar from lecturing public-school teachers on the history of the region, the city's Department of Education approved a course for instructors that was created by the Israeli government.
Billed as a first of its kind, the 30-hour "Introduction to Israel: History and Culture" course drawn up by the Israeli Consulate in New York is being taught to 36 city teachers this fall for credit that can be used to boost their pay.

[Can anyone spell D-O-U-B-L-E  S-T-A-N-D-A-R-D?  In early 2005  some self-selected defenders of the Israeli faith conducted a jihad against Columbis Unversity, making all manner of charges re political indoctrination by the instructors, political intimidation of the students, biased course content, blackballing invited guest speakers and the like.  Two internal Columbia University investigations proved all chargs false with the exception of one accusation against one specific professor, Joseph Massoud, which he has repeatedly denied.  But now we see that NYC schoolteachers will be treated to the unbiased presentatons of ME history designed and written  by minions of the Israeli gov't.  These ears strain mightily to hear any cries of protest re biased curricula, uneven political treatment of controversial issues, and the like.  But then again, why should we ever expect that?  This is Israel and it's supporters we are talking about, so any notions of fairness and consistency and just plain common sense will be conspicuous by their absence if their presence would serve to inconvenience the partisans of Zion in any manner whatsoever].

[And what exactly will those 36 teachers do with this "knowledge" after having taken the course?  Are they going to turn around and pass on this "knowledge" to their delicate and innocent charges in classrooms all accross NYC?  The mind boggles -- will there be a NYC boomlet of AIPAC-drones stalking the metropolis, endlessly repeating the mantras of "Israel good, Pallys bad"  or "Islamofascist terror" and suchlike nonsense?  Ther is one saving grace, however, cold comfort that in reality it is -- the bulk of the school-going population in NYC is extremely unlikely to even show up for class, let alone hit a class room, let alone be capable of understanding any of this,  let alone listen to this pernicious political swill being ladled out in such generous portions. They're too busy evading capture by the police or cooling their heels in Central Booking or awaiting arraingment in Juvenile Court. Thank Allah for small favors  --  and I do mean small].

Amir Ofek, the Israeli consul for public affairs here, defended the 15-session program as a general information course that "avoids political issues" and aims to broaden teachers' perspective on Israel.

[Amir Ofek, devoted appartchik he must certainly be, defends this "course" on the grounds that it " 'avoids political issues' " and "aims to broaden teachers' perspective on Israel."  Oh, sure it does. And guess what's in the mail?  And guess what I won't do in your mouth? I'm guessing that all 36 teachers are self-selected and no doubt [but i'd love to be wrong] can easily quote chapter and verse of the AIPAC worldview.  What purpose does it serve the Israelis to present anyhing even remotely even-handed [apart from the unique novelty of the situation] regarding their Hobbesian struggle with the Pallys?  It makes no sense  -- but that's just a small tipoff about the immense arrogance of Israel and all it's supporters.  This emperor clearly has no clothes, and never will.  But they know no one is ever going to call them on it].

"Whatever we can do to promote understanding of our country and our environment, we will do," Ofek said. But among the lectures are "the Israeli-Arab conflict through the years" and "an overview of the challenges and major events from 1948 to present." Both talks would be given by an executive with the Zionist Organization of America.

[I had to pause to wipe the vomit off of my keyboard.  My eyes bulge with incredulity as I read that third paragraph. And the veins in my neck are about to burst. Among the topics to be propagandized about, er, excuse me, to be taught are "the Israeli-Arab conflict through the years" and "an overview of the challenges and major events from 1948 to the present."  And taught by executives of the Zionist Organization of America [no, it's not the US Congress but I undertand how many of us might be capable of making that mistake].  Yep, that's gonna be a motherlode of scholarly objectivity and detachment, as they carefully weigh some of the evidence and, surprise!!!  find the Pallys guilty on all counts and the Israelis innocent of all wrongdoing.  Honestly, i'm almost tempted to ask the NYC Board of Education for a syllabus and reading list, just to indulge my mashocistic whims.  I can imagine the roster of potential guest lecturers :  Elie Weisel, Alan Dershowitz, Bibi, Schransky, Ed Koch, Rabbi Avi Weiss,  Lawrence Summers, Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz.  I could go on but the bile is rising].

The print version of this news article is considerably longer and goes into much more detail.  The online version available to link is sadly much shorter, but it still gives you the flavor of the thing.  Well, there's a bad aftertaste in my mouth after reading this.