Spielberg foundation to donate to Israel

[Gasping4Truth]

AP - A foundation created by filmmaker Steven Spielberg will donate $US1 million ($A1.3 million) to relief efforts in Israel as it battles with Hizbollah.

The Righteous Persons Foundation will make an initial contribution of $US250,000 ($A327,000) to the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles Israel Crisis Fund.

The foundation will then follow up with gifts to the New Israel Fund and other organisations that are providing relief to those evacuated from northern Israel, Marvin Levy, foundation spokesman said.

The Jewish Foundation will use its donation to support emergency efforts for evacuated children, install shatterproof glass in Haifa's three hospitals and provide emergency assistance at the Naharia hospital, he said.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=121330

[regnaD kciN]

1. Too bad for Lebanon...

...that there aren't any ultra-rich Lebanese filmmakers.

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. Too bad Lebanon harbored terrorists

[stepnw1f]

20. You Better Hope You are Never Accused of the Same

you could one day be an "innocent civilian", broadly brushed as harboring terrorism. Then will you think differently about what you just said?

I don't believe the Lebanese civilians really are to blame, but for some sociopaths, they seem to believe it's ok to kill em all regardless. "Weed out the wicked".

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. Is there any question that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization?

[stepnw1f]

23. Nice Dodge

But this isn't about whether they are or aren't. This is about INNOCENT civilians, and you claiming that any civilian caught in the crossfire had it coming to them, because Lebanon harbors terrorists. You can try to rationalize all you want... but in the end, you condone indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians.

And what I'm saying, is that you too could be one of those innocent civilians. I guess you would rather not go there... gee... I wonder why?

[Casablanca]

32. The "beauty" of Freddie Stubbs argument ...

... is in the fact that, if Israel succeeds in motivating all of those innocent civilians to feel like they have no other choice in defending themselves than to join Hezbollah, then Israel will use that to justify even more aggression against them. Ask George W. - he used the same tactic with Saddam.

And if those innocent civilians choose to remain innocent, they'll be bombed anyway. Again, ask George W. - he used the same tactic with Iraq.

It's unfortunate that it takes overt military action and a bodycount to motivate many Americans to temporarily question these brinksmanship tactics. But as we all know in America (but few will admit), America has nothing to feel morally superior about in this situation.

[LivingInTheBubble]

27. of course there is a question, only sheep believe the labels.

Hizbollah have killed mostly soldiers.
Israelis have killed mostly civilians.

[Spinoza]

30. I wonder if that is due to

the fact that the IDF tries to do everything possible to protect Israeli civilians whereas the Hizbollah deliberately fires missiles from within heavily populated civilian areas, builds its bases next to or under schools, hospitals, etc and does everything in its power to force Israel to kill Lebanese civilians in order to strike back at Hizbollah? It is Hizbollah that deliberately uses human shields and makes no effort to prevent Lebanese civilian casualties. All the blood is on Hizbollah hands.

(I've also wondered how the press knows that a number of 'civilians' were killed or hurt without any Hizbollah also killed or hurt? After all, Hizbollah doesn't wear uniforms. At least in respect to male adults, how does the press know who is a 'civilian' vs a full or part-time Hizbollah member? Naturally, Hizbollah will lie on this matter both to make Israel look worse in world opinion and to show they are not being hurt.)

[michreject]

33. Great post

All true except those looking for excuses.

[The Stranger]

29. I suppose there is.

Did you think there wasn't?

[graywarrior]

2. Famous American Musicians/Composers of Lebanese Descent

Interesting page of well know people of Lebanese decent.

Paul Anka: was one of America's first pop teen idols. Click here to read blurb.
Sammy Haggar: former lead vocalist for Van Halen.
The Late Frank Zappa: in the world of rock he was a legend.
Dick Dale: he was the 'King of the Surf Guitar.'
Tiffany: the first teenage singer to have her first two singles hit number
one in U.S. Tiffany is also known for her posing for Playboy Magazine. Now 30, a wife, a mom and releasing a new album titled "The Color of Silence."
Paul Jabara: is the oscar winning composer for "Last Dance" from Thank God,
It's Friday.
Shakira: World-renowned rock singer. Born in Columbia of Lebanese descent.
Waleed Howrani: world-renowned musician, concert pianist and composer.
Walid Akl: world-renowned musician - A pianist.
Abdel Rahman El-Bacha: world-renowned musician.
Bechara El-Khoury: world-renowned musician.
Gabriel Yared - Academy Award winner, music score composer for the movie "The English patient". Click here to read Impression Blurb.
Ron AFFIF - born 30th Dec 1965. He has recorded 5 or so albums for the Pablo label. His latest "Solotude" a solo effort. He has appeared in the far east, in the UK, in clubs and International Festivals and has a big following at his Monday night`s residency at the Zinc Bar in New Yorks Lower Manhattin. His mother`s brother is the celebrated guitarist Ron Anthony (Sinatra's guitarist 1985-1993). I notice George Benson descibes him as an Italian , this is understandable as his mother is still alive and "uncle Ron" is his music mentor. Nevertheless the Affif family are from Lebanon. His father Charlie was a middle weight champion fighter.

Politicians

The new secretary of energy of the United States of America . He is a third-generation American of Lebanese descent. He was born in Michigan. He was also a U.S. senator representing the state of Michigan.
Donna Shalala - former secretary of state for health and human services under the Clinton administration (and the longest to serve in the post); currently President of the University of Miami.
Ralph Nader - Ex. presidential candidate and consumer advocate. Click here for blurb and here for more detailed Bio. Visit his websites Essential Information and Nader.org
George Mitchell: Congressman, Lebanese on his mother's side.
Nick Joe Rahall II - 20-year veteran Congressman of West Virginia, grandson of Lebanese immigrants (source)
Pat Danner - Congresswoman of Missouri
Ray LaHood - Congressman of Illinois
John Baldacci - Congressman of Maine
John E. Sununu - Congressman of New Hampshire
Chris John - Congressman of Louisiana
John Sununu (related to above Snunu) - Former New Hampshire Governor and White House Chief of Staff
Selwa Roosevelt - American Ambassador and longest-serving White House Chief of Protocol.
Thomas A. Nassif - assistant to Selwa Roosevelt; served as U.S. Ambassador to Morocco.
Philip Habib - U.S. Ambassador and Presidential envoy
Helen Thomas - a 50-year veteran with U.S. International and the Dean of the White House Press Corps; served with eight U.S. presidents since 1961

Link
http://www.amalid.com/prominent_lebanese_americans.htm

[Placebo]

3. Helen Thomas is Lebanese?

I'd have never guessed.

[SoCalDem]

4. How could they leave out Danny Thomas?

[graywarrior]

5. He's there, twice. Go to the link

[gorbal]

9. John Baldacci is our Governor

There is an interesting article on the "Seeds of Peace" camp in Maine.

OTISFIELD - While explosions rocked communities on both sides of the Lebanese border on Thursday, the nation's only Arab-American governor urged Middle Eastern teenagers at the Seeds of Peace camp to seek nonviolent solutions as they attempt to resolve long-standing cultural differences.

"We all come from different points in our life, but we're here together and we're trying to make it better," said Gov. John Baldacci. "In spite of the conflicts and the tragedies and the war that's taking place now, you are, hopefully, the future leaders in your regions and your countries."

http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=138307

I googled another article that wondered why he wasn't invited John McCain to visit after McCain said it was no time for a cease-fire in Lebanon. It's like, get a clue.

[crim son]

18. I had no idea Baldacci was of Lebanese descent.

Good article, by the way. I've given up on the BDN and occasionally I miss something interesting.

[jpkenny]

17. Why isn't Nader as vocal about this as he was about Gore?

It would seem to me that he would be out raising hell.

[McKinneyIsAHero]

24. He is -- did you see Democracy Now!

He also lambasted Lamont for not supporting a ceasefire (although he wholeheartedly agreed with his run against Lieberman and defeat of him).

[bunyip]

6. Good on him.

The Jewish Foundation will use its donation to support emergency efforts for evacuated children, install shatterproof glass in Haifa's three hospitals and provide emergency assistance at the Naharia hospital, he said.

He's helping (some) innocent victims of this war of choice, as a wealthy Jewish man should. I'd like to see him provide matching funds to help the innocent Lebanese, but I guess they're not as important.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Divernan]

11. No, the SENSIBLE measure would be not to grossly escalate hostilities

as Israel did in response to three kidnapped soldiers (versus thousands of kidnapped Lebanese, held in Israel for years!)

[LostinVA]

12. Yes, it is a war of choice for Israel

[midnight]

13. Now ,that would be a beautiful thing!

[oasis]

7. My heart goes out to all of the children who are devastated by the war.

Steven S. should write a letter to Bush asking him to put a stop to the madness.

[Vidar]

8. Good for him (for the displaced, not the IDF)

[jpkenny]

16. He is doing the right thing. There are innocents on both sides being

killed. I only hope there is much more going to help the vitims in Lebanon.

[Vidar]

25. Agreed.

[leftchick]

14. The US doesn't give them enough already?

[cali]

15. What does what

the U.S. does, have to do with what a private citizen does? Personally, I think it would have been meaningful if he'd given both to Lebanon and Israel, but it's his foundation.

[Vidar]

26. Any foreign aid other than arms, corrupt construction or exorbidant

loans is classified as welfare & left to liberal terrorists.

[LivingInTheBubble]

28. Yes but they spend that money on oppressing and killing civilians.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Thickasabrick]

31. I think it's wonderful what Spielberg is doing. The really sad thing

is that if someone donates to a Lebanese relief organization, they run the risk of being prosecuted as a supporter of terrorism should the organization at some point become listed as a "terrorist organization". I suppose donating to the Red Cross with instructions for the funds to be solely used for Lebanon relief would be safe.