On seduction and hypocrisy
I don’t like being critical of folks, but as Mary Mason herself said in her advertisements, “Truth matters.”
Almost monthly, she offers up far-right conspiracy theories in an attempt to bamboozle and gain converts of those who don’t use the internet to check what she says. She is well-written and so is seductive.
But the fact is, she doesn’t seem to understand the ramifications of what she is baiting us about. She pounds Israel and in doing so supports Hamas. Does she not realize that by supporting Hamas, she becomes complicit in Iran’s support of terrorism?
Apparently, Netanyahu is guilty of graft, corruption and other offenses because citizens demonstrate about his judicial changes. Having read her posts over the years, I am fairly certain she would deny that former President Donald Trump could possibly be guilty of similar crimes.
I ask: Even after his 501(c)(3) was fined $2 million and then forced to disband his foundation? Even after being found guilty of rape and receiving a $5 million verdict? Even after a judge found the Trump Organization engaged in years of tax fraud? Even after Sydney Powell pled guilty to election subversion? It’s a political witchhunt, right?
Her writing says Netanyahu’s charges are not politically motivated, however. Look, Trump is innocent until proven guilty. As is Netanyahu. I think she does not see what lies beneath these conflicting points of view.
Don’t misunderstand. The guilt or innocence of these people in my examples is not the point. Both are innocent until proven guilty.
I have more than one point: Her line of thought is not sufficiently expansive. Investigate what she says from competing sources. Believing something does not make it true.
Lastly, in these examples of similar allegations, you cannot side with one individual and not the other. For that is the very definition of hypocrisy.
David Bellino, Murphy
Opinion was ‘anti-Semitic’
I have read some of Mary Mason’s many letters to the editor and paid advertisements in the past and have agreed with most.
That is, until her Oct. 11 ad on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, which was nothing less than anti-Semitic.
Without going into a long complex history lesson, the Palestinians aren’t even Israelis; they are Arab-speaking Muslims who have migrated into the area called Palestine. Arab people who call this territory home have been known as Palestinians since the early 20th century.
The historical discourse regarding the origins of Palestinians has been impacted by Palestinian nationalism to establish itself as the dominant regional identity since the 1920s, and to use origin to counter Zionist arguments. Many areas considered present-day Israel that are claimed by Palestinians are occupied by Israelis and have been for centuries.
In 1947, after more than two decades of British rule, the United Nations proposed a plan to partition Palestine into two sections: an independent Jewish state and an independent Arab state. In May 1948, less than a year after the Partition Plan was introduced, Britain withdrew from Palestine and Israel declared itself an independent state, implying a willingness to implement the Partition Plan. However, many Palestinian Arabs in the region vehemently opposed it.
Almost immediately, neighboring Arab armies moved in to prevent the establishment of the Israeli state. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War that ensued involved Israel and five Arab nations – Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon.
That is who started the war. During that war, thousands of Palestinians fled to Syria and others to Egypt,where many Palestinians originally came from.
They’ve been bombarding Israel ever since. No wonder Israel built the wall around Gaza to protect themselves.
Shirley Frisbee, Murphy
Deceived by propaganda
Oh, Mary Mason. By your ads in the Oct. 11 and 18 Cherokee Scout issues, it is obvious that you are very sadly misinformed and deceived by the propaganda campaign to support Palestinian Arabs.
If you truly care about knowing the truth, I suggest you or anyone else concerned about the occurring horrors in Israel watch The 700 Club on television and get a copy of CBN’s “Whose Land Is It?” for any dollar amount donation (cbn.com/lsrael).
Among many other historic facts, you will learn Israel has legal possession of the fought-over land. And if you consider yourself a Christian, you are called to support and pray for Israel as all Christians are.
May your mind, eyes and heart be opened to the truth.
Tamara Phillips, Murphy
No defense for Hamas
Let’s make it perfectly clear: If Mary Mason of Murphy is a real person, she advertised to defend Hamas’ barbaric rape, murder and burning of innocent women, the elderly and decapitation of babies.
There is no justification for this inhuman behavior. All the advertisements in the world will not change the horrendous terrorist attack.
Lastly, does the Cherokee Scout need advertising profits that badly? Shame!
Alan Durand, Murphy
Editor’s note: We can confirm that Mary Mason is a real person who lives in Cherokee County.
Make peace in homeland
Turn the other cheek.
My suggestion: Take the Gaza Strip, but go back to the Green Line: return to the Palestinians all of the West Bank.
Allow them a viable homeland. Make peace.
Harry Holdorf, Brasstown
Praying for peace first
I’m responding to Ronell Harris’ comment, “How (in heaven’s name) can you defend the atrocities committed by the Hamas terrorists?”
I never defended or condoned the murder of Israeli citizens and taking of hostages anywhere in my ad. I pray the Israeli hostages will be returned unharmed.
Apparently, one statement I made was unclear and understandably misunderstood. I said, “How much more do we expect the Palestinians to suffer at the hands of the Israeli military before Hamas can righteously fight back?”
I was referring to Hamas soldiers fighting Israeli soldiers, as Hamas attacked an Israeli military facility on Oct. 7. I believe that it’s justifiable for freedom fighters to fight their IDF oppressors.
In 1948, the Jews murdered 13,000 Palestinians; 750,000 Palestinians had to abandon their jobs, homes, belongings and homeland, fleeing for their lives. Zionists have murdered 103,800 innocent Palestinian citizens since 1948. For decades, the IDF has continuously murdered Palestinian citizens and presently holds 5,349 Palestinian hostages in Israeli prisons. The Gazans have lived behind apartheid walls, in an open-air prison, a crime against humanity.
Recently, 4,650-plus Palestinians have been murdered, 15,000-plus wounded from 6,300 bombs. Thousands of Palestinians were crushed to death, their bodies still trapped under dozens of buildings. IDF bombed 23 hospitals, 500-plus Palestinians were murdered in a Baptist hospital bombing alone. A war crime!
Days later, an occupied Greek Orthodox Church and 25 occupied apartment buildings were bombed. Netanyahu refused 2.4 million Palestinians water, food, electricity and fuel. A war crime!
Israel is a terrorist state. Fighting to stop these atrocities, and demanding Israel stop the slaughter of innocent Palestinians is a just cause. How can one have sympathy for Jewish citizens, but not shed a single tear for innocent murdered Palestinians? Israel’s supporters should consider examining their conscience. Pray for peace.
Mary Mason, Murphy
Roundabout wrong on 64
I guess I’m going to have to eat some crow on this one. I thought the roundabout was only for downtown. Now after reading the latest edition of the newspaper, I find out they’re going to put a roundabout down by the BP station that, on the other hand, is a totally different issue.
I do not agree with that one because of the amount of traffic that comes in from the west and also the traffic heading west from the east. All that’s going to do is create a traffic jam down that whole stretch of highway, if they are correct in their count of 20,000 a day.
I think roundabouts are great for light traffic areas, but in the middle of a four-lane highway I have to disagree with this one.
If anything, they need to put more police patrols to catch speeders on that section of road. I had traffic passing me the other day by Arby’s that had to have been running at least 60 mph.
It’s funny. When you go to Hayesville, you have the sheriff’s office and N.C. Highway Patrol pulling over people and giving tickets. But yet in Murphy, they come down that hill past all these fast-food places with their pedal to the metal.
Lee Daniels, Murphy