Keith's "Apology"

Izaro News has published the "letter of apology" that Keith Jonson sent to some of the individuals that contacted him regarding his hateful article against the Basque language and the efforts by the Basque society to strengthen a language that defines them as a people.

Here you have it:

First of all, I wanted to thank you for taking the time and trouble to write. And forgive the mass nature of the reply, but the sheer volume of mail makes individual responses physically impossible. Second, for the many non-English speakers among you, I appreciate the effort made to write in English. While there were a variety of opinions regarding the article, a common complaint was that it denigrated Euskera. I think that some people have seen only local press summaries which, I feel, presented a distorted view of what I wrote, but even some readers who saw the original version took umbrage at certain aspects.

I wanted to stress that I never set out to denigrate Euskera, and regret any offense it may have caused to Basque speakers. As in any article, I tried to gather a variety of different voices and present their opinions, rather than my own.

Which brings me to two smaller points that many readers complained about. First, the headline, “Inquisition.” That is an unfortunate choice of words; but in U.S. newspapers, journalists don’t write their own headlines.

Secondly, many readers complained that the article somehow is related to an editorial agenda of News Corp., and drew a link with one member of the News Corp. board, Jose Maria Aznar. I just wanted to stress that whatever errors there are in the article are mine; there is never any interference from above at any time, and certainly not when the editorial independence of the newspaper has been the key concern during the whole takeover process.

Best regards
Keith Johnson

Looks familiar?

Indeed, it resembles the half hearted apology that we heard from John Kerry when he said that all Basques were terrorists.

And that is the problem with US citizens now a days, they think that they can say whatever they want about others because when the going gets tough they can get away with an excuse, never a true apology.

So I ask, what would have happened if instead of Euskara Keith had decided to deride lets say, Hebrew?

By now he would be getting the label journalists fear the most, and that is anti-Semitic.

Therein lies the problem, openly insulting the Basques (and the Inuits by the way) is not considered a crime by the international community, so people like Keith Johnson feels free to say whatever they want against the Basques. This situation should change and hate crime should be punished no matter what community you want to attack as part of a propaganda campaign.

The worst part is that in an authentic Freudian Slip, Keith tells us who paid him to write his shameful piece of propaganda, yes indeed, the mustached midget is behind the whole incident.

Keith, your excuse won't fly, we demand a public apology from yourself and from the Wall Street Journal.

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