The Ms. Magazine Controversy

Ms. Magazine's decision is anti-Israel bias, but let's not forget that these women DO NOT represent Jewish women at all. The Jewish women heros are mothers and grandmothers who instill real Jewish values in their children by providing for them a warm home to insulate them against the tidal wave of secular glamor--the types the women in the photo represent.

Real Jewish women work long,hard hours caring for their families and constantly pray for the welfare of their children.

Hi, there's an article on this topic in the Globe, Nation A11. Ms does give reasons for rejecting this ad and, perhaps, if one analyzes the Ms Mission, these reasons are not inflammatory and are part of policy.
I would be willing to think this and not to fan the flames, creating bad feeling about a magazine that, historically, promotes women and is most supportive of all women in all places. Sometimes I think we are too too sensitive about many issues and fan the flames when we should be more circumspect. It's very easy to get worked up and histrionic about issues affecting us and it's very easy to feel offended, particularly if we have been sensitized by history. But honestly, I have a feeling this misunderstanding, on both sides, can still be cleared, leaving good feelings all around and not boycotts and rejections of a truly good-hearted magazine.

It is shocking to note that Ms Magazine blocked a progressive developmen of women empowerment in Israel.All democratic countries should banish Ms magazine for stifling the spirit of democracy.

with regards
D.Sivarami reddy
Editor, Jewish World,
4B, Dora Legend,
Vengalraonagar,
Hyderabad,India

You would think of all magazines MS would be rooting for these women and their achievements!

Tis was an ad about woman in Israel in high positions. It had nothing to do with politics. Ms magazine should have realized that and enjoyed the pride in Israeli woman's achievements.

I can well remember when Ms. Magazine was first published and the reason for its existence. This latest debacle goes against everything for which Ms. was originally begun. This anti-Israel stand, translate anti-sematic, is totally unacceptable especially for such a magazine. I'm wondering if the publishers feel threatened by these three highly intelligent, competent women, because they truly are superior.
By the way I am not Jewish, but I have a great deal of compassion and understanding of what the Jewish people have endured. As a Christian, I know that as Israel goes so goes the world, and we have all descended from Abraham. You need to rethink this decision.

I am appalled that Ms. Magazine - a publication founded on ensuring that the rights of a significant portion of this country are respected - would blatantly disregard the rights of another group of people. I find it deeply saddening and hypocritical that, while they show great courage when fighting for women's causes, they turn tail and run when confronted by "a firestorm" of protest from obviously on antisemitic sources.

really, why was this banned? It is ridiculous.Shame on MS. magazine

Time for a boycott!

I would like to know what kind of firestorm publishing this ad, which sounds innocuous enough, would, in the opinion of Ms, provoke? Now that's very curious and I think learning more about this would be very instructive.

To:MS Magazine

"You have the guts of an amoeba."

We live in confused times when a women's magazine would reject an ad highlighting the achievement and prominence of three women in Israel's government and an educational message to broaden readers' awareness and perception of Israel as a progressive, modern nation with alot more to it than gets reported in usual media outlets. It is hard to see it any other way than political bias or worse cowardice on the part of Ms. magazine, to the point of undermining their very values, which I fully share and embrace on the place of women in our society and world!

This magazine is in business to tell women what they should think, so why is it any worse to tell them that there is nothing good about Israeli women than to tell them that there is nothing good about Israeli women?

Ironically, these are the three Israeli women most likely to make the question moot in a year or two, as they help preside over what one Israeli MK recently called "Olmert's going-out-of-business sale".

And finally, if Ms Ragen is really concerned about the Israel's image, she might consider not attacking those who wish to ride on separate seating buses. Israel is a Jewish state, not a Leftist state or a Feminist state.

I wrote:
I do not understand how Ms. Magazine can ignore the progress of feminism in Israel, which surpasses that of all other Middle Eastern countries and even many in Europe. To me it seems that Ms. should celebrate this fact, rather than cower at the mere belief that there is strong anti-Israel (i.e. latent anti-semitic) views among its readership. If you want that kind of readership, it says something very disturbing about the editors at Ms.

I don't think much of these women - not because they are women, but their left wing politcal views are an anathma. Nevertheless, they are indeed prominent and I fail to understand why your feminine orientated magazine decides to apply a boycott, unless you are anti-semitic and anti-Israel.

I used to read Ms Magazine regularly years ago, but then as American feminism became less relevant to my life, I left it behind. A couple of years ago I found a copy in a library and was disappointed to see its left-wing bias. A typical article might be about oppressed lesbian single mothers in some obscure Third World country. I could not relate at all. Now Ms.'s anti-Israel attitude is being shown loud and clear. Jewish women should protest immediately and state they will no longer be purchasing such a biased, hypocritical magazine.

While this article may be making a valid statement, it seems to be playing more on the readers emotions, then outlining the issue at hand. Everything Israel and everything Jewish is not the same, and using anti-semitisim to bully people into doing things our way minimizes legitimate cases. The article does not say if Ms. Magazine asked for a different version of the ad for publishing, nor does it elaborate on the reasons for non-publication. I imagine that Ms. Magazine did not make this decision lightly considering that many major players in the entertainment industry and political sphere are in fact Jewish, which leads me to believe that there is more to the story then this article would indicate.

I read the response from Ms. magazine, and you have missstated their position on this. I believe their actual explanation is relevant and they have highlighted Israeli women in other articles, so your bias charge is erroneous.

At least five of us that I know of will no longer buy your magazine.

Unless this is part of a series of ads "This is Israel" I think it'd make more sense to say instead something like "Where do you find women in Israel?" I agree with the sentiment of the original text, but honestly, these women are not Israel and Israel is more than women in high political offices.

Oh this is disgusting! How about freedom of speech? What about an ad about women in Islam? How many positions of power they hold, and how many were murdered for trying?
In India women are 6% of the government, France is a paltry 12% and ranks 86th place in the world. Even Uzbekistan is 62nd place!

I did voice my dissapointment to Ms. hopefully enough people will write, and cancel subscriptions - I hope this gets out and casts a light on their poor editorial and management choices!

Please, come up with a much better, a good excuse!

Your decision not to allow publication of an ad stating that Israel now has women at or near the top of all three branches of government, the judicial, the legislative and the executive, can only mean that Ms. has a distorted, anti-Israel bias.