Barney
Originally published 7:56 p.m., August 3, 2008
Updated 1:28 p.m., August 5, 2008
Reply to Norman Jaffe: Here are two responses to a News-Press op-ed page commentary on Sunday, August 3, 2008, in which Norman Jaffe compared the Teamster-led boycott of the newspaper to Nazi attacks on Jews. [The link to the Op-Ed is behind News-Press pay barrier]
Barney
The first is from Santa Barbara talk show host Ernie Salomon, addressed to News-Press co-publisher Arthur von Wiesenberger:
“Dear Arthur:
“I am a German Jewish refugee to the U.S.A. and lost many family members to gassing by the Germans under Hitler; aunts, uncles and cousins. My grandmother survived Theresianstadt concentration camp. Two of uncles survived Westerbork. One cousin survived Auschwitz.
“To allow the use of the Nazis' oppression and murder of millions of Jews as a tool for the News-Press to fight the Teamsters union is an affront to the millions of Jews and non-Jews that were murdered by Hitler and his common criminal thugs. I take it as a personal insult to my entire family, including my parents and me.
“To compare the Teamster's union to the Nazis is way over the top. Travis and the News-Press are using this outrageous comparison to fight the paper's legal and political battle with the Teamster's union and trampling on the graves of millions of Hitler's victims, and in so doing you are trivializing the Nazis and their atrocities!
(“Arthur, you are a bright guy and a thinking man. Stop and think about this objectively!)”
Salomon quotes Jaffe: " ‘Dressed in Union garb.’ What exactly is ‘union garb’?” Salomon asked. “I drove big rigs as a young man and I have never seen two Teamsters dressed alike in my entire life, except those wearing company uniforms. Passing out ‘yellow leaflets’ outside of stores or putting them in shopping carts and asking shop owners no longer to advertise in the News-Press? Have Jaffe and (News-Press editorial page editor Travis) Armstrong ever read or even ever heard of Article I of the U.S. Constitution? Jaffe's op-ed hit piece is more about Yellow Journalism than it is about ‘yellow leaflets.’ This is a new low for a paper that has already fallen far!”
Teamster attorney Ira Gottlieb added:“It is regrettable that someone who has experienced the worst misery and horror that humans may inflict on one another as Mr. Jaffe has would offer such an inapt comparison between workers' struggle for workplace fairness and justice at the News-Press -- epitomized by the UFW grape and lettuce boycotts decades ago -- and the immeasurable suffering inflicted on Jews in the Krystal Nacht government-inspired paroxysm, a result of pervasive, monumental ethnic and religious hatred and intolerance.
“In Santa Barbara in the year 2008, however, the union is simply and peacefully asking those who do business with the News-Press to consider management's proven, ongoing malicious employment and labor policies when deciding whether to continue to support the paper with their valuable discretionary revenue. The distinction seems easily discernible. Perhaps Mr. Jaffe would be open to an honest dialogue about his perception as expressed in his opinion piece, with which I, for one, respectfully and firmly disagree.”
Arthur Replies to Ernie: “Dear Ernie. You are always welcome to send your opinion to the Voices section of the News-Press. I'm not sure that Travis will be inclined to take you seriously when you write to him wishing that he would die of cancer, as you did in your e-mail to him on July 12: ‘Marty and I have both had cancer and so far we are surviving it. I wish you the former, minus the latter.’
“Regarding ‘union garb,’ I think that is referring to the Teamster's tee shirts, usually in black with the Teamster's logo over the left-hand chest area, and black pants. Regarding the passing out of leaflets along with the harassing of store owners and their customers, the union is engaging in unlawful secondary boycotts, pursuant to section 10(i) of the National Relations Labor Act.
“I am sure Ernie that you don't really wish people to suffer a terrible death like cancer nor do you want to see an organization like the Teamsters harassing neutral Santa Barbara business owners and their customers. Think of the positive things you can do with your energy to enhance our community. After all don't we all want the best for Santa Barbara today and for generations to come?”
Ernie Replies to Arthur: “You are 100 percent right! The cancer remark was made in anger and frustration and it was my ‘over the top statement.’ I really don't wish Travis cancer. It is not a fun experience. I apologize to Travis for making the statement. It was wrong! I was angry that Travis kept pounding Marty as being responsible for the gang problem.
“If the Teamsters are engaged in secondary boycott efforts, the courts will take action. If Teamsters ask a business not to advertise with a newspaper or other media, I do not believe that this action is a secondary boycott. They have the right to pass out leaflets at any public place. I believe that a secondary boycott is about preventing a third party business from doing its business, say by blocking its customer's access or physical threats to its workers and customers. We shall see what the courts decide.
“To compare the union and their actions with those of Nazi Germany is a sacrilege! On this I stand firm. Warmest regards,”
Mayor Blum to Arthur: “I agree that the cancer comment from Ernie was too much. I read that he apologized. Don't you agree that the barrage of comments about the mayor have been over the top also?”
This story was amended to add Arthur von Wiesenberger's response to Ernie Salomon, Salomon's reply, and also Mayor Blum's reply to Von Wiesenberger.
Columnist Barney Brantingham can be reached at barney@independent.com or (805) 965-5205. He writes online columns and a print column on Thursdays.