How can the United States defend Israel's attack on Gaza and killing of so many people, many which are innocent children and families?  there is no excuse for killing so many people.   The US should join the UN and the growing number of countries and demand an immediate cease fire and the barricade of food and medical aide to the people of Gaza.

This is not about politics or religion.   This is about the innocent of the people in Gaza.  We should focus on a humanitarian effort and immediately demand an end to the violence. Israel calls the Islamic Militant in Gaza a "terrorist organization" and kills over 300 people and injures thousands more by attacking Gaza.  Many of these people killed by the attack, are children, mothers and families.  Instead of standing up and saying no to this violence, the US defends Israel's action.  Violence is never right!  there is no excuse or justification for killing innocent people.   Of course Israel have a right to defend themselves.   But here we are talking about excessive military force and the reckless killing of innocent people.

Today I was greatly angered to learn that the Israeli militant killed over 270 people and injured hundreds of people in an attack on the Hamas security compounds across the Gaza Strip.  The Israeli officials gave a press conference characterizing the attack as open-ended offensive against the Islamic militant group.   

To further my anger, instead of issuing a neutral statement of cease fire to both sides, I am outraged that the US issued a statement defending Israel's attack goes further by ordering the Hamas to cease shooting rockets into Israel.  No where in the statement did the US condemn Israel for killing 270 people!  I don't care who started the attack but there is never a justification for killing innocent lives. 

Also, I am fustrated that the US media outlets were so one-sided in that not one station mentioned in their coverage that the Hamas injured zero Israel citizens in their attacks and that the only people killed from the Hamas attacks were two Palestinian girls when a projectile aimed at Israel misfired and exploded on the Gaza side of the border.  I only learned about that from reading the FT or BBC!  The US media seemed to give more coverage on the crazy Santas Claus that killed a family of 9 on Christmas then global violence in Gaza!

What does this have to do with PR and why am I blogging about this aside from the fact that 270 people were killed!?  Well the answer is easy.  After 270 people were killed in today's massacre, the US goes out and issues a statement to the world supporting our ally Israel and ordering Hamas to stop fire.  This is the dumbest thing for the US to do!  How do you think the rest of the world will perceive us with a statement like that?  How will our own people as well as our neighbors in China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh perceive us? I can tell you that my American friends who follow what's going on with Israel and Palestine are mad as hell.  They cannot justify Israel for killing 270 people.  Nor can they justify Israel for barricading the basic food and medical supplies to the innocent children and families living in Gaza.  And on top of that they cannot justify the United States for supporting and defending today's massacre.

The US needs to do some serious PR which includes educating our own people about what's going on.  We also need to educate the rest of the world that we are fair and just!  We can do this by being more objective in our news reporting.  Nowadays with youtube, the internet and the emergence of social media, everything we say and do is being downloaded millions of times worldwide including in countries like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.  The United State's statement on today's massacre is probably being used as a marketing materials to fuel hate for the US and to recruit for the next generation of terrorst.  For a country that has the best PR minds, the US has really bad PR!!!

Obama once said we are all citizens of the world.  Just by those words alone and the fact that America has elected the first Black president, the world fell in love with America all over again.  Now with all the violence and the current financial state, America needs more than ever to have a PR campaign where it shows the world that we are just and fair, a country of integrity, and that once again we are that great country where anything is possible if you work hard, regardless of your race or sex.

Here is a feel-good story that I thought was interesting because of the social-networking component. As some of you know, I’m keenly interested in the power of using social networking in PR. In this case, a student at the University of Vermont utilized Facebook to help organize and raise funds for a club football team from scratch.

Its amazing what you can do with social media!  I still remember the story last month of a Dartmouth student that won an official post from her more established opponent by promoting via Facebook.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/sports/03vermont.html?_r=1

Did you see the story about the Boston man who was ticketed as he tried to drive his wife to the hospital to have a baby? The state police, and the ticketing trooper in particular, look very bad in this one. I had to laugh, though, when I saw the police spokesman quoted in the article. Can’t all of us in the PR field relate to this guy--having to speak to the press and try to defend the client for the indefensible? Not fun. I’d be interested if anyone has their own stories about being in a similar situation.

Regardless of the situation, its always good to respond in a timely manner and get your side of the story out.  Remember what happened several years ago when the Chinese shot down a US airplane by mistake.  There were tons of negative press and the Chinese government never issued a statement.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/12/04/in_rush_hour_labor_ticket_delivered/

Eliot Spitzer has a new gig--writing a regulatory issues column for Slate.com, following on a recent op-ed piece in the Washington Post--and I wonder if we’re witnessing the latest attempt to restore a public figure’s reputation after a sex scandal.

From a PR standpoint, this is probably a good move for Spitzer, and it has precedent in recent years. Two public figures faced similar situations, and at the time of their scandals it seemed as if restoring their professional lives would be impossible. Marv Albert, famed sports announcer, pled guilty to assault and battery in a case that displayed embarrassing details of his sexually deviant extramarital affair, and chick-flick heartthrob Hugh Grant was publicly embarrassed by his arrest and conviction for solicitation after engaging the services of a Hollywood streetwalker.

Both Albert and Grant seemed to be forgiven by the public, eventually, and returned to their lucrative professions. It will be interesting to see how far former Gov. Spitzer will be able to climb back from his infamous liaison with Ashley Dupre, the high-priced call girl for a Washington D.C. prostitution ring.

The PR lesson--no matter how battered the public image, America will probably offer forgiveness and provide you with a chance for restoration.

http://www.slate.com/id/2205995/