CNN's Fareed Zakaria to Return Anti-Defamation League Award Over Ground Zero Mosque

CNN Belief Blog ^ | August 7, 2010 | Staff

[lbryce]

ADL “SADDENED AND STUNNED” BY FAREED ZAKARIA’S DECISION TO RETURN AWARD

New York, NY, August 6, 2010 … In response to Fareed Zakaria returning an award that was presented to him in 2005, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said it was “saddened, stunned and somewhat speechless” by his decision.

Zakaria, the host of Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN and a Newsweek columnist, was presented the League’s Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize in 2005 for his journalism and championing the values of the First Amendment. In a letter received today, Mr. Zakaria indicated that while he was “delighted” to receive the award then, he could not “in good conscience hold onto the award” after learning of the League’s decision to urge the relocation of the planned Islamic Center near Ground Zero.

"I am not only saddened but stunned and somewhat speechless by your decision to return the ADL Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize you accepted in 2005,” Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, wrote in a letter responding to Mr. Zakaria.

As someone I greatly respect for engaging in discussion and dialogue with an open mind, I would have expected you to reach out to me before coming to judgment,” Mr. Foxman added.

Foxman said he hoped that Mr. Zakaria “will come to see that ADL acted appropriately” and would reclaim the award bestowed upon him.

[Nosterrex]

That was helpful.

[SkyDancer]

Good. I’m only 25 and for the rest of my life I want to understand why the world wants us Jews dead and Israel destroyed. We who gave YAHSHUAH to the world ....and it almost seems that Christians are the ones who want that, we’re Christ killers not understanding that He died according to Jewish prophesy ... you’re Christian because of us .....

[Nosterrex]

There are many Christians that strongly support Israel, for they have the belief that Jesus will not return until the Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem and all the Jews are converted to Christianity. I do not hold such beliefs, but I support Israel's right to exist. I personally have never met a Christian that wanted to kill Jews, but I am certain that with as many people claiming to be Christians in the world that there must be some that do wish harm to the Jews. Traditional or orthodox Christianity believes that the God of the first testament or covenant is the same God of the new testament. It is a case of prophesy and fulfillment. I earnestly believe that Jews have nothing to fear from Christians. The people that hate the Jews are the Muslims and secularist.

[SkyDancer]

Thank you - I appreciate that.

Baruch Shem Kivod Malchuto LeOlam Va'ed

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from August 7, 2010.

Thanks lbryce.

...Fareed Zakaria... the host of Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN and a Newsweek columnist, was presented the League's Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize in 2005 for his journalism and championing the values of the First Amendment. In a letter received today, Mr. Zakaria indicated that while he was "delighted" to receive the award then, he could not "in good conscience hold onto the award" after learning of the League's decision to urge the relocation of the planned Islamic Center near Ground Zero.