Why does the mainstream media keep misinterpreting the comment of "wiping Israel off the map"?

Question

http://www.antiwar.com/orig/norouzi.php?articleid=11025

So this raises the question.. what exactly did he want "wiped from the map"? The answer is: nothing. That's because the word "map" was never used.

So what did Ahmadinejad actually say? To quote his exact words in Farsi:

"Imam ghoft een rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods bayad az safheh-ye ruzgar mahv shavad."


That passage will mean nothing to most people, but one word might ring a bell: rezhim-e. It is the word "regime." pronounced just like the English word with an extra "eh" sound at the end. Ahmadinejad did not refer to Israel the country or Israel the land mass, but the Israeli regime. This is a vastly significant distinction, as one cannot wipe a regime off the map. Ahmadinejad does not even refer to Israel by name, he instead uses the specific phrase "rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods" (regime occupying Jerusalem).

Answer 1

I believe part of the translation was also "removed from the pages of history" -- which could mean a map, or it could me a record -- but that's the thing about translations -- they are often ambiguous.

But most people don't make the distinction -- talking about eliminating the govt (regime) of Israel is the same to them as saying you want to eliminate the nation of Israel -- which they could interpret to mean "destroy" -- it's all interpretation.

That's the point -- and it's not just the media -- those who want an excuse to hate Iran or its leadership will find one -- whether legitimate or by interpreting things in the worst possible way -- while those who don't have that agenda aren't looking for excuses -- and are more willing to consider alternative interpretations and meanings.

Answer 2

1) If the Israeli - or any other national government including that of the USA - is wiped out the nation in question, itself, will collapse due to lack of structure and massive bloodshed will follow.

2) Since the 30's, there has been a significant Arab presence in Middle Eastern countries that has wished to see the Jews exterminated.

Yes, I said exterminated.

In the Holocaust that President Imawannajihad says didn't happen. If you're as good a study of history as you are of linguistics, you'd know this.

3) If you're going to construct a credible argument, do so without citing websites that - even in name - show an obvious bias. Its like trying to put together an argument for racial intelligence with material from American Renaissance and Stormfront. You've just shown your hand right here.

Answer 3

I have learned, in this 56 years on the planet, not to trust the government.

Just recently it scared us into two wars and has now declared the whole military of Iran as terrorists.

Further, according to a 2005 congressional study, the USA supplies 36% of the worlds arms. Some independent studies put that as high as 60%.

Therefore, the USA has a vested interest to keep up the hate, continue conflict, point fingers and war.

I've been saying for years, follow the money. I find it sad that few listen and never hear a word about that from politicians. Reason is, every one of them depend on jobs from military contractors in their districts, to campaign donations, to corruption. While they won't rally against feeding that hydra, what they are doing in the long run is shooting Americans in the head.

We simply can not go on like that and not expect the worst to happen to us.

Peace

Jim

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Answer 4

Because this is literally what Ahmadinejad wants to do with Israel. No matter what the misinterpretation the intentions are still the same.

Answer 5

He means to finish the "Final Solution" that the man he admires most tried to accomplish in the 30s and 40s.

Answer 6

Don't take it literally. When they talk about wiping Israel off the map means to eliminate it from existance.

Answer 7

Muslims and Israelis don't like each other.

Muslims outnumber Israelis, probably 100-1.

Without US support Muslims would eliminate Israel, any way that they could.

This is not hard to understand.

Answer 8

And so when he says the Holocaust never happened....that's just a misunderstanding too right.

Answer 9

beacuse its function is to disseminate war propaganda - the sheeple love it (all the way to their own slaughter)!

i should add it doesn't 'misinterpret it'-- it deliberately mispresents it.