http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspxBy Martin Fletcher, NBC News Tel Aviv Bureau Chief When I got the assignment to come to work out of the NBC London bureau I was delighted. That should make a nice change from war and mayhem in the Holy Land, I thought. After ten days, I can'ten-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#35010Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:10:30 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:35010LNP, Maryland, USAI love you, Martin Fletcher! While I agree it is a bit beneath you to report on such pedestrian news, I have to say you pulled it off with wit and charm. I do look forward to seeing you back in the Middle East, however; your reports from Israel during last summer's Israeli-Hezbollah conflict were superb! Take care, and remain safe.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#35169Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:22:29 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:35169Josef Balzer Askeaton IrelandErr- hands up: How many people in the US know who the hell 'Gazza' is ??? I can understand that the British tabloid press is interested in that- i have "enjoyed" their scribblings for almost as long as i'm living in Ireland (since 1984)- but i must ask you: Do you really want to go down that road...?!?http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#36249Thu, 18 Jan 2007 21:35:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:36249Josef Balzer Askeaton Ireland To Martin Fletcher: Sorry- should have read this piece properly. Was fired up about the fact that *every* time i send an email to America, i get the same error-message from the qmail-daemon... Something is wrong here. I sent emails to Brazil and other places before- the US are the only place i got that problem. Someone's interferring...?!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#36262Thu, 18 Jan 2007 21:46:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:36262Josef Balzer Askeaton IrelandThanks for your report- I had ample opportunity to enjoy the British tabloid-press since i moved to Ireland (in 1984). They are usually referred to as "gutter-press" around here; i can attest to the fact that there is what i can only describe as an organised campaign against Asians- particularly if they are from Islamic countries- for months now. There used to be a number of very good papers in Britain (a few are still around), but that has changed drastically since about 1984. When i arrived in Ireland that year, there was a major scandal going on in Britain: Evidently, the BBC had been undermined completely by MI6- the internal security-service. As a result of the scandal, all editors with MI6-links were fired and replaced with the original editors. At around that time, Rupert Murdock was collecting Newspapers like other people collect stamps... http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#36419Fri, 19 Jan 2007 01:02:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:36419hand down, USA"Err- hands up: How many people in the US know who the hell 'Gazza' is ??? " Who? WHO? Ya got me.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#36605Fri, 19 Jan 2007 14:51:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:36605Bill Owen, Annapolis MDOK so the Star, the Sun and the Mirror are obsessed with Posh, Becks and the royal family, but then in the US the National Enquirer and your own Star contain just the same irrelevant trash and you have a whole cable channel E! that devotes itself to the same trivia. Don't tell me the British are more into trivia than the Americans, that a huge stretch. How do I know this I am British and have lived in the US for the past 15 years and am married to a very intelligent, but trivia obsessed American lady. I’m sure the issues in Gaza are the things we should be concerned about and I applaud you devotion to that but the west has for a long time put trivia above the serious issues of our time. That’s the real problem in my view. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#36629Fri, 19 Jan 2007 15:18:00 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:36629Smyrnagirl, Smyrna, GeorgiaWouldn't have Ms. Middleton bought a dress on High Street, as in, "Kensington High Street," not in a "high street" sale? Still, obviously, not the same as in Gaza...http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#36650Fri, 19 Jan 2007 15:32:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:36650hand-held-in-questionHey Josef - I don't know WHO Gaza is but I do know WHAT the Gaza is. Guess you're not immune to prejudiced attitudes either.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#36694Fri, 19 Jan 2007 16:09:58 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:36694Sherif, New York, NYThank you for letting your readers know that while Posh & Becks are travelling the globe, human beings are killed with our superbly made weapons.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#36728Fri, 19 Jan 2007 16:29:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:36728Shadow MackIt is a real shame that some of the individuals commenting on your article do not know what Gaza is. Although these individuals are at fault for their own ignorance, I do also believe that it is the responsibility of the press to make sure the public hears more about the events that occur in Gaza than what it going on in celebrity land. If any reportrs are reading this, PLEASE take your careers seriously!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#36905Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:54:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:36905Olivia, Peoria, Ill.I do know what Gaza is--but as for my main topic, I do not think the American news media (especially the electronic) has been lagging very far behind the British tabloid press when it comes to reporting on such topics as celebrity news, news about TV shows and other entertainment such as the start of the new season of "American Idol," stories about the British royal family, and other fluff. Such trivia crowds out more important stories about both national and international issues that really matter, about which people should be better informed. The American news media feel they have to cover fluff in order to attract ratings (because this stuff is popular with a lot of people) and the consequent advertising dollars. Perhaps if more people paid attention to hard news instead, more people would know what Gaza is. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#37144Fri, 19 Jan 2007 23:15:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:37144Zackariya Hamad ,Brooklyn,New YorkI'am a Palestinian/American and I sure know what is Gaza. I wonder if we the Palestinian have any rights in this world People from the west act like we dont exist and treat us like we are worth nothing. We Palestinians need people like Martin Fletcher to report to the rest of the ignorant world what goes on there under Isreali rule. I thank you Martin Fletcherhttp://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/18/34576.aspx#37595Sun, 21 Jan 2007 04:53:30 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:37595lDear Mr. Fletcher, I have to say when I saw that you were reporting from London, I was happy to see you were in a safer place. However, I have to admit the stories you covered were not the most earth shattering news. Too bad you can't have your cake and eat it too. You do an excellent job. Please stay safe.