Palestinians commemorate 'the catastrophe'

Dear Mr. Aspell:
May I congratulate you on an outstanding and most sensitive piece on the plight of the Palestinians in the 1948 war and subsequently? It is rare for a major American network to show that side of the complex and tragic history of the Middle East. Given the current climate, this is also an act of courage for a reporter (and for the network). Perhaps American journalism is on the way to redeeming itself from the despicable toadying of 2002-2005 and to regaining its essential role of telling the whole story and serving as honest broker of information to the public--even when (especially when) it is difficult and risky to do so. You are owed respect and gratitude. Sincerely. Hazel M. McFerson, Ph.D. Associate Professor of International Studies, and Associate, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY.

Fantastic job Mr. Aspell and NBC News!! I think only a tiny percentage of Americans knew anything about what you reported. Hopefully a few more know now. The only way our government, our country, can help to bring peace and justice to the Middle East is if we as a people understand the tragedies and injustices suffered there. This report provides a great start!

Something about the comment above is quite troubling ... and yet accurate?? Is it really "risky" for you and your network to do this report?? Does it really take "an act of courage" to do this report? I agree that it IS risky and DOES take an act of courage. And yet you probably faced no physical danger in doing this report. What kind of country do we live in when it DOES take an "act of courage" to simply explain the other side of a conflict?? And exactly what is the threat that puts you at "risk" for doing such a great report?

I didn't know about news vine and the blog web of NBC nightly news until recently. Then I wrote in three different locations of this web asking NBC nightly newscast and reporter to be more aggressive and sincere when they bring the news. This what was known about American news reporter in the past, and this what made people all over the world listen to the American news reporter. I am very pleased with the report of Mr. Aspill. Finally we are back to the right type and duty of journalism and news reporter, after we losted for dacates.
Keep the good job

Najla Jallow

As an Israeli and a Jew, I am truly sad for the tragedy that befell the Palestinians during the struggle for our independence. As a documentary film researcher, I am shocked that this piece uses footage showing Arabs looting mattresses and other possessions belonging to Jewish families who had lived in the Old City of Jerusalem for hundreds of years when the latter were expelled from their homes during the 1948 war.

Dear Mr. Ben K-285112
It seem to me from the way you are writing that you are a Jew person. Being Arab and Muslim, I am very glad that I can sort of meeting an Jew person. My dear we both Jews and Arabs suffered allot over the problem of Israel and Palestine. Although I don't want to turn this discussion to be about Israel and Palestine, but I have to say my opinion for the record. I believe that Israel State should never been created because Jewish is a religion and not nationality, but since it is their now, and people established their life at least for 2 generations now, therefore Israel should stay side by side with Palestine. I just wish that those people who igniting war in both sides get reasonable and make peace.
However when I wrote and vote for the report I did not mean to be against Jewish or Israeli people. I meant to express my encouragement for reports on touchy subjects and reporters that not afraid to tackle such hard topics and look for the troth.
I hope that peace will take place between Israeli and Palestinian people soon and for ever.
Maryuma I hope you also will read this.

Ben K, Methodists don't have a country, Mormons don't, Australian Aboriginees don't, Basques don't, Kurds don't, Scientologists don't, Tamils don't, Native Americans don't, but they all have places to live. Jewish people deserve a place to live, but they don't have the right to destroy the way of life of 5 million Palestinians! The misery that Israel has created for those people will weigh on the conscience of Jews and the entire world for generations. After this latest negotiations farce has ended, the Palestinians (out of hopelessness) will probably declare themselves Israeli citizens and eventually force the UN, the world, Israel, to give them basic human rights. It's just a shame the US didn't use the money spent in Iraq, now esimated at $2-3 trillion (total long term cost), about $100K for every Iraqi, and just given it to the Palstinians, about $500K for every Palestinian man, woman, and child. Peace could probably have been purchased, maybe even for less. As far as American news coverage, every Israeli death is reported, usually in detail, with video. Palestinian deaths are sometimes not reported, reported in vague terms so that we don't know if women or children were killed, and seldom with video of civilian casualties. Palestinian casualties in the past year are least 20 times those of the Isrealis, but you would never know this by American news coverage. These are some reasons why many people believe there is a pro-Israeli bias in the American media.