I really though Naomi Klein's speech would have elicited more of a response on TLN. I personally think it's significant and could mark a turning point in both the public's and the media's perception of the horrors being endured by the people of Gaza. Also important is the fact that the Guardian has chosen to reprint the entire speech. They would never have published such a speech (even the exact same speech) by any other figure -- but Klein is a darling of theirs and is in a unique position of sainthood. I saw her interviewed in Manchester last year by a Guardian journalist and it was a sick-making love-in. But this speech, and the decision to run it uncensored in the paper, must have caused hours of soul-searching and a knife-edge bite-the-bullet moment to go ahead. What it means is that all the media people who know what's happening in Gaza and that Israel's actions are completely beyond the pale, but have been constrained to criticise the regime (for all the usual reasons) now know the boundary of debate has been extended -- or to use another metaphor, "the shackles are off" -- and in essence they have been granted a licence to say the unsayable. Whether or not other media platforms will grasp the opportunity and take the risk remains to be seen.

I received a comment on this speech and the article from a friend, which really captured my own feeling about it in just a few words. He said it was a welcome statement, but why had it taken so long for something we all know to be true to be articulated.