12 replies to this topic

[Haji 2003]

Quote

Helen Thomas, the opinionated White House correspondent who used her seat in the front row of history to grill 10 presidents and often exasperate them, lost her storied perch Monday in a flap over saying Israelis should get "out of Palestine."

He asked whether she had any comments on Israel. "Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine," she replied. "Remember, these people are occupied, and it's their land. It's not Germany, it's not Poland," she continued. Asked where they should go, she answered, "They should go home." "Where's home?" Nesenoff asked. "Poland, Germany and America and everywhere else," Thomas replied.

She apologized, but White House spokesman Robert Gibbs denounced her comments as "offensive and reprehensible." Her press corps colleagues with the White House Correspondents Association issued a rare admonishment calling them "indefensible."

http://www.hurriyetd...roar-2010-06-08

[Mohammed-W]

indefensible someones having a laugh, most twisted reversed speech ive come across in a while.

[Muntasir]

Yes, free speech is allowed, but not in certain cases such as this. When one briefly states it with no intimidation, or snort of contempt, it is fine. But when you adress someone of such a power like this, be expected to get kicked out

[HappyFriday]

Well according to US constitution, she can say whatever she wants but she has to face the consequences. Some parts of America, people will not tolerate any criticism against Israel...

[Irishman]

HappyFriday, on 09 June 2010 - 10:08 AM, said:

Well according to US constitution, she can say whatever she wants but she has to face the consequences. Some parts of America, people will not tolerate any criticism against Israel...

Well US citizens have been arrested for burning the Mexican flag, yet it seems to be a national passtime in some countries to burn the US and other flags, and no arrests. So its not just criticism against Israel that is not tolerated. I wonder what would of happened if she said all the illegal Mexicans, illegal Irish, or other illegal nationalities in the US should "f**k off back to where they came from". I'd expect she would of been in even worse trouble. I think it was the manner in which she said it, rather than her general comments being anti-Israel that caused problems.

[Maryaam]

Yes, freedom of speech is allowed - it is the consequences that differ.  The "consequences" seem overly severe for her...an elderly woman.  I wonder why....

"Freedom of Speech" consequences are different for different individuals.  Her comments were political - not racist.  Look at the stuff Louis Farrakhan has spouted and gotten away with for years - he has had complete carte blanche to spew hate filled racist rhetoric - and his consequence was to be high fived by his brethern and to become even more lauded.

Edited by Maryaam, 09 June 2010 - 12:24 PM.

[Devout]

Irishman, on 09 June 2010 - 10:36 AM, said:

Well US citizens have been arrested for burning the Mexican flag, yet it seems to be a national passtime in some countries to burn the US and other flags, and no arrests. So its not just criticism against Israel that is not tolerated. I wonder what would of happened if she said all the illegal Mexicans, illegal Irish, or other illegal nationalities in the US should "f**k off back to where they came from". I'd expect she would of been in even worse trouble.

If she said that in the state of Arizona, she would be promoted to Mayor.


This is no new news, double standards like this has become the norm. One just has to get used to it because the worse is yet to come, and yo people..we're lucky enough to be here when it all goes down.  

Edited by Devout, 09 June 2010 - 12:36 PM.

[Irishman]

Devout, on 09 June 2010 - 12:33 PM, said:

If she said that in the state of Arizona, she would be promoted to Mayor.


This is no new news, double standards like this has become the norm. One just has to get used to it because the worse is yet to come, and yo people..we're lucky enough to be here when it all goes down.  

There are 50 states in the US, Arizona is only one!!. Many other states have been holding protest about the new anti-immigration laws Arizona wants to pass, and the Federal government is trying to stop it.

[HappyFriday]

Maryaam, on 09 June 2010 - 12:11 PM, said:

Yes, freedom of speech is allowed - it is the consequences that differ.  The "consequences" seem overly severe for her...an elderly woman.  I wonder why....

Oh I don't think the way they reacted to her was appropriate.

[Muntasir]

Not true. The secular constitution was made specifically for protecting free speech( more particularly to religion), there is no consequence for free speech. It is the radical people whom persecute these people for "abusing" these rights.

[Devout]

Irishman, on 09 June 2010 - 12:47 PM, said:

There are 50 states in the US, Arizona is only one!!. Many other states have been holding protest about the new anti-immigration laws Arizona wants to pass, and the Federal government is trying to stop it.

The law passed last week lol

Hey, I was just saying that if she had said that in Arizona, she'd be mayor. And refer to my signature for my opinion about this issue. Them ashkanazi jews sure are exposing themselves with such actions.

[HappyFriday]

Muntasir, on 09 June 2010 - 07:45 PM, said:

Not true. The secular constitution was made specifically for protecting free speech( more particularly to religion), there is no consequence for free speech. It is the radical people whom persecute these people for "abusing" these rights.

The consequence is the people's reaction. If you are going to say something controversial, people are going to react. You could get good publicity or bad publicity. The women was forced to retire, so I don't see that as protecting free speech.

[hameedeh]

Helen Thomas to head anti-Israeli rally in US
Sun Apr 17, 2011 11:55AM

Helen Thomas has withstood Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, two Bushes and a two-term Clinton.

Renowned American author and veteran journalist Helen Thomas is set to head a mass protest during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United States.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington for the annual policy meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in May 21-24.

Over 50 major peace groups are now organizing a gathering to protest against the Israeli lobby shaping US foreign policy.

Thomas, whose contentious comments about Israelis led to her departure from the White House press corps last year, is one of the main critics set to address the massive anti-Israeli rally.

The outspoken 90-year-old journalist, stoked controversy on December 2, 2010, when she suggested Jews should leave "Palestine" to Arabs and head to Europe and the US.

Soon after making the comments, Thomas was forced to retire from Hearst Newspapers.

She later defended her remarks in an interview with a Kansas City paper, saying that "I can call a president of the United States anything in the book, but I can't touch Israel, which has Jewish-only roads in the West Bank."

Helen Thomas has covered every president since John F. Kennedy and was the first woman reporter to become a member of the White House Correspondents Association.

The "Move Over AIPAC” project intends to bring activists and concerned citizens from around the country to learn about the extraordinary influence AIPAC has on the US policy.

According to official data, Israel receives about USD 3 billion from the US in direct each year, which is roughly one-fifth of America's foreign aid budget.

Source: http://www.presstv.i...ail/175272.html