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I'm gearing up to cover the Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck this weekend as I have for the last few years.Jessica Sieff: Who’s afraid of Helen Thomas? Everyone, apparently
Published 10:09pm Wednesday, June 9, 2010It’s one of my favorite things to do because it means discovering new films and new filmmakers and when it comes to the documentaries featured – learning a little more about the world.
However, I must be pretty stressed out about it because last night I dreamt that I was coming out of a movie and someone asked me what I thought about it. I told the person the movie was pretty much the worst movie ever made and then suddenly everyone was yelling at me and I had to quit the film site I write for.
My dream is Helen Thomas’ nightmare.
The 89-year-old who has been covering the White House since Ronald Regan’s administration abruptly announced her retirement after a video of her spouting remarks against Israel to a Rabbi visiting the White House quickly went viral.
Thomas, who is Lebanese and as far as I know has never denied having pro-Arab views, was asked by the rabbi visiting the White House, “What do you think about Israel?”
Thomas replied she felt “they should get the hell out of Palestine” and “go home” to Poland, Germany or America.
Wait a second, Alexander Graham Bell, hold the phone.
You mean someone with pro-Arab views on the situation (the situation being a big cluster-bang of “I hate you,” “I hate you back twice”) thinks Israel should not exist and the Jews who live there should get a move on out?
What. A. Shocker.
Guess what? I’m as pro-Israel as pro-Israel gets – and I don’t think it’s right, what happened to Helen Thomas, mostly for two reasons.
First of all, I’ve been known to shoot off at the mouth. Journalists may hit their keyboard or their notepads in a cloak of objectivity, but underneath, we still see the world and we still find in the midst of it our own opinions. We should be afforded those off the record just as much as anybody else.
I am not surprised one bit at Thomas’ comments. And if I were to have a conversation with her, I’d have a few choice words for her beloved “Palestine” that I’m sure would keep us from ever being friends. And I’m sure she would not be surprised by me either.
That is the nature of the conflict. Both sides are very well aware of their enemies.
Secondly the harshness in which political players reacted to Thomas’ comments sort of confuses me a little bit. Just hours before any headlines even broke about Thomas, the big story was the United States’ dissatisfaction with Israel’s handling of a flotilla filled with supposed innocent people going to Gaza who, strangely enough, just so happened to be fully capable of attacking an Israeli commando team boarding ships by helicopter.
Oh – but Helen Thomas needs to leave the White House press, so never mind your quick shake of the finger, United States.
I’m a bit more offended by the blatant sensationalized video Rabbi David Nesenoff posted on his blog. Off-the-cuff comments were turned into a produced, vicious rant, complete with loud, ridiculous music on the intro.
Rabbi Nesenoff should take note: sensationalism to breed hatred is not really the Jewish or Israeli way.
Immediately, Thomas was under fire from friends, colleagues and even former press secretaries. She apologized, said she made a mistake and regrets her comments.
She probably doesn’t. And so what?
It’s her belief that her land is being occupied.
Personally speaking, it’s my belief that her belief is a load of crap.
But I certainly wouldn’t feel it warranted to come under a bunch of fire for that opinion and I wouldn’t apologize for it either.
When Nesenoff asked Thomas what she thought about Israel, he likely knew exactly what her thoughts would be. He even goaded her on. Yet he was supposedly so surprised she’d say something like that.
Thomas, was always viewed as a respected journalist, up until last week. She has a right to her opinion – so long as that opinion doesn’t make its way into her news pieces. I don’t see why her job should ever have come into question.
Do I understand how many might take her comments as offensive? Yes. Do I think those comments are stupid? Yes. Am I surprised by them? No. Do I care what Helen Thomas thinks Israel ought to do? No twice.
It’s in my opinion that the Jewish way is above petty hatred. It would be a shame to start stooping to such a level.
But hey – if you want to throw stones, there’s this little strip of land on the west side of Israel just off the Mediterranean Sea.
You can get there by boat.
Jessica Sieff is a reporter for the Niles Daily Star. Reach her at
jessica.sieff@leaderpub.com.
That old racist (Lebanese) ARAB woman Helen Thomas’ ‘ethnic cleansing’ view reflects the ‘conflct of the middle east’ Arab racism & Islamic bigotry that is.
(Helen Thoams under fire http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/2010/06/07/2739476/helen-thomas-under-fire)
You have to thank that old Arab hag for being honest, at least, at her last days…
Take a good look at this “moderate” Arab and tell me it’s not about Arab racism.
The basic attitudes of the intolerant Goliath Arab Muslims world is that: ‘You Jews are “outsiders” here in the middle east!’ The Arab Palestinians who’s parents or grandparents came over from Arab land and occupy the Jews’ original homeland? they’re OK, they’re “home.”
Because the entire middle east is ‘Arab Muslim land’ all other non-Arab non-Muslim minorities are “outsiders” especially the Jews, Why? Because they’re neither Arab nor Muslim…
Now, let’s hear some radical liberals defending the Arab Muslim bigotry with “occupation and poor palestinians” slogans.
The same radical liberals that couldn’t care less what the Islamic Palestine or Hezbollah have in store for them, exactly what kind of Islamic states are in line with liberals’ supposed claim for defending human rights, or even women’s rights?
I guess, that Palestinian crimes against humanity like torturing fellow “rivals,” honor killing epidemic and oppressing Christians are OK with liberals’ values.
Not to mention the total fear in totalitarian like “Palestine” for speaking out, unlike in democratic free Israel, there’s virtual no freedom of the press or speech.
That’s besides Palestinian & Hezbollah’s routinely horrindeous crimes like taking the lives of their civilians for no more as toys in their games of bloodshed, in use of war.
Thomas, as a so called “journalist,” when in the public eye has a responsibility called neutrality. Unfortunately, that responsibility has more or less disappeared lately. Thomas was also a “journalist” who covered the events in and around the White House. If she wanted to give her views, she could write an opinion piece, giving her rationale for wanting the Jews to leave the middle east. There would have been little issue with that.
Anyone who is at all acquainted with Helen Thomas and her positions would not be surprised at her views. She has been pro Palestine for decades, and views the creation of a Jewish state an affront to the so called “rightful” inhabitants of the region. This writer personally believes that the creation of that Jewish state, while the correct thing to do, has caused more unrest in the world than ever thought.
It is time for Thomas to leave journalism and write opinions. She is still a capable writer.
We all know two (2) wrongs never make a right
………BUT……….three (3) rights do make a left.
taking Land from one Cousin to repay a tragedy
of another Cousin never seems to work out.
men still argue the merits of the Balfour declaration,
so let me inject my thoughts as i am so inclined,
and thoughtless in the opinions of others.
when Britain was to leave Palestine, the United nations
should have taken over for 50 years, and declared that anyone
born in the Borders of Occupation over 18 would be able to vote
50 years later on a new government, So everybody lets not
make War for 50 Years, just go home and begin to make babies,
and get along with your neighbors and Cousins.
My grandmother had some very strong views and (horrors)
some were even wrong!.
Freedom of speech is fine but one must take responsibility for remarks made publicly. This however was hate speech. As a Lebanese, Helen has probably had a hate on Jews buried for a long time, it appears.
I wonder who would have tolerated Helen if she used the N word and asked all African Americans who complain, etc. to go back to Africa?
The insensitivity here was stunning. Jews should go back to Poland or Germany where 6 million Jews were exterminated?
A hurtful and hate filled remark.
One can disagree with current Israeli policies and politics without resorting to antisemitism.