White House columnist Helen Thomas, a gadfly if there ever was one in journalism, resigned from Hearst Newspapers after making controversial remarks that “Jews should go home” to places such as Germany and Poland rather than Palestine.
On the face of it, her statement doesn’t seem anti-semitic to me, but then I am not a Jew.
I take issue with and have for a long time some of the moves Israel has made. I understand their contentions, but that doesn’t mean I like their assassinating people, whomever and wherever they like. I certainly hold a grudge against Israel for their bombing the intelligence ship USS Liberty in 1967. Israel, like all nations, does have a right to defend itself, but sometimes it goes way out of bounds in doing so.
Then, my problem is with Israel the state and not with Jews. Some think you can’t separate the two. I can think what I want. I think to not separate the state from the people is like saying all Jews are the same, which is as bigoted a statement as if one said all blacks are alike or all Arabs are alike.
It was long past time for Thomas to go. Her questions have seemingly turned nuttier and nuttier as years passed. She has done some good work over time and certainly was tenacious. If she wants to raise hell, she can still do it, only away from the White House press room. Time to fold ’em Helen.
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