Pro-Israel activists launch all-out war against Helen Thomas and American Arabs
It is all out war between Jews and Arabs. Make no mistake about it. American Jewish organizations have launched a vicious campaign to silence Helen Thomas, the 91 year old, 80 pound champion of Palestinian and Arab rights who fearlessly has chosen to take on one of the most powerful organizations in America.
Thomas has criticized and denounced Zionism, a political movement with headquarters in new York City. The purpose of the organization is to champion the interests of a foreign country, Israel.
She first made her remarks when ambushed by a rabbi with a checkered racist past who demeaned and ridiculed Mexicans in an unfunny YouTube video. The Rabbi asked her about Israel and she responded about Israel. But her quotes were sliced and diced. Paraphrased into segments and then embellished with words she never used to make her comments appear to be "anti-Semitic."
In the face of that attack and name-calling, Helen Thomas was fired by the Hearst Newspapers almost immediately.
Weeks later, in a speech to a Diversity Workshop attended by more than 300 people and hosted by ArabDetroit.com, one of the most prestigious American Arab activism organizations in the country, Helen Thomas spoke about the hate campaign against her and how American Arabs needed to do more. In one passing reference to the power of those who champion the political interests of Israel, Thomas against took a swipe at Zionism, saying they "own" the White House, Congress and the biased anti-Arab mainstream American news media.
The next day, Wayne State University in Detroit canceled an award it issued in her name. Wayne State is Helen Thomas' alma mater. She graduated there in 1942 before becoming an award winning White House correspondent covering every President from Eisenhower to Obama.
What was her real crime? Uttering anti-Semitic comments? Or, asking the past three presidents one simple question that make pro-Israel activists squirm: "Why is it wrong for Iran to have nuclear weapons but it is okay for Israel to have nuclear weapons?"
Because she dared to challenge Zionism, because she dared to call out Israel's government hypocrisy on nuclear weapons of mass destruction, and because she refuses to surrender to the assault, Helen Thomas is being pilloried and defamed across the country.
Abe Foxman, the head of the Anti-Defamation League which frequently defames pro-Arab activists and American Arab leaders, published a slanderous essay in the HuffingtonPost, an opinion web site which frequently censors the writings of American Arabs and Muslims who cross an imaginary line of debate challenging Israeli government policies.
Jewish American leaders have been bullying sponsors of the ArabDetroit.com event.
But American Arabs and the Arab World should not allow this character assassination to go unanswered.
1 - They can't argue the facts so they distort the words of Helen Thomas. She never used the word Jews, which is inserted inaccurately into sentences claiming to quote her. Her comments are paraphrased and the word "Jews" is inserted to make the false argument2 - Zionism is a political organization with headquarters in New York. Its agenda is to defend a foreign nation. Challenging Zionism is neither anti-Semitic nor improper.3 - Rather than address the powerful points that Helen Thomas has made, people like the ADL's Abe Foxman insist on attacking the person, hoping that Americans will not hear her words and instead judge her based on their lies
4 - America is a nation of freedoms, including freedom of speech. Helen Thomas is speaking not about a people, a race or a religion, but about a political movement and the debate she has initiated should be augmented and shouted throughout this country. We should be screaming against the lies and hatred from the ADL and other extremists anti-Arab and anti-Muslim Organizations. We cannot allow Helen Thomas to be pilloried for exercising her rights to free speech in a political debate that must be heard across America.
Here is my letter to the HuffingtonPost, which frequently censors the comments and remarks or pro-Arab and pro-Muslim writers who dare to criticize Israel beyond the soft line that the HuffingtonPost permits.
"Abe Foxman distorts and twists the comments made by Helen Thomas to justify the defamation of Arab and Muslims in America and to intimidate and bully her and others into silence.
"Helen Thomas has the RIGHT to challenge pro-Israel policies in America and she has the right to call out a political organization that champions the rights of a foreign country. America is built on Free Speech. But rather than debate the contentions made by Helen Thomas, defenders of Israel like Mr. Foxman bully and intimidate those who challenge pro-Israel political activists in this country. It is the only way they can respond, defaming the messenger to avoid debating the facts.
"Helen Thomas accused of saying something she never said. She NEVER said "Jews" should get out of Israel or Palestine. In her comments in Dearborn, Ms. Thomas criticized Zionism, a recognized political organization that champions the interests of a foreign country that Mr. Foxman defends using fear-mongering, intimidation and vicious libel.
"I am offended Mr. Foxman's false assertions and his character assassination of Helen Thomas can so easily be published at the Huffington Post which has frequently censored the views and opinions of other American Arab writers who have criticized the government policies of Israel, a foreign country."
The assault against Helen Thomas was joined by the Society of Professional Journalists which earlier this year shut down its American Arab journalism section without consulting any of the SPJ American Arab members, and complaining that the section addressed politics. In a disgraceful lack of journalistic professionalism, the SPJ is reportedly considering renouncing its annual "Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award."
American Arabs should be just as offended by the slander and defamation campaign against Helen Thomas by the ADL and other anti-Arab organizations. American Arabs are served this country proudly and patriotically. We have made American our country. And we have the right to exercise our right of free speech and demand that the champions of a foreign country be forced to defend that foreign country's actions, especially when those actions undermine the national interests of America.
We have a right to speak out. And Helen Thomas has a right to challenge the policies of Zionism without being called anti-Semitism and without being bullied or intimidated into silence.
At 91 years old and only 80 pounds, Helen Thomas is a far bigger person than the many small minded bullies who have launched a pernicious campaign to pillory her into silence.
