The Helen Thomas Haters never stop, do they?

[n2doc]

Helen Thomas may have retired from her role as journalist, but the former queen of the White House press corps is still managing to cause trouble.


In recent weeks, a planned sculpture of Thomas -- to be created by artist Susan Tinsley McElhinney -- has provoked grumblings from various political groups around the country. The debate centers on whether Thomas, 90, deserves to be honored after she made inflammatory comments concerning Jews and Israel that precipitated her hasty resignation in June.

Among her comments -- which were captured on video and widely disseminated online -- are that Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine" and ought to go home to Poland, Germany and other countries.

The sculpture is set to go on display at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Mich. (Thomas is of Lebanese descent, and hails from Michigan.)

On Thursday, the Detroit Free Press reported that a Holocaust survivors group is opposing the museum's decision to include the statue among its displays. The group, called the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, stated that the "campaign to honor Helen Thomas with a statue is a moral taint on the Arab American National Museum."

The museum is working to raise money to finance the creation of the statue. Organizers are looking to raise pledges of $10,000 by Sept. 10. As of Friday morning, the campaign has received $2,805 in online pledges.


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/08/journalist-helen-thomas-still-making-waves.html

http://www.freep.com/article/20100806/NEWS05/8060364/Holocaust-survivors-condemn-tribute-to-newswoman-call-proposed-honor-immoral

Support page:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/342993645/helen-thomas-sculpture-project?pos=1&ref=search

[Spider Jerusalem]

1. Is Helen Thomas planning to go back to Lebanon?

That comment about 'the Jews need to go back to wherever the hell they came from' was just pretty staggeringly stupid and unhelpful--especially considering that a majority of Jewish Israelis were born there; why should they go back to a country they've never known?

[n2doc]

3. She apologized. Get over yourself n/t

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. You can't unring a bell, as they say in AA.

Apology or no apology.

[Warpy]

6. But it takes a small person

not to accept an apology that is given sincerely.

[nashville_brook]

9. +1000

[Zavulon]

11. I have to disagree.

I'm getting sick of people who think their sins should be wiped out by an apology, sincerely given or not. This whole "apology culture" of ours has actually turned people who don't immediately and gleefully accept an apology (and act as if all is forgiven) into the bad guy (one example would be your "it takes a small person" line), and that's messed up. In Thomas's case, I'm in the "can't unring a bell" camp.

[Dappleganger]

13. Ok then, why don't you make a giant list of Helen Thomas' so-called sins

Ignoring the body of her journalistic work including her unique work ethic while hanging her out to dry over ONE comment (for which she has apologized for, profusely) is quite ignorant and rigid.

[Zavulon]

15. I don't need one.

what you call "ignorant" would only be so if I was unaware of her career and her remarks. I am, however, aware of both and have arrived at my own judgment - amazingly, without your keen insight.

As for "rigid," that's in the eye of the beholder and we obviously disagree on where the line is drawn. "Profuse" apologies which come only after a backlash of disapproval hits the speaker don't strike me as anything that should be automatically forgiven. Yes, her body of work is impressive, but she still strikes me as a hateful old crone and no carefully-crafted PR apology is going to make me think otherwise. If that makes me too "rigid" in your eyes, well, it's not going to cost me any sleep.

Apply her remarks to any other minority; in a lot of those cases I'd bet more people would agree with me than with you.

[Dappleganger]

17. Well you're certainly entitled to your rigid, unforgiving opinion.

Calling her a "hateful old crone" certainly is the icing on the cake, too. There really is nothing more I have to say in the face of your hatred.

[Zavulon]

18. Excellent.

Now if I issue a profuse apology, is all forgiven? Will people who refuse to accept my apology be small-minded in your eyes? After all, what I said about her isn't nearly as bad as what she said, and in my case the remarks only covered one person.

How about it? Given that you bit on the bait, will a profuse apology from me make everything peachy, and will people who refuse to accept it be small to you?

[Dappleganger]

20. Are you asking for forgiveness?

It seems to me that you are more intent on being sarcastic and snarky, in addition to being hateful. I feel very sorry for you.

[here_is_to_hope]

19. She didnt say "Jews"...but you knew that.

Right?
Right?


Fuck the haters, Helen is a good person.

[Dappleganger]

21. You said it better.

I'll join you with a "Fuck the haters."

[cynatnite]

2. I don't hate her...

I'm very disappointed by her comments. She's someone I always admired and respected. It doesn't change the wonderful contributions she's made over the decades.

[xchrom]

4. no -- and they're not going to -- their pain is more sacred than the pain

they may cause to others.

[malaise]

7. So they have a say on what goes on display in an Arab museum

Ah fugg it. Bravo Helen!!

[Ozymanithrax]

8. If Thomas Jefferson can own slaves and screw the pretty ones because he owns their...

Helen Thomas can be a racist and be commemorated for the good things she's done.

Humans are complex. We should recognize both the good and the bad.

[lunatica]

10. I love that statue!

I'm a sculptor and that's a work of art. It captures everything.

Helen Thomas has done a fantastic body of work in her life. One wrong thing for which she's apologized can't take that away. Her apology makes her a better person in my eyes.

[ShamelessHussy]

14. me too

and helen certainly deserves it.

though the thought police will do their best to vilify her.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. Not as long as teh Helen Thomas apologists don't.

[Bozita]

16. The DFP article was posted yesterday in LBN. It didn't last long.

It got dungeoned.