Media freedom; Veteran reporter retires over Israel comments

[Desertfalcon]

There is something that you Muslims are not understanding. First, Helen Thomas's mother and father are of Lebanonese decent. As a reporter, especially reporting from the White House, regardless of your personal views, you must remain neutral in your reporting. When asked the question, she let her own personal view toward the Israeli's come out. If this were a normal citizen, it would have been more acceptable, but as a reporter representing the White House Press Corp, this is what got her in trouble. It was not the government who asked her to resign, but rather the American citizens who felt this comment was anti-semitic bigotry. You must understand. The same that Medina, Mecca and the Al-Aqsa mosque is Holy to the Muslims, Israel and Jerusalem are held to these same high esteem to the Christians. Jerusalem is the "Mecca" for Christianity. The Christians of the world view Israel as holy and the birthplace of the Christian Messiah. This is why America is so strong on backing Israel and the Jewish people. Our Bible teahes that the Jewish land and people are God's Chosen People. The same way that you all look at Mohammed, we look at Jesus. The way you look at Allah, we look at God. It doesn't mean either of us are wrong. We cannot force our personal beliefs upon the world. It is up to each individual to determine and follow their own personal beliefs. Christians do not dislike muslims. We just don't understand the violence that is being conducted by those muslims who are blowing up buildings, killing non-muslims, etc. There is no need for it. I honestly hope I have not offended anyone. That is not my intent. It is only to give you an explaination of why America supports the Jewish people as they do. We feel that everyday, they are fighting for their survival.

With all due respect, brother Yank, some of us Americans, who are also Christians, disagree strongly with what you have said here.

I do not view the secular Jewish state that came into existence in 1948 as the Israel of the Bible. As a Christian, Jerusalem may be a Holy City to us, but it is no matter who rules it. It is also a Holy City for both Jews and Muslims and it's status as such should be protected and respected by all. Also, Allah is God. There is no God but God. God created only one human family and we are all brothers no matter how we worship Him. If only we would always recognise that when we deal with one another.

I am not anti-Semitic nor even anti-Israel, but Israel's creation was at the expense of the Palestinian Arab people and that was a grave injustice that is causing, and has caused, endless bloodshed and hatred.

America supports Israel because it is seen as being in our strategic interest to and nothing more.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I wonder if the same response would be given to a person advocating the removal of Pakistan from Azad Kashmir..
Or if somebody openly made blasphemous comments about our Prophet..

Two thirds of the staff on Fox News would have to 'retire' were people held accountable for hate-mongering statements about Islam and Muslims.

That said, it was a statement in poor taste, and such strong comments completely compromised her position as an impartial journalist on issues related to the Middle East.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

There is something that you Muslims are not understanding.

Actually there is a simple, decent thing YOU are not understanding - don't generalize and stereotype 'all Muslims'.

First, Helen Thomas's mother and father are of Lebanonese decent.

That means that every reporter or official of Jewish origin should be .... what?

As a reporter, especially reporting from the White House, regardless of your personal views, you must remain neutral in your reporting. When asked the question, she let her own personal view toward the Israeli's come out. If this were a normal citizen, it would have been more acceptable, but as a reporter representing the White House Press Corp, this is what got her in trouble.

Agreed.

It was not the government who asked her to resign, but rather the American citizens who felt this comment was anti-semitic bigotry.

Yet, we don't see the same standard applied to anti-Muslim bigotry when people (and some in the media) are out protesting the construction of a mosque close to Ground Zero, nor when people in the media openly denigrate Muslims and implicitly call them 'terrorist sympathizers' by calling for absurd 'litmus tests' of their opposition to terrorism.

You must understand. The same that Medina, Mecca and the Al-Aqsa mosque is Holy to the Muslims, Israel and Jerusalem are held to these same high esteem to the Christians. Jerusalem is the "Mecca" for Christianity. The Christians of the world view Israel as holy and the birthplace of the Christian Messiah. This is why America is so strong on backing Israel and the Jewish people. Our Bible teahes that the Jewish land and people are God's Chosen People. The same way that you all look at Mohammed, we look at Jesus. The way you look at Allah, we look at God. It doesn't mean either of us are wrong. We cannot force our personal beliefs upon the world. It is up to each individual to determine and follow their own personal beliefs. Christians do not dislike muslims. We just don't understand the violence that is being conducted by those muslims who are blowing up buildings, killing non-muslims, etc. There is no need for it. I honestly hope I have not offended anyone. That is not my intent. It is only to give you an explaination of why America supports the Jewish people as they do. We feel that everyday, they are fighting for their survival.

Support for the State of Israel and the rights of the people who migrated their after its creation should not be at the expense of the rights of millions of Palestinians/Arabs who were driven out of their homes, lost their land, and continue to lose their land to settlements by the Israeli government.

 

[Vassnti]

It is.If you just watch right wing Pakistani News Channels like Geo..They're literally abusing the current left wing government all the time and adding spicy to news to show current Pakistani Government in negative side.The US administrator would not even let it happen..People here talk on media against government that in US would be considered libel.Then We also have left wing media (DAWN Group) that is totally different from right wing media and yet it operates without any problem in Pakistan.

You dont watch fox much do you

 

[gubbi]

Two thirds of the staff on Fox News would have to 'retire' were people held accountable for hate-mongering statements about Islam and Muslims.

That said, it was a statement in poor taste, and such strong comments completely compromised her position as an impartial journalist on issues related to the Middle East.

That is an excellent sum up of what exactly happened.

It was highly unethical of her to pass such derogatory comments when all her life she has worked hard as a very balanced and unbiased reporter, taking every US administration to task with her questions.

What a sad way to go, a lapse of judgement on her part.