“Helen Thomas and “archetypal” democracy! ”

“Helen Thomas and “archetypal” democracy!!”


On June 14, the state-controlled Al-Watan (Syria) daily carried the following opinion
piece by Khaled Bdeir:

“American democracy is so odd, because in form it is with
“extra sugar” [Arabic expression meaning perfect] while in fact, it is void of
any content. It is the democracy of cultural, moral and ethical vandalism in
which American citizens can wear, eat, sing and listen to whatever they want.
But this is only form. In reality, they are consuming what the American media
outlets are offering them in terms of goods and products, in which case, they
are subjected to those paying the most to the most renowned outlets and this is
where it does not have “extra sugar.” There is no real democracy in the area of
opinion, especially on urgent matters. There is also no democracy in tackling
sensitive issues, as the disputes between Hillary Clinton and her husband or the
way President Obama treats his dog do not fall in the latter context and the
Americans can address them as much as they please. This is the democracy of that
country.

“However, those like intellectual Noam Chomsky who is calling for the lifting of
Washington’s hegemony over the people of this Earth and for positive
intervention in favor of human rights, are besieged. In this context, the story
of journalist Helen Thomas, the 89-year old dean of White House correspondents
who has been covering the activities of the White House since the days of
American President John Kennedy, testifies to this “archetypical” American
democracy. In response to a question by a Rabbi named David Nesenoff regarding
the Zionist entity, Helen Thomas stated: “Tell them – the Jews - to get the hell
out of Palestine,” adding: “Remember, these people are occupied and it's their
land. It's not Germany, it's not Poland!” Asked “where should the Jews go?” she
replied: “Poland, Germany and America and everywhere else…”

“Naturally, this solution did not and will not ever please decision-makers in
the United States who perceive the Zionist entity as their advanced barrack, the
guardian of their interests and part of their “civilization, morals and values.”
Therefore, the old journalist faced a flow of condemnation, starting with the
White House spokesman who said that her statements were “offensive and
reprehensible” and ending with the Jewish lobby. Organizations such as the
“Anti-Defamation League” said: “Her remarks were outrageous, offensive and
inappropriate. Her suggestion that Israelis should go back to Poland and Germany
is bigoted and shows a profound ignorance of history.”

“As for Ari Fleischer, the former White House spokesman during the term of
George Bush, he believes that “She is advocating religious cleansing… It is as
bad as saying that all the blacks should leave America and return to Africa."
What Fleischer is forgetting however, is that the arrival of the blacks to
America was not an invasion or an occupation, but due to White America’s need
for someone to serve in their country … Still, he added: “Hearst should do the
right thing and fire her,” to which the Hearst administration did not take long
to respond, announcing her resignation. The United States’ alleged democracy did
not fit the opinions of journalist Helen Thomas… This is American democracy!
Without “extra sugar?!”” (Al-Watan Syria, Syria)

Source : http://alwatan.sy/dindex.php?idn=81020