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Economic Downturn Doesn't Spell The End of Bigotry
Published on: Monday, June 21, 2010
By Dr. Bernard Kapiloff
The startling remarks by the “revered” journalist Helen Thomas, who enjoyed the privileges of being a White House syndicated columnist, caused her to resign. This reminds us of a similar case when an outstanding movie star caused a sensation with his anti-Semitic remarks.
Thomas, who is 89 years old, is of Lebanese descent. When asked about Israel, she said “Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine.” She continued, “Israelis occupy Palestinian land” and encouraged them to “go home.” Excuses are being offered up from her supporters. Some suggest that her age or possibly Alzheimer’s is to blame for the thoughtless remark. However, her long public stance as being anti-Israel, does not support those claims. Where is home for the Israelites? Did Thomas tell her Lebanese parents to return to Lebanon? “Home” for the Israelites is global notion. How would they reclaim their businesses and homes and possessions in Europe? By the same token, all Americans are occupying Native American territories and the US citizens should be evacuated. That could certainly solve our immigration problem.
Bigotry is self-contained.
Economy plays a part. In the Rogers and Hammerstein musical “South Pacific” there is a song “You’ve got to be carefully Taught” which is about approaching differences in cultures. In one of my personal trips to Israel, mathematics in schools for children in Muslim areas was taught by counting dead Jews.
The solution is not a simple one. Would The United States sit quietly by if its existence was threatened as it was in Cuban-Russian crisis?
The fact that the United States has made progress in race relations does not infer that when all is well in this regard. It will take several generations until bigotry will be a forgotten term in our daily lives. A recent Baltimore Sun poll concluded that 52 percent of Baltimore residents thought that Ms. Thomas should not have been forced to resign for her remark.
Perhaps the water crises in the Middle East will force all parties to sit down and “break bread together.”
Perhaps we owe a debt of gratitude to Thomas for her casual remarks which serves as a reminder to us all that the recession is alive and well, and so is bigotry.
Forgiveness is a natural American passion.
Reader Comments - 8 Total
Posted By: Laura On: 6/23/2010
Title: Laura
As has been pointed out by many--in the U.S. you can hate speech Christians, Jews, American Indians, conservatives, Republicans and whites BUT don't dare criticize blacks, gays, or illegal aliens because you will be sued and maybe arrested. We will see how this all works out. I am on the Lord's side so I am not worried in the least.
Posted By: hashem On: 6/22/2010
Title: Free Israel
The Israeli people will never be free as long as their government relies on US support to pay for their operations.
Posted By: Dr. Wiesenberg On: 6/22/2010
Title: Logical Fallacy
I fail to see the correlation between economics and bigotry in this article. Could someone please enlighten me?
Posted By: DANIEL SNYDER On: 6/21/2010
Title: BUSINESS OWNER
HATING ISRAEL AND THE JEWS IS SO MUCH EASIER THAN ACCEPTING ONES OWN RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROBLEMS. THE WORLD WILL ALWAYS HAVE A "SCAPEGOAT".
IT MAKES LIFE SO MUCH EASIER! ADMISSION OF WRONGDOING AND APOLOGIZING REQUIRES WAY TO MUCH EFFORT AND DESTROYS THE GREAT IMAGE OF POWER AND RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT WE TRY TO SELL TO OTHERS. YES, ISRAEL BASHING AND JEW HATING IS THE GAME OF PREFERENCE AS LONG AS IT WILL BE TOLERATED...
Posted By: Dr. Petrowitz On: 6/21/2010
Title: persicution complex
How is that comment anti-Semitic? The comment was about Israel not Jews.
Posted By: T. White On: 6/21/2010
Title: Exactly right!
Thank you Dr. Kapiloff. This is very right. Even your editor points out how wrong Helen Thomas is. Bigotry will never die as long as ignorance persists. Together you two make a great team.
Keep it up. It's good to see that the older and younger generations can work together.
I've read your paper for 50 years and I am golad to know I'm not the only 90-year-old still around. Keep giving them Harry Truman Hell.
Posted By: T. Rex. On: 6/21/2010
Title: Forgive, but don't forget
Dr. Kapiloff is right. Forgiveness is key - and an American passion. So, unfortunately is Jew hating.
Posted By: Benjamin B. On: 6/21/2010
Title: Good Piece.
Perfect. Bigotry against Jews never ceases. In fact one can argue that the so-called "Liberal" media is as bigoted as anyone. This article points out this fact all too well, and combined with the "Editor's" column also points to one of the key points in today's world of journalism - reporters don't often cover the news. Very well done.
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