The term American Dream is associated not only with wealth and prosperity, but also with full enjoyment of all sorts of freedoms, particularly including the freedom of thought, expression and the press. But can we talk of the American Dream today? Can we say that we have done with this dream? Will the death of the American Dream be in the hands of Barack Obama, in whom people have invested great hopes in the aftermath of the Bush-led neo-con administration that continually blew the trumpet of war and gave the whole world a hell of time? Really, what are the limits of the freedom of thought and expression in the US? Is everyone allowed to speak his/her mind freely? Or does freedom of expression end where the criticism of the unlawful and immoral policies of the Israeli government start in this country?Does the criticism of the Israeli government voiced by veteran reporter Helen Thomas, 89, who has been covering White House developments for about 50 years, have a place in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which is part of the Bill of Rights? Is the First Amendment -- which enshrines the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press -- rendered automatically inoperative when the opinion expressed or the article published targets Israel? Does the US provide Israel with a legally gray area that gives it immunity from legal and constitutional rules about freedom, allowing Israel to conduct its unrestrained actions and policies in a gray area that is protected from international or ethical laws, norms and conventions?
We all know that freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment and by many state constitutions and state and federal laws. Criticism of the government and advocacy of unpopular ideas that people may find distasteful or against public policy, such as racism, sexism and other forms of hate speech are generally permitted. Are these rights and freedoms recognized by the US Constitution as belonging to everyone automatically shelved when it comes to the incredible policies of the lunatic Israeli government? If it is so easy to drop Thomas -- a symbolic figure of journalism, a veteran nearing 90, who was the only person to have a chair specifically allocated to her in the briefing halls of the White House, and who was once respected greatly by all US presidents including Obama -- for a stream of criticisms against Israel, who can talk about freedom of expression and freedom of the press in the US?
In an interview on May 27, Helen Thomas said that Israelis should get “the hell out of Palestine” and suggested they went to Germany, Poland or the US. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said her comments were “offensive and reprehensible.” She must have faced so much pressure because of these remarks that this symbolic figure of the White House press office had to declare that she had retired on Monday.
According to a BBC story, Thomas’s remarks were made in a video interview with the website RabbiLive.com, when she was asked whether she had any “comments on Israel.” “Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine,” she said. “Remember these people are occupied and it’s their land, not Germany and not Poland. … They can go home, Poland, Germany, and America and everywhere else,” she added. Later, she posted what can be viewed as an apology on her personal website: “They do not reflect my heartfelt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon.” But this could not save her.
Also being the first woman president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, Thomas is said to be facing pressure from White House officials and the neighborhood after her statement. Thus, the fact that the speech she was to give at a high school graduation program to which she had been invited before the incident was canceled by the school principal on the grounds that “graduation celebrations are not the venue for divisiveness.”
It appears that after putting White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs in a very difficult situation by asking him questions about the Israeli attack in international waters against the Mavi Marmara carrying civilian humanitarian aid volunteers and relief supplies to Gaza, where about 1.4 million civilians are living in poverty under the Israeli blockade, Thomas was taught a tough lesson by someone by making her unable to perform her beloved profession.
As you will remember, Gibbs had failed to give clear or satisfactory answers to the questions Thomas asked during the press conference held just after the incident, including: “And if any other nation in the world had done it, we would have been up in arms” “Did Israel violate international law?” “Should the blockade on Gaza be lifted?” “Should Israel lead the investigation?” She had also depicted the Israeli operation as a “massacre” and the US administration’s statement on the subject as “pitiful.” Thomas had also asked why Israel was not initially condemned, but only regret was expressed. “Regret won’t bring them back,” she had said.
So long to the American Dream!
