Detroit, MI – University Reviews Helen Thomas Diversity Award

    14

    Detroit, MI – A Michigan university said it may retire the name of its media diversity awards after veteran reporter Helen Thomas retired in the wake of divisive remarks.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Wayne State University’s journalism school honors local media professionals annually with the Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity Awards, established to “recognize her role in promoting diversity in media and issues of race in America,” Booth Newspapers reported Tuesday.

    The 89-year-old Thomas, who grew up in Detroit and graduated from Wayne State, announced her immediate retirement Monday after being criticized for remarks suggesting Israel should “get the hell out of Palestine” and suggesting Jews should “go home.” She made the remarks during an interview that later was posted on the Internet.

    Thomas apologized and said in a statement that her comments “do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance.”

    Ben Burns, director of the Wayne State’s journalism school, said it may be time “to retire the Helen Thomas name on the (Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity Awards) reception.”

    The university still would offer a Helen Thomas journalism scholarship, Burns said.

    Richard Nodel, president of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Metro Detroit, said keeping Thomas’s name attached to the honor “certainly devalues whatever meaning the award has had in the past or might have in the future.”


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    14 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Its amazing how after all this there are still jews who are liberals and vote liberal, liberalism hates judiaism even jewish liberals hate judiaism

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Pretty dumb women but sad enough she has lots of company in the media they all want to see israel fail and then when the islamist win and start on america they will wonder how its possible… Wake up america we are at war with islamism and they out number us and don’t care about our peacful intentions their version of peace is not what we think peace is

    Bekisso, bekosso
    Bekisso, bekosso
    13 years ago

    BEKAASSO!
    As she got into anger, she forgot to cover up her bigotry!
    She conned the world for 80 years, & 80 years of lies went up in smoke.
    Good riddance in shame!

    cool masmid
    cool masmid
    13 years ago

    I’m happy she’s gone. I’m just hopeful she has some money put away to keep her going, after all early retirement can put a real strain on anyones financial situation.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Isn’t it a “chilul hashem”?doesn’t that kind of stories bring up antisemitisim on a higher level in the us?……hashem yishmor….

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    So Wayne University has no problem keeping her name on awards for Journalism, just not on the Diversity award. That is the most unbeleivable hypocricy that I could possiby imagine

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Who would want that award now?

    Baruch Mordechai Verona
    Baruch Mordechai Verona
    13 years ago

    I might suggest to Wayne State that they give their next Helen Thomas Diversity Award posthumously to A. Hitler and J. Stalin. After all, they murdered a wide variety of people.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Not nice . As a matter of fact , very foolish .

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    As a person with extensive background caring for the elderly it has been my observation that people become more of what they were as young people: if they were kind and tolerant, that’s how they remain, and of course the reverse is also true: if they were bigoted and intolerant, that’s how they remain. It’s a pity to give coverage to such ignorant and misguided opinions, for the world to hear!