By Lubna Abdel-Aziz Hers is not a household name. You probably never seen or heard of her, yet we should all salute her. No immortal figure of mythology, or a stunning goddess of beauty; she is however, as intrepid and determined, as daring and defiant as all the Trojan and Spartan armies of old. She is 90 years old Helen Thomas, outstanding Washington journalist who dominated the press core for well over half a century. Relentless in her style, she has needled and vexed eleven American Presidents from Eisenhower to Obama. There she sat for 50 years, on from row with her traditional red dress, probing every president in her quest for the unequivocal truth. She was the first reported to be called upon by each President, a nod for her ability and seniority. Thomas resigned four months ago from her 50 long years at the Hearst Foundation, after 50 years on top of her game. Her withdrawal was not voluntary, but was caused by the negative reaction to her comments about Israel, the Jews and Palestine. Unable to escape her natural distemper, Helen Thomas has vanished from the public arena, and we lament her loss. No longer will the White House Press Room be relumined by her burning fire for truth, justice, and fair play. A relieved Obama called her comments offensive and considered her retirement the right decision. He remarked that it is a shame that "her celebrated career had to end in such controversy." What were those remarks? What was it about Helen Thomas that irked every administration in power? Whose shame was it? The famous incident took place on the White House lawn when Rabbi David Nesenoff was there to celebrate the Jewish American Heritage Day. "Any comments on Israel Ms. Thomas, We are asking everyone today -- any comments on Israel?" Never one to shy away from her beliefs, Ms Thomas replied with her usual defiance: "Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine." Nesenoff collected his nerves and asked once again: "Where should they go?" Thomas replied. "They should go home?" "Where is home?" answered Nesenoff. "Poland, Germany, America and everywhere else." She replied "Why push people out that have lived there for centuries?" Rabbi Nesenoff rushed to his laptop and posted his one-minute interview with Thomas on his website. The collective outrage was uncontainable. Ms Thomas paid the price for giving voice to her innermost feelings, in the very land that boasts its freedom of speech. What is it about this particular truth that is so hard to comprehend? Is it stupidity or a total lack of principle? Who will now speak so boldly of the plight of Palestinians? Who will unearth the truth no matter wherever it lies? Helen Thomas, of course, is an Arab American. Her parents George Antonius and Mary Rawadi emigrated from Tripoli, Lebanon, to the United States during the early years of the 20th century. Both could neither read nor write. At the island where immigrants first landed, the name Antonius was changed to Thomas. Helen was born in Winchester, Kentucky on August 4th, the seventh of 9 children. At age 4 her family moved to Detroit, Michigan where Helen grew up. At school she suffered the slings and arrows of Anglican discrimination. Raised in the Greek Orthodox Church, Thomas attended Wayne University, graduating in 1942. She was promptly hires as a copy girl at the Washington Daily News. In no time she was promoted to cub reporter. She joined United Press International (UPI) in 1943, and quickly climbed the ladder of success covering Washington's big news and big names. Helen Thomas was honoured with numerous awards and doctorates, and was the first woman officer of the all-male National Press Club. Later she served as its first woman president. Thomas also became the first woman member of the Gridiron Club in its history, and in 1993 became the Club's first woman president. She has authored several books: Listen up Mr. President, and Watchdogs of Democracy. In 2008 she wrote a children's book The Great House Breakout. In a once all male bastion, Helen held her own and moved to the top with perseverance and determination. With no plans to retire, Thomas found her job "Exciting, demanding, inspiring, sometimes depressing, but never boring." The World Almanac named Helen Thomas one of the 25 most influential workmen of America. As for Obama, he found her presence in the front row to be thrilling, until he called on her for the first question. Thomas obliged by asking if any Middle Eastern countries possessed nuclear weapons. Unable to respond Obama merely muttered he would "rather not speculate on the matter." Thomas commented on the severe press control of his administration "I am amazed at you people who call for openness and transparency, and you have controlled the press even more than Richard Nixon." Despite her severity, Obama sang her Happy Birthday on August 4th, which is also his birthday. On her abrupt retirement Thomas "You cannot criticize Israel in this country and survive." Gone from the Press Room of the White House, is the only name on a seat, all the other seats are assigned to news organization such as New York Times, NBC, etc. With Helen Thomas' voice silenced, there will be no rapture in the White House Presidential Press Conferences. They may feel the relief, all we feel is regret. I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. -- VOLTAIRE (Francois Marie Arout) (1694 -- 1778)
