Helen Thomas is forced to retire

[mawilson 2,133]

a) he's wrong, and fcuking ignorant of how many off the rails crazy people there are here.

Bill Maher is many things, but ignorant he's not.

[Peikko 1,575]

I know that there is a theory that birth rate rules, but if it were that easy, Spain would still be Muslim and the Ottoman Empire would still exist.

No it would not. Muslims were never a majority in Spain, They were the ruling class, but were overwhelmingly outnumbered by Jews and Christians.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Strangely Moorish Spain wasn't really ruled by Arabs. It is true that many high positions were taken by Arabs but most of the Moors were Berbers. Later Muwallads (converted Christians) together with the offspring of the first invaders became dominant in Moorish Spain. The invaders brought no women so the second generation of Moors were already half Hispanic!

That would certainly explain the Spanish method of colonizing: Kill the men, steal all the gold, and rape all the women.

[Pooky 3,825]

Thomas said in a statement that, "I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They 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. May that day come soon."

This is the part that makes me lose any shred of respect I had left for her. Regardless of the content or the subject matter, denying that a statement made in a passionate and assumed unguarded moment reflects someone's inner belief is a lame shot at redemption.

If anything, such comments serve to show the true beliefs held by the person and any apology is just a sham to salvage what little respect the speaker can.

Besides, if Helen Thomas is going to retire because of the comment, why not go out with a shout and stand by what she really believes? How is it going to hurt her in the long run?

[Heracles 417]

Racist White Christians gave the land that is now Israel to get the Jews out of Europe and to stop them from blowing up good British citizens. They still want to control things there, and even what is allowed to be said about it. I'm no fan of Helen Thomas, but few Arabs, Christian or not, have forgotten what really happened, even if people in the US have the luxury of denial.

How about when Turkey gets out of Cyprus? Or does taking over a small powerless island in 1974 not count for you? Or the Armenian and Pontian genocide, which to this day are still denied. AKA don't even have the human courtesy to acknowledge. Perhaps you can tell me when Israel or the British committed genocide against 'your people' and then denied it?

Spare yourself the embarrassment of bringing up the crusades. Your ancestors actions since then has more than made up for that. Heck the Armenian genocide occurred in 1915. Turkey attacked Cyprus and took half the defenseless island in 1974.