You can’t make this stuff up:
The alma mater of journalist Helen Thomas will not bestow an award that had been given in her name, making the decision after the 90-year-old scribe made more controversial comments about Jewish people.
Wayne State University, the Detroit, Michigan, institution that Thomas graduated from in 1942, said in a statement Friday that the school will no longer give out the Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity in the Media Award.
“Wayne State encourages free speech and open dialogue, and respects diverse viewpoints,” the school’s statement said. “However, the university strongly condemns the anti-Semitic remarks made by Helen Thomas during a conference yesterday.”
Pat Lang considers this a “spineless insult to Helen Thomas.” Lord knows I’m not a fan of Thomas and don’t mind in the least her being insulted.
I’ll go along with the “spineless” part, though. Beyond that, this is almost comical in its irony. An award celebrating diversity in the media canceled because someone makes remarks in the media that are divergent from the conventional viewpoint? Oh, and bonus points for reinforcing Thomas’ argument that only pro-Likud views are tolerated.
Kudos.
