UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi trying to "explain" use of pepper spray to students
In response to last November's incident in which Jewish students were bullied by pro-Palestinian students at UC Davis, the AMCHA Initiative has sent a letter to UCD's chancellor, Linda Ketehi, asking her to take action to deal with this recurring problem. There is a link below where you can also send a letter to Katehi.
Katehi trying to explain her pay raise to students
Enough is enough. It takes public pressure to get these universities to act.
"From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" Another shameful episode has occurred on a University of California campus-this time at UC Davis last November, when the usual pro-Palestinian thugs engaged in thuggery against Jewish students. The below letter is from Tammi Benjamin, a teacher at UC Santa Cruz and co-founder of the AMCHA Initiative, which is attempting to combat anti-Semitism on California college campuses. The letter is to UC Davis President Linda Katehi.
Subject: Jewish students threatened at UC Davis event
Dear Chancellor Katehi,
As you know, we are faculty members at the University of California, who have been investigating and documenting anti-Jewish bigotry on California public university campuses for the last several years.
We are writing to you now to express our serious concern regarding an incident that occurred during a student protest on November 19, 2012, during which UCD students “occupied” an administration building on campus. We believe that numerous violations of state and federal law and university policy may have occurred at the event. To our knowledge, your administration has neither acknowledged nor addressed these violations.
In addition, it appears that at least 5 university administrators, including the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, were present and witnessed much of this behavior, yet they did not take action to ensure the safety of the students who were targets of possible assault and hate crimes. Please see below for an account of the events as well as the federal and state laws and university policies which were potentially violated as a result of them.
Detailed Account of Events
Takeover of Dutton Hall
We have learned the following from newspaper articles, on-line videos, and conversations with Jewish students who attended the rally on the East Quad and the subsequent "occupation" of Dutton Hall.
At 12:30pm on November 19, a rally entitled "March in Solidarity with Gaza," sponsored by the Graduate Student Association, began on the East Quad. (See HEREfor an announcement of the rally).
At approximately 2pm, about 40 of the protesters marched from the East Quad to Dutton Hall, where they hung a larger bannerthat read "DAVIS+GAZA ARE ONE FIST" from the building's entryway and "occupied" the building's entrance hall. Several protesters held anti-Israel and anti-Zionist signs and large banners, two of which read "DEATH TO ZIONISM" and "LONG LIVE THE INTIFADA!"
The occupation leaders refused entry to Jewish students who were known to identify with the Jewish state, and at least one Jewish student associated with a pro-Israel group on campus reported that when he tried to enter Dutton Hall at the beginning of the "occupation," a rally organizer physically blocked his entry through the front doors and refused to let him pass, because he was a "Zionist."
At about 2:15pm, three Jewish students managed to slip into Dutton Hall, and one of them proceeded to film the discussion taking place inside the "occupied" entrance hall. Although a chief complaint of the "occupiers" was that pro-Palestinian students were being stifled on campus and not afforded their constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of speech, nevertheless, several times in the 20 minutes of the rally captured the "occupiers" themselves expressed the sentiment that "Zionists," including pro-Israel students at UCD, should not be given freedom of speech. For example, when a Jewish student wanted to know whether free speech could involve a civil discussion between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian perspectives, the leader answered, "I would say absolutely not. I would never discuss anything with Hitler. He is our enemy...there's no question of free speech when it comes to the Nazis. And the KKK, when they march in Sacramento and the cops defend them...you should not talk to these white supremacist, racist, mother-fuckers."
Escalation of the Protest
At about 2:30pm the rally leader said, "I just want everyone to know that there are Zionists filming everything we’re saying, and I think we should ask them to leave." Several protesters demanded that the Jewish students leave the public building, loudly chanting “Leave our space” and “Shame on you” repeatedly, and accusing the Jewish students of “hate speech” because of their support for Israel.
After the Jewish student stopped filming, most of the 40 protesters surrounded the Jewish students, who were standing up against a wall of windows, and screamed "Death to Israel," "Fuck Israel," and other curses. For about 10 minutes the protesters, many of whom stood 1 to 2 feet away from the Jewish students, continued to scream at the Jewish students to leave Dutton Hall and pounded their fists into their hands in a threatening way. Although the Jewish students were not physically harmed, they reported feeling physically and emotionally harassed and threatened until they finally managed to leave the building.
When an Aggie photographer who had photographed the confrontation inside the hall followed the Jewish students outside for comments and contact information, protesters at the rally turned on him and demanded to see his photos of the physical confrontation and that he delete them. Aggie staff members were also told by protesters that unless they were on the side of the "occupiers," they would also have to leave the administration building.
See article written by an Aggie staff member (below) In the article, the staff member asserts, “We witnessed many students…[end] up leaving, disgusted, as soon as the bullying began. Free speech is crucial. Ideally, our campus would be rife with protests, counter-protests and open dialogue regularly. But if students are scared to speak — scared of other students who resort to intimidation tactics — we have a serious problem.”
At approximately 2:45pm, after a student in Dutton Hall expressed disagreement with one of the protest signs, a protester grabbed his collar, raised his fist and forced the student to leave the building.
UCD and Staff Member Witnesses of Event
According to a student outside of Dutton Hall at the time of the "occupation," 3 UCD administrators (the Vice Chancellor and 2 Associate Vice Chancellors of Student Affairs) and 2 staff members associated with the Center for Student Involvement were right outside the building during the "occupation." According to one of the 3 Jewish students surrounded by protesters inside Dutton Hall, since she and her friends were standing against a bank of windows which were in full view of those standing outside, she believed the 5 administrators and staff members could see them being harassed and intimidated by the mob of protesters.
The administrators and staff standing outside did nothing to help the 3 Jewish students, but when they exited the building, one of the administrators asked one of the students if she was OK, which suggests that the administrator had witnessed the violent behavior of the protestors but did not take action. The Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, who it appears also witnessed the protestors’ behavior toward the Jewish students, spoke earlier that afternoon at the rally on the East Quad, where she was quoted as saying: “I will not permit violence to occur in the context of free speech.” There were no other administrators, staff or faculty present at the rally inside Dutton Hall, and at no time did any campus police appear in or near the hall.
Violations of Federal, State, and University Policy
We would like to bring to your attention the following aspects of this deeply troubling series of events:
1) We believe that incidents of this sort have the potential to create liability under the following legal authority:
Civil assault (Restatement 2d, Torts §21) - "An actor is subject to liability to another for assault if (a) he acts intending to cause a harmful or offensive contact with a person, or an imminent apprehension of such a contact, and (b) the other is thereby put in such imminent apprehension."
Civil battery (Restatement 2d, Torts §13,18) - "An actor is subject to liability to another for battery if (a) he acts intending to cause a harmful or offensive contact with a person, and (b) harmful or offensive contact with the person directly results."
Criminal assault (CA Penal Code 240) - Assault is "an unlawful attempt, coupled with a present ability, to commit a violent injury on the person of another." To be charged with criminal assault, physical contact is not required. A person must simply place another in reasonable fear of immediate bodily harm.
Criminal battery (CA Penal Code 242) - Battery is "any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another."
Disturbing the peace (CA Penal Code 415(3) - It is illegal to “…maliciously and willfully disturb another person by loud and unreasonable noise…[and to] use offensive words in a public place which are inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction.” In other words, it is illegal to use “offensive words” that “necessarily invite a breach of the peace.”
CA Civil Code 51.7 “The Ralph Civil Rights Act” - "All persons within the jurisdiction of this state have the right to be free from any violence, or intimidation by threat of violence, committed against their persons or property because of their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or position in a labor dispute, or because another person perceives them to have one or more of those characteristics."
CA Civil Code 52.1 “The Bane Civil Rights Act” - "If a person or persons, whether or not acting under color of law, interferes by threats, intimidation, or coercion, or attempts to interfere by threats, intimidation, or coercion, with the exercise or enjoyment by any individual or individuals of rights secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or of the rights secured by the Constitution or laws of this state, the Attorney General, or any district attorney or city attorney may bring a civil action for injunctive and other appropriate equitable relief in the name of the people of the State of California, in order to protect the peaceable exercise or enjoyment of the right or rights secured."
CA Penal Code 422.6 - "No person, whether or not acting under color of law, shall by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, oppress, or threaten any other person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him or her by the Constitution or laws of this state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States in whole or in part because of one or more of the actual or perceived characteristics of the victim."
Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act – Prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.
2) We believe the protesters' behavior may have violated the following UC Davis policies and principles:
UC Standards of Conduct for Students 102.06 - prohibiting the “unauthorized possession…of any University properties.”
UC Standards of Conduct for Students 102.08 - prohibiting “physical assault, including threats of violence, or other conduct that threatens the health or safety of a person.”
UC Standards of Conduct for Students 102.09 - prohibiting racial and other forms of harassment, defined as “conduct that is so severe…objectively offensive, and so substantially impairs a person’s access to University programs or activities, that the person is effectively denied equal access to the University’s resources and opportunities on the basis of his or her race…national or ethnic origin, alienage, religion…or perceived membership in any of these classifications.”
UC Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations and Students (PACAOS) Section 30 - “The University is committed to assuring that all persons may exercise the constitutionally protected rights of free expression, speech, assembly, and worship…It is the responsibility of the Chancellor to assure an ongoing opportunity for the expression of a variety of viewpoints.”
UC Davis Policies and Procedures Manual Ch. 270 Section 05(C) - “The University prohibits illegal, arbitrary, or unreasonable discriminatory practices. Campus organizations receiving University privileges, assistance, or supervision must abide by the University’s policy on nondiscrimination to qualify for any University privileges or assistance.”
UC Davis Policies and Procedures Manual Ch. 270 Section 20 - Public expression in the form of freedom of speech and advocacy may be exercised on University properties at such times and places and in such a manner as is compatible with the use of the property and as follows: 1) Assures orderly conduct; 2) Avoids disruption or interference with University operations; 3) Allows for the free flow of persons and traffic; 4) Avoids disruption or interference with the ability of the University to carry out its responsibilities as an educational institution; 5) Protects the rights of all individuals who use University properties; 6) Protects persons against practices that would make them involuntary audiences; 7) Assures the safety of all members of the University community; 8) Does not interfere with property entrances or exits.
UC Davis Student Judicial Affairs Statement on Free Expression - “Efforts to quell unpopular opinions (e.g., by shouting down a speaker) stifle discourse and cut off dialogue…Even legal acts of intolerance and incivility erode our capacity to trust, and to work, live, and learn together...We can uphold both the need for respect and understanding and the right of free speech by responding appropriately to each incident. Crimes must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent, and infringement of civil rights must be addressed by campus administrative processes and/or state or federal agencies. Discriminatory acts or violations of campus conduct standards, including disruption, are subject to disciplinary sanctions or grievances.”
UC Davis Principles of Community - “strives to maintain a climate of justice marked by respect for each other….affirms the right of freedom of expression…and commitment to the highest standards of civility and decency towards all…recognizing the right of every individual to think and speak as dictated by personal belief, to express any idea, and to disagree with or counter another's point of view… promoting open expression of our individuality and our diversity within the bounds of courtesy, sensitivity and respect.” In addition UC Davis vows to “confront and reject all manifestations of discrimination, including those based on race, ethnicity…religious or political beliefs, status…or any of the other differences among people which have been excuses for misunderstanding, dissension or hatred…striving to build a true community based on mutual respect and caring."
3) We believe the UCD administrators and staff members who witnessed the illegal and unethical behavior of the protestors but did not take action may have been negligent in carrying out their administrative responsibilities:
The Vice Chancellor and 2 Associate Vice Chancellors of Student Affairs who witnessed the "occupation" are responsible for Student Judicial Affairs, whose role is to enforce community standards and campus codes of conduct. As noted above, the protestors were in blatant violation of several UC policies which have the primary goal of ensuring student safety. Evidence points to the fact that the administrators were aware of most, if not all, of these violations, and that student safety was being threatened as a result of their inaction.
Two staff members from the UCD Center for Student Involvement witnessed the "occupation." CSI avows that it promotes the UC Davis Principles of Community, which affirm the right of freedom of expression within the Davis community and its commitment to the highest standards of civility and respect, by helping students learn from each other in a safe and constructive environment. However, during the solidarity rally, the protestors were in blatant violation of the Principles of Community in addition to violating 7 UCD students’ rights of free expression. Protestors also failed to treat these students with civility and respect. The staff members from this department did not ensure a safe and constructive environment for students when they failed to intervene during a student group’s assault, harassment and violation of fellow students’ rights.
Outcome of the Events
Jewish UCD students, within sight of UCD administrators and on public university property, were harassed, intimidated, and physically threatened. This is an abrogation of university policy and unlawful.
We are deeply concerned about the virulent and hate-filled actions taking place on the UCD campus as a result of students’ religion and beliefs. And we are also concerned for the safety and well-being of Jewish students who want to feel free to express their beliefs and attend public university events without fear of harm or intimidation.
As the Chancellor of UC Davis, we know that you too have these same concerns.
As a result, the following are important actions that we urge you to take now in order to protect the physical and emotional safety and civil rights of Jewish (and all) students on your campus:
University policy must spell out actions that campus police, administrators, and staff are responsible for taking to ensure the safety and civil rights of all students, and we urge that this policy be published widely to the campus community.
Police, administrators, and staff must be immediately informed about actions they should take and protocols they can access to afford all members of the campus community — including Jewish students — the protections that are afforded to them under University policy and state and federal law.
Perpetrators of disruptive and threatening behavior must be identified and appropriately disciplined.
The University Chancellor should use her First Amendment rights to consistently and publicly condemn behavior which targets other students for harassment and intimidation.
The official status and funding of student groups that engage in behavior which targets other students for harassment and intimidation should be subject to suspension and revocation.
We look forward to hearing from you whether these steps can be taken to ensure that Jewish UCD students – and all UCD students – can enjoy a campus where they feel safe, protected, and able to enjoy their civil rights no matter their identity or beliefs.
You will be receiving a copy of this letter by U.S. mail.
Sincerely,
Leila Beckwith
Professor Emeritus, University of California at Los Angeles
Co-founder the AMCHA Initiative
Tammi Rossman-Benjamin
Lecturer, University of California at Santa Cruz
Co-founder the AMCHA Initiative
Cc: UC President Mark Yudof
UC Regents
UC Chancellors
UC General Counsel Charles Robinson
UC Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture, and Inclusion (c/o Jesse Bernal)
UC Davis Counsel Steven Drown
California Speaker of the Assembly John A. Perez
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
California State Senator Lois Wolk (Davis)
California State Assembly Member Mariko Yamada (Davis)
Congressman John Garamendi (3rd District)
Bcc: Members and supporters of the Jewish community -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are wondering where the campus police were, probably hiding under their desks on the orders of Chancellor Katehi. This incident occurred on the one-year anniversary of the protest in which UCD police pepper-sprayed unruly students who refused to get up off their sorry duffs and disperse only to be condemned by the university. Is it any wonder they were afraid to intervene?
This is the kind of outrageous nonsense that UC President Mark Yudof (and his predecessors) have presided over for years. Instead of brown shirts, black and white checkered kaffiyah-clad thugs and nitwits swagger around campuses bullying any Jewish student who dares stand up for Israel while university officials stand by silently and passively. Talk about the inmates running the institution.
Let's not forget the professors here. These dopey kids are merely acting out the indoctrination they are getting from UC professors just as their counterparts at Harvard, Columbia, Yale and countless other universities.
Until the university gets a bold and competent president as well as bold and competent administrators, this shameful behavior will continue. Unfortunately, it will take a drastic change in the university's culture before that happens.
This week, Sohail Daulatzai was one of the featured speakers at UC Irvine, hosted by the Muslim Student Union as part of their annual Muslim Awareness Week. The theme of the week's events was, "Meet the Muslim next door". Daulatzai, who teaches African-American Studies at UCI, spoke on "Return of the Mecca: Muslims, Multi-Culturalism and the Enduring Legacy of Malcolm X".
Due to family illness, I was unable to attend the event. However, I was able to learn a few details about Dr Daulatzai. He was born somewhere on the Pakistan, Afghanistan border (not further specified) came to the US with his parents and grew up somewhere on the US-Mexican border (not further specified).
"For to be black in America is enough to be deemed un-American, but to be black and Muslim is to be anti-American" "In Cairo, Malcolm implored the heads of state not to be fooled by the "imperialist wolf" of the US or the State Department's attempts to use propaganda to convince African nations that the United States was making serious progress toward racial equality through Brown v Board and the passage of Civil Rights legislation." "In highlighting the use of propaganda and the managing of America's image abroad, Malcolm anticipated not only how after 9/11 the State Department would place Muslims in high profile positions in the arts and political realms to influence Muslim public opinion abroad, but also how the election of Obama and the rhetoric of "diversity" would be used to redefine America as inclusive, "post-racial" and progressive in order to mask the entrenchment of white power domestically and globally". "While Obama went to Egypt to co-opt this sacred city and put a benevolent face on American power, Malcolm had been there to strip away the veneer of benevolence and reveal the naked truth about US racial injustice and imperial ambition. This is why the legacy of Malcolm X is so important, as it sheds light on the racial dynamics that shape the global landscape today under US power." "Just as "anti-communism" was a proxy for race during the Cold War, "anti-terrorism" has become the new proxy for race and the re-entrenching of white supremacy by justifying US intervention abroad while also containing dissent domestically, as the logic of "terrorism" is used to determine who is a citizen and who is an enemy, who is human and who is not, and who is to be killed and who is allowed to live". "It's the recognition that the logic of mass incarceration in the US that has destroyed black political possibility and contained dissent through local policing and counter-insurgency is also what drives the US military and its imperial imprisonment in Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, Bagram and other places. It's the recognition that the plight of migrants across the heavily militarised US-Mexico border resembles the conditions that contain and destroy Palestinian lives and livelihood. And it's the recognition that the neoliberal economic policies that have destroyed the social wage and witnessed the emergence of the warfare state in the US is deeply rooted in the exploitation of the third world through global finance capital and war." "To ignore this falls into the worst forms of liberal internationalism that presume the US to be a force for good in the world, and it replicates the very problem that Malcolm X heroically struggled against, and was ultimately killed for." (emphasis mine)
I'll stop there. I think you get the point. It appears obvious that Dr Daulatzai doesn't have a very high opinion of his adopted country. He also seems to think that nothing has changed (racially) in America since the time of Malcolm X. Of course, I doubt seriously that Daulatzai was here at the time.
It is bad enough that Daulatzai is teaching college kids that America is such an evil nation, but when he suggests that Malcolm X was killed because of his criticism of the US and its policies, that is a flat-out falsehood.
Sorry, Doctor. You have been watching too many Spike Lee movies and buying into too many conspiracy theories. Malcolm X was murdered by the Nation of Islam on the orders of Elijah Mohammed (never charged) because he become a Sunni Muslim, had broken with the organization, was publicly critical of it, and was exposing Elijah's corruption and illicit sexual relations. Malcolm's widow, Betty Shabazz, spent the remainder of her life believing that the current leader of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, was involved in the conspiracy to kill Malcolm.
This is the problem, folks. This is what our children are being taught in American universities-that their country is inherently evil and has not changed racially since the 1950s and 1960s. Daulatzai refers to the fear of communism driving the US's international policies. Let's put it another way since I also grew up during the Cold War. After World War 2, we were locked in a struggle with the USSR for our freedoms and the freedom of the world. From Korea to Vietnam to Nicaragua, you can criticize the policies in retrospect, but it has to done within the context of the Cold War. Had the USSR prevailed in that struggle, who would be living in freedom today? In fact, were it not for the US and our military, who would be living in freedom today?
Personally, it makes me sick that we have professors like Daulatzai in our universities. At the risk of sounding jingoistic, I will even say that if Daulatzai has so little regard for his adopted country, as reflected in the above article, why doesn't he go back to that place on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border from which he came? Surely, he would have little problem in finding like-minded friends.
And how ironic that the MSU's theme for the week was, "Meet the Muslim next door." I feel sorry for whomever is unfortunate to be living next door to Sohail Daulatzai.
This week, the Muslim Student Union at UC Irvine is hosting their annual Muslim Awareness Week with a series of presentations. The theme of this week's events is, "Meet the Muslim Next Door". On Tuesday and Wednesday, the speakers were Hussam Ayloush, the director of CAIR in Southern California, UC Irvine professor Sohail Daulatzai, Sheikh Osman Umarji, and Imam Muzammil Siddiqi. I was not able to attend the above events. On Thursday, I attended a presentation by the Executive Director of CAIR in San Francisco, Zahra Billoo, who spoke on the topic of women's rights in Islam. Billoo is an outspoken activist most noted for the time when her office issued a poster urging Muslims not to talk to the FBI.
The speech was attended by about 50 people, almost all Muslim students, mostly female. The women and men sat on separate sides of the room. In addition, there were a few non-Muslim students in attendance who seemed to be accompanied by a female professor who was having them write reports. The event was also in conjunction with "wear a hijab" day, in which non-Muslim females would sign up to wear a hijab during the day and report their experiences that evening at another event headed by Ms. Billoo ( I did not attend this event.) The MSU was video-taping the speech, and I noted another female student intermittently taking pictures or recording video shots.
Nevertheless, a couple of minutes after Ms Billoo began her talk (I was videotaping), a male MSU student came up to me and told me politely that no video-taping was allowed. I responded politely but firmly that this issue at UCI had been decided a few years previous (when state legislator Chuck DeVore came to an MSU event and was told not to videotape), and that it was very clear that this was a public event at a public university, and that I had every legal right to videotape. At this point, the young man backed down and politely asked me to change seats (from the front to the rear, where I would not be a distraction). I agreed, changed my seat to the rear, and kept filming (see first segment, first minute).
In her talk, Billoo spoke of the "spiritual equality" of women under Islam. She described how in pre-Islamic times in the Arabian peninsula, women had very few rights. This changed under Mohammed and Islam, according to Billoo.
Billoo spoke of how men and women, indeed, have different makeups, physically and in terms of their responsibilities. She told us that the Prophet Mohammed had said that women should be educated.
As to marital rights, Billoo conceded that men could have up to four wives (before Islam, it was much higher). She said that while a wife could not stop her husband from having other wives, she could leave the marriage if she wished. A Muslim woman also had the right to agree to a marital partner.
As to intermarriage, she said that Muslim men could marry women from the "religions of the book" (Christian or Jewish). Women did not have the same rights except under certain circumstances where no Muslim men were available.
During her talk, she made note of the fact that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta had this week announced that women could now serve in combat in the US armed forces. Billoo had mixed feelings about this since on the one hand, in Mohammed's time, women had fought in combat, but on the other hand, she had negative feelings about recent US military action conducted, "not in our name".
In the question and answer session, I was called on first. I referred to the theme of the week's events, "(Meet the Muslim next door"), and stated that I had a Muslim family as neighbors a couple of doors down. I said that I was sure that if the FBI came knocking on their door asking for information, they would happily provide them with any information they had since, like most American Muslims, they didn't want any more 9-11s or any other acts of terrorism. Yet, here was CAIR in San Francisco coming up with a flyer (which I drew from my pocket and showed her and the audience) in which CAIR was advising the Muslim community not to talk to the FBI. I added that in my view, this only increased the level of suspicion toward the Muslim community when the largest Muslim organization in America was advising the community not to talk to the FBI. In the second part of the question, I asked if she could tell us the punishment for adultery under (hudud) sharia law. (Hudud is the section which provides criminal penalties.)
Billoo replied that the flyer in question had been created decades ago and had been used by many activist organizations. She advised that CAIR (national) had not endorsed that the flyer since it "did not represent appropriate legal advice". Yet, she added that the US Constitution insured that every citizen had the right to remain silent and have legal representation when questioned by law enforcement (see second segment).
As to the second question, Billoo said that the laws against adultery in Islam applied to both men and women, and an accusation of adultery required 4 eye-witnesses, which she added was, in practical terms, almost an impossibility. In the end, she stated that for both men and women, the penalty for adultery was death by stoning (see second segment).
Today's headline in the Orange County Register announces that the so-called "Irvine 11', the arrogant students who were convicted of disrupting a speech by the Israeli ambassador to the US at the University of California at Irvine, have filed an appeal.
Never mind that they were not sentenced to any jail time for their outrageous conduct. These characters want total vindication.
Last year, four of these young men returned to UCI to participate in a panel as part of the Muslim Student Union's anti-Israel week of events. They expressed no remorse when confronted with the fact that they could not extend the same right of free speech to the Israeli ambassador that they enjoyed at UCI as they spoke.
As their point of justification, they responded that Michael Oren (the Israeli ambassador) was a "war criminal" even though they had no solid grounds to back up that charge.
Make no mistake: These young men gave a black eye to UCI (one of them was a UC Riverside student.) They also gave a black eye to the Muslim community as a whole. They showed that they could not tolerate speech from someone with whom they do not agree. They showed that they could not listen and participate in a courteous question and answer session. Instead, they tried to shut down the words of the Israeli ambassador. Videotapes showed that they thought they had succeeded in doing exactly that in the moments after the disruption. They lied to the university about their intentions and tried to cover up their plans to disrupt the speech.
Keep in mind, most of these former students were either born in America or are American citizens. Yet, they have no concept of the principles of freedom of speech.
I try to respect the line between one who teaches at UCI and the students. As such, I hold back a lot of fire when it comes to students. These young men are now departed from UCI, so I feel no such compunction.
And it came to pass that on the 21th day of the month of January. (The 20th being the day of the Sabbath [Christian] and a celebration of this magnitude is not permitted.) At a time when all is dead and dying. The Anointed One retook the High Office. This being over 2 months since the Anointed One defeated the Good Romney. Amid the hosts of Heaven, singing the mantra FOWARD, The Anointed One started his trip down the Avenue of Pennsylvania towards the Dome of the Capital.
Unlike the last time The Anointed One took this trip, the multitude did not chant: "Hope, Change." In fact, the multitude assembled was quiet lessened from 4 years ago.
Upon the steps of the Dome of the Capital, amid the assorted assemblage of the chapter of the Congress, Biden the Bungler was sworn as the lessor. Then the Holy Chief of Justice, John of Roberts, given his office by Bush the Lessor, came forward to invest upon the Anointed One the mantle of office.
And after this holy act, the musicians played, and the assembled multitude cheered in triumph. And there was great rejoicing.
The Anointed One, renewed as the Wearer of the Mantle of Power, stood before the assembled and spoke.
So many have gathered here to witness My Awesomeness.
I have quoteth Jefferson, but we all know that I am the creator of all.
Patriots of old threw off the tyranny of King George III, for a republic now headed by Me.
As a nation we threw off slavery, built a modern nation, saved a world from tyranny twice.
But today we as a nation cannot do any of this. We must remind ourselves that we are but one nation of many, nothing extraordinary, nothing special. To thrive in this world we must join into a collective.
I have ended the wars of the last decade. Not in victory but our troops will be coming home to their families. Victory is not important. Muslims will always be the victors with Me.
I will destroy the Republicans, the rich and the middle class. They must be demonized and driven into poverty. This does not apply to My friends in Hollywood. Whose propaganda not only helped My reelection but continues to promote My message to the people.
I will keep promoting the myth that a poor child can grow up to have a better life. But the truth is that the poor child needs to remain poor, ill educated, and voting Democrat. For the the poor ever come to realize that if they supported the Republicans and their economic and moral ideas, they would leave our side faster than a speeding bullet.
It is through My will that welfare and other entitlements will increase to the poor. For every poor person will have:
Free Food, Free Healthcare, Free Money
This I give the masses.
It is through My will that the military will be destroyed. I have decreed that we do not need so many fighting men and women.
The guns that I hate (Actually fear) will be taken (by force) from the people. It is through My will, My power that you will be safe.
This nation under My benevolent guidance, will support the democracies around the world. The democracies in Asia, Africa and the Mid East will get My support and care. But not the true democracy run by the Jews. For they are an evil people who stole the land they live on from the Muslims.
It is through My will that gay men and women will be given more rights than others.
Through My will, free elections in this nation will be a thing of the past. I will transform this nation into a larger version of Detroit. Thus the nation will be transformed through My will.
This I swear in the name of Allah.
And after the speech He went into the Dome, to feast on seafood, beef and apples.
Then the bands played and the multitude cheered as the parade marched. The Anointed One watched and blessed them all.
The great and the mighty danced the night away. Secure in the dogma of liberal and socialism.
To the rest of the nation while some actual hope. The rest of pray:
You will have to highlight the text to read. I don't know what the problem is.
Portion of a map of the Middle East in the display at UC Irvine
On Tuesday, I visited an exhibit at UC Irvine put up by the Arab-American Museum of Dearborn, Michigan. It highlights the contributions of Arab-Americans to the US and includes representations of several military personnel who are Arab-Americans, none of which is objectionable.
Below is an e-mail sent to the campus community by Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Thomas Parham..
Dear UCI Community,
You are invited to view "Patriots : Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to our Country", a multi-media interactive exhibit on display at the UCI Student Center in Doheny Beach C & D rooms from 9a.m. to 9p.m. and is open through Saturday, January 26, 2013. This traveling exhibit is from the Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn, Michigan and is making its West Coast premiere at UC Irvine. The AANM is an Affiliate member of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.
The Patriots & Peacemakers exhibition tells the story of over 100 years of contributions by Arab Americans to three arenas of national service: the U.S. military, diplomatic service and the Peace Corps. The AANM designed the exhibit to shine a light on the acts of heroism and sacrifice of generations of Americans of Arab descent, and to challenge prevailing stereotypes. The display opened on Veterans Day 2011 at the museum in Michigan.
On Sunday, January 20, in conjunction with the exhibit, the Middle East Studies Student Initiative at UCI (MESSI) is sponsoring "Arabic Calligraphy" at 1 p.m. with Maece Seirafi, and at 2 p.m. Dr. Faiza Shereen and Rima Nashashibi will give a talk on "Who are Arab Americans?" in the Emerald Bay Room at the UCI Student Center.
Having viewed the exhibit myself, I encourage our campus community to take the time to visit the display to learn about these important contributors to America's history.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
Learn about the exhibit at arabamericanmuseum.org/patriots.and.peacemakers_socal
First of all, the Arab-American Museum in Dearborn is the same organization that honored Helen Thomas with a sculpture after she made her anti-Semitic comments.
Secondly, one of the displays shows a map of the Middle East (above) which-you guessed it- omits Israel. It is all called Palestine. On Tuesday, I observed it myself.
Dr Parham, with all due respect, how can you put your imprimatur on this exhibit when it presents students with a politically falsified map of the Middle East? What kind of educational experience is that?
This week, students, faculty and staff at all UC campuses are being sent a questionnaire on the UC Campus Climate project. I cannot wait to fill it out.
"One person's hate speech is another person's education."
Craig Considine, who is a PhD candidate (naturally), has written the below piece in the Huffington Post and not even that readership is buying it if you go by the comment thread. It is a comparison of George Washington and the Prophet Mohammed.
I invite comments on both sides of this question. As for Mr Considine, he will surely be a great professor someday.
Update: I have joined the comment thread on this piece at Huffpo and the conversation is worth following. Considine is taking a lot of hits. Keep in mind that the Huffington Post is the biggest liberal blog of all.
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas is the man with whom Israel is supposed to negotiate peace with. Previously, he has declared that the future Palestinian state will contain no Jews. Now he has declared his admiration for the past Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Hajj Amin al Husseini. (Hat tip Israel National News)
I am not sure the writer's description of the Grand Mufti is entirely accurate as to his relations to Hitler. Husseini actually resided in Berlin during the war, from where he made broadcasts to the Arab world urging them to drive the Jews out of their lands. He also helped organized a Bosnian Muslim SS division, which fought on the Germans' side. After the war, he was briefly held in France then quietly sent to Egypt rather than upset the Arab world by trying him as a war criminal, which was exactly what he was.
Any man whom you would see in the above two pictures is nobody to be admired.
Scott Compton, an English teacher at Chapin High School in Chapin, S.C. has been put on administrative leave after students detail his actions
in classes where he took an American flag, threw it on the floor, and stomped on it while telling his students "‘This is a symbol, but it’s only a piece of cloth. It doesn’t mean anything."
One parent, Michael Copeland, said he heard his teenage daughter discussing the incident and asked her to tell him the whole story.
“He drew a couple of symbols, like one of them was a cross, and he said, ‘What does this represent,’ and everybody said, ‘Christianity,’” Copeland explained to WIS.
“Then he proceeds to take down the American flag, and said, ‘This is a symbol, but it’s only a piece of cloth. It doesn’t mean anything,’ and then he throws it down on the floor and then stomps on it, repeatedly,”
Copeland continued.
“I asked what was he trying to get, the point across? And she said, ‘I don’t know,’ and he said, his explanation was there would be no consequences, it’s just a piece of cloth that doesn’t mean anything.”
The best response I have seen so far reportedly comes from Mark Bounds, a spokesperson for the school district:
“Our superintendent served in the military, I served in the military for 20 years, our flag is a symbol of our freedom, and so many people have fought and died for that liberty, and so we take this action very seriously,” Bounds added.
As well they should.
I am sure there are a number of active military and veterans, among many others, that would take offense at Mr. Compton's actions.
Chapin High School
300 Columbia Ave.
Chapin, SC 29036
Phone - (803) 575-5400
Fax - (803) 575-5420
When I was in school (During the Stone Age) we were respectful to the flag. We had better been. If we had done such a deed in front of our classmates, forget our teachers, we would have gotten our heads handed to us by our friends, families, teachers, etc... If a teacher had done this, he would have found himself in the hospital by our fathers (most of whom fought in WW 2).
What Scott Compton did is just a sign of the ineptitude of our teachers. The lack of morals and patriotism that we have been seeing for the last 4 years. Our children are being indoctrinated (There is nothing that even resembles teaching.) by members of the Communist Party, by people who wish to destroy this nation.
If you have children in the Public Pubic Schools get them out now!!! Home school them if you cannot afford to put them in a decent school. Do it today!
Coming on the heels of Al Gore's sale of Current TV to Al Jazeera, this latest bit by Daily Caller is quite timely. Nihad Awad, the CEO of the unindicted co-conspirator organization CAIR, has told a Saudi interviewer that Muslims actually discovered America first.
Of course, this would fit in perfectly with the extremist Islamic doctrine that anywhere Muslims tread must be once again Islamic land-Spain, for example. And make no mistake, the CAIR types are extremists no matter what their protestations to the contrary.
“Some documents and accounts indicate that Muslim seafarers were the first to reach the U.S., [so] the bottom line is that Islam played a part in the establishment and development of the U.S.,” Awad told the Saudi interviewer, in an interview in a New York studio.
Document number 173 And so goes the reasoning in Awad's fevered mind that America must (once again) be Islamic. The guy sounds like he's been smoking his underwear. What's next, Awad-Neil Armstrong was a Muslim?
At least Awad cannot claim to have invented the Internet. Everybody knows that was Al Gore. In fact, that was first reported on Al Jazeera.
In the below Jerusalem Post article, 2013 is not shaping up as a good year for Christians in the Middle East. Not surprisingly, there is only one country in the region that is welcoming (with isolated exceptions). That is Israel. In most other countries in the region, it appears that Christians are facing increased persecution and leaving.
I would like to ask the reader how much of this have you heard on National Public Radio or on ABC, CNN, NBC or CBS? Not much, I'll bet. Why not? Think it is not a big story that one of the three Abrahamaic faiths that was born in the Middle East is disappearing from the region? That would leave only Israel and its Jews, and we already know that the Arab Jews were driven out of the other countries back in 1948. Only a few thousand remain. If Israel disappears, that would basically leave one faith in the region, right?
Isn't that the goal?
I raised the question of the persecution of religious minorities in the Middle East last year at Loyola Marymount University during one of those events promoting sharia put on by local Islamic leaders.
"When called upon, I introduced myself, and my question went like this:
"We have heard a lot of talk today about hate and intolerance, but there is an 800 pound gorilla in the back of the room, and its name is hate and intolerance. It is not the hate and intolerance that may or not be directed to you, but the hate and intolerance that is being carried out by Muslims against religious minorities in Muslim countries-people being killed and their places of worship destroyed-from the Coptic Christians in Egypt, to the Christians in Pakistan, the Jews in Yemen, the Baha'i in Iran, the Christians in Iraq and the Christians and animists in Sudan. In addition, Jews in Europe are now experiencing the worst anti-Semitism since the 1930s. It has gotten to the point where they cannot walk the streets wearing Jewish garb lest they be insulted, spat upon or assaulted. Yes, some of the perpetrators are neo-Nazis and skinheads, but the primary perpetrators are young, male Muslim immigrants. 'I am not attributing that to Muslims in America', I said. 'I don't hate Muslims and I don't know anyone in this room who does, but why do you never speak out against that hate and intolerance?"
Qazwini was the first to respond. He said there were two problems. First of all, most of these countries are not free countries, and for the past 8 decades, the Western superpowers, including the US, have supported these regimes. "Don't blame Islam", he said. "Don't blame it on Muslims."
Qazwini also said that he has been active on the UC Irvine campus for 17 years and every Friday, he speaks out against this intolerance.
Jackson stated that it was a "false criteria". He also said, "Just because a problem persists, doesn't mean that Muslims are not speaking out. "Nobody is more concerned or affected by extremist interpretations than Muslims".
Hathout stated that he had just been involved in a Muslim conference on religious minorities (in Muslim countries). He also stated that "oppression of the majority will lead to oppression of the minority." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is what you get. In the coming years, we had better get ready for a few more million refugees to the West coming out of this region. These I will support. And they will have tons of things to tell us when they get here. I just hope somebody will listen because precious few are listening now.
Roger Gardner, the owner of Radarsite, lost his battle with leukemia on December 17, 2009. His friends and contributors will endeavor to keep Radarsite fresh and intriguing in his absence, as was his wish. Please feel free to leave your comments, your opinions are valuable to us. Obscenities, personal attacks, anonymous commenters and anti-American rants will of course be deleted. I hope you enjoy your visit and return often -- Roger W. Gardner, owner/editor. [Note: most of the images on this sidebar are hyperlinks. Click the little icon above to read Radarsite's updated mission statement]
Repubs recycle flags thrown in trash by Dems- September 7, 2008
Radarsite in the Chicago Courier News - Member of the Chicago Sun-Times Group
"Jihad and the Growing Surrender of American Counterterrorism" Sept. 21, 2008
Radarsite at CNN.com
CNN has cited 12 Radarsite articles at CNN.com. Latest article posted February 20, 2009
Radarsite in the Herald News
"AP lied about Obama's Red Mentor" - August 28, 2008
Radarsite in The Beacon News: member of the Chicago Sun Times group
Lionheart: Reports From Across the Pond: May 23, 2008
Radarsite cited by CBS News
"Other Blogs" October 30, 2008
Radarsite's most read article (170,000 readers at Reuters)
"Elect Obama, Destroy America"
Radarsite's most controversial article
" A Brief Message to America" - January 27, 2008
Radarsite in the Chicago Post-Tribune
"The Great Choice Revisited" by Roger W. Gardner - July 15, 2009
Radarsite in the Southtown Star - member Sun Times News Group
"My Haunted TV" - Oct. 18, 2009
The Pakistani Spectator interviews Radarsite
The Pakistani Spectator: 15 Feb 08
"Hello to Pakistan" - The Pakistani Spectator, February 17, 2008
Thoughts on the 2008 Pakistani election
Visit Liberty Street
A different kind of blog
Sansom Street
A collection of short stories by Roger W. Gardner
An original Radarsite essay in three chapters
Radarsite is a proud contributor to Wake Up America
Susan Duclos (Spree)
Radarsite is also a proud contributor to that great Australian website Crusader Rabbit
As of July 13, 2008 Radarsite will also be a proud contributor to Maggie's Notebook
Bravo Maggie Thornton!
Beginning July 27, 2008 Radarsite will be contributing to the inimitable Miss Beth's Victory Dance
Miss Beth!
Who is a patriot?
Click on Samuel Johnson to find out
Blogging Against the Religion of Peace
Graphic by No Sheeples Here!
Radarsite on Hillary Clinton Forum
"Obama Convention throw US Flags in the Trash" (Radarsite) - September 6, 2008
Opinions
Opinions, in my opinion, unlike principles, are not sacred possessions to be protected, locked away and defended from all intruders. Rather, they are, or should be, living and evolving attitudes, constantly subjected to rigorous revision and adjustment — or, when necessary, quickly abandoned for some more plausible or cogent truth. - rg -- Wrestling With Mohammed - 12/9/07
Lionheart IS freedom of speech. If he loses, we all lose.
I Stand For Freedom
From No Sheeples Here
US Air Force
Proud veteran of the United States Air Force
Political Vindication Radio
Those great silent lessons in humility
The Age of Unreason
We are living in an new era, the Age of Unreason. We are being ruled by a ruthless and unyielding dictator who hides under the benign title of Political Correctness. This tyrant requires nothing less of us than our complete and unquestioning obedience to his rules of conduct. His ironclad laws permeate every area of our existence, even penetrating into our innermost thoughts. He vigorously supports and enforces these regulations through a formidable array of propaganda, misinformation and outright lies.
-- New Rules of Engagement 12/9/07
The truth about "Palestine"
For an intelligent and thorough rebuttal to the "Palestinian" Arabs' claims of "dispossession" by the Israeli Jews, Radarsite highly recommends Churchill's Parrot's authoritative essay "The Desert Bloom: An Insult to Human Dignity?"
Radarsite supports boycotting the City of Berkeley
Thanks Snooper.
Radarsite appears in Real Clear politics
A message from Radarsite
"It does not escape me, however, what a significant proportion of my respected fellow warriors in this blogosphere are women -- well-informed, strong-minded and courageous, and certainly not afraid to speak out against this worldwide Muslim oppression of their female population..." -- From "A Big Ms-Take"
Strong women are sexy!
Radarsite supports freedom for women around the world. ESPECIALLY IN ISLAM
Strong, patriotic, gun-toting, pro-military women are even sexier!
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. With the Home Guard. (Thanks Crusader Rabbit)
Bravo brave Princess!
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Bravo Susan Duclos (Spree)!
Radarsite supports Wake Up America
Bravo Deb Hamilton!
Radarsite supports Right Truth.
Bravo Courtney! Great Satan's Girlfriend
The Great Satan loves you!
Bravo Jenn Sierra!
Radarsite supports Fort Hard Knox
Bravo Reut R. Cohen!
Radarsite supports Reut Cohen.com
Bravo brave Naomi!
Radarsite supports author Naomi Ragen
Bravo Wafa Sultan!
The True Voice of Islam
Bravo Loon!
Radarsite support the fine work of "One Loon's Tales"
Bravo Barb!
Radarsite supports Faultline USA
Bravo Kateri E. Jordan!
Radarsite supports Miss Beth's Victory Dance
Bravo Melanie Morgan!
Radarsite proudly supports Move America Forward
Bravo Carol!
Radarsite supports No Sheeples Here
Bravo Amy Proctor!
Radarsite supports Bottom Line Up Front
Bravo Aurora!
Radarsite supports The Midnight Sun
Bravo brave Debbie!
Radarsite supports the important work of Debbie Schlussel
Bravo Ayaan Hirsi Ali!
Radarsite supports the brave Infidel
For a great introduction to the Ayaan Hirsi Ali story, see Shane Borgess" insightful article at PV
Radarsite also honors our own Cassie L. of Patriots For Conservative Values for her tireless work and her innumerable contributions to our righteous cause.
A follow-up announcement from Radarsite:
I'm sure I've inadvertently neglected to include some brave female warriors in this small tribute, and for this I apologize. If you would like to suggest a site to be included on this list please email me (from my bio) or leave a comment and I'll be happy to make the addition. rg
Islam also honors their women
Islamo-feminist Pride Day Parade
Islam also honors their women
A very public display of respect.
Islam: Religion of peace.
8:67 It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war (and free them with ransom) until he had made a great slaughter (among his enemies) in the land. You desire the good of this world (i.e. the money of ransom for freeing the captives), but Allâh desires (for you) the Hereafter. And Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise. Tafsir: 12
For the complete Myth vs. Fact Series, follow the link to Miss Beth"s Victory Dance
New York City's incomprehensible decision to light up the Empire State Building green for the weekend of October 16, 2007 in honor of the Muslim holiday of Eid. [Thank you Lundesigns.com]
Old Blood and Guts
George Smith Patton, Jr. - November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945 (aged 60)
My first job in the Big Apple. Doorman at the old Astor Theater (above left), during the 1955 season of its world premier of James Dean's East of Eden: "Step right this way folks, immediate seating in the balcony!"
Times Square and the Old Astor Theater
My second job in the Big Apple: Doorman at the MOMA - 1957
Evidently, there was something about me that made me a good doorman...
Check out "La Ultima Paja"
Fishing for Fatwas
Radarsite supports the truthful but deadly Danish cartoons
Radarsite honors Flemming Rose
The courageous Jyllands-Posten Editor who first published these explosive cartoons and has subsequently been targeted for assasination by those ardent followers of that gentle Religion of Peace.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.BMP)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
