Day 4 at UCI Irvine Hate Week

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com



Was it something I said, Professor?

The circus has folded its tent for the year, mercifully. UC Irvine's annual May extravaganza, where the Muslim Student Union brings in the usual speakers to attack Israel wound up last night as two professors, one from UCLA and one from UC Irvine repeated the same stuff that is said every year about Israel and the poor Palestinians. Last night, it was Prof. Robin Kelley of UCLA and Sohail Daulatzai from UCI. The audience consisted of about 50 students, mostly all MSU members listening to the same old stuff they had been listening to all week and the previous years.

Kelley talked for a few minutes about traveling to Israel last year with a group of other professors as part of a "fact-finding" team (my words not his) sponsored by one of those pro-boycott groups. As he spoke, the big screen showed a series of slides of Palestinian villages, which didn't exactly remind me of Geneva. Oh well. I'm not sure what the point was.

Then Sohail Daulatzai spoke and told of how the Israelis refused to allow him into their country when he arrived at the airport.

 (I wouldn't have allowed him in either.)

During the presentation, Daulatzai periodically inserted references to all the "similar things" that were happening here in America while attacking Israel's human rights record (I am paraphrasing). He referred to the US-Mexico border, the inner city, and other US issues; human rights, social justice, blah blah blah, woof woof woof, quack quack quack.. A couple of times, he referred to little ol' me sitting in the audience and filming. At one point, he waved at me. I waved back.)

If you want to punish yourself by watching the video, be my guest. Suffice to say the fun began during the q and a. (First there was a moderated q and a where the moderator posed about 4 questions to the panel. Then audience members were allowed to come to the mic, ask a respectful question pertinent to the topic and return to their seats like good little clones before the question would be answered. No follow-ups desired, you see).

My question regarded Malcolm X, (whom Daulatzai had mentioned) and was directed to him. I referred him to a recent (virulently anti-American article he had written for Al Jazeera on Malcolm. I read the following sentence from the article to him and the audience:

"....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 against,  and was ultimately killed for." 

Talk about truthers!

I continued that I was a young man in this country when Malcolm was killed, that he was murdered by the Nation of Islam because he had left the Nation, had publicly criticized it, and had exposed the corruption and sexual abuses of Elijah Mohammed. I then returned to the article in its entirety, which I described as virulently anti-American and asked him which he hatred most-Israel or America. The article is linked below. I invite the reader to judge the tone of the article. The above quote is on the last page just prior to the conclusion.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/11/2012111103312998744.html

Of course, I got derisive laughter from the audience. A young lady waiting in line behind me smiled at me and clapped as I returned to my seat. A friendly face, I thought. Boy, was I to be surprised. Here is the video of the event from the beginning until the point where I left. My exchange with Daulatzai begins around the 10;30 mark of the 4th video.







http://www.youtube.com/embed/wVpIZidU5CQ





http://www.youtube.com/embed/v3BtDqwFlbo







http://www.youtube.com/embed/Or2v1RIU578




Meanwhile, all the flowers in the room died when I finished my question. Daulatzai was not amused. In his response ( I am paraphrasing), he referred to me as one who had written a previous article about him and asked me to confirm I was the writer. I replied from my seat that it could have been, but I wasn't sure which article he was referring to. He then went on to describe the article as having been written about what he said at an earlier event at UCI even though I wasn't present. (He was referring to Muslim Awareness week earlier this year when he was one of the speakers, but I wasn't able to attend.) I responded that to my recollection I had only written about his background not what he said. Below is the article in question. I think it conclusively shows that I did not comment on the content of Daulatzai's talk (only the announced title), but that I wrote about his previous writings and statements about the US, which I take exception to. So he misstated the facts to the audience.

http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2013/01/muslim-awareness-week-at-uc-irvine-2013_26.html

(I stand by everything I wrote in that article.)

Anyway, Daulatzai bitterly rebuked me for making "ad hominem attacks" against him. He questioned the propriety of one teacher at a university writing such an article about another and added rather ominously, "Duly noted", whatever that meant.  As to the Malcolm X quote, he pointed out all the information about how  US state agencies had been targeting and monitoring him. He acknowledged that "black hands had pulled the trigger", but that there were other forces at work and that I should do more research into this as opposed to researching him (Daulatzai). In referring to the question of which country he hated more. He ended by saying that he thought that if I did said research, I would answer my own question. I replied that he had, indeed, answered the question. (Again, I am paraphrasing. The reader may  view the video.)

Then the aforementioned young lady stepped to the mic. I thought she was going to ask a critical question, but instead she identified herself as a Palestinian (not a student) and proceeded to tell the audience they were going to want to listen to what she had to say.  She then launched into an impassioned speech complimenting the panel and telling them to keep up the fight or something to that effect. (It's on the tape). As she continued in her diatribe, her voice rising, I wondered if they would have allowed me to make a long, rambling speech like that.

Instead, they listened intently as she gestured wildly, arms in the air and pointing at the ceiling while she passionately informed us that she was involved in BDS (Boycott Divest and Sanctions) in Turkey and the UK.

I also noticed the lady wasn't wearing any shoes. (Probably, the Israelis took them away from her.) At any rate, I decided that it was a good time to bid adieu to my MSU friends for the year as I hadn't had dinner and listening to the same old drivel works up a hungry appetite. (For all you UC Santa Cruz History of Consciousness and Community Studies majors, adieu means "so long" in French.) So I left as the Barefoot Contessa was still giving her rant. All this time, Daulatzai was seated at the panel table with an angry look on his face.

Duly noted.

I will have a closing report and comment on the week's activities in the next day or so. Suffice to say, UCI can now get back to being a pleasant campus for the next 12 mont

UC Irvine Hate Week Day 4: The Self Pity Has no Borders

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


The theme for the Muslim Student Union's annual hate Israel week this year is, "The Struggle has no borders." Today, it should have read, "The Self Pity Has no Borders". Like Monday, there was no scheduled speaker. Today, some MSU students took turns at the mic expressing their rage at Israel, the university, and several other complaints. Since they were students, I (as a UCI teacher) chose not to videotape them. I won't bother to name them either. As all week, there was an audience of about 40 or so people mostly MSU members.

Suffice to say that their talks (or poems) were filled with anger, victimization, blame, and self pity. A couple of students berated the university for "discriminating" against them. A couple of non-Muslims spoke, one a young lady from the Black Student Union, who related her own issues to the Palestinian struggle. A young Hispanic guy who claimed to be a former UCI student and "undocumented" read a poem about the "Irvine 11".



Ah wunnerful, ah wunnerful, ah."


You see, it all ties in; Israel, the Palestinians, university discrimination against the MSU, civil rights in America, and on and on.

What I saw and heard today was a series of victims. No doubt many if not all of these young people have had it drummed into their heads by their professors that they are victims. The sad part of it is that if one goes through life feeling like a victim, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Tonight, hate week mercifully fizzles out with a couple of professors speaking.



"Ah wunnerful, ah wunnerful, ah."

In Defense of Tammi Rossman-Benjamin at UC Santa Cruz

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blog.com


Hat tip AMCHA Initiative


As I have previously reported, Tammi Rossman-Benjamin is an adjunct teacher of Hebrew at UC Santa Cruz (America's Wackiest University). She has been relentless and courageous in making complaints about anti-Semitism on UC and CSU campuses. In response to her activities in standing up to anti-Semitism, she has been the object of relentless attacks by the various UC Muslim Student Association and Students for Justice in Palestine chapters, as well as something called the Committee for Justice in Palestine. In the past weeks, student governments at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine -under pressure from these groups-have passed resolutions urging that UC President Mark Yudof and other UC officials condemn her publicly as an "Islamophobe". These resolutions are evidence of just how organized and coordinated these groups are.

In response, Tammi's organization, AMCHA Initiative, has issued the below-linked release. You can also access Tammi's letter to President Yudof and write one yourself in Tammi's defense. I will be doing so. Rather than condemn Tammi, Yudof and the respective chancellers should be making a strong statement in defense of her right to free speech and condemning this vicious campaign to smear and intimidate her.


http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0beb330b057061522bbe22a7f&id=90708f5594&e=b6eadb6292
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Hat tip AMCHA Initiative


As I have previously reported, Tammi Rossman-Benjamin is an adjunct teacher of Hebrew at UC Santa Cruz (America's Wackiest University). She has been relentless and courageous in making complaints about anti-Semitism on UC and CSU campuses. In response to her activities in standing up to anti-Semitism, she has been the object of relentless attacks by the various UC Muslim Student Association and Students for Justice in Palestine chapters, as well as something called the Committee for Justice in Palestine. In the past weeks, student governments at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine -under pressure from these groups-have passed resolutions urging that UC President Mark Yudof and other UC officials condemn her publicly as an "Islamophobe". These resolutions are evidence of just how organized and coordinated these groups are.

In response, Tammi's organization, AMCHA Initiative, has issued the below-linked release. You can also access Tammi's letter to President Yudof and write one yourself in Tammi's defense. I will be doing so. Rather than condemn Tammi, Yudof and the respective chancellers should be making a strong statement in defense of her right to free speech and condemning this vicious campaign to smear and intimidate her.


http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0beb330b057061522bbe22a7f&id=90708f5594&e=b6eadb6292

Jerusalem!!

46 years ago today the City of David, Jerusalem was reunited after being cut into 2 by the Jordanians and the United Nation.  For 19 years no Jew, no Christian was allowed to worship at their holy places.  In fact, the tombstones on the Mount of Olives Cemetery (One of the oldest Jewish Cemeteries in the world.) were used by the Jordanians as paving stones, building stones, even to make latrines.  And the world said nothing.  Not a peep.

On an almost daily basis, snipers on the walls of the Old City would open fire on Israeli civilians.  And the world said nothing.  Not a peep.

To solve this issue and stop the gunfire, orders were given to liberate the Old City.  And the IDF came through with skill.  The City of David was unified.  All people were free to worship at their holy places.


Click here if the video doesn't load.

Today as Israel and Jews around the world celebrate 46 years of a unified Jerusalem, President Barack Hussein Obama is demanding that the city be split into 2 again.  And the world is cheering him on.

Forget about what happened the last time the city was divided to appease the Arabs.  Forget that for 46 years the city has been whole, united.  Forget that under the Arabs only Muslims could pray at in the city, Jews and Christians were forbidden.  That means nothing to those who have been appeasing the Arabs in the hope that they finish the job Hitler started.

But you can help:

Keep Jerusalem United - Sign the Declaration!


Click here if the video doesn't load.

Sign the Declaration!

I declare that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish People and strongly support all efforts to maintain and strengthen a united Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel.

Just click here.

 Land for peace with Palestinians doesn't work.  They have taught Israel that.  In 2005 Israel gave up Gaza in the hope of peace.  And was subjected to over 10,000 rockets.  And the horror that became the city of Sderot.

For 46 years Jerusalem has been united.  Let us work to keep it that way!


Click here if the video doesn't load.

Jerusalem United Forever!

Miko Peled at UC Irvine

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


The Muslim Student Union at UC Irvine is off to a stumbling start in the first two days of its annual bash-Israel week of "events". Today's noon speaker was Miko Peled, an Israeli who hates everything his country stands for. I will be posting the video, but suffice to say, his talk consisted of trashing his country from one end to the other. You would have thought he was talking about Nazi Germany. There were about 35 people in the room, mostly MSU members as well as some Hillel members, a couple of pro-Israel Jews from the community and 3-4 middle-aged people whom I would call "useful idiots" (More about that later.) Of course, at the outset, the moderator announced that no videotaping could be done without the "express consent of the MSU". I dutifully raised my hand and once again informed them of the right to film. I said that unless I was ordered to stop by a campus police officer or a dean, I would film, and I did. The dean of students was in the room and made no move to stop me.

During his talk, Peled referred to me breaking the rules and being rude by not following the directions. I replied that I was following the law and that this was the United States of America. I kept filming. Having seen previous videos of Peled speaking, he was clearly off his game.

The useful idiots in the front row were giving me dirty looks.

In the beginning of his speech, Peled referred to the so-called "Irvine 11" the UCI-UC Riverside students who were convicted of a misdemeanor for disrupting the speech of the Israeli ambassador to the US in 2010. Peled said he was proud to be speaking before the UCI-MSU.

As usual, the Q and A was designed to prevent audience members from really making points or asking follow ups. This time it was form a line to the right. We will take three questions. After you ask your question, return to your seat. After all three questions were asked, Peled would answer all of them together.

The result was that he didn't really answer anything. I chose to remain in my seat. If an Israeli guy hates his own country that much, what's to argue about? Things got heated when one of my Jewish friends tried to ask a question but kept getting interrupted. Rabbi Zevi Tenenbum, whom I had blasted in a posting earlier this morning walked up to the mic and asked Peled how he could be proud to speak at the same podium where Jew-haters like Amir Abdel Malik Ali had spoken. He got no real answer. I complemented Rabbi Tenenbaum after the event and told him I was making an addition to my earlier post.

Another Jewish friend of mine went up to Peled after the event and asked him about his effort to stop someone from filming in the US. He ignored the question and was ushered out the door by his MSU retinue as my friend called him a coward.

In addition, the dean of students came up to me afterward and told me he had explained to the students that I did, indeed, have a right to film.

But the creme de la creme was when one of my Jewish friends was being lectured by one of the aforementioned useful idiots as she criticized Israel. At one point, my friend mentioned something about the Boston attack as "American citizens killing American citizens". To that the woman replied, "We still don't know yet if it was the Tsarnaev brothers".

I will close on that note. I am planning to skip the evening event because it will be the same arrogant speaker. I have heard enough.

Sahar Francis at UC Irvine

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


Sahar Francis is a Palestinian human rights activist whose cause is the Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. On the evening of May 6, she spoke at UC Irvine on behalf of the Muslim Student Union. Her organization is called Addameer. The audience consisted of about 30-35 people all but a handful were MSU members.

Prior to the event, I spoke with two UCI campus police officers who were in attendance though not inside the hall. I asked them what their policy was regarding members of the public videotaping these events since I had recently been advised on two occasions by the MSU and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) that videotaping was prohibited. On both occasions, I informed them that since these were public events on public university campuses that I had right right to film and would do so unless ordered by campus police not to. On this occasion I was told by the officers that filming was OK and they would talk to the MSU about it. The officers anticipated that a special area might be set up for filming. I showed him my hand held video camera, and was told there would be no problem.

Sure enough, the moderator introducing Francis stated that no filming would be allowed. At that point, I walked outside to find the officers, but they were nowhere in sight. I returned to the hall and proceeded to film. Within five minutes, a male MSU student approached me and told me filming was not allowed. As in the past, I informed him that this was a public event at a public university and that I had a legal right to film. I asked him to go and get the campus police since I would only stop filming if ordered to do so by the campus police. The police never came in and I proceeded to film until my camera ran out of battery during the q and a.

As for Ms Francis' speech, I am posting it, but suffice to say if you want to know what she said, go ahead and torture yourself for an hour. She speaks in a monologue and is so boring she makes Harry Reid sound like a Little Richard concert. That's how bad a speaker she is although she speaks without notes. The thesis of her talk was that Israel is violating human rights against Palestinian prisoners. I watched the audience, and I got the impression she lost them she was so boring.

As for the q and a, I asked her if she was advocating for the release of such prisoners as the Awad brothers, who in 2011 committed the horrific Fogel massacre in Itamar, wherein they murdered a family of five including three children, ages 11, 4 and 3 months-an infant in its crib who had its throat slashed. I won't try to repeat her non-answer-you can judge it for yourself in the video. I and two like-minded friends got up and walked out rather than listen to any more of her tripe.

Upon leaving, I related what had happened to the two campus cops and suggested they explain the law to the MSU so as to avoid future "misunderstandings". They indicated they would speak with them and relay the matter to the Judicial Affairs office of UCI.

I should be able to get the video up tomorrow.

* Update: Here is the "prohibited" video. Note that at the beginning of the first clip is where I am told no filming is allowed. My question to Francis comes just before the 17 minute mark of the second video. Note the directions regarding questions that the moderator gives in order to prevent follow up questions..

Help for Two of the Boston Bombing Victims

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com








Today, I received this message from the Association of Former Federal Narcotic Agents, of which I am a member. I am posting it below. It concerns two victims of the Boston bombing who are nieces of a DEA employee at Washington Hqs. One of them (Nicole Gross) is pictured above in the orange and black running suit) The below meassages give details on funds set up for both of them.

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Dear AFFNA Member:

I got an email from AFFNA Member Dave Quilter regarding an extended member of the DEA family that needs help. I like many of you that passed through HQS back in the day knew and worked with Peggy Alexander, very bright and helpful lady. Dave tells me that two of her neices were injured in the Boston bomb attack. You probably saw both of them on the news as their story is compelling. I am repeating Dave's note below.

David G. Wilson Executive Director



Folks:

A very good friend and colleague of many of us at DEA Headquarters, Peggy Alexander, shared the following with me yesterday. I know I am going to contribute to the fund set up by her family and hope others will consider giving as well.

Here is Peg’s message to me:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Some of you may have heard and some may not. My brother's daughters Nicole B. Gross and Erika Brannock were severely injured in the Boston bombing. Our son Scott is organizing a benefit concert (see above photo) to raise money for their medical and other expenses. I have attached a flyer, but for those of you who are not in the Garrett County area and would like to contribute please send checks to Scott Alexander, Brannock/Gross Benefit Concert, c/o Susquehanna Bank, 305 East Oak Street, Oakland, MD 21550. We are organizing a night of raffles and a 50/50 along with good music and great Mountain State Brewing beer and chow. Hope to see you there.

Thanks so much for helping. Love, Peggy Brannock Alexander



Lake Wales, Florida – The DailyRidge.Com has learned that the father of Boston Marathon bombing victims Erika Brannock and Nicole Gross lives and works here in Lake Wales. The sisters were injured in Boston while waiting for their mother (Carol Downing) to finish the marathon. Erika, Nicole and Nicole’s husband Michael Gross were apparently standing in front of the Lens Crafters building when one of the bombs went off. We have been told that the women’s father is Wayne Brannock who works at the Lake Wales Medical Center. Mr. Brannock is currently in Boston with his daughters we have been advised.

Erika Brannock, 29, who teaches preschoolers at Trinity Episcopal Church in Towson, Maryland, has had her left leg amputated below the knee according to media reports. It is estimated that she will remain in the hospital for another month as she tries to recover from her injuries. Her sister Nicole Gross suffered multiple fractures of both legs, a severed Achilles and has undergone mulitiple surgery’s. Nicole’s image went viral (Symbol of Tragedy) after the bombing and it was featured on the cover of the New York Daily News (Link to photo).

A fund has been set up for Erika Bannock to help with costs for her treatment. Here is the website :

http://thebrannockfund.com
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It is at times like these that the DEA family comes together, both present and former employees. Many of you may not know that the DEA office in Oklahoma City was located in the federal building that was bombed. We lost five of our people that day.

If you are contributing to help the victims of the Boston attack, I hope you will put these two on your list.