Howard Charlop: Ideological Bias at UCI?

Ideological Bias at UCI?
by: Howard Charlop, December 21, 2006

On November 29th I attended the program “Middle East in 2007: Same Old Story or a New Beginning?” at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). It was co-sponsored by the Middle East Studies Student Initiative, The Department of History, and the Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies. Panelists included:

1.)Mark LeVine, Associate Professor, Modern Middle Eastern History, UCI

2.)Lina Haddad Kreidie, Lecturer, Department of Political Science, UCI

3.)Nasrin Rahimieh, Director of the Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies, UCI

Opening remarks were made by LeVine, who told the overflow crowd to “spread the knowledge and inform others.” Some of the views presented by the panelists during the panel discussion and the question-and-answer session which followed are shown below.

1) Kreidie suggested that Israel, not Syria, not Hezbollah, was responsible for the assassination of Pierre Gemayel. When asked if she had any evidence during the Q&A session which followed the Panel discussion, both she and LeVine said that their extensive experience in the Middle East gives them reason enough to conclude that Israel was probably responsible for the assassination.

2) Kreidie also suggested that Israel might have started a war with Lebanon because Lebanon poses a threat as another regional power in the Middle East and that the outcome of the war was the destruction of Lebanon, not Hezbollah.

3) Kreidie stated that Syria wants stability and the return of the Golan Heights.

4) Rahimieh said that President Bush caused a provocation by saying that Iran was not a democratic country. During the Q&A session which followed, LeVine stated that Iran was not a theocracy.

5) LeVine discussed whether the Israelis and Palestinians were wounded enough to consider becoming partners for peace. He said that Israel lost all credibility as a partner for peace when it continually violated the Oslo Peace Accords by creating more settlements, intensifying the occupation, and creating poverty. During the Q&A session I asked if Israel had demonstrated that it was a willing partner for peace in 2000 at Camp David by offering 100% of Gaza, 97% of the West Bank, East Jerusalem as a capital, contiguous land and a $30 billion redevelopment package. LeVine said that is what is commonly believed but not accurate. I then showed him a StandWithUs report which confirmed my understanding. He told me he had other information that gives a different story.

6) During the Q&A session one of the students asked why a more balanced panel wasn’t used for this important program. LeVine replied that the panel wasn’t biased and that the truth, based on the facts, was presented. He further characterized the program as not political and that empirical data was presented. In a subsequent email, LeVine wrote “you are certainly right that there are always two sides of a story and it’s impossible to decide definitively who’s right without evidence.” He also repeated a suggestion that we schedule a debate on these issues and let everyone decide for themselves. I told LeVine that we have different points of view and different sources of information. I hope we can find some common ground and teach others to do the same rather than proving the other side to be biased using our “unlimited sources of empirical data.”

On November 1st UCI hosted “Religious Diversity: An Interfaith Dialogue.” Dean of Students Sally Peterson, who served as moderator, and Vice Chancellor Manuel Gomez attended the program. The program was co-sponsored by Hillel and the Muslim Student Union. At the last minute however, the MSU withdrew their sponsorship.
The panelists were:

1. Rabbi Richard Steinberg, Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot, Irvine;

2. Reverend Gary Barmore, Fairview Community Church, Costa Mesa;

3. Sheik Sadullah Kahn, Executive Director of Religious Affairs, Islamic Center in Irvine, son in law of Imam Muzammil Siddiqi (Director of the Islamic Center of Orange County). Sheik Kahn arrived in Irvine from South Africa in 1998.

After some friendly discussion about religion by the participants, the audience was invited to ask questions. The first question came from a student who asked: Does Israel have a right to exist?

Rabbi Steinberg said he was a Zionist and then proceeded to explain the importance of Israel to the Jewish people.

Sheik Kahn said that all people have the right to Palestine, that he opposes Zionism, that Israel is a racist state and that the Palestinians are fighting for their freedom. He also said that Jews are not “the Chosen People;” we are all children of God. When he finished, a loud “Allah Akbar” was shouted three times from the back of the room by Muslim students.

Rabbi Steinberg responded by saying that words are very powerful. Looking at both Sally Peterson and Manual Gomez, he said that we must be sensitive about the way we speak. He said that a third of the Jews, 6 million people, were wiped out during WWII. He said that the University must do a better job of dealing with words. There was no response from the UCI administrators.

This was a “very educational” evening. One I will long remember.

Howard Charlop is the Orange County, Calif. chapter director of Stand With Us, "an educational organization that ensures that Israel's side of the sotry is told in communities, campuses, libraries, the media and chruches through brochures, speakers and conferences."

Regarding Sheik Sadullah Khan

A friend of mine emailed this to me regarding the event I blogged about here and here and here. Bracketed ("[...]") segments are by me. Note the section I emboldened and italicized.

On Wednesday, November 1, UCI hosted a Religious Diversity Discussion moderatred by Dean of Students Sally Peterson. Vice Chancellor Gomez attended. The program was co-sponsored by Hillel and the MSU (withdrew from the event at the last minute). Participants included Rabbi Steinberg from [Congregation Shir HaMa'alot], Sheik Sadullah Kahn (arrived in Irvine from South Africa in '98) Director of Religious Affiars of the Islamic Center of Irvine and a local pastor [and frequent lecturer to the MSU].

After some friendly discussion about religion by the participants, the audience was invited to ask questions. The first question came from a student who asked if Israel has a right to exist. Rabbi Steinberg said he was a Zionist and then proceeded to explain the importance of Israel to the Jewish people.

Sheik Kahn said that all people have the right to Palestine, he is against Zionism, Israel is a racist state and that Palestinians are fighting for their freedom. He also said that Jews are not "the Chosen People", we are all children of God. When he finished, a loud Allah Akhbar was shouted from the back of the room three times by Muslim students.

When Sheik Kahn finished, Rabbi Steinberg responded by saying that words are very powerful and looking at both Sally Peterson and Manual Gomez he said that we must be sensitive about the way we speak. He said that 1/3 of the Jews (6 Million) were wiped out during WWII. He said that the University must do a better job of dealing with words. There was no response from the UCI administrators.

This was a "very educational" evening. One I will long remember.

Click here for my posts on Sheik Sadullah Khan

UPDATE

I should say this: Rabbi Steinberg, I'm sorry I doubted you. Well played!

NewU: Interfaith Forum Strays to Politics

The NewU's article on the Religious Diversity event that I blogged about previously.

I've emboldened and italicized sections that I found of interest. I should also note that Dean Peterson and the Student Affairs department held religious diversity events all of Fall 2004 quarter, and within a month into the following quarter (Winter 2005), the MSU brought Amir Abdel Malik Ali back to campus again so he could educate the campus how Zionism controls America. [sarcasm off]

I'm sure that the knowledge and understanding that could have been gained from this event will fall on deaf ears and history will repeat itself very shortly with more anti-Semitism from the MSU and their partners in crime, the SAS and SPJ.

To the members and leadership of the MSU: please prove me wrong, because I'm right far too often.

Link to article (includes a photograph)

News
Interfaith Forum Strays to Politics
RELIGION: Panel with leaders from three monotheistic religions cannot avoid politics in their discussion.
By Emilie Doolittle
Staff Writer

Despite organizers’ and panelists’ hopes for a dialogue focused on the philosophical and spiritual aspects of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, politics could not be excluded from the Religious Diversity Interfaith Dialogue on Nov 1. Panelists representing each of the three major monotheistic religions discussed the societal implications of their Abrahamic faiths.

Dean of Students Sally Peterson, who moderated the event, asked the panelists what they were critical about within their own religions. All three panelists said that they disliked it when people within their faiths were exclusive.

“People do not have the kind of life to include people the way Jesus did,” said Pastor Emeritus Gary Barmore of Fairview Community Church in Costa Mesa. “I think to follow Jesus is to have a radical inclusion. What I see in Christianity, the attitude is to have a radical exclusion.”

Later, he said, “I wish that Christians were not militant, aggressive, [seeking] out to evangelize, but offer[ing] ourselves to be a part of the bridge of reconciliation in this world.”

Iman Sadullah Khan, executive director of religious affairs at the Islamic Center of Irvine, referred to the differences between Muslims and Christians in how they engage in dialogue.

“Though Islam has the concept of ‘Ahlul Kitaab’ or ‘People of the Book,’ implying a special relationship with people of the Christian and Jewish faiths, it bothers me that many Muslims are not ususally the most open to embrace others. In fact, I find the Christians more open to this notion of embracing the other,” Khan said.

Rabbi Richard Steinberg of the Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot in Irvine said that he does not like it when people in his faith assume they have the final answer.

“It will be the death of religion if they become fundamental in their thinking,” Steinberg said.

The first question from an audience member was, “What do you think about the existence of the nation of Israel?”

Steinberg said that the Palestinian people have a right to land, peace and freedom, but he did not specify what land they have a right to.

Speaking from a spiritual perspective, Barmore said that “one’s faith should influence how one acts politically and economically, but one’s faith does not determine the exact means of what that has to be.”

Khan spoke about the varying attitudes of religious groups and publications at UCI, and expressed concern for how they present their thoughts on the existence of the state of Israel.

“To heighten certain things, to darken certain things is part of the problem,” Khan said. “Sometimes we are not prejudiced but we are left in darkness.”

“I think we must we must stop confusing Judaism as being the same as Zionism and we must stop assuming that being critical of the Israeli government implies being anti-Semetic,” Khan said. “The government is causing the problem, not Islam or Judaism.”

Steinberg said that he has also had problems with the Israeli government at times. He also agreed with Khan’s points about how UCI students are addressing social, political and religious issues relating the state of Israel.

“Words are very powerful,” Steinberg said. “The university should take a greater leadership role in monitoring those words in a way to oppose those screaming at each other and not listening to those words.”

Despite the speakers’ desire for respectful and open minded dialogue, a community member was rather hostile in questioning Khan about the politics associated with certain people within the Muslim faith. The audience member’s questions did not adhere to the main purpose of the event, which was to discuss the spiritual and philosophical beliefs behind the religions and rituals.

“[They were] friendly toward one another and composed their arguments in a manner which reflected the spirit of the event,” said sixth-year economics major Will Cramerotti. “There was definitely an undercurrent to the dialogue where criticisms and counterarguments were implied, but it was more agreeable than watching religious fanatics hurl insults on Ring Road.”

One audience member asked a more pertinent question to the spirit of the interfaith dialogue: “How do these beliefs deal with the concept of creationism?”

In reference to religious texts, Steinberg said, “If [they are] written by human beings then [they] can be fallible. … Jews throughout history have tried to understand what the divine image is. For Jews it is to bring light to the world.”

Khan agreed that religious texts have limitations, saying that texts about creation leave someone with a “particular perspective.”

The event concluded with the three panelists saying what they felt people of their faith need to concentrate on. Barmore emphasized working on interfaith dialogue. Steinberg reiterated the importance of stopping hate speech.

“I think we need to learn to be honest with ourselves,” Khan said. “Ignorance leads to injustice because of hate.”

“[With this event] we’re trying to show that you can have differences and similarities between religions and still have a respectful dialogue.” Peterson said.

Religious Diversity Discussion This Wednesday Night

As mentioned in the NewU article on which I commented here, Hillel and the MSU have co-sponsored a religious diversity discussion this Wednesday at 7 PM in HIB (Humanities Instructional Building) room 100.

HIB is building 610 in quadrant D4 of the campus map available at this link.

The two speakers will be Rabbi Richard Steinberg of Congregation Shir HaMa'alot of Irvine, CA and Sheik Sadullah Khan of the Islamic Center of Irvine.

I wish Hillel the best of luck. Someone should ask the Sheik if his position on Zionism has changed from September 2005, when his sermon denounced Zionism.

NewU: Hillel Hopes To End Campus Conflicts

Alex Chazen is for playing nice with the MSU. If the MSU played nice with us, I'd be all for it - but they continue to bring anti-Semites on campus. Did Alex somehow miss Amir Abdel Malik Ali's multiple visits at the beginning of the quarter?

And now there's an event co-sponsored by the MSU and Hillel? (read below) What the heck is Rabbi Steinberg of Shir HaMa'alot doing sitting on the same stage as Sadullah Khan, who considers one of the Three Big Lies to be "Zionism is essential to Judaism"?

Hey Alex: is the MSU planning on holding another annual Anti-Zionism Week this coming May? If the answer to that question is anything but "no", what the are you doing even talking with them?

Somebody please slap Alex upside the head...

Features
Hillel Hopes to End Campus Conflicts
By Nadia Osman

UC Irvine’s Jewish Student Union, Hillel, has often been in the spotlight over the past few years because of intermittent clashes with the Muslim Student Union.

“I think that anyone who knows the delicate balance between the MSU and Hillel on campus knows that there are issues between our groups that need to be resolved,” said Alex Chazen, a third-year political science major and president of Hillel.

Chazen hopes to work this year to address these conflicts.

“Instead of avoiding past conflicts, I would love to confront and resolve these conflicts,” Chazen said. “I feel that it is important for people of all faiths to work together. There is so much common ground between the two religions, yet there is such an unwilling attitude to come together and partner in religious education.”

Hillel provides both a social and religious outlet for Jewish students at UCI. Hillel’s goals include increasing the comfort level of Jewish students on campus and creating a positive Jewish experience for its members.

“A very high percentage of people in this country believe in a god of some sort, and it doesn’t make sense for faith-based organizations to have feuds like the one that Hillel and MSU appear to have,” Chazen said.

Chazen is even willing to settle the feud by having a face-to-face meeting with MSU officers and members.

“I am most definitely willing to have a face-to-face meeting,” Chazen said. “I’ll do it in person. I’ll do it over the phone. I’ll do it over e-mail. I’ll do it on KUCI. I think it’s important that we sit and talk in a nonconfrontational manner. If this can be done, I believe it will be a giant step forward for our two groups on campus.”

One step forward is about to be taken as MSU and Hillel host “Religious Diversity: An Interfaith Dialogue,” their first cosponsored event on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in HIB in partnership with the Cross-Cultural Center.

The program will feature two panelists, Sudallah Khan, executive director of religious affairs at the Islamic Center of Irvine, and Rabbi Richard Steinberg of the congregation Shir Ha-Ma’a lot.

Chazen is unsure of what lasting effects the program will have.

“I fear that with the exception of our cosponsored program there will be little dialogue, just as there has been in the past,” Chazen said.

Naz Farahdel, second-year social ecology major and vice president and social chair of Hillel, said, “I don’t know how much talks can solve problems, but I know that if done right, with a chance for both sides to speak, then they are a step towards helping.”

Aside from the group’s intermittent involvement in controversy, Hillel has plenty of other things to offer UCI and the community at large. In the past month, Hillel has celebrated the two holiest Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana.

To honor these holidays, Hillel held widely attended services at the Bren Events Center for the second year in a row. The services included festival meals for both holidays, with a meal before and after the 25-hour fast on Yom Kippur, along with spiritual services.

In addition to celebrating the holy days, Hillel hosts Shabbat dinners at the Interfaith Center on a weekly basis. Other activities planned for the fall quarter include a visit from a Facebook executive on Nov. 2 to discuss the founding and organization of the popular Web site, community service projects with other Hillel chapters to benefit the greater Los Angeles area and hosting the annual Hanukkah party at the end of November. Hillel also built a Sukkah, an outdoor gathering area in honor of the holiday Sukkot, which can be found in front of Langson Library on Ring Road.

Members are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming year.

“I feel it’s frustrating because there’s so much animosity when there shouldn’t be,” Farahdel said. “It’s ironic; we’re both fighting to get peace. I really want to plan an event with [Hillel and MSU] and do something fun, like go bowling! We’re still people, and we still want the same things, we all want peace.”