11 Really Great Questions (a.k.a. Nekama's Troll Hammer")

This was published back in August 2003 by "Nekama" in a comment on a LittleGreenFootballs.com article. The original had some foul and at times anti-Islamic language, but when one cleans up the language a bit, these are important arguments against the anti-Semites' various false claims:

1. Are you aware that the Disputed Territories never belonged to the “Palestinians” and only came into Israeli possession as a result of the 1967 six day war in which Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon all massed forces at Israel’s border in order to “push the Jews into the sea”. The Arabs lost and Israel took control of the land. Do you agree that if the Arabs don’t want to lose territory to Israel, then they shouldn’t start wars? Do you agree that there is justice that Israel, who as far back as 1948 has always sought peace with her far larger neighbors, should live in prosperity - making the desert bloom - while the residents of 19 adjacent Arab countries who are blessed with far more land as well as oil wealth have practically no GDP in comparison?

2. Did you know that the “Palestinians” could have had their own country as far back as 1948 had they accepted the UN sponsored partition plan which gave Israel AND the Palestinians a countries of their own on land which Jews had lived on for thousands of years before Mohammed was born? The Arabs rejected the UN offer and went to war with the infant Israeli nation. The Arabs lost and have been whining about it ever since. Do you agree this is like a murderer who kills his parents and asks for special treatment since he is now an orphan?

3. Can you tell us ANY Arab country which offers Jews the right to be citizens, vote, own property, businesses, be a part of the government or have ANY of the rights which Israeli Arabs enjoy? Any Arab country which gives those rights to Christians? How about to other Arabs? Wouldn’t you just LOVE to be a citizen of Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iran, or Syria? (Note: Turkey doesn't count here - it wants to be part of the EU, not the Middle East)

4. Since as many Jews (approximately 850,000) were kicked out of Arab countries as were Arabs who left present day Israel (despite being literally begged to stay), why should Arabs be permitted to return to Israel if Jews aren’t allowed to set foot in Arab countries? Can you explain why Arabs can worship freely in Israel but Jews would certainly be hung from street lamps after having their intestines devoured by an Arab mob if they so much as entered an Arab country?

5. Israel resettled and absorbed all of the Jews from Arab countries who wished to become Israelis. Why haven’t any Arab countries offered to resettle Arabs who were displaced from Israel, leaving them to rot for 60 years in squalid refugee camps? And why are those refugee camps still there? Could it be that the billions of dollars that the UNWRA has sent there goes to terrorist groups like Hamas, Islamic Jihad, El Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, or Hezbollah? How did Yassir Arafat achieve his $300 million in wealth? Why aren’t these funds distributed for humanitarian use?

6. Did you know that the Arabs in the disputed territories (conquered by Israel in the 1967 war which was started by Arabs) and who are not Israelis already have two countries right now? And that they are called Egypt and Jordan?

7. If your complaint is about the security fence which Israel is finally building in the Disputed Territories, are you aware that it is built solely to keep the “brave” Arab terrorists out so that they can no longer self detonate on busses, in dining halls or pizzerias and kill Jewish grandmothers and schoolchildren? Why are the Arabs so brave when they target unarmed civilians but even when they outnumber their opponents they lose when they are faced with Jewish soldiers?

8. Please explain why you are so concerned about Arabs, who possess 99% of the land in this region and are in control of the world’s greatest natural resource, which literally flows out of the ground? Can’t their brother muslims offer some of the surplus land and nature’s riches to the “Palestinians”? Or is it true that Arabs are willing to die right down to the last “Palestinian”?

9. Why do you not exhibit the same level of concern for say, people in Saudi Arabia who are beheaded, subject to amputation, stoning, honor killing etc.? What about women who are denied any semblance of basic civil rights, including the right not to be treated as property for the entertainment and abuse of her father, brothers, or husbands? What about the Muslims in Sudan and Egypt who are still enslaved, or the women there whose genitalia are barbarically cut off? How about the oppression of Shiites by Sunnis, the gassing of the Kurds by Iraq, or the massacre of “Palestinians” by Jordan (Black September)? Why doesn’t this concern you?

10. Did you ever stop to wonder how much better off everyone in the region would be if Arabs stopped trying to kill Jews and destroy Israel? What would happen if the Israelis gave up their weapons and disarmed? Would they live to see the next day? But what would happen if the Arabs completely disarmed? You know the answer: They would all be AT PEACE! And if there is no war to rile them up, the Arabs would be forced to look at their own repressive, pre-medieval societies. Why would they want to do that when there are Jews to kill?

11. Have you heard “People who define themselves primarily by what they hate, rather than who they love, are doomed to failure and misery”? Can you see the parallels to the Arabs, who are blessed with land and oil, but still gladly train their children to kill themselves in order to kill Jews? Have you heard Golda Meir’s words to the effect of “There will be peace when the Arabs love their children more than they hate ours”? Why do the Arabs hate so much?

If you need assistance or require additional study, then please refer to the following links:

History of the Middle East Conflict:
http://www.infoclick.org/conflict.html

Thousands of women killed for honor: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/02/0212_020212_honorkilling.html

Muslims lament Israel’s existence:
http://www.iht.com/articles/98479.html

Disputed Territories – Forgotten Facts
http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0n1m0

The size of Israel compared to neighboring countries in the region
http://www.iris.org.il/sizemaps.htm#index

Jews expelled from Arab Countries
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/PrinterFull&cid=1056508742342

One Million Jews flee Arab countries – why no right of return for them?
http://www.forgottenexodus.com/

Middle East Facts
http://yashiko.middleeastfacts.com/

Middle East Truth
http://www.mideasttruth.com/

Larry Miller on Hypocrisy
http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/161yaihr.asp

A comment on the C'far Qana deaths

As you may already know, as many as 60 people - about half of them children - died when a building in the Southern Lebanese village of C'far Qana collapsed. It's a horrible tragedy, one which almost everyone wishes hadn't happened.

That said, some things need to be pointed out:

1. The village of C'far Qana was used by Hezbollah to fire at least 10 rockets at Nahariya, Kiryat Shmona, Afula, and Ma'alot since the start of the current conflict two and a half weeks ago; dozens of rockets were fired from nearby the village with the same targets in mind. As a result of these attacks, 18 Israeli citizens are dead and hundreds of Israelis were wounded.
   
2. The building collapsed about eight hours after an IDF strike. So the building did not collapse immediately - why then were people still in the building? Why did the parents keep their children in an unsafe building? What exactly brought the building finally down? It could have been Hezbollah armaments inside the building, or just the building falling over after being damaged eight hours prior to collapse.
   
3. Israel repeatedly dropped flyers in the area warning civilians that if they remained, they would be at risk and thus they should head north of the Litani River, about 25 miles north of the Israel/Lebanon border. Why didn't these civilians evacuate? Why didn't Hezbollah evacuate them? Did Hezbollah keep them hostage? Were they willing human shields? Heck, why is Hezbollah firing rockets from inside a civilian village in direct contradiction of international law?
   
4. Why the high death toll? According to one Lebanese blogger, Hezbollah wouldn't let in the cranes that could have moved the rubble and permitted people to reach the injured sooner.
   

Before anyone knee-jerkedly points accusatory fingers at Israel, they might want to know the answers to these questions.

Oh, and one more thing:
Frimet and Arnold Roth, whose then 15-year-old daughter Maliki died during the August 2001 Sbarro restaurant bombing, published a great piece which really lays out the Double Standard of the world when it comes to civilian casualties in this conflict. The point is made especially well here:

However, let's be brutally honest. Many of those who claim to be outraged and distressed today over the unnecessary loss of life are thrilled at the opportunity to join in the bash-Israel free-for-all.

When the innocent women and children are Israelis, the reactions heard 'round the world are few, tempered and carefully "balanced" so that they include rebuke of the victim, Israel, as well.

UPDATE

The Jerusalem Post is now reporting the following:

The IDF on Thursday completed its inquiry into this week's incident in the Lebanese town of Kana, in which 28 Lebanese civilians were killed.

The report, which was submitted to Defense Minister Amir Peretz, stated that intelligence indicated that the building hit in the deadly strike was not occupied by civilians, but was being used by Hizbullah.

Hassan Nassrallah: In His Own Words

I recommend all check out this CAMERA article to see what set of anti-Semitic, genocidal bastards Israel is dealing with - and who the UCI MSU praises unequivocally on a regular basis:

Hassan Nassrallah: In His Own Words

Snippets:

The widening arena of Hezbollah’s attacks stemmed from Nasrallah’s perception that Jews anywhere are legitimate targets. In fact, Nasarallah has said:

If they (Jews) all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide. (Daily Star, Oct. 23, 2002)

Shiite scholar Amal Saad-Ghorayeb analyzed the anti-Jewish roots of Hezbollah ideology in her book Hezbollah: Politics & Religion. In it, she quotes Hassan Nasrallah describing his antipathy toward Jews:

If we searched the entire world for a person more cowardly, despicable, weak and feeble in psyche, mind, ideology and religion, we would not find anyone like the Jew. Notice, I do not say the Israeli. (New Yorker, Oct. 14, 2002)

Nasrallah also incoroporates anti-Semitic rhetoric in speeches. For example, he has characterized Jews as the "grandsons of apes and pigs" and "Allah’s most cowardly and greedy creatures." (MEMRI: Al- Manar, Feb. 3, 2006)

So, Chancellor Drake, when a MSU speaker or member next says he/she supports Hezbollah - or, for that matter HAMAS, Islamic Jihad, Iran, or terrorism and martyrdom in general - are you going to wimp out once again and just speak platitudes asking us to just "get along"?

Or are you - for once - going to use your free speech rights and state explicitly that such speech threatens Jewish students, faculty, and staff?

Are you going to - for once - enforce the campus's rules about harassment, intimidation, and bias, as well as the MSU's repeated and blatant violations of its own annually signed statement agreeing to uphold the Principles of Community?

We've already had to send in the lawyers for these civil rights violations. When that's over, if things aren't fixed appropriately, don't be shocked if UCI and/or members of your administration end up as defendants in civil and/or criminal court.

My patience with UCI's use of my tax dollars only goes so far. And I'm not alone in that view.

Chazak Amenu: Judaism's "We Are The World"

I recently stumbled across the song Chazak Amenu while looking around the web for podcasts.

It's from the two CD set "Voices for Israel", which according to the website:

VOICES FOR ISRAEL: CHAZAK AMENU is the most ambitious Jewish Music project ever undertaken, bringing together over 50 Jewish Music stars from throughout the broader Jewish community, joining their voices for Israel.

The objective of VOICES FOR ISRAEL is to express support for, and solidarity with, the people of Israel during these trying times, and to promote a global sense of Jewish unity and community.

And there is no more inspiring way to convey our innermost hopes, feelings, and prayers than through song.

The Chazak Amenu MP3

Lyrics

Sheet Music

If you like this video, please buy the CD Disclaimer: I have no monetary or other arrangements with these folks - I'm simply spreading the word because this music touched me.

G-d willing, we will bring these folks to UCI for a concert.

Good cartoons

These cartoons illustrate exactly why Israel is back in Lebanon and Gaza:

What is "disproportionate"?

Found this semi-satirical post via IsraelMatzav. Doesn't completely hit a home run, but gets pretty darn close:

"Disproportionate"

Chair of UCI Academic Senate puts out a statement

I received this from someone and thought it would be good to post it. Apparently the UCI Academic Senate (the UCI faculty senate) has NO clue what to do to remove the widespread problem of anti-Semitism on campus, other than hope that the UCI Difficult Dialogues project will calm things down.

UCI Difficult Dialogues is about complete - by the looks of it, there is only one event left for Fall 2006, and it's still TBD. I hope to G-d that it's had a significantly positive effect on the campus. Here's my yardstick to know if UCI has changed dramatically for the better:

I'll compare the number of times we see an anti-Semite visit campus this coming school year (2006-2007) vs. the past few years (2003-2004, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006). 2005-2006 was almost weekly.

A dramatic change in quantity would be if we only saw an anti-Semite once the entire school year and there was NO anti-Zionism week. Under this yardstick, this dramatic change wouldn't be a complete fix, but would be a good start.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Free Speech and Campus Civility
Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 09:33:29 -0700
From: Academic Senate
To: as00@UCI.EDU

Dear Colleagues:

Several of you have written to me asking what the Senate can do to reinforce Chancellors leadership with regard for speaking out for free but civil speech on campus. The first thing we can do is thank Chancellor Drake for his leadership, and I would like to also thank Vice Chancellor Gomez and the many other leadership and staff members who have worked hard behind the scenes to help the campus maintain a safe and civil atmosphere while strongly supporting free speech rights.

As Senate members and educators we also have a responsibility to do our part. I urge you to use your contact time with students to discuss issues of free speech and responsibility. A sad byproduct of the current political tensions is that some of us simply chose to avoid political discussions in order to avoid conflict. This may be especially true for those of us with moderate voices, who don't want to get caught up in difficult discussions.

If you have suggestions for what the Senate can do to participate and encourage civil discussion, I would be glad to listen.

Also, I want to publicize two leadership activities you might want to join or use as examples for your own activities. First, I have reproduced below an abstract of the UCI Difficult Dialogues Project: Imagining the Future: Dissent, Dialogue and the Freedom to Inquire.

This project is being lead by Vice Chancellor Gomez and is supported by the Ford Foundation. Next, I am reproducing an open letter to the campus and community from Kristen Monroe, Director of the UCI interdisciplinary center for the Scientific Study of Ethics and Morality. This letter says much more eloquently what I am trying to say here.

Please join me in thanking Chancellor Drake, Vice Chancellor Gomez and Professor Monroe for their examples of leadership on this issue.

Ken Janda
Academic Senate Chair

UC Irvine Difficult Dialogues Project: Imagining the Future: Dissent, Dialogue and the Freedom to Inquire

Principal Investigator: Manuel N. G , Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs

Building on continuing attempts to protect academic freedom, this project, with support from the Ford Foundation Difficult Dialogues Program, will use techniques drawn from peace-building and respect initiatives already under way to foster productive dialogue on campus. The project will develop and launch three new cross-disciplinary courses designed to educate students about contemporary issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, traditions of religious conflict and religious tolerance, and peace building.

The first course, Religious Diversity and Conflict, jointly developed by faculty in religious studies and in conflict resolution, will be submitted for approval for one or more breadth requirements. The second will be a two-quarter pilot seminar entitled Imagining the Future, an interdisciplinary, team-taught course focusing on solutions to the myriad problems that would remain in the event of a final peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. The third course, for upper-division students, will be a series of seminars on the Politics and Ethics of Difference.

In addition to these courses, the university will develop a series of teaching seminars to increase the ability of faculty and graduate teaching assistants to facilitate dialogue in existing courses that deal with sensitive topics. Workshops will offer participation in the conflict resolution process, and experts will promote dialogue both on and off campus.

Finally, the project includes a year-long series of lectures and other public events designed to heighten awareness of religious and ethnic conflict, peace-building techniques, and successful collaborations that have grown out of situations once dominated by conflict.

Statement from UCI Center for the Scientific Study of Ethics and Morality

StandWithUs responds to the UCLA Hillel Director

The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles published a shortened version of the the StandWithUs letter to the editor that responded to the op-ed written by the Director of UCLA's Hillel, Rabbi Seidler-Feller's op-ed. (see here for my own take). Since the shortened version cut out a bunch of key information, I'm posting the full version for all to see

In his op-ed (6/23) Rabbi Seidler-Feller mischaracterizes pro-Israel campus activism and ignores its importance and effectiveness. UCLA, in the heart of Jewish Los Angeles, does not always reflect what is happening nationally and internationally. But even at UCLA, students ask StandWithUs for help countering anti-Israel speakers like Norman Finkelstein and Malik Ali who lectured there in May of 2006.

It was activism that has exposed Malik Ali's bigotry and perhaps contributed to the Muslim students apology. Successful student activism occurs all the time, as it did at Concordia University where unchallenged, escalating incitement culminated in a violent anti-Israel riot in 2002. At our international student conference last winter, Concordia's Jewish student leaders reported great improvement because we organized ourselves and got involved in student government. We countered the lies, wrote op-eds, and educated the campus." Their activism made a difference.

The Rabbi's approach certainly can enhance these efforts, but contrary to his charge, activist groups like SWU promote coalition and bridge building as a necessary part of activism. If the pro-Israel/pro peace community abandons activism, it will do so at great risk. Anti-Israel organizations and their funding on far too many campus and reports of biased Professors in the classroom remain strong though the Rabbi minimizes their depth and breadth. Jewish students must continue to counter them with confidence, knowledge, coalition building, and - yes - thoughtful activism as needed.

Roz Rothstein, National Director StandWithUs
Roberta Seid, PhD, Educational Consultant, StandWithUs
Esther Renzer, President, StandWithUs

Hatred only 8 miles by car from UCI at the Islamic Center of Irvine

Hat Tip: LGF

I hadn't heard much about the Islamic Center of Irvine, located at 2 Truman in Irvine, CA. Then I read this, published in the magazine Frontpage in an article by Joe Kaufman:

On June 5th, the Los Angeles chapter of CAIR sponsored a community town hall meeting at the Islamic Center of Irvine (ICOI), a mosque that propagates venomously anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric. In a Khutbah (sermon) given at the ICOI last month, entitled ‘The Abuse of a Religion to sustain a Racist State,’ the ICOI’s Director of Religious Affairs, Sadullah Khan, stated, “Jews who came [to Israel] brought with them a Westernarrogance…” In the sermon, which is found on the ICOI website, Khan liberally quoted alleged neo-Nazi William Baker and described Zionism as “racist,” “diabolical” and “sinister.”

Participating at the CAIR event was CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush. Ayloush’s appearance at ICOI makes sense, as he, himself, has been known to exhibit an extreme hatred towards the state of Israel. According to Dr. Daniel Pipes, whom Ayloush has likened to “a KKK person,” he (Ayloush) has repeatedly used the term “Zionazi,” when discussing Israelis. He has referred to Zionism as “a political ideology whose tentacles are rooted in racism,” and he has stated that the violent Intifada (Uprising) that was twice perpetrated by the Palestinians against the Israelis “really indicates standing up against injustice.”

Ayloush has complained of the United States’ treatment of the terrorist group Hamas, who recently had members voted into power in the “Palestinian territories.” During a Khutbah speech he gave at the Islamic Institute of Orange County (IIOC), last May, entitled “Don’t Be Pessimistic,” Ayloush stated: “Compare your situation to the situation of our brothers and sisters in Palestine… They were starved, they were pressured and threatened with embargo, if they don’t have democratic elections. And then, when they have the democratic elections, because we don’t like the results, now they are being starved again, embargoed and punished.”

Oh, and here's the best part: Guess who was the main guest at this community hall event?

Steven Tidwell of the FBI

Sadullah Khan: The Abuse of a Religion to sustain a Racist State

Note: I added this for reference on 10/16/2006 at 3:45 PM PST

Summary: Imam Sadullah Khan...

• Quotes Will Baker, a neo-Nazi
  
• Considers one of three Big Lies to be "Zionism is essential to Judaism"
  
• Thinks "Zionism is a nationalistic movement with a sense of racial superiority serving the interest of a specific group, exploiting religious sentiments, distorting history and vulgarizing interpretation of destruction as its sinister components"
  
• Paints Zionists as "opportunists"
  
• States "Jews who came [to Israel] brought with them a Western arrogance"
  
• Considers (assumedly) any country "hipocritical" if it refuses to assist the Palestinian Authority because the majority party (HAMAS) refuses to recognize Israel, renounce violence, and abide by prior agreements.
  

And I haven't even looked to see if his quotations are both accurate and in context!

Link to the original khutbah

My analysis of the Frontpage Magazine article that discusses this khutbah

ICOI Khutbah 197 - May 17,2006
The Abuse of a Religion to sustain a Racist State - Page 1
Author: Sadullah Khan (616 views) Rating: No Votes So Far
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُواْ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالأَحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُواْ مِن ً
كِتَابِ اللّهِ وَكَانُواْ عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَاء فَلاَ تَخْشَوُاْ النَّاسَ وَاخْشَوْنِ وَلاَ تَشْتَرُواْ بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً

Verily, it is We who bestowed from on high the Torah, wherein there was guidance and light. On `its strength did the prophets, who had surrendered themselves unto God, deliver judgment unto those who followed the Jewish faith; and so did the [early] men of God and the rabbis, inasmuch as some of God's writ had been entrusted to their care; and they [all] bore witness to its truth. Therefore, [O children of Israel,] hold not people in awe, but stand in awe of Me; and do not barter away My messages for a trifling gain.. [Qur’an 5:44]

The Nakbah / Catastrophe Remembered
This week (15th May), Palestinians commemorate their forced displacement and dispossession resulting from the establishment of the state of Israel (1948) and people of conscience all over the world recall the mass deportation of a million Palestinians from their cities and villages, massacres of civilians, and the razing to the ground of hundreds of Palestinian villages. More than 60 percent of the total Palestinian population was expelled. More than 530 Palestinian villages were depopulated and completely destroyed. To date, Israel has prevented the return of approximately six million Palestinian refugees, who have either been expelled or displaced. Approximately 250,000 internally displaced Palestinian second-class citizens of Israel are prevented from returning to their homes and villages. The land is still occupied and the atrocities continue leading to the deaths of many innocent people

Three Major Lies
i. This is a war between Islam and Judaism, since Islam is against Judaism
ii. Zionism is essential to Judaism
iii. Palestine was a land without people

1) Muslim-Jewish Relationship through History
Since the holy Prophet Muhammad's coming into contact with members of the Jewish faith in Madinah, tolerance, kindness and co operation were the principles that permeated his attitude and approach towards them. Together with followers of the Christian faith, Jews are honorably considered as "People of the Book"; with whom we share a special heritage through the Prophets we jointly hold dear. Numerous verses in the holy Qur'an emphasize the Muslim duty of dealing with People of the Book with the highest degree of respect and etiquette [Q 2:62; 3:64; 4:113 115; 5:5; 29:46].

In his book, More in Common than you Think: Bridge between Islam and Christianity, Dr. William Baker elaborates on the fact that Muslims view the Torah and the New Testament as inspired revelations of God and that Islam neither targeted the Jews nor Judaism. He says: "It is a fact of history that when the Jews were being persecuted in Europe during the Middle Ages, they found peace, harmony, and acceptance among the Muslim people in Spain. In fact, this was the era of Jewish history that they themselves refer to as 'the golden age'. In the famous treatise by Rabbi Minken, he says of this era: 'It was Muslim Spain, the only land the Jews knew in nearly a thousand years of the dispersion, which made the genius of the Jewish physician Moses Maimonides possible. After the fall of Spain, the Jews followed the Muslims to Morocco and Egypt where Maimonides became the personal physician of the great Muslim leader Salahudin, who sent him to King Richard in order to treat the king'. During the Ottoman period and their great empire, Jews and Muslims lived and prospered together".

Whenever there has been hostility, it was due to breaking of agreements, treachery or in recent decades; the illegitimate occupation of Palestine by a Zionist Imperialist force under the guise of religion.

2) Political Zionism
In trying to understand the diabolical nature of political Zionism, we need to remove the myth that Zionism is an essential component of Judaism. Judaism has been a religion for over 3,000 years. Zionism is an organized European political movement that arose in the late 19th century, founded by two men: Theodore Herzl and Chaim Weizman, who were both of Jewish background but self professed atheists.

Zionism evolved into a militant political movement consisting of Jews who wish to establish a homeland for all Jews in Palestine. (Argentina and Uganda were also considered initially.) Zionism was officially launched by Theodore Herzl at a convention held at Basle, Switzerland in 1897.

Zionism, the originally secular, racist and mostly non believing movement, resorted to inventing a religious cause, a Jewish crusade in order to succeed in its colonial endeavor of establishing a national home for the Jewish people. Without this tactic the scattered Jewish communities around the world would not have heeded the call for uniting behind it. A pack of lies had to be fabricated and children brought up on them. Thus, Palestine, the heart of the Muslim world, has become their promised land, a God given gift to His "chosen people", who would kill, rape and rob in His name.

3) A LAND WITHOUT PEOPLE FOR A PEOPLE WITHOUT LAND
About 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their land after the creation of Israel in 1948 and the ensuing Arab-Israeli war. An additional 200,000 Palestinians underwent a similar fate during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Israel has stopped transferring import duties it collects on behalf of the Palestinains worth $55 mllion a month.The UN estimates that there are more than six million Palestinian refugees in the world today, four million of which are registered with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), with a third of that number living in refugee camps.

With the help of irregular militias, the Irgun (Menachim Begin) and the Lehi, the Haganah forces succeeded in establishing the Jewish state of Israel in May 1948.

The minority of Palestinians who stayed on their land when Israel was created are now described as Israeli-Arabs.

Moshe Dayan’s statement that: About 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their land after the creation of Israel in 1948 and the ensuing Arab-Israeli war. An additional 200,000 Palestinians underwent a similar fate during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Israel has stopped transferring import duties it collects on behalf of the Palestinains worth $55 mllion a month.The UN estimates that there are more than six million Palestinian refugees in the world today, four million of which are registered with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), with a third of that number living in refugee camps.[Moshe Dayan, Ha’aretz, 4 April 1969]

Father of Zionism, Theodor Herzl, wrote in 1895: We must expropriate gently the private property on the estates assigned to us… We shall try to spirit the penniless population across the border by procuring employment for it in the transit countries. While denying it any employment in our own country… The property owners will come over to our side. Both the process of expropriation and the removal of the poor must be carried out discreetly and circumspectly… Let the owners of immovable property believe that they are cheating us, selling us something far more than they are worth… But we are not going to sell them any thing back.

Dr. Israel Shahak, chairman of the Israeli League of Human and Civil Rights, stated: "It is my considered opinion that the State of Israel is a racist state in the full meaning of this term. In this state people are discriminated against in the most permanent and legal way and in the most important areas of life only because of their origin. This racist discrimination began in Zionism and is carried out today mainly in cooperation with the institution of the Zionist movement. I do not wish to debate any justification for the racist policy. The most important fact is that it exists. Therefore the first step consists in admitting the truth: The State of Israel is a racist state, and its racism is a necessary consequence of the racism of the Zionist Movement. Facts are facts. After this we can debate, if we wish to do so, why such a racism is 'forbidden' against the Jews and becomes a good deed when it is carried out by the Jews". (The Racist Nature of Zionism and of the Zionist State, article published in Pi Ha'aton, Hebrew University of Jerusalem on November 5, 1975)

Note the official statements of the Central Rabbinical Congress of the United States of America and Canada, which states, among other things: “Consistently, since its inception, our sages and rabbis condemned the Zionist heresy. To this day Torah true Jewry has remained loyal to the heavenly decree of exile… It is only logical that during the Israeli State’s 52 years of existence, its most passionate and consistent opponents have been traditional Torah Jews. Therefore, the ongoing suffering and trail of death unleashed upon Jews and non-Jews by the Israeli state are not the work of the faithful remnant of Torah Jews who have always denounced the state’s very existence.”[Check Jewish websites ….Zochrot (Remembering) ; (Not In My Name), (Tikkun), and (Gush Shalom) (Jews Not Zionists), and (Neturei Karta).]

Tutu and Mandela on Apartheid suffered by Palestinians

• Speaking at a conference called Ending the Oppression in Boston, Archbishop Desmond Tutu told delegates Jewish people had been at the forefront of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. He asked: "Have our Jewish sisters and brothers forgotten their humiliation? Have they forgotten the collective punishment, the home demolitions, in their own history so soon?"


• MANDELA'S FIRST MEMO TO THOMAS FRIEDMAN March 28, 2000 To: Thomas L. Friedman (columnist New York Times)The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is not just an issue of military occupation and Israel is not a country that was established "normally" and happened to occupy another country in 1967. Palestinians are not struggling for a "state" but for freedom, liberation and equality, just like we were struggling for freedom in South Africa. Apartheid is a crime against humanity. Israel has deprived millions of Palestinians of their liberty and property. It has perpetuated a system of gross racial discrimination and inequality. It has systematically incarcerated and tortured thousands of Palestinians, contrary to the rules of international law. It has, in particular, waged a war against a civilian population, in particular children. The responses made by South Africa to human rights abuses emanating from the removal policies and apartheid policies respectively, shed light on what Israeli society must necessarily go through before one can speak of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East and an end to its apartheid policies.

So, Zionism is a nationalistic movement with a sense of racial superiority serving the interest of a specific group, exploiting religious sentiments, distorting history and vulgarizing interpretation of destruction as its sinister components.

Zionist Opportunists
In order to justify the cause of Israel for its perpetual occupation, Zionist opportunists have also engaged in anti-Islamic propaganda veiled in their political jargons. They tend to view everything Islamic detrimental to the security interests of Israel. In the United States, they occupy positions of importance, as they are part of various think tanks and policy institutes. American law enforcement agencies have often relied on their analysis and information when dealing with Muslims.

The Problem Persists
The number of Palestinian refugees hit five million since the creation of Israel that pushed through a mass exodus from 531 Palestinian cities and villages, according to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Some 640,000 Palestinians live in 19 refugee camps in the West Bank, and 820,000 others in the Gaza Strip.

There are nearly 250 thousand Palestinians now outside their villages inside the Green Line, some of them are only a few meters away from their land and yet are not allowed into it.

Jews who came brought with them a Western arrogance that made it possible for them to see Palestine as "a land without a people for a people without a land," and hence to virtually ignore the Palestinian people and its own cultural and historical rights, the vast majority of those who came were seeking refuge from the murderous ravages of Western anti-Semitism.

Democracy or Hypocracy?
The punishment of the people has increased in recent months after elections; because though the elections were democratic, it was not the party that Israel wanted in power. So, democracy is not enough, you have to choose who the occupiers want you to choose. In the name of the Jewish people, Zionists in Palestine are continuing to commit the most heinous crimes as is evident from the present atrocities perpetrated by the oppressive Zionist army against unprotected civilians, the owners of the land.

Some say … “Be Silent” but …
- Silence is for cowards
- Silence is consent/acceptance.
- Some say ignore the facts, but then we are bound to repeat such a tragedy

Websites giving up to date info on Operation Summer Rain

Hat Tip: LGF

For those of you wanting to monitor the Israel's incursions into Gaza and the West Bank to - hopefully - find alive and in one piece (or easily healed) Corporal Gilad Shalit as well as the two Israeli civilians that have been kidnapped, plus hopefully knock out all or most of the terrorist infrastructure, I provide the following links to up-to-the-minute data. We're going to need it, as I'm sure it'll be a topic of many events and newspaper articles once the Fall quarter begins in September:

DAY ONE NEWS UPDATES

Vital Perspective

Israellycool (though some of the comments on this one seem a bit inappropriate to me)

DAY TWO AND BEYOND NEWS UPDATES

IsraellyCool continues to LiveBlog

Vital Perspective is also continuing to update

THE IMAGE TO KEEP IN MIND



Thank you, Cox and Forkum. 'nuff said.

UCLA Hillel Director: Everything's peachy-keep up here!

On June 23, 2006, the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles published an opinion piece by Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, the Director of UCLA Hillel titled "Different Tack on Campus Challenge". His op-ed begins:

Speeches about “holocaust in Israel.” Academic boycotts. Divestiture campaigns. Professors who intimidate their students. Jewish speakers whose rhetoric is anti-Israel.

These program initiatives and phenomena that have seemingly overwhelmed our universities during the past few years have certainly transformed the campus quad into a zone of controversy.

"Finally!" - I thought - recognition of the harassment that Jewish students at UCI like myself have had to deal with with on a near-weekly basis.

Then I read on:

Some activists have gone so far as to characterize this onslaught as “Anti-Semitism 101” and have pressured the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to issue guidelines for confronting the scourge of campus anti-Semitism.

Excuse me? How exactly did we pressure the USCCR? The ZOA and others presented the relevant material to the commissioners in November 2005 (some of which provided by me), they discussed it, and in April 2006 they issued findings and recommendations. It's that simple - there was no "pressure".

Indeed, the above occurrences are undeniable, as are the vile expressions of Jewish bigotry at a select number of institutions of higher learning.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

However, rather than focus on the catastrophic response, which is traditionally Jewish, it behooves us to observe that Jews are actually experiencing a Golden Age at American universities and that the general atmosphere at the most prestigious schools is positive and supportive of Jewish interests.

This is the same line that Jeff Rips of OC Hillel dishes. Sorry, I can't hold hands and sing koom-by-ya or bury my head in the sand when my safety is being threatened on a near-weekly basis due to my ethnic background and religion. There are 6 million gone - and many, many people from the US, the UK, France, and other countries - because of the same sensibilities almost 70 years ago.

BTW, Rabbi, if they're so supportive of Jewish interests, why isn't Israel advertised heavily as a place to study abroad in the UC's? Where's the Jewish studies programs?

--

Note: The USCCR has not published the transcript of the November 2005 meeting. As soon as they do, I will put up the link in this entry.

OC Register: Muslims leery of FBI activity

Hat Tip: LGF

Marya Bangee doesn't know what to believe. The UC Irvine sophomore thinks the fact that she's Muslim is the reason she's been singled out for searches at airports and been scrutinized by police at anti-war demonstrations.

She's also distrustful of the FBI, uncertain whether the agency is telling the complete story of whether its employees are monitoring Orange County's Muslim community.

Her doubts loom a week after Muslim leaders and an FBI senior agent shook hands and patted each other on the back, concluding a meeting that addressed conflicting reports as to whether the community is being watched.

(Read the whole OC Register article here)

My perspective: The MSU and its invited speakers have supported and continue to support terrorist groups (HAMAS, Hezb'allah, etc.) and terrorist means (suicide bombing, rockets on civilian areas). Some of the speeches have bordered - and possibly crossed over - the line of incitement.

So guess what? The FBI notices.

There is a difference between:
a) discussing the Israeli political process (which is done all the time by Jews and non-Jews, even in the Knesset)

b) using false "facts" and fabricated quotes to demonize, delegitimize, and use double standards regarding Israel versus any other country in the world. Read my previous post on this subject here

Marya and any other UCI Muslim student, if you happen to be reading this, I have a few suggestions for you:
If you are realistically interested in fixing the situation on campus (and, G-d forbid, coming to a peaceful solution in the Middle East), take a cold, hard look at how the MSU and SAS have done things in the past. Even CAIR chided their actions (see that here)!

End the attacks on Zionism and Zionists. You attack Zionism and Zionists, and you attack nearly every Jew in this world. It's not civil speech and it has no place at UCI or anywhere else.

End the MSU no-dialogue policy.

Get the MSU to stop inviting Malik Ali, Musa, and al-Asi. Malik Ali especially is a great speaker - if only he would do it for peace instead of hatred, who knows what he might accomplish!

If you're not in charge of the MSU and SAS, take charge. Read the organization's constitution. If idiots are running the MSU and SAS, then figure out how to throw the bums out. Usually all it takes some convincing of the membership, then a 2/3 or 3/4 vote.

I know there's more that can be done - as I think of more, I'll post more.

Looking for a volunteer transcriptionist with good hearing

Two people have now accurately mentioned that Yossi Olmert's voice isn't coming out very clearly on the video. Here is a direct link to the Google Video page

Anyone willing to volunteer to transcribe the video (you'll need to have good hearing)?

If so, please transcribe it into Notepad (or another text editor) or Microsoft Word.

Then, to get it to me so I can put it on the blog, please upload it via www.QuickSharing.com and post a comment on my blog with the full "http://" URL that they'll give to you.

If you have an FTP server, web server, or blog of your own, feel free to post it there and just post a comment with the link.

Many thanks in advance to the volunteer(s).

Is the FBI investigating the UC Irvine MSU, or not?

(Hat tip: LGF)

In May, the Orange County Register reported the FBI was investigating the UC Irvine Muslim Student Union:

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1171489.php

Were this a straight news story, I might lead with, "The FBI appears to be actively studying Muslim student groups at UCI as part of an intense surveillance program to detect potential terrorists."

But I'm not as surprised that the FBI is doing this - as well as other aggressive anti-terrorist activities in Orange County - as I am that the FBI would tell us.

Now, the FBI says "nope, not us...":

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1171489.php

The FBI and Muslim community leaders met again Monday night, one in a series of gatherings since 9/11 intended to promote a better understanding of each other.

The latest meeting was needed, Muslim leaders said, because of a report by Register columnist Frank Mickadeit last month in which Pat Rose, head of the FBI's Orange County al-Qaida squad, was quoted as saying her agency was looking for potential terrorists here through a variety of electronic eavesdropping techniques.

What a mess. You think the stuff the MSU is saying is just TALK? What planet are you from?

More videos from Holocaust in the Holy Land Week

Got these via the Emily Shaaya, Anteaters for Israel Co-President

May 17, 2006
Yossi Olmert event
The last question asked by the MSU, their subsequent rant, and en masse exit



May 17 or 18, 2006 (I'm assuming)
The MSU, Neturei Karta, and Amir Abdel Malik Ali walking in campus
Either before or after the Zionism Hijacking Judaism (May 17) or Israel the 4th Reich (May 18) speech



Unknown date between May 15 and May 18, 2006
More video of the MSU campus "wall"

Stand Back: The UC Irvine NewU Editor-In-Chief has Blown a Gasket!

Today (June 5, 2006), I picked up the dead-tree edition of the UC Irvine campus newspaper, New University, and thumbed through to see if there were any final developments regarding the hateful environment on campus. Today's issue is the last for the entire school year; the next time the NewU is printed, it will be the beginning of the Fall 2006 quarter.

Page 13 offered a weird glimpse into the mind of Allan Taing, the outgoing Editor-In-Chief, in an op-ed titled "EIC to UCI: So Long, Suckers!":

The addresses given by the guest speaker and student speaker are meant to inspire those in attendance. In my opinion, however, these speeches give a misleading impression to listeners.

I graduate with a bitter taste in my mouth. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been involved with the New University over the last three years and as such, I can say I know quite a lot about this campus. I will use my last opportunity as editor-in-chief of the paper to tell you what UC Irvine is really all about, what I hate and love. And this rant won’t be sugar-coated like the speeches you’ll hear next week.

I hate how Jewish and Muslim students hate each other at UCI.

Both groups abuse the free-speech policies at UCI to throw insults at each other, and then play victim when the other side does the same. If smart, educated young Jews and Muslims in a random small suburban university can’t get along, how can we expect those living in the Middle East to ever do so?

Read more at:
http://www.newuniversity.org/article.php?id=4832

JTA Publishes Article Comparing Level of Incitement at UCLA and at UCI

The Jewish Telegraph Agency recently published an article by Tom Tugend comparing and contrasting the week-long anti-Zionism events at UCLA and UC Irvine.

The summary is this: UCLA's quiet compared to UCI. Some who were at UCLA for their anti-Zionism week (held at the same time as UCI's) say this isn't true, but this quote from Jeff Rips, Executive Director of Orange County Hillel, is just unbelievable:

To balance the dour campus picture, Rips said that except during Palestine Week, there was little tension between Muslim and Jewish students.

Excuse me? Did I somehow dream up the monthly (sometimes more often) MSU events?

Ignoring Holocaust in the Holy Land week, there's been at least twelve events over the 2005-2006 school year where the MSU invited at least one speaker to come visit. (see the end of this post for the full list, including cut-and-paste descriptions from the MSU newsletter) I bet you dollars to donuts that all of these events included attacks on Zionists and Zionism using all of the old and new anti-Semitic canards.

This also doesn't count the off-campus retreats run by the MSU and the off-campus events advertised in the MSU's email newsletter where Malik Ali and other anti-Semites have been the featured guests. G-d only knows what goes on during those MSU road trips.

In all of the campuses I've been to on both the East and West coasts, I've never seen anything like this. My grades continue to suffer because I have to listen to - and respond to - the canards these anti-Semites pull out while the UC Irvine administration throws up its hands and says "can't we all get along?"

Jeff, bubbeleh, I love you to pieces. Do me a favor: for once, get your head out of the sand.

Suprise us all for once by accurately acknowledging the level of hatred and intimidation I and every other student of Jewish heritage at UC Irvine have had to deal with for the past few years.

Students of Jewish heritage like myself shouldn't have to pay $10,000 a year for the privilege of going to one of the top 10 public universities in the nation with a BULLSEYE on our backs.

Jeff, you and your organizations (Hillel, the B'nai B'rith Federation, and the ADL) should be supporting the Title VI complaint to the US Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. The ZOA's filing of the complaint did more to change the way the UCI administration acted than anything Hillel, the Federation, and the ADL ever did these past few years.

Instead of trying to prevent the showing of the StandWithUs documentary "Tolerating Intolerance" - or, as I'm hearing you're doing, trying to hijack the event - you and your organizations should be standing behind StandWithUs, the AJCongress, and the ZOA and the Orange County Community-Campus Coalition and letting them run the show.

They've got the track record - you and your organizations don't.

For once, Jeff, instead of holding hands and singing koom-by-ya (or worse - fighting the people who are really attacking the problem), do something concrete and significant that'll make me feel safe enough so I can feel safe enough to just focus on my studies.

Read the whole JTA article here: http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=16664&intcategoryid=4

UPDATE
The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles also ran the story:
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=15941

The 2005-2006 List of MSU Events with Malik Ali, Musa, Wahaj, and al-Asi, not including the Holocaust in the Holy Land events, or off-campus retreats:

Fall 2005 Quarter
Week 1 Malik Ali
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msu-uci/message/1158
Posted Tue Sep 27, 2005 4:19 pm
How Katrina Exposed the True Essence of US domestic policy.

Thursday 9-29
12- 2 pm
Cross Cultural Center
Amir Abdul Malik Ali & Dennis Lopez

Sponsored by the MSU and SPJ at UCI.

Week 5 Malik Ali
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msu-uci/message/1177
Posted Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:55 pm
What: Racism- the American Creed
When: Thursday October 27th
Who: Amir Abdul Malik Ali
Where: Anteater Plaza(in front of Library)
Why:
Basically... the reason why YOU should show up to this program is
because this is our first outdoor program of the year and we need to
make our presence known on campus from the beginning of the year.
This is also our chance to show that the Muslims on campus are down
for social-justice programs that do not only involve Muslims.

Winter 2006 Quarter
Week 2 Malik Ali
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msu-uci/message/1237
Posted Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:14 am
THURSDAY:

**Discussion with Amir Abdel Malik: The Bombings in Pakistan: Standing together as One Ummah Against Injustice and Oppression**

1:45pm at the Cross Cultural Center and then head over to Aldrich Park inshAllah.


Week 3 Malik Ali
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msu-uci/message/1240
Posted Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:01 am
THURSDAY:

***Constitution Under Fire with Amir Abdel Malik and
Fernando Chirino***

12 to 1pm at Anteater Plaza

***Latinos, Muslims, and the Movement with Amir Abdel
Malik and Denis Lopez***

1:30 to 3pm at the Cross Cultural Center


Week 5 Siraj Wahaj
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msu-uci/message/1252
Posted Wed Feb 8, 2006 12:03 am
Topic: "Africans in the Americas"
Speaker: Imam Siraj Wahaj
When: Wed Feb 8th at 330
Where: SST220B

Please join us for a program about African Muslim influence in the Americas with one of our beloved scholars Siraj Wahaj from New York. It isn't everyday that we are able to have a world renound scholar on our campus. Don't miss out!! See you there insha'Allah...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msu-uci/message/1253
[There is an image announcing a fundraiser for "Building the Future". Special guest speaker is Siraj Wahaj.]

Week 6 Musa
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msu-uci/message/1254
Posted Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:05 am
WEDNESDAY:

***The War on Black America with Iman Musa***

12 to 1pm at Anteater Plaza

Week 7 Malik Ali
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msu-uci/message/1258
Posted Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:25 pm
WEDNESDAY:

***One Message. One God: Abraham, Moses, and Mohammed (pbuh)***

12 to 1 pm at Anteater Plaza with Amir Abdel Malik.

***Dr. King Wants the Same Thing I Do; Freedom: The Legacy of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. ***

3:30 to 5 pm at SST 220A

Week 9 al-Asi
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msu-uci/message/1267
Posted Mon Mar 6, 2006 1:42 am

WEDNESDAY:

***Who is Behind the Cartoons?***

12 to 1 pm outside of Cornerstone on Ring Road

***Domestic Organizations in Support of Racism***

6:30 to 8pm in HIB 110
A panel of speakers with Imam Muhammed al Asi, Toshio
Whelchel and more.

Spring 2006 Quarter
Week 5
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/msu-uci/message/1316
Posted May 3, 2006 10:26 pm
Thursday Planner
3:30: A talk with...Amir Abd Al-Malek @ the CCC

This Just In: Chancellor Drake's Latest Email to the UCI Community

The UCI Chancellor's latest message is below but here's a quick summary: Chancellor Michael V. Drake, MD condemns "hate speech".

Little problem: what exactly is "hate speech"? I'm kind of lost and Drake doesn't give any specific examples.

So "hate speech" could be the anti-Semitic attacks that UC Irvine Jewish students, faculty, and staff have had to put up year after year...or perhaps not, as sentences like "Zionists, your days are numbered" and claiming (falsely) that there is a Holocaust in the Holy Land always fall inside "the bounds of civility." /sarcasm off

On the other hand, the MSU and SAS consider any Israeli Independence Day celebrations "hate speech". The MSU considers Bus 19 "hate speech" because in their dangerously extremist view bringing it to campus "ignited hate" - read their February 21, 2005 condemnation of the event in the New University paper: http://www.newu.uci.edu/article.php?id=3402

Obviously the MSU is full of bunk, but Drake's definition jives perfectly with the MSU's continuous, crazy, and obnoxiously loud speeches, news articles, and public displays that there's this massive Jewish conspiracy to take over the world, that Jews are the new Nazis and they're committing genocide against the Palestinians, and the use of suicide bombers that target for murder innocent men, women, and children because they are Jewish is a perfectly moral and legal way of waging war.

Chancellor, every time I step on campus, I walk around with a bullseye on my back because you and your administration aren't doing your jobs - you're supposed to protect my Title VI civil right to be able to go to school here without fear of intimidation against my religious, ethnic, and racial group. You're going to have to do better. I want specifics of recent events on this campus that fit the bill of "hate speech".

You've stepped closer to what you need to say, but your message still doesn't cut it. For once, show all of us you've got balls.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Hate Speech
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 19:58:11 -0700
From: Michael V. Drake, Chancellor
To: All Students: ;;All Students:@es.nacs.uci.edu;

Dear Students:

This is the third in a trilogy of messages sent to the campus community this month reiterating our core values of respect, appreciation and empathy, our refusal to tolerate illegal behavior, and our Constitutional obligation to respect and uphold First Amendment rights.

Today, I would like to address behavior that adheres to the strict definition of the law, but falls distinctly outside the bounds of civility. In a society of laws, we all must abide by a written code that draws the line between legal and illegal activities. The law sets a minimum standard of behavior. But there is a zone between illegal behavior and desirable behavior. In this zone we find disrespectful, deliberately offensive, but not specifically illegal acts. In the case of hate speech this behavior is protected by the Constitution.

Hate speech is difficult to define precisely. It is largely defined by the individual hearing it: what some or many may find hateful or offensive, others may not. Hate speech tends to be directed at individuals or groups. The provocateur chooses words specifically to offend and inflame. We can all think of examples of this behavior: words that are used to provoke outrage.

This winter and spring there have been incidents testing the bounds of the First Amendment at many campuses across the country, including ours. The controversies have revolved around a variety of issues, often not related to campus life per se, but rather reflecting larger international frictions.

Make no mistake: I find hate speech abhorrent, illogical and ultimately pitiful. Hate speech is inconsistent with advancing understanding or dialogue. It is also inconsistent with the great tradition of free speech at the University of California. I ask you to join me in renouncing hate speech as a form of expression, and to join with our larger university community in fostering open and candid dialogue.

I invite you to visit the web page of Student Affairs Vice Chancellor Manuel Gomez (http://www.vcsa.uci.edu), which includes important information related to the practice of free speech and events that UCI is sponsoring to encourage constructive dialogue on difficult issues currently being addressed on campuses across the country.

And, as always, I invite you to review our values, which can be found at http://www.chancellor.uci.edu/values.shtml. By upholding these values, we can ensure a healthy exchange of ideas in a civil, non-threatening environment.

Fiat Lux
Michael V. Drake, M.D.
Chancellor

http://www.chancellor.uci.edu

Jacob Bezier NewU Op-Ed: It's War, Not Genocide; also, three letters to the editor not on the NewU website

‘Genocide’ Does Not Describe Middle East
by: Jacob Beizer
May 30, 2006
New University

If the Mexican government were sending suicide bombers across the border to blow up buses and nightclubs, I would hope that the American government would build a wall to keep them out. In my opinion, that is not a racist policy. It is simple protection. It is not different from the bars that people put on their windows when they live in a crime-ridden neighborhood.

Israel is doing the same thing, and the Muslim world is accusing them of creating an apartheid state. This is not the case. The wall serves the purpose of protecting the Israeli people from terrorist attacks that the Palestinian government has no genuine intention of halting. The segregation in South Africa was established because of the ethnic prejudice inherent in the British imperial government. It would have been in place whether or not the black people in South Africa were dangerous.

Read more at: http://www.newuniversity.org/article.php?id=4803

--

There were also three letters to the editor not published on the NewU website. This is simply a small version of the image - you can see the full-size scan by clicking on the image (thank you to Ami for the scan):