Since Alan Grayson has jumped back into the running for my Golden Penguin award, which he won in 2009, I thought it might be a good idea to look at how the big race is unfolding at the 3/4 furlong mark. (Is that what they call it at the track?)
With three months to go, here's how I see it at this point (in no particular order):
Mel Gibson (Think he'll get Danny Glover's vote?)
Gordon Brown (for the Lockerbie bomber release)
Alan Grayson (defending champ)
Arnold Schwarzenegger (When he became governor a few years ago, California looked like Berlin in 1944. As he prepares to leave office, the place looks like Berlin 1n 1945.)
Mary D. Nichols (head of the California Air Resources Board) who has been Arnie's chief bombadier).
Harry Reid (always within striking distance)
George Galloway (hands-down champ in what's left of the UK)
Feisal Abdul Rauf (builder of "bridges" and rat-infested apartments)
Eugene "Chuckles" Robinson (I know. I'm just throwing a temper tantrum.)
Nancy Pelosi (one swing of the dingbat is all she needs. That's why ESPN calls home runs "dingers".)
Keith Olbermann (perennial contender)
Chris Matthews (biggest joke in journalism)
Lindsay Lohan (and her father-whatever his name is)
Paris Hilton (all that talent going to waste)
John Morton (ICE Director-for doing nothing)
Eric Holder (for doing nothing-except suing Arizona)
Rod Blagoyevich (His hair alone makes him a contender.)
Maxine Waters (What list would be complete without her?)
Barney Frank (Nobody has more skeletons in their closet than Barney-no pun intended.)
Carlos Zambrano (Cub "ace". Seven wins this year and almost as many temper-tantrums. Count 'em. "Chuckles" probably thinks he's a tea-partier.)
Hillary Clinton (Should get plenty of overseas votes.)
Have I left anybody out? If you have any suggestions, feel free to throw in your 2 cents worth; however, I am the final "decider".
Here is a glaring example of the contempt and condescension the left has for those who attended the Glenn Beck rally in Washington:
September 2, 2010-The Stephanie Miller radio show.
Sethanie Miller: "Old White McCain-Palin left-overs"
Alan Grayson: "These are people who were wearing sheets over their heads 25 years ago."
Give'em a hand, folks. Alan Grayson, Congressman from Florida and defending champion of the 2009 Fousesquawk Golden Penguin Jerk of the Year Award (and possible repeat champ for 2010).
You remember that dopey anti-Israel petition some 900 university professors signed their names to last year?
"Uhhh....yeaaaah."
Well, kudos to to Professor Fred Gottheil of the University of Illinois, who sent a follow-up petition to 675 of those "signatories" asking them to sign a letter protesting human rights abuses against women, gays, lesbians in Middle East countries. Guess how many signed. Read the American Thinker article by Dr Gottheil below:
What is the word....hypocrisy?? "Uhhhh.....yeaaaah."
Of course, I note that the university where I teach (UC-Irvine) contributed to the original "social justice" list, and I can guess who they were, but no matter.
Dr Gottheil has masterfully illustrated the total hypocrisy that reigns on our college campuses, especially among the gals in the gender studies departments. This reminds me of the hypocrisy of N.O.W. and the Feminist Majority in refusing to support the recent move in Congress to condemn the selection of Iran to sit on the UN Status of Women Committee, of which I have written on this blog.
It's good to know we have at least one sane voice at the University of Illinois.
The Investigative Project on Terrorism has just released a video of a rally at DuPont Circle in Washington DC on Septemeber 3. Watch and judge the words for yourselves. The two speakers shown are an imam from Manassas, Virginia and a professor from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, both "moderate bridge-builders", to be sure.
At the risk of sounding xenophobic, I must say frankly that listening to this Siddique character talking about "Kaffirs" in this country makes me want to tell him......uh, what is the word?
"Go back where the Hell you came from!"
I wonder how long it takes before these two yahoos are invited to the White House or sent overseas by our State Department.
This week, retiring Vice Chancellor of UC-Irvine (Student Affairs) Manuel Gomez reduced the suspension of the Muslim Student Union from one year to one quarter, which will end December 31, 2010. This was a result of their disruption of the speech by the Israeli ambassador to the US at UCI on February 8, an incident that caused both national and international embarrassment to UCI.
Below is a statement released by Shalom Elcott, President of the Orange County Jewish Federation. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
UCI Upholds Suspension of Muslim Student Union
A Special Message from President and CEO, Shalom C. Elcott
Earlier today, Jewish Federation & Family Services received notice that UC Irvine has rejected the Muslim Student Union's appeal, and has followed through on its initial decision to suspend the MSU.
In the letter to MSU outlining the university’s decision, Vice Chancellor Manuel Gomez reaffirmed that the MSU cannot abuse student conduct and campus policies. He stated to the MSU, “By making it impossible for Ambassador Oren to exercise his speech rights during his presentation, you effectively deprived him of his rights…Further, your actions exceeded the protections of both the First Amendment and campus policies, which provide for appropriate time, place and manner restrictions on speech.” He also added, "The University respects the MSU’s right to protest, but there were other ways to do so that would not have deprived Ambassador Oren of his right to speak, would not have deprived the audience of its right to hear and engage in an exchange with Ambassador Oren, would not have disrupted a University-sponsored event, and would not have made other audience members an involuntary audience” to your disruptive actions (UCI Campus Policy 30.30) ." Gomez concluded, "This decision, in response to your appeal, is final and may not be appealed any further."
Ultimately, the precedent-setting suspension was upheld. The UCI document obtained by Jewish Federation & Family Services stated that the MSU violated the following policies: Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures or other university activities.”The student judicial review process worked. (emphasis mine)
While we are disappointed that the length of the suspension was shortened, (emphasis mine) it is not our place to determine the length nor the severity of the punishment. The only way we will know that this decision has been effective will be if a systemic change occurs in the actions and conduct of the MSU, and if the MSU turns to more thoughtful dialogue that befits a university campus.
Jewish Federation & Family Services has been at the forefront of a community-wide effort to make UCI a hate-free zone for all students. (emphasis mine) This includes ongoing meetings with campus faculty and staff, meetings with UC Regents, University of California President Mark G. Yudof as well as ongoing discussions with members of Congress. Additionally, the Federation has held continuous meetings with students and key community leaders.
We will continue working closely with university leadership to encourage bridge-building programs between Muslim and Jewish students and students of other faiths. Toward this objective, we established the Rose Project in 2008, which provides funding for positive Jewish programming and support to the Jewish students of Orange County college campuses. Student leaders of Anteaters for Israel, Hillel: Jewish Student Union, Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, and Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority take advantage of many leadership development and Israel education opportunities funded by the Rose Project throughout the academic year. Other endeavors of The Rose Project include the development of a high-level special guest lecture series and bridge-building programs in the greater Orange County community.
Many organizations and individuals from around the world have supported us in this difficult process. To all, and particularly to the generous investors who support the Rose Project, our profound thanks.
Our best wishes to you for this Labor Day weekend!
Now let us go back to June, when the initial announcement of the suspension was made by UCI. Elcott, who was dashing from one news microphone to another to get his name in the papers, produced this tasteless video claiming credit.
I hardly know where to begin, but to start with, I think this video was self-serving and inappropriate. For years, the Jewish Federation in Orange County denied the problem of anti-Semitism at UCI. A couple of years ago during Israel Apartheid Week, Elcott told me personally (in front of witnesses) that there was no anti-Semitism at UCI and had not been for years. He said that the university was doing an outstanding job. When I brought up examples of hate speech at UCI, he dismissed them as not being anti-Semitic.
In addition, the Federation took a dim view of Jewish students who openly complained about anti-Semitism and a lack of satisfactory response by the administration. They opposed the efforts of the Zionist Organization of America when they filed complaints with the Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights. It was always the Federation's policy to work behind the scenes with university officials to resolve any problems.
Those efforts achieved little or nothing.
After the Oren event, however, the local Jewish community saw for itself that in spite of all the denials, there was a problem at UCI, and they wanted answers. Suddenly, Elcott and his allies became the "generals leading the charge" demanding that the university take strong action against the student disruptors and the Muslim Student Union. Elcott's name was front and center as he ran from one reporter to the next acting as the "lead spokesman" of the Jewish community. He led a party of four to San Francisco to meet with UC President Mark Yudof and have their picture taken. Less clear is what it accomplished. Then the Federation put up a post asking people to "Stand with the Four" (Federation, Hillel, Anti-Defamation League and American Jewish Committee).
Then, with May's annual Israel Apartheid Week approaching, members of the local Jewish community and other concerned citizens decided that it was time to get involved. The Federation (and Hillel) reacted by discouraging anyone from the community from coming onto campus. People were told that "the (Jewish) students didn't want them" on campus, as if anyone could speak for each and every Jewish student at UCI.
What occurred was that during the noon events, hundreds of community members showed up on campus with Israeli and American flags carrying posters calling for the MSU "not to bring hate to UCI". They behaved civilly. (As I have written there was one Jewish woman -and her husband- who came every day and acted inappropriately. They were not associated with the aforementioned counter-protesters; in fact, I attempted unsuccessfully to get that woman to act civilly so as not to embarrass the pro-Israel side.)
At any rate, many of the MSU-sponsored speakers (like Norman Finkelstein) were made to look like boobs. Amir Abdel Malik Ali was drawn by Roz Rothstein of Stand With Us into making another anti-Semitic statement accusing Jews of being the "new Nazis" and conceding he supported, Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad. After years of speaking at UCI, his statements finally drew a rebuke from the chancellor.
So what was the reaction of the Federation (and Hillel)to the presence of the community on campus during Israel Apartheid Week? Anger. On Wednesday of that week, Elcott mocked an organizer of the group for having a low turnout on that particular day. Yet, the Federation's blog, the OC Jewish Experience, was proclaiming that the Federation was coming out to the events to "make sure they were seen and heard".
What that presence basically consisted of was Elcott walking around behind the audience and greeting people. He never spoke out, never asked a question of a speaker, and never participated in any way.
Also during Israel Apartheid Week (on Thursday), that same community organizer was angrily berated by a "high-ranking" Hillel leader telling her that the "students did not want them on campus".
A couple of weeks later, when the MSU held a campus protest over the flotilla incident, Elcott approached the same organizer and asked her to pose a critical question to one of the speakers. Of course, it would never occur to Elcott to ask the question himself.
Then, with the university finally taking action, guess who was front and center. Elcott, of course, with that ridiculous video. Once again, we were reading the grand proclamations of this poseur in all the news stories. What purpose was served with that video except to pump up himself and his organization?
Keep those donations flowing, that's what purpose. If Jewish students were to stop coming to UCI and if Jewish donors stopped donating, the Jewish Federation would be in peril. It also appears that some Jewish donors are more interested in having their names plastered on university buildings than speaking out against anti-Semitism, which is another story in itself.
You see, the Federation is a source of funding for Hillel, which is a national group devoted to supporting Jewish life on campus and which works within the university structure. The Federation is also involved in the funding of the Rose Project, another Jewish support group at UCI.
Another point is if, as the Federation claims, they "kept the lines of communication open" to the university, why was it necessary for them to (reportedly) have to file a Freedom of Information request to obtain the report of the university's recommendation to suspend the MSU?
It is beyond frustrating to me as a non-Jew concerned about anti-Semitism to witness the fragmentation in the Jewish community and to see how people are working at cross-purposes when there is such a big issue at stake. The fact is that the Jewish Federation has been an obstacle to those who have tried to publicly speak out to bring change to the UCI campus. With that preposterous video, followed by this latest statement emphasizing the upholding of the suspension, while barely noting the reduction, Shalom Elcott is continuing to embarrass himself.
To summarize, you have a powerful organization, the Jewish Federation, which receives lots of donations and funnels lots of money to UCI-related groups including Hillel. It goes without saying that their very existence depends on keeping a Jewish student presence at UCI. In other words, bad publicity like this issue means fewer Jewish students coming to campus-and it is a fact that many Jews have chosen to avoid UCI-rightfully or wrongfully.
Similarly, Hillel depends on a Jewish student presence at UCI in order to justify their own presence and funding. Does this explain why the Federation and Hillel-at least up until February 8th- were denying anti-Semitism at UCI-and why they have continued to make conflicting statements on the question?
It seems to all come down to this; for some, there may be more important issues at play than openly confronting charges of anti-Semitism when raised by Jewish students. Jobs, money, and empires are at stake, not to mention big donors getting their names on university buildings and departments.
Another example of why the EU should be abolished. This organization is just another bureucracy with nothing better to do then determine the standard size of beer glasses. And not surprisingly, the man is question, Karel de Gucht, is a Belgian, a country noted for little more than bad drivers, waffles, 28% alcohol beer and useless bureaucrats to the EU.
Here is more of what he said:
"Don't underestimate the opinion … of the average Jew outside Israel. There is indeed a belief – it's difficult to describe it otherwise – among most Jews that they are right. And a belief is something that's difficult to counter with rational arguments. And it's not so much whether these are religious Jews or not. Lay Jews also share the same belief that they are right. So it is not easy to have, even with moderate Jews, a rational discussion about what is actually happening in the Middle East."[10]
He continued
"Do not underestimate the Jewish lobby on Capitol Hill. That is the best organised lobby, you shouldn't underestimate the grip it has on American politics – no matter whether it's Republicans or Democrats."
The British Representative to the European Parliament, Nigel Farage, put it best when he read the riot act to the head of the EU, another empty Belgian suit named Hermann van Rompuy and told him what he thought of his nation as well ("pretty much a non-country").
What I would like to know is what is this great influence de Gucht is talking about? What does he know of what goes on in America? If he knew any Jewish people, he would know that they don't agree on anything-including Israel.
And this is the piece de resistance:
"I gave an interview yesterday to the Flemish radio. I was also asked about the Middle East peace talks. I gave my personal point of view. I regret that the comments that I made have been interpreted in a sense that I did not intend. I did not mean in any possible way to cause offense or stigmatize the Jewish Community. I want to make clear that anti-Semitism has no place in today’s world and is fundamentally against our European values."
What? Is this guy smoking his socks? "Anti-Semitism is fundamentally against our European values"?
When did it begin-in the Middle Ages-or long before that? Anti-Semitism has been part and parcel of European history since the times they were throwing their buckets of human waste out the windows onto the streets. The Holocaust? Now, the few Jews left in Europe are clearing out due to the anti-Semitism going on in one European country after another.
Where does this boob, de Gucht, get off talking about American Jews like that? Next thing they'll want to regulate American beer glasses.
A practical joke? Perhaps, but the head priest of the Catholic cathedral of St Jean in Lyons, France is not amused. It seems that the head sculptor doing restoration on the cathedral molded a gargoyle in his own image with the inscription, "God is Great" in both French and Arabic below.
When the head priest, Michel Cacaud, was reached for comment while on vacation, he was furious....
at having his vacation interrupted.
Here is the text from Gallia Watch:
"Did you ever...? It's a gargoyle, on the Cathedral of Saint-Jean in Lyons. It depicts a Muslim. Underneath are the words "God is great", in French AND in Arabic! How did it get there? Here's the story from Novopress, who also had the photos taken:
You won't find two like this on the churches of France, and the one that is now perched on one of the facades of the Cathedral of Saint-Jean is unique in more ways than one. The gargoyle that is being talked about in the neighborhood of Vieux-Lyon, portrays the head contractor in charge of the restoration of the North-West tower. To find his face, one fine morning, stuck onto the cathedral is not a routine event, even less so when the artisan in question, who works for the Comte Enterprise in the department of la Loire, is named Ahmed Benzizine and is a Muslim.
One detail that will please the ecumenicals: at the base of the gargoyle, you can read, "God is great" in French, but also in Arabic!
"Allah Akbar". Everyone can agree on that! It's not as if they had inscribed "Mohammed is our prophet..." was the comment from someone close to the diocese. Feeling that he was "disturbed during his vacation", Father Cacaud, priest of the cathedral, would not confirm that the diocese gave its approval, but the diocesan communications services, for their part, implied that it was true when they emphasized the "habit contractors have of taking liberties, somewhat on the periphery of the holy space."
Incredible. The head priest of the Lyons cathedral cannot be "disturbed" during his vacation? A Muslim contractor takes it upon himself to put his own likeness on the cathedral facade? Nobody stops him? They burned Jeanne d'Arc for a lot less.
Bear in mind that the Archbishop of Lyons is the Primate of Gaul. That Muslim builder knew what he was doing. Islam is now "incorporated" on the facade of the cathedral. Why doesn't the Archbishop intervene? Is this perhaps an example of inter-religious dialogue?
Click the Novopress link above for another photo, and visit François Desouche for hundreds of comments (in French, of course) and a video.
I became curious about Father Cacaud. A quick Google search turned up the following assessment of his character. Please take this with caution. I do not know anything about him, except what is in this post, nor am I trying to fault him on issues of which I have no knowledge. Finally, Golias - the website that furnished this information is also totally new to me.
It appears that he is not well-liked in general, and in 2007, when he was appointed to the position of auxiliary bishop of Lyons - the right-hand man of Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyons and Primate of Gaul - there was much consternation:
This 50-year-old member of the (very conservative) "society of the priests of St. Irenaeus", an arrogant and mundane careerist, an unhesitant lover of "good food", fancies himself the authoritarian defender of a very conservative line. In short, a prince of the Church the likes of which the Bishopric had not seen in a long time.
The perspective of his nomination worries and profoundly saddens numerous Catholics, and not only those who align themselves with religious openness.
This man, who is likely to be elected, is viewed as brittle and impervious to the more human aspects of his future ministry. (...)
The author then questions the judgment of Archbishop Barbarin, in imposing on his presbyterium someone he knows is not desirable.
Note: A presbyterium is a college of priests." ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, a demonstration was held today in Paris by a group called Aperatif Republicain, to protest what they term the Islamic offensive in France. About 200 people turned out with French flags and sang French songs. (It is not known if the French singing nun performed "Dominique-a-nique-a nique".) Here is a news video in French:
(hat tip to Gallia)
Also in Paris, this is the reaction from Mona Lisa: (Hat tip to the great Don Martin)
In other news, French President Sarkozy is going ahead with deportations of gypsies in France (which is long overdue). Police raid gypsy camp outside Calais.
So, if you're thinking of going to Europe next year, here's my tip:
"Global Warming, eh? Apparently, Mr. Gore, we didn't get the e-mails."
Roger Gardner of Radarsite (1936-2009)
My blogging mentor
About Me
Gary Fouse
Born in 1945, native of Southern California. Spent 3 years in US Army 1966-68 as military policeman in Erlangen, Germany. 1970-73, US Customs Agent, 1973-1995, DEA Agent. I was stationed in LA, Bangkok, Milan, Italy, Pittsburgh and Washington DC area (DEA Training.) Retired in 1995. Since then, I have been teaching English as a Second Language (since 1998 at the University of Calif at Irvine.)
I have also written 3 books which are: The Languages of the former Soviet republics-their history and development (University Press of America, 2000)
The Story of Papiamentu-a study in slavery and language (UPA-2002) and Erlangen-an American's history of a German town (UPA-2005). In addition, I have published the following articles: Kompa Nanzi and Brer Rabbit-Two Tricksters and Their Fates-Published in Carib Kaleidoscope, 2003.
Slavery and the Development of Papiamentu- published in Journal of Caribbean Literatures, summer 2007.
