Apostasy: Punishable by Death?

At the recent Sharia Workshop at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), I had a brief conversation with Imam Muzammil Siddiqi, head imam of the Islamic Center of Southern California on the topic of apostasy. It revolved around the Freedom Pledge letter that had been sent to him in 2009 by Former Muslims United asking 100 Islamic leaders in the US to sign a pledge that American apostates should not be harmed.

The question of apostasy is a serious issue in Islam. In most of the world, people are free to leave one religion and embrace another. In the US, for example, many Asian immigrants, as they have become assimilated into our society, have become Christians. Similarly, Christians are free to become Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Atheists or whatever. My first cousin converted to Buddhism decades ago and is still a practicing Buddhist. Jews may also convert to Christianity or whatever else they please as did many German Jews in the decades prior to the Nazi takeover in Germany. (It did not save them from the Holocaust since the Nazis regarded them as a race.)

In the case of Islam, apostasy is forbidden and may be punishable by death. This is not some passage buried in the religious texts of a millennium ago and ignored. It still applies, and is part of Sharia law. Some Islamic scholars interpret it differently and require that in addition to the act of leaving the religion, the offender must also have spoken out against the religion-in essence become a traitor.

Nonie Darwish is a well-known Egyptian apostate living in America who publicly speaks out against the religion she left. As a result, there is a fatwa on her head- a clerical-issued order for her death. She heads an organization called Former Muslims United. (FMU) If you go to that website, which is linked on this blog, you can learn about apostasy (click "Apostasy from Islam").

The opinions of several Islamic experts on apostasy are described in Former Muslims United. One is Yusuf al Qaradawy, the Egyptian-born cleric, who is the spiritual head of the Muslim Brotherhood. Qaradawi is a vicious anti-Semitic cleric who has stated that his greatest wish is to die in battle fighting the infidel. He has also stated that the Holocaust was God's punishment against the Jews. Both of those videos  have been posted on this site.

Another Islamic scholar, Maulana Abul Ala Maududi, a prominent Pakistani religious  leader (now deceased) also weighed in on the proper punishment for apostasy and is quoted in FMU. By the way, if you happen to visit the Islamic Center of Orange County, drop in the bookstore where you can purchase some of his works as well as at least one book by his American-born widow, who is now living in Pakistan and who totally rejects Western traditions.

Dr Jamal Badawi of the Fiqh Council of North America, who spoke at the LMU conference I attended, also has written on the subject of apostasy, and you can check out his comments on the aforementioned FMU section (Apostasy from Islam). Dr Badawi, like Imam Siddiqi, was a recipient of FMU Freedom Pledge letter, which he also never signed or answered.

Presently, there is a major public relations campaign being waged by organizations like the Islamic Circle of North America to promote Sharia law in America. They are holding public workshops and town halls to educate non-Muslims as to the benign nature of Sharia. Much of it is, in fact, benign. It is the punishment part for crimes against God (hudud) where the subject of apostasy comes in (as well as death for adultery). Those are where you might direct your questions.

The Osama bin Laden Ads as Discussed on MSNBC

                                          "Chris Matthews, you've got a weak show."


I tell you; these guys at MSNBC must be broadcasting from the White House basement.

Today, I watched Chris Matthews on his Hardball show defending President Obama over the criticism of his killing bin Laden ads. Backing Matthews up were two other liberal guys, Ron Reagan Jr. and David Korn, the latest Obama "biographer". Some Republicans are accusing the president of being opportunistic in using the bin Laden killing for a political ad-you know, the one showing a lonely Obama from the rear gazing out the Oval Office window as the sun sets contemplating the decision that only he could make..... (I am paraphrasing Bill Clinton, who is doing the speaking.) Korn also added that Obama knew if the raid failed, his re-election hopes were over. (I suspect Korn wishes he had not made that statement.)

Here is my take: First of all, I credit Obama for making the right decision, and I congratulate him, his staff, the military who carried it out, and the intelligence that led to the discovery of bin Laden. Killing that ibn sharmota was the correct thing to do. Yes, it is true that bin Laden's death culminated a decade of work by our intelligence, law enforcement and military personnel. If the ad stepped over some taste line, let's let the voters decide.

What grabs me every time about Matthews, however, is how he can accuse his opponents of being or doing exactly what he is doing. In this segment, he showed a clip of Republican Ed Gillespie criticizing the Obama ad and calling it "flakery". Yet, at the same time, Matthews is all over George W. Bush for that "mission accomplished" aircraft carrier bit, and critiquing a Bush ad that talked about the nation's response to 9-11. The whole episode struck me as a one-sided food fight. He even made some reference to basic journalism in attacking the Republicans. "Mr Objective" himself talking about basic journalism!

Of course, Romney is the big target now that he has the nomination sewed up, so the talking heads at MSNBC are all over him 24-7. They showed the clip where he was asked by a reporter if he would have done the same thing Obama did, and his answer was, "Of course. Even Jimmy Carter would have made that decision." So Romney was not criticizing Obama's decision although he did take a shot at Carter. That led to a discussion of Carter's failed rescue mission to Iran to extract the embassy hostages, which resulted in failure when two helicopters collided in the desert and some of our troops were killed.

Enough already! Let's agree that killing bin Laden is a feather in Obama's cap and move on to the other issues that will decide the election.

Waging Jihad in America

Hat tip to Al

The Center for Security Policy has put out a 10-lesson video course on how the Islamists are waging stealth Jihad in America. Frank Gaffney is the narrator. A colleague sent me lesson 2, which is linked below, but you can use this to view all ten lessons. Or you can go to Family Security Matters linked on this blog to access the entire course.

http://muslimbrotherhoodinamerica.com/part-2-the-brotherhoods-civilization-jihad-in-america/

I urge you to take the course, which gives you a clear perspective on the Jihadist strategy. As Gaffney tells us in his introduction, this is not how all Muslims in this country are thinking, but make no mistake; the Muslim Brotherhood has its tentacles here in the US though they claim they have no presence here. It is the leading Islamic organizations like CAIR, ICNA, ISNA and others that pose as mainstream Muslim organizations.

So take the course. It's free.

One New Heart Saving Another Life

I just received word from Hank Dannecker of One New Heart in Israel on the progress of one of their latest patients, Sadel. The news is good.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Dear Friends,

I just returned home from the hospital (10:15 PM) and the news is very good, Sadel is out of the PICU and in the ward.
You can call it what you will, a healing or miracle because the turnaround in this little baby girl is just that!
Also, Sadel's gedi (grandfather) received permission just today and was with her when I arrived at Wolfson Medical center late this afternoon.


What a blessing it was to see them together. I may have the opportunity to pick up her mother and bring her to the hospital if she receives her permission from the IDF.





                              Five days ago.                                                                                                   



As the word says the prayers of the righteous avails much!

Thank you!
-- 

Hank Dannecker Jr.
1 New Heart

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Please check out the One New Heart website on this blog under "Worthy of our support".

Meanwhile, Just Another Day in Nigeria

Speaking of the White House Correspondent's dinner, when do you think the media will wake up to one of the major international news stories (that isn't being reported much)-the killing in Christians in certain parts of the world? As in Nigeria, for example.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/04/29/6-killed-in-attack-on-catholic-worship-service-at-nigeria-university/?test=latestnews

This, of course, is part of the question I posed to a sharia workshop a week or so back at Loyola Marymount University.

http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2012/04/shariah-workshop-at-loyola-marymount.html

"It's a false criteria." (Sherman Jackson)

" There are two problems. First of all, most of these countries are not free countries, and for the past 8 decades, the Western superpowers, including the US, have supported these regimes." (Sayyid Mustafa Al Qazwini)

Of course. Sorry to bring it up.

The White House Correspondents Dinner

       


Last night, I stumbled onto coverage of the White House Correspondents dinner on C-Span just before I passed out for the evening. You would have thought it was the poor man's Oscar night in Washington. Instead of a red carpet, the camera showed the guests coming down a hotel escalator in their evening gowns and tuxedos. Some of the ladies thought they were movie stars as they stopped to pose "provocatively" in front of the cameras.

Actually, there were probably as many actors and actresses as reporters.



If you were lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Andrea Mitchell and her current love interest, Alan Greenspan.


"Hey, Alan! Over here!"


George Clooney was there, preparing for his campaign luncheon with President Obama.

And no correspondents dinner would be complete without publishing magnet A.E. Newman.

Was that Chris Matthews I saw up at the dais with the president?

                                                                 "Let's play hardball."








Yes, indeed. A wonderful time was had by all. Especially the president.

May Day in Pyongyang

News item:

For their annual May Day parade, the North Koreans trotted out their new inter continental ballistic missile recently tested before an international press corps.
                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                             

The "Drug Wars" California 1970s

I seized that plane.


In the early 1970s, I was a young Customs agent assigned to the Terminal Island (San Pedro, California) office and working in the air enforcement group. Our job was interdicting drugs into the US from Mexico from planes, either owned by smugglers or rented from fixed base operators at small commercial airports around Southern California. One of the cases I was assigned as case agent (lead investigator)  involved a pilot who owned a Lockheed Loadstar and used it to fly hundreds of kilos of marijuana per trip out of Mexico. (I don't want to use his name because he may have turned his life around since.) When we were finally able to arrest him based on an arrest warrant, we were able to seize the plane after we located it at an airport in Southern California and found marijuana residue inside. Previously, when the owner was a fugitive, we had followed it in a Customs aircraft as a fellow smuggler flew it from Southern California to New Mexico (where we lost surveillance).  Later, I testified in  a court hearing as the owner was contesting the seizure.

I only learned today that the Loadstar in question was the same plane used in the film, "Casablanca" in the final scene where Ingrid Bergman bids farewell to Humphrey Bogart and leaves Casablanca.

Imagine that. (If only Ingrid had still been in the plane.)

Status of CBS FOIA Request on Fast and Furious:Blank Pages

The twin jerks of deception

Janet Napolitano and Eric Holder
(2010 and 2011 Fousesquawk jerk of the year award winners)

(Actually, you don't even have to redact this because Napolitano has said nothing to Holder since the scandal broke. One would think she would want answers as to how one or two of her agents were killed.)

Congress is not the only ones trying unsuccessfully to get records from the Justice Department on Fast and Furious. So is CBS. They have filed a Freedom of Information Request. In return, they receive blank pages.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-57423389-10391695/governments-answ?tag=contentMain;contentBody


Sheryl Attkisson is the CBS reporter-and one of the few MSM reporters actually trying to get to the bottom of Fast and Furious. She is the one who was yelled at by a White House official last year for her temerity to ask for information.

UC Irvine Week of Anti-Israel Protest Schedule

Hat tip to Orange County Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism

The Muslim Student Union at UCI's week of anti-Israel hysteria is scheduled for May 7-10. The below link, courtesy of the Orange County Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism, has the schedule.

http://octaskforce.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/uci-muslim-student-union-at-it-again-hate-week-2012-2/

I will be adding a longer post on this in the coming days.

Hanna Rosenthal Visits Malmo

Ilmar Reepalu                                                    Hanna Rosenthal ("Play it again, Sam")

                                                      The Perfect Couple


Hat tip to Sweden, Israel and the Jews and the Gatestone Institute

Hannah Rosenthal, who is President Obama's appointee the the State Department on anti-Semitic issues is visiting Malmo, Sweden to discuss the topic with the anti-Semitic mayor, Ilmar Reepalu. Not that this will amount to anything because it is more likely that the two will talk more about Islamophobia than anti-Semitism.


http://swedenisrael.blogspot.com/2012/04/hannah-rosenfeld-soon-winging-her-way.html

Here is the article by Soeren Kern.

http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/3014/hannah-rosenthal-ilmar-reepalu-malmo

Malmo, of course, is Europe's most anti-Semitic city. The Jewish community is quickly disappearing due to the harassment meted out to Jews on the street-not by Swedes, rather by the city's disaffected Arab community, which now makes up some 25% of the population and has made the Rosengard area a "no-go zone". This is the city that hosted a Davis Cup tennis match between Sweden and Israel a couple of years back. Due to threats from the local Arab population, the match had to be played indoors. And all the while, mayor Ilmar Reepalu turns his back and blames the Jews because they don't speak out against Israel-a nation Reepalu despises. Thus, the third largest city in Sweden has become a cesspool of crime, violent protests, and anti-Semitic hate.

When it comes to fighting anti-Semitism, Rosenthal, who came over from the George Soros-funded J Street, is a living, breathing Potemkin Village. She has little regard for Israel and has actually spent much of her time attending anti-Islamophobia conferences. She and Reepalu should get along just fine.

Israeli Soldiers Speak at UC Irvine

Above video created by the protesters (Kinda inspires you, doesn't it?)



On the evening of March 1, two young Israelis, Ranya Fadel and Ran Bar-Yoshafat, who have served in the Israel Defense Force (IDF), continued their US tour of college campuses. Earlier in the week, these two ex-soldiers  spoke at the University of California at Davis and UC Berkeley. Their presentation at UC Davis was disrupted by a handful of pro-Palestinian activists, while their appearance at UC Berkeley was without incident.

On March 1, I attended their presentation at UC Irvine. Surprisingly, given what had happened at UC Davis, no campus police were present. Fortunately, they were not needed.

The appearance at  UC Irvine was sponsored by the UCI College Republicans. Approximately 50 people showed up including over 20 members of the Muslim Student Union and their sympathizers, many of whom were wearing red t-shirts with signs stating that “IDF  has committed war crimes“. While there was no disruption, but the anti-Israel contingent stood up after a few minutes and walked out unwilling to hear what the Israelis had to say.

The two Israelis continued their presentations describing their experiences as IDF soldiers, experiencing first-hand what it is like to be on the front lines of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They stated that they took no pleasure in interrupting their lives to serve in the military, but that they considered it their duty to protect their country.

Ran told of his experience studying in Italy and meeting Lebanese students, who initially refused to have anything to do with him but eventually became friends with him, engaged him in discussions about the conflict, and eventually accepted him as a friend, one even becoming a supporter of Israel. He, of course, could not be identified.

Ranya, a Druze female, told of having served on check points and having detected and intercepted a female suicide bomber.

At a certain point, three of the anti-Israel students came into the room and participated civilly in the question and answer session. They asked questions about the settlers in the West Bank, the Israeli control over naval and air space in relation to Gaza, and what would be a just settlement. There was an honest back and forth on these questions-as there should be.

During the Q and A, I identified myself as a part-time teacher at UCI and asked if they were the same persons who had spoken earlier this week at UC Davis. When they replied in the affirmative, I apologized for the rude treatment they had received at Davis and told them that I was ashamed that this had happened at a UC campus. I also told them that, in my opinion, those who had disrupted them had probably never served their country in uniform and probably never would even think of doing so.

It is unfortunate that most of the opponents of the Israeli point of view are unwilling to even listen to two young Israelis who have experienced the conflict first-hand These two speakers did not speak out of hate and expressed their own personal desires for a peaceful solution. Yet, the overwhelming majority of the anti-Israeli forces chose not to listen.  It seems that the UCI Muslim Student Union has only learned half of the painful lesson from the disruption of the speech by Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren in 2010. While they did not disrupt, they chose to walk out instead of engaging in honest dialogue. Perhaps they realize that they cannot win the debate.

Jewish Voice for "Peace" (Anarchy)

                                                                                        Matan Cohen

Jewish Voice for Peace is a collection of left-wing, pro-Palestinian anarchists, who use disruption to silence those who support Israel. At the same time, they complain that they themselves are silenced, usually through their silly blog, Muzzle Watch. Hat tip to Pro-Israel Bay Bloggers and Engaging Zion for this expose.

http://proisraelbaybloggers.blogspot.com/2012/04/examining-jewish-voice-for-peace-no-ten.html

JVP is the same collection of clowns who disrupted Bibi Netanyahu's speech at New Orleans in November 2010. They call this tactic, "direct action". In addition, three of them cast their shadow at UC Irvine last year sponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine. At that event, in which I was present, Israeli student, activist, and self-proclaimed anarchist Matan Cohen stated that anything pro-Israel was "useless discourse" and that students on campus who were pro-Zionist should not "be able to feel comfortable on campus". When I expressed my indignation that Cohen would come to our country and lecture us on who had or didn't have the right to speak, his hysterical cohort, Rachel Roberts, accused me of trying to take away Cohen's right to speak because he wasn't an American.

http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2011/03/useless-discourse-another-israel-bash.html

Muzzle Watch?

The sub-title of that blog should read, "Free speech for me but not for thee."

Obama Lifts Freeze on 192 Million to Palestinian Authority

"We're here for our payment, so youse don't have any problems."



Forget about that freeze Congress placed on that "protection money" we send to the Palestinian Authority. Obama has lifted it. In his mind, it is "important to the national security interests of the US."

Times of Israel has the story.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-lifts-freeze-on-192-million-aid-package-to-palestinian-authority/

Of course, it is important. Here is why: It is bribe money-or protection money, take your choice. It is so Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas will go through the motions of wanting to negotiate a peace settlement with Israel that will end in a two-state solution, when we all know that Abbas and his cohorts want it all (Israel). It is protection money for the PA to "crack down" on those who would attack and murder Israeli civilians (like the Fogel family). It is hoped that if we continue to send funding, the PA will someday put an end to all those anti-Jewish images that infest their TV shows and newspapers. It is also hoped that with this generous aid, somehow, the Palestinians will like us. And, of course, Obama, like all his predecessors, is hoping to achieve that elusive dream of being the president who finally achieves peace in the Middle East. That requires more bribe money-US taxpayer money.



The truth is that money cannot fix what is wrong in the Middle East.

Another Offensive Display at UC Irvine

Hat tip to Orange County Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism


Photos from My UC Irvine web site






I never can figure out why UC Irvine takes such pride in displaying photos of the Israel Apartheid events that give the school such a black eye every May. Below, via the Orange County Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism, is a posting on My UC Irvine by an anonymous writer. Once again, photos of the hateful events are hung on the wall of a student center.

 http://octaskforce.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/hateful-and-offensive-display-at-uc-irvine-student-center/

Free speech? Absolutely. Here is the problem, however. A lot of people looking at this display may infer that the university is putting its imprimatur on the messages shown. This seems to be a recurring problem on many campuses. A couple of years ago, the UCI outdoor marquee posted an announcement for the MSU events under the title: "Israel-The Politics of Genocide".  The perception was that this was UCI's position on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The same perception exists when a university website contains calls for the "boycott, divest and sanctions" against Israel.







Over the years, UCI has seen some pretty hateful things said at these events. It was at one of these events that imam Mohammed al-Asi stated, "you can take the Jew out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the Jew." Amir Abdel Malik Ali has stated that suicide bombers were not terrorists, but martyrs and heroes. In his last appearance in 2010, he told the Jews in the audience, "You Jews, y'all the new Nazis!"

I don't know the professor who put those photos up, and I am not saying he is anti-Semitic or even anti-Israel. However, in an environment where everyone is worried about offending sensitivities, let's extend that concern to everyone. The latest display in the student center gives the impression, at least to some, that the university is in sympathy with those protests.

Will Boehner Support Contempt Citation Against Holder?

Hat tip Daily Caller

Daily Caller is reporting that Darrell Issa (R-CA) has less than solid support from Speaker John Boehner on the questiuon of holding Eric Holder in contempt for his contiuned refusal to turn over more than 70,000 documents requested by Congress pertaining to the Fast and Furious scandal.

http://dailycaller.com/2012/04/27/issa-boehner-at-odds-over-holding-holder-in-contempt-of-congress/

If Boehner tries to stop this contempt citation, I say it's time for the Republican to find a new speaker.

Truth Comes to Temple University

Nonie Darwish                               Simon Deng

This week, the David Horowitz Freedom Foundation sponsored a speaking appearance by Nonie Darwish, Simon Deng, Pam Geller and Robert Spencer at Temple University in Philadelphia. As expected, they received less than polite treatment-especially from one loudmouth clown who didn't want them to have their say. Frontpage Magazine has posted the video of the event.

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/04/26/nonie-darwish-and-simon-deng-at-freedom-centers-islamic-apartheid-conference/

By the way, Darwish, who is a Muslim apostate and founder of Former Muslims United, was mentioned on this site a few days ago in connection with the Sharia workshop last week at Loyola Marymount University. In 2009, her group sent a letter to 100 top Muslim leaders in the US asking them to sign the Freedom Pledge, that no apostate from Islam in the US should be harmed for leaving the religion. Among those who received the letter and did not sign it were Muzammil Siddiqi, head imam of the Islamic Center of Southern California, who organized the Loyola event. It was at that event that I asked him why he didn't sign it. His answer was that he never received it.

Meet Michelle Obama- Member of the Top 1%

The next time you get one of those e-mails from Michelle Obama-or Barack, or anyone else from the Obama re-election team asking you to chip in three bucks, keep this report in mind.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/26/michelle-obama-spain-vacation-cost-taxpayers-nearly-470g-watchdog-group-claims/?test=latestnews

Keep it in mind the next time you hear Obama or his stooges at MSNBC talk about Mitt Romney's wealth as if he was some sort of out of touch guy with a silver spoon in his mouth. Ask when Romney ever spent half a million dollars of our money to go on vacation.

Speaking of vacations, why is it that Michelle has to fly on a separate plane on those trips to Hawaii? Two planes for Barack and Michelle to fly to Hawaii. Think of the carbon footprint all you  planet-savers.

All this talk about the selfish rich, who don't want to pay their fair share, sort of rings hollow, does it not?

"Uhhhh........yeaaaah."

Al Sharpton Solves that Zimmerman Mystery Voice Question (Through Rodney King)

Rodney King-voice expert


Today on Al Sharpton's MSNBC show, Politics Nation, he broke the case on whose voice we heard on the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin tape. Now we know conclusively that it was Trayvon Martin who was screaming for help in that tape. How did Al do it? Easy. Rodney King is his expert witness.

Yes, that famous forensic voice expert, Rodney King, was on Al's show today, and he stated unequivocally in his expert opinion that it was Trayvon Martin who was screaming for help, not George Zimmerman. And how does Dr. King know? Because he has been in that situation where he thought he was about to die. That's how.

"Help! Help!"

Of course, that leaves out the possibility that maybe it was Zimmerman who thought he was going to die, but far be it for Sharpton to cross-examine King.

The prosecution's case resumes tomorrow on MSNBC.

More Fallout From the Trayvon Martin Shooting

Another assault has been reported on a white person in which one of the assailants stated that it represented "justice for Trayvon" (Martin). Fox News has the report.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/26/suspect-attacked-white-teen-because-am-angry-about-trayvon/#ixzz1t7RoG81j

This is truly disturbing, and I think it is time for someone like Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton to speak out. Of course, thugs come in all colors, and the thugs involved in these incidents do not represernt the black population as a whole.

The problem is that the Martin case has been inflamed by certain black leaders, the media, and, of course, the rhetoric of the New Black Panther Party. Too many irresponsible statements have been made. It has all led to hate crimes-in the truest sense of the word- to be committed in Ohio, Alabama, and now Chicago. And all the while, our Justice Department, under Eric Holder, does nothing. As for the media, these incidents are one-day stories or not reported at all.

Hate is hate, and it is wrong -irregardless of who the victims or perpetrators are.

How Holocaust Remembrance Day is Commemorated at California State University Long Beach

Hat tip to Orange County Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism

It looks like a little sensitivity training is needed for the Muslim Student Association at Cal State Long Beach.

http://octaskforce.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/long-beach-state-muslim-student-association-displays-apartheid-wall-during-holocaust-rememerance/

Of course, no such conversation will ensue on campus because, after all, it's only Jews who are offended, and we don't want to offend the sensitivities of the MSA because that would be 'insensitive", wouldn't it?

"Uhhh.....yeaaaah".


This is the same "wall" that will be making its appearance at UC Irvine come next month accompanied by the same old tired collection of radical speakers who will tell us how terrible Israel is while ignoring all the hate, religious intolerance, murders and assorted carnage occurring in neighboring countries. Don't think that will deter them because they are totally oblivious as to absurd they sound.

The Shorter Saga Continues at UCLA

Previously, I have posted about UCLA Professor David Delgado Shorter, who has put his personal views of the world on a UCLA web-server, in this case, promoting BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanction-Israel). That led to a complaint being sent by letter to UCLA by the AMCHA Initiative. That resulted in a verbal reprimand being given to Shorter.

Apparently, that is not the end of the story. A group calling itself California Scholars for Academic Freedom has written a letter to UCLA complaining about the treatment given to Shorter. Mondoweiss, a liberal blog, has the story.


Here is the response by the AMCHA Initiative:

Dear Dr. Leuchter,

We are aware that you have received a letter from representatives of "California Scholars For Academic Freedom," alleging that you violated the academic freedom of UCLA Professor David Delgado Shorter.  The letter's signatories also impugned our motivation and credibility for writing to you, calling us a "partisan duo" and members of "a biased political group," and they suggested that because of our bias we had no right to ask a question about the appropriateness of a professor using his class website to promote the academic boycott of Israel.

In truth, it is the representatives of the California Scholars For Academic Freedom (CS4AF) whose motivation and credibility must be questioned. 

In their letter to you, CS4AF is described as a group of academics whose primary goal is to protect California scholars from violations of academic freedom.  This is simply not the case.

CS4AF was founded by UCLA Professor Emerita Sondra Hale, a co-signer of the letter to you.  Professor Hale is also the co-founder of the U.S. Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel.  CS4AF's first two official statements, both condemning Israel, were issued on January 3rd and January 18th 2009, respectively.  These statements were signed by Professor Hale and three other California academics, who were also co-founders of the U.S. Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel: Sherna Berger Gluck (CSU Long Beach), Rabab Abdulhadi (SFSU), and Jess Ghannam (UCSF).  In addition, if you look at the homepage of the organization's website -- http://cascholars4academicfreedom.wordpress.com/ -- you will see that the the "Academic and Cultural Boycott Campaign" is the top category of interest.

It is clear that the primary concern of CS4AF is not the protection of academic freedom, but rather the protection of academics like Professor Shorter, who wish to exploit the privilege of academic freedom in order to promote an academic boycott of Israel which, ironically, has itself been declared a violation of academic freedom by the AAUP.

We therefore believe that now, more than ever, it is crucial for you to explicitly state the grounds on which you arrived at your conclusion that "it is not appropriate for a faculty member to post a political petition on which he is a signatory as part of a course resource.”

Moreover, we call on the UCLA Academic Senate, whose committee heads were copied on the letter from the CS4AF representatives and are copied on this letter, to issue a definitive statement answering the question we initially posed to you regarding Professor Shorter's class website:

Is Professor Shorter's promotion of the academic and cultural boycott of Israel on his official UCLA class website protected by the University of California's rules of academic freedom?

We believe this is a question which every tax-paying citizen of the state has a right to ask and have answered by those responsible for upholding the academic integrity of the University of California.

Sincerely,

Leila Beckwith

Professor Emeritus, University of California at Los Angeles
Co-founder the AMCHA Initiative

Tammi Rossman-BenjaminLecturer, University of California at Santa Cruz

Co-founder the AMCHA Initiative

Cc:  UCLA Executive Vice Chancellor Scott Waugh

       UCLA Committee on Privilege and Tenure Chair James Waschek 

       UCLA Grievance Advisory Committee Chair Jill Klessing

       UCLA Academic Senate Committee on Academic  Freedom Chair David Teplow

       University of California President Mark Yudof

       University of California Chancellors

       University of California Regents

       University of California Chief Deputy Counsel David Birnbaum

      UC Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture, and Inclusion (c/o Jesse Bernal)

       California Speaker of the Assembly John A. Perez

       California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson

      California Senator Fran Pavley (UCLA)

       California Senator Ted W. Lieu (UCLA)

  California Senator Curren D. Price, Jr. (UCLA)

       California Assembly Member Holly J. Mitchell (UCLA)

  California Assembly Member Mike Feuer (UCLA)

        Bcc: Members and supporters of the Jewish community

Let me break this down for you, o scholars. If you as a professor use a university web-server to post your views on political issues, you are making it appear that the university is putting its imprimatur on your beliefs. Is it the official position of UCLA that Israel should be the object of a boycott, divest and sanctions?

I also note that the scholars refer to AMCHA as a "partisan organization". Check out the CSAF website and tell me whether they are partisan or not. It is linked on the above AMCHA letter.

Clooney, Matthews, Barack and Me

Here is the latest email I have received from my old pal, Barack.
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Friend --

I'll be going to a special event at George Clooney's house in a few weeks, and two grassroots supporters and their guests will join us.

The only thing we've still got to figure out is whether two spots belong to you and your guest -- or somebody else and theirs.

So let's nail it down: Any donation you make today will automatically enter you and a guest to win.

Once you decide who you're inviting to join you, we'll be all set. The campaign will take care of your airfare and hotel for you.

Please pitch in $3 or whatever you can today, and keep your May 10th clear:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Clooney-and-Me

Hope to see you soon.

Barack
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And for that 3 bucks, if I get my name drawn, I'll be hob-nobbing with all those rich folks who ponied up tens of thousands of dollars to be there for sure.

This is the same campaign that is harping on those rich millionaires who don't want to "pay their fair share". How much do you think it's going to cost the tax-payers for Obama to fly to Clooney's house on Air Force One with all his staff and Secret Service retinue? And this is the same campaign that is making Mitt Romney's wealth a centerpiece of said campaign.

Today, on MSNBC, I watched the ever-pathetic Chris Matthews and his liberal pals blasting away at Romney for his wealth and sense of entitlement, while gushing over Obama's charisma and humble attitude toward being president. Chris shows Obama laughing in Colorado when a college co-ed spills frozen yogurt on this pants as an awkward Romney makes a lame joke in Pittsburgh when handed a cookie. Of course, Chris didn't mention that trip to Marbella, Spain Michelle took. No sense of entitlement she.

And, of course, Matthews et al conveniently overlook Democrat presidents/candidates like John F Kennedy and John Kerry. Kennedy inherited his (built on his father's bootlegging during prohibition), and Kerry married into wealth.

No big deal.

When you get right down to it, Obama is a great campaigner and little else. This is the same guy whose stint as Illinois state senator consisted of voting, "present", whose stint as a US Senator consisted of campaigning for president, and whose stint as president has consisted of playing golf, taking vacations, appearing on late-night comedy shows, and campaigning.

Accomplishments? Once Obama care is overturned (hopefully), what will his record consist of?

Not to worry, however. Whatever it is, Chris Matthews can turn it into a one hour show.



"Chris Matthews, you've got a weak show." 

The Hypocrisy of Hate

Hat tip PJ Media

Abraham Miller has captured the essence of the double standards when it comes to expressions of hate on university campuses. Certain protected groups are, indeed, protected, while other groups are ignored when hate is directed their way. It is not limited to universities, as the Trayvon Martin case has amply demonstrated, but hypocrisy reigns supreme in academia. I will add to this posting later in the day.

http://pjmedia.com/blog/jew-bashing-at-universities-the-new-normal/



Yesterday, while walking on the UC Irvine campus at noon, I passed by a silent demonstration of young folks standing in a circle with signs and tape covering their mouths. They were marking the killings of Armenians by Turks in 1915, which is called the first genocide of the 20th century. I also observed 4 middle-aged men standing around and making comments to each other. One was making cell phone calls. They were speaking a language I couldn't understand.  One of them engaged one of the protesters a moment. I could not hear what was said, but from the facial expresion of the protester, it appeared he was being challenged. The young man shrugged his shoulders. The 4 men then walked over the bridge on away from campus. My impression was they were not affiliated with the university. Meanwhile, a group of 4 adults passed by, probably teachers. One gentleman, who appeared to be Middle Eastern and spoke with an accent., engaged another protester in a brief conversation then walked off with his companions. As they passed by me, I heard him tell the others that the Turkish government "rejects" the idea of a genocide. I did not hear any response fom the others.

So I wonder; is the topic of the Armenian genocide another issue which touches sensitivities on campus? There did not seem to be any surrounding support for the protesters, and if anything, a degree of opposition. Perhaps, this merits further looking into.

Nigel Farage Tells Off the Euro Parliament in Brussels

British politician Nigel Farage, who plays the skunk at the garden party that is the European Parliament, gives them the what for in October 2011. He singles out European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in this classic. Enjoy.

Breaking News! The War on Terror is Over!

Hat tip Weekly Standard

That's what a senior State Department official told the National Journal. "The war on terror is over."

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/war-terror-over_640620.html

"Did you say, 'over'?"

"Ah wunnerful, ah wunnerful, ah"

Meanwhile in Nigeria...

and in Sudan....

and in Iran....

(Gays)

in Egypt....

in Syria.....

in Iraq.....

and Pakistan....

The West Bank

Fogel family

and even in France.....

Toulouse 2012

Did I mention Afghanistan?

and here in America.....

"The war on terror is over."