'Hate fest' at school riles Jews (Canada)

TORONTO SUN ^ | 01/27/2005 | JASON BOTCHFORD

[Ashamed Canadian]

THE UNIVERSITY of Toronto is refusing to stop an event Jewish community leaders are calling a "hate fest." Just the title of the event, "Israeli Apartheid Week," has members of the Jewish community fuming and fearful it will help usher in a "new era of anti-Semitism."

The university is allowing the event, organized by the Arab Students Collective, to be held on its campus beginning Monday.

The list of topics include the apartheid wall, labour apartheid in Israel, and solidarity with workers under apartheid. The topics and speakers have incensed the Jewish community who say they are one-sided.

'BUILDING BLOCK'

"This amounts to a group of people gathering on a street corner holding up signs that say 'honk if you hate,' " said Anita Bromberg, human rights co-ordinator for B'Nai Brith. "This isn't something that stays on campus. This amounts to a hate fest and it's a building block for a new era of anti-Semitism that is only going to escalate."

David Farrar, the university's deputy provost, said the school, which is not sponsoring the event, is proud to host events that take on controversial issues.

"The very fact the Arab Student Coalition exists speaks to the central value of freedom of speech," he said. "We're very proud of our capacity for our students to hold events that discuss difficult and painful topics."

Bromberg said the school just doesn't get it. "By using the facility there's certainly an endorsement by the university that's being perceived by the community that this tone is acceptable."

[Ashamed Canadian]

You know what? I read this on the way to work this morning and I just don't know what to say. I just shake my head at this. Comparing the situation to Apartheid?? Complaining about the security fence? Um, hello people, maybe if you Palestinians stopped suicide bombing civilians then there would be no need. I can't believe this is going on at this University, my country has truly gone insane!!!

[marty60]

This is just the tip of the iceberg that is floating around the world. Unless people wake up and speak up it is going to get ALOT worse.

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

Did you happen to see the CBC (Shameful) documentary about the American right and FOX news last night???

It is so vile that I am not surprised what this University does....Damn...

You know, If Israel was not there, those people would exterminate each other.

[Ashamed Canadian]

No, thankfully I didn't see the CBC, I try not to watch because they seem to have the same anti-Jewish, anti-American agenda as the rest of the world.

I'm wondering, are we in 2005 North America or 1938 Germany, it's getting harder to tell.

[Steve_Seattle]

David Farrar is yet another academic administration coward; Hitler would have loved him.

[popdonnelly]

The left wing has been trying to sell this line that the situation in that part of the World constitutes apartheid. Nice public relations ploy, but it won't wash. The whining leftists should try something else.

[Ashamed Canadian]

The problem is the whining leftists are in cahoots with the Arab/Muslim world in trying to sell this lie.

[Logophile]

Would the university allow the Jewish students to organize an "Israel Week" to present the truth?

[Ashamed Canadian]

Good question. I used to attend this crap school. It was hardcore leftist back then, especially the political science and the history departments. I mean, really hardcore marxist. I was probably one of the first group of students to recieve the completely revisionist, pc groupthink whitewashed versions of Canadian and American history when I attended the school.

Lucky for me I had a brain of my own and didn't get completely brainwashed by their bullsh*t. I'll admit, it took a few years for me after finishing school to undue all that crap, but I was finally able to recognise truth through everyone's agendas.

I wonder what the reaction would be if there were an Israel week. My guess is there would be some unwelcome gate-crashers.

[Alouette]

Would the university allow the Jewish students to organize an "Israel Week" to present the truth?

They don't seem capable of presenting the truth

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

No, they didn't let Natanyahu speak at Concordia...Violence was initiated ... Free speech is shouted only when it applies to them...

[Logophile]

I wonder what the reaction would be if there were an Israel week. My guess is there would be some unwelcome gate-crashers.

Perhaps. And that would be one of the reasons the university might give for not allowing a pro-Israel presentation. But if friends of Israel are not allowed to answer her enemies, the hypocrisy of the university administration will be exposed for all to see. That is a good thing.

[malakhi]

Just imagine them having an "Islamic Fascism Week", or a "Saudi Oppression Week".

[dennisw]

Like many universities, this one is a cesspit of infantile leftism and anti Semitism. Muslims just got off the banana boat, are are overjoyed to strut their stuff, proclaim their anti Semitism in a nation they had nothing to do with founding and building.

Jews are long time residents in Canada and have participated in the making of modern of Canada.

[wildehunt]

a very good question..

I can hear the reply now, "The Jews have controlled the mediums of expression for too long and others now have the floor"..

[wildehunt]

Mordechai Richler wrote wonderful tales of the Jewish experience in Canada..

[Logophile]

Just imagine them having an "Islamic Fascism Week", or a "Saudi Oppression Week".

Now you're thinking. Leftists are infamous for this sort of thing, but they do not know how to respond when their own tactics are used against them.

Our side is too often on the defensive. We must reverse that, and go on the offensive. Our purpose is not to convince the Marxists and their fellow travelers that they are wrong—they are beyond convincing—but to show to the rest of the world exactly what they are.

Of course, no one should be surprised if the university administration disallows such presentations from our side. (The Left can dish it out, but they can't take it.) But, as I wrote before, that exposes their hypocrisy.

[SweetPilotofCanuckistan]

This is just the beginning...Keep in mind Mein Kampf was written 10 years before Hitler came to power...and anti-semitism festered for years before he was elected too.

I'm not saying Jews are going to be hauled away in cattle cars, but the amount of anti-semitism is certainly on the rise. I had a Chinese guy yesterday tell me to "Go away, we don't want you f'in Jews here anyway" after I confronted him about always parking in our Synagogue's lot, when he has 2 spaces of his own further down. He nearly beat me up, a little Jewish girl - if it hadn't been for 2 workers that were working around the corner that intervened. He had his fist raised to my head.

I count my blessings that I live 5 minutes from the US border, because I know the US will protect me from anti-semitism. Paul Martin would slit my throat if it meant he got the Muslim vote. I don't trust Canada to take a stand, at all. They sure don't have much of a track record.

Everyone remember what the sacred cow of multiculturalism really does. It means we allow everyone from every cesspool in the world to come here and continue their hatred under the guise of "free speech."

Most Canadian universities, and I'm generalizing, but they wouldn't be anywhere without private Jewish donors. If you walk around the schools in BC, all the buildings are named after local Jewish families. If they're promoting hatred, we should be cutting them off.

[Convert from ECUSA]

A very disturbing situation in Canada! Ping!

Ashamed Canadian shows by his/her comments that there is still the heart and spirit of the real Canada, the Canada that showed such courage in WW 2. Bravo to you from Virginia!