University of Hawaii Professors Launch Aggressive Fundraising Effort to sponsor Churchill as speaker

Hawaii Reporter ^ | Feb. 17, 2005 | Malia Zimmerman

[FairOpinion]

University of Hawaii Professors Launch Aggressive Fundraising Effort to Sponsor Highly Controversial, Anti-American Speaker

Ward Churchill, Who Says 9-11 Victims are Not 'Innocent' and Terrorists are 'Combat Teams,' Being Invited to Main Manoa Campus; Not All Professors, Students are Pleased

University of Hawaii professors have organized an aggressive fundraising effort to bring Ward Churchill, a highly controversial professor based at the University of Colorado and activist in the American Indian Movement, to lecture at the University’s Manoa Campus, according to an internal memo obtained by Hawaii Reporter.

Churchill, who prides himself on publishing inflammatory anti-American propaganda, came into the national spotlight in recent weeks for his declaration in a recently published essay that the victims killed and injured in the 9-11 attack on America were not "innocent."

In Churchill’s essay "Some People Push Back; On the Justice of Roosting Chickens," he writes: "True enough, they were civilians of a sort. But innocent? Gimme a break. They formed a technocratic corps at the very heart of America's global financial empire – the 'mighty engine of profit' to which the military dimension of U.S. policy has always been enslaved – and they did so both willingly and knowingly. Recourse to "ignorance" – a derivative, after all, of the word "ignore" – counts as less than an excuse among this relatively well-educated elite. To the extent that any of them were unaware of the costs and consequences to others of what they were involved in – and in many cases excelling at – it was because of their absolute refusal to see. More likely, it was because they were too busy braying, incessantly and self-importantly, into their cell phones, arranging power lunches and stock transactions, each of which translated, conveniently out of sight, mind and smelling distance, into the starved and rotting flesh of infants. If there was a better, more effective, or in fact any other way of visiting some penalty befitting their participation upon the little Eichmanns inhabiting the sterile sanctuary of the twin towers, I'd really be interested in hearing about it."

Churchill writes "terrorists" who slammed their planes into the World Trade Center killing 3,000 Americans, are not in fact terrorists, rather they are "combat teams." He claims Americans got what they deserved when Americans were murdered on American soil because America has killed 500,000 Iraqi children. He says the attacks on Sept. 11 were "a natural and inevitable consequence of what happens as a result of business as usual in the United States. Wake up."

See the full essay at: http://cryptome.org/ward-churchill.htm

Many of the families of victims in the 9-11 terrorist attack on America said his comments were hurtful. Matt Coppo, a sophomore whose father died in the World Trade Center attacks, told the mainland media: "His views are completely hurtful to the families of 3,000 people."

Jon Goldberg-Hiller, Ph.D., the chair of the University of Hawaii Political Science Department, says in a memo obtained by Hawaii Reporter that he is sure there will be controversy over Churchill’s visit.

Hiller says Churchill’s visit is being coordinated by "a number of his friends and colleagues across the university," and he asks the Department to help sponsor the speech by funding Churchill’s honorarium.

"As I am certain that Churchill's visit will provoke some community controversy, I am also certain that we will share some of this attention because of this donation. Whether you support Churchill or not, I do hope, when questioned, that you will speak to the issues of academic fairness, protection for controversial ideas and conservative attempts to limit the scope of political speech, indigenous rights, and identity politics that put this particular controversy in its broader context."

Hiller could not be reached for further comment.

University of Hawaii Political Science Professor Kate Zhou says she is upset that Churchill has received so much support from the University of Hawaii, when much more qualified and well respected academics and authors have been snubbed. Last year, Zhou says, she attempted to get a prominent Washington Post writer and Pulitzer Prize winner to Hawaii, but the faculty did not support this speaker, or many others who could share with students their valuable experiences. Many students also are upset about Churchill’s visit, Zhou says.

[John Valentine]

I'm not interested in debating you.

You can say all you want from now until you are 118, I'd never want you wait until you are 28 or any other age, but until you start marshalling your arguments with more clarity and precision, and butress them with organized facts, you are not going to be taken too seriously.

Nothing against you, just a hard fact of life.

Mind you, I probably agree with 99% of your opinions and I don't want to discourage you from stating them. I only want to encourage you to do so with a bit more care and control.

[John Valentine]

And what about the rest of NY?

By the way, what is the signifigance of the reference to NY? I'm not sure of your intent with this remark.

[xone]

I meant the troll.

[LauraleeBraswell]

That is a good point, I suppose Ward Churchill is exactly what we needed. His remarks were so outrageous they were bound to draw attention.

When "regular folk" like us shuddered at his statements and demanded he be removed, when a student whose father died in 9/11 lead the outcry... What happened, the elitist University system embraced him further.

8/9 out of every 10 professors is a Democrat.
The University system has been an indoctrination ground for the left. But the first step to solving a problem is admitting there is a problem.

Although Ward Churchill is in some warped way I suppose entitled to bash the US, he is not entitled to a job. Was Rush Limbaugh entitled to a job when he was on network television? (and Rush was also pulling in some of the highest ratings). No, Rush was not entitled to a job or a time slot.

Sometimes it takes a Fanatic.
It drew attention to an issue that was ignored by mainstream media. The issue is, That there are professors preaching anti America. And they can speak this way in the comfort of Tenure and behind the US constitution.

[LauraleeBraswell]

I tried to point out, that Ward Churchill and some of the leftist elite he will find at the University of Hawaii will find common ground. It is a Leftist socialist agenda to blame all problems on a scapegoat.

The reason I brought up the video my sister was shown in her class, even though it was about the Caribbean, was because of the similar theme. The video was shown by a socialist professor of hers. It showed the natives of some Caribbean Island burning their crops because of deflation. The video blamed this problem on "the white man" who conquered the Islands.

Natives of any place are an easy group to victimize. Their history has been plagued with oppression. But the fact is, that that oppression no longer exists.

And so when we went to actually visit an island, and spoke to a native, my sister found out it was the local independent governments fault. It was corrupt.

Ward Churchill epitomizes the problem with the Leftist socialist Agenda as well many factions within societies. He sees a problem, or creates a problem within a community (in this case the Cherokee community) and looks to blame a scapegoat.
But the problems of the past no longer exist. And who he seeks to blame is not at fault. All socialist fascist, Nazi uprising sought out a scapegoat. In our modern time that scapegoat is "the white man."

[mrs tiggywinkle]

From my post 114:

A heartfelt suggestion from Tiggy:

Be very specific in your posts. Contradiction doesn't encourage others to believe your posted beliefs. Sarcasm, no matter what context, should be labled as such. Back-peddling should be erased from your habits.

In a number of threads you've expressed your desire to learn, yet you seemingly come across as defensive, arrogant and non-teachable. Not *all* threads...but some.

In some thread subjects you come across as quite learned. This further complicates the issue of believability when it is not coupled with consistency.

...I didn't see where you responded to these comments, yet you said you did. Could you please direct me to your response post? Thank you.

[LauraleeBraswell]

Alright I was much more specific in post 145.

I see a pattern with the leftist agenda in their efforts to blame "the white man". And I feel Ward Churchill will be quite comfortable among his ilk in Hawaii.

[LauraleeBraswell]

I appreciate your suggestions and I took them to heart. I will be much more specific with my posts in the future.

[LauraleeBraswell]

""In some thread subjects you come across as quite learned. This further complicates the issue of believability when it is not coupled with consistency.""

I actually find that comment very descriptive of my personality. I suppose those who know me personally know that I am of all extremes.

[LauraleeBraswell]

I would very much appreciate your opinion of post 145. This is the broad point I was scrambling to get at.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

** I actually find that comment very descriptive of my personality. I suppose those who know me personally know that I am of all extremes.**

And quite possibly therein lies the difficulty some of us are having in learning just where you stand. Various positions have been taken on issues and it leaves us to wonder, speculate, assume, and question. Determining a stance on an issue, and sticking to it, will further help in your personal outlook as well as how others perceive you.

[GodBlessUSA]

I read this thread and I just want to add something and then I'm leaving it alone. I Freep mailed you once. I indicated that I had read some of you posts and they were intelligent and some I agreed with. However, I asked you how come some threads you seem to have so much insight on a particular subject and on others you claim you just don’t know better? I was hoping to be able to give you the benefit of the doubt. You are young and maybe misrepresented yourself. You chose not to answer my questions and that is your perogative.

Your posts have been questioned because you contradict yourself, ignore some poster’s valid questions regarding a comment you made, you do not clarify your position or you make statements that are not a part of the subject being discussed.

Contradicting and being extreme have two different definitions. Two examples of this off the top my head is on your original thread about NY, you stated you never watch tv. so you wouldn't know better. I read on several threads your objection to movies or television shows that you have seen recently. On the other thread, you had claimed you never go anywhere and that is why you didn't know better. Then elsewhere, you write places you have been. On some threads you have insight on other countries. If your sincerity about not knowing about the rest of the country had been real, how can you have a deep comprehension of other countries traditions and lifestyles?

It is too bad that you had that thread in question pulled because if you re-read it in it’s entirety, I think you would understand why there are questions. All this makes it very confusing as to where you really stand.

Please don’t confuse the questions from posters with a personal attack. It was you who called me the idiot, when you were unable to respond to my conclusions and questions. I never followed up on your attack. Conclusions drawn and some reservations about you stem from your comments.

[pointsal]

Ward will probably be introduced by the under-employed John Kerry....

Both fellas now known for being real fast with their tongues.

[GodBlessUSA]

Example of personal attack right in this thread.

[LauraleeBraswell]

You nitpick at my words. In general I do not watch Television. I do occasionally, and I have in the past.

[LauraleeBraswell]

After gaining incite, yes I will change my position on some issues.

[GodBlessUSA]

Did you take the opportunity to read my entire post? It wasn't one occasion that I saw the same contradiction. One extreme to the other. I never watch tv how would I know. That show on the WB or that movie.... I'd go back for more examples but I don't have the time today. Nitpicking, I don't agree. Take care and good luck to you.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

Laura - you have many positions on issues. And yet you will change your position again. John Kerry does that. You shouldn't. That's one of the difficulties we have with you.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good morning!

[LauraleeBraswell]

Alright,

I rarely watch television.

and when I do it is the news and or documentaries.

I watch Television when I babysit. I cannot tell you what shows are on the WB as of now. I don't watch it.