[Luis Gonzalez]

"Rivera-Ortiz said a university should never ``quash dissent or unpopular views.''

UM is a private University, old Mohammad should have known better than to mix politics with work, he's not paid to wax on about his political views during working hours.

"...Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech...", Congress didn't, looks like nothing illegal here!

[Luis Gonzalez]

FYI

[MadEagle]

As an American of Romanian descent, I am pleased to inform the Free Republic Forum that "Rahat, " in Romanian, is slang for $h!t.

And I am NOT kidding.

[anniegetyourgun]

``This was discrimination.''

Which is not always a bad thing.

[Vinomori]

UM President Donna Shalala

This guy will be reinstated. Look who is in charge.

[hellinahandcart]

He said he opined that the ``tragic events'' were predictable because U.S. foreign policy in Afghanistan had created anti-American sentiment, and because the United States had previously provided arms and training to the terrorists. He said the United States was not sympathetic enough to the Palestinian cause and was too cozy with Israel.

He, and a whole slew of others, were all ready to go with this spiel even before the dust settled in Lower Manhattan. It's not 100% clear from the article that he mentioned AFGHANISTAN (in terms of U.S. policy creating resentment there) on 9/11 or at some later time, but if he did I find that highly suspicious, and more likely the reason for his dismissal than any "birthday present" remark. He should not only have been fired, but thoroughly questioned.

[VietVet]

Mahamed Rahat has just learned that words have consequeses. Yes, in this country, you have the right to free speech; you also have the right to remain silent. If you give up one to exercise the other, you may well suffer negative consequenses. The law only protencts you from *government* interferring with your right to express yourself, not from other peoples reactions to what you say.

[hellinahandcart]

He said he opined that the ``tragic events'' were predictable because U.S. foreign policy in Afghanistan had created anti-American sentiment, and because the United States had previously provided arms and training to the terrorists. He said the United States was not sympathetic enough to the Palestinian cause and was too cozy with Israel.

He, and a whole slew of others, were all ready to go with this spiel even before the dust settled in Lower Manhattan. It's not 100% clear from the article that he mentioned AFGHANISTAN (in terms of U.S. policy creating resentment there) on 9/11 or at some later time, but if he did I find that highly suspicious, and more likely the reason for his dismissal than any "birthday present" remark. He should not only have been fired, but thoroughly questioned.

[P-Marlowe]

``If the same thing had occurred with someone of a different background, it would have resulted in a different outcome,'' Rahat said Thursday outside his former job site on UM's Jackson Memorial Hospital campus. ``This was discrimination.''

This country could use a little more discrimination like this. It is our failure to exercise discrimination in our immigration policies that led to 911.

[Prodigal Daughter]

This is war. Anyone who sympathizes with the enemy is a traitor. My birthday is in March. What I want for my birthday is for the Saudi students in San Diego who were having an anti-American conversation in Arabic to be deported by then, and the Somali American citizen hero who overheard them told them they should be ashamed, and is facing trumped up charges made up by them, to be exonerated.

[harpseal]

I am in awe of a University actually doing something rational.

Stay well - stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[itsinthebag]

"I am an opinionated person, but for them to fire me because of that, it's too unfair.

. . . and an unemployed person too.

[wideawake]

Firing the socialist from his job because he's an America-hating commie is not a violation of his First Amendment rights!!!

[skeeter]

The America-hating trash are beginning to re-assert themselves, I see.

[Teacup]

Fired! He should be deported or in jail. I'm tired of these folks cheering for Bin laden.

[Willie Green]

UM is a private University,

Actually, Luis, UM is a public (state) university.

Source

But then, you never pay much attention to facts anyway.

[Jarhead_22]

Message to Mullah Rahat: Life is hard. It's harder when you're stupid.

Semper Fidelis

[gatorman]

. . . "Rahat blames not only on his politically charged words, which also criticized U.S. foreign policy, but on his citizenship: Iranian." . . .

Damn . . . where are those military tribunals when you really need them? Why is this bed pan specialist, pig allowed to stay in the US?

DEPORT his sorry a*s, today! Send a crystal clear message to all other Iranians - we no longer tolerate your hateful attitude towards us.

"Watch what anti-American things you say . . . you just may be leaving for Iran today"!

FReeregards . . .

[RightOnline]

Well, they have every right to fire 'im, but I think it's clear that the "birthday present" comment was pure, unadulterated sarcasm. I just don't know 'bout this one, folks.

[paul51]

``If the same thing had occurred with someone of a different background, it would have resulted in a different outcome,''

So what? I wish congress would create a vehicle to change the status of people like this to 'former' resident

[OldFriend]

Context is everything!! And it is clear he was celebrating the attack. BE GONE, AMERICA HATERS........