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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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Posted on 10/03/2003 5:41:50 PM PDT by stevejackson
I am perplexed and concerned at the response of many Ohio groups/organizations to netWMD's call to oppose the Palestinian Solidarity Movement's (PSM) planned conference at Ohio State University. In many instances, our calls and emails to various Ohio groups asking for support -- even constructive criticism -- have gone completely unanswered. How can these groups ignore the evidence we've documented for PSM's calls for the "liberation" (destruction) of "historic Palestine" (Israel) "by any means necessary." How can they ignore the evidence for PSM activists rioting last year at Concordia University (see the pictures for yourself), for PSM 2002 conference attendees chanting "Kill the Jews!," for International Solidarity Movement (ISM, umbrella group for PSM) activists' harboring of known terrorists, etc?
Before continuing, let me point out that netWMD has been given support by many people. My Rabbi delivered a stirring sermon on Rosh Hashanah encouraging his congregation to oppose the PSM conference. Some of his sermon's text was based on netWMD information. 548 netWMD users have filled out our Send Emails Opposing PSM Conference at OSU form, generating approximately 8,220 emails to Ohio officials. 7,306 Ohioans have signed an on-line petition calling on Governor Taft to cancel the conference. 858 OSU alumni have signed an on-line petition calling on their university's President Holbrook to cancel the conference. netWMD deeply appreciates this support, yet I'm left with an uncomfortable feeling about how many Ohioans are willing to allow this conference to happen.
Do these PSM/ISM conferences mean that the U.S. is teetering on the edge? No. But how many more college campuses have to suffer these circuses of hate and sometimes violence before people wake up? How many more 911's will it take for people to realize that terrorists are working towards the destruction of Israel and the U.S. here in America's heartland? When Hitler was coming to power in 1930's Germany, how many brushed him off as just a minor crackpot? How many rationalized Stalin's murder of millions because "the ends justify the means?" Isn't it clear what the ISM/PSM really stands for? I guess it is not so clear to some people. Here is an email response I received from a representative of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland:
Dear Andrew,
Thank you for sending your comment through our website. I'm not sure if you happened to see the link about the Palestinian Solidarity Conference issue on our home page. There is a great deal of information on this issue. After a series of discussions that included the OSU Hillel, The Jewish Community Federations of Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, as well as representatives from several other state and national organziations (sic), the decision was that it was not appropriate to attempt to stop this conference. Attached are questions and answers that may help to explain the reasons behind this decision. Your website, War to Mobilize Democracy has some very interesting information. [emphasis added]
Please feel free to contact us anytime if you would like clarification or more information on a particular issue or if you have any further questions about the OSU conference.
Chanting "Kill the Jews!" is merely interesting? The representative attached a list of "questions and answers" rationalizing the decision not to oppose the PSM conference, stating freedom of speech issues as one of the main points:
Attempts to block the conference would not only be unsuccessful but would only serve to draw more attention to the conference and its messages. The Jewish community does not want to be seen as opposing freedom of speech or exercising some kind of power over the university administration. The negative impact of that would likely be worse than the conference itself. The Jewish communities in Berkeley, Detroit and New Jersey, who all have dealt with this conference, took similar positions.
My "questions" are these: 1) Is incitement to violence free speech? 2) Is support for terrorist organizations free speech? 3) Should Ohio taxpayers be funding a platform for an organization engaged in the activities netWMD has documented? My "answers" are "No," "No," and "No."
If anyone has suggesting on how to galvanize Ohioans in opposition to the PSM conference, please feel free to contact me.
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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/sarcasm
I'm SURE they DO!
:-(
I disagree. The riots, fires and block parties occur during spring and never during football season.
GO BUCKS!
Yes that would be something else the football fans could soak in gassoline, stuff in the gas tank filler of cars to help set them on fire with!
Not quite...they're fiddling while the campus burns!
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