Posted on 10/06/2005 3:57:55 PM PDT by Tuba-Dude
Dear OU Students, Faculty, and Staff,
I want to thank you again for your responsible and constructive reaction to the tragic event which occurred last Saturday evening. I appreciate the concern which many of you have expressed for the family and friends of the deceased.
Most of the news media, including our own OU Daily, and most citizens have responded very responsibly. Unfortunately, there are always a few who do not. Among the core beliefs which define us as Americans and which define us as members of the OU family from all backgrounds is a respect for others. We believe that we should not judge others or jump to conclusions about others on the basis of color, race, gender, economic status, or freely exercised religious beliefs. To rush to judge others or make assumptions about them on that basis is nothing short of prejudice. It has no place in America and it certainly has no place at the University of Oklahoma.
Unfortunately, we have seen examples of a rush to react in a manner not in keeping with our values in recent history. A reading of some media reports and comments from individuals made at the time of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City is enlightening. Some quickly rushed to the conclusion that the bomber must have been a Middle Eastern terrorist. There were video shots of international students on Oklahoma campuses shown on news broadcasts as this speculation was reported. As we all now know, the person responsible was not someone from the Middle East but was Timothy McVeigh and at least one other American who assisted him. We can only hope that all of us, including some media outlets, would have learned from that recent rush to incorrect conclusions.
I have been assured that law enforcement officials including federal officers have found no evidence of a conspiracy involving others which creates an ongoing threat to our OU community. They have kept me informed of the steps being taken in their investigation. You can be assured that if I receive any information to the contrary, I will immediately inform you and take steps to protect our community.
In fact, national law enforcement statistics compiled confirm that we have a low per capita crime rate. OU has long been dedicated to the safety of our students.
Thank you again for your help and understanding. Thank you for reaching out to the members of our OU family who have come from nations all over the world to let them know that they are valued and respected on this campus.
Rushing to judgments on the basis of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity, is not the OU or American way.
Sincerely,
David L. Boren OU President
Rush to judgment? WTF? This happened five nights ago. Not earlier today or yesterday.
For a university president he sure doesn't seem to have much respect for the intelligence of the students or the public.
yup, just Tim McVeigh and one other American, Terry Nichols... and don't go bringing up all that time he spent in the Phillipeans with Abu Saayef, you wingnuts. And that whole Jayna Davis thing, well that's now been totaly disproven... or not... it doesn't matter, we're not talking about it anymore, that's final.
And so what if the guy was a member of the same mosque as Zach Mousai, that doesn't mean anything. Just one disturbed individual, acting alone, not in concert with his Pakistani room mate with the ticket to Algeria. What, you're going to try to say this has something to do with islam? If college has taught us anything, it's that dusky hued people from America hating nations are our greatest strength.
Owl_Eagle(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
What if the rest of the country had been privilege to the facts that the locals, to a degree, and even the facts that we FReepers have been able to dig up?
It's just STUNNING how little attention this is getting. I first heard some details Saturday night. Sunday I looked around and actually decided it must be a hoax due to the lack of coverage. Thanks to some posts here, I've seen the local news coverage and know most of the details.
However, in just talking with the folks around the office here (in Philadelphia), even the better informed of them haven't heard about this at all! I send links to the local news, because that's about as convincing that it actually occurred as you'll find, and they're just amazed at the lack of coverage, or outright cover up.
No rational person could dismiss this as just a local story.
Owl_Eagle(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
Nothing to see here, nothing at all, just move on...
GRRRRRR...
Un-freaking believable crap.
I spit on it.
Boren certainly rushed to the judgement that this incident was merely an unusual method suicide but nothing more.
ping
Stupid PC shite!!
>>If college has taught us anything, it's that dusky hued people from America hating nations are our greatest strength. <<
LOL
David Boren, OU president:
A reading of some media reports and comments from individuals made at the time of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City is enlightening. Some quickly rushed to the conclusion that the bomber must have been a Middle Eastern terrorist. There were video shots of international students on Oklahoma campuses shown on news broadcasts as this speculation was reported. As we all now know, the person responsible was not someone from the Middle East but was Timothy McVeigh and at least one other American who assisted him. We can only hope that all of us, including some media outlets, would have learned from that recent rush to incorrect conclusions.
Just thought I'd let you know....lol
''Rushing to judgments on the basis of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity, is not the OU or American way. ''
But MEDIA BLACKOUTS are the American way
I do believe Boren has 'ostrich syndrome'.
Has he read ANYTHING relating to the Murrah Building bombing? Middle Eastern types were reported as involved because it was true.
What happened to my post? It was rather astute.
Don't have time to repost.
Owl,
This thread needs some screen time here on FR. I don't know how to ask the Moderator to do this? Do you, can you?
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