Posted on 10/16/2008 8:31:10 AM PDT by sdk7x7
For Graduate School of Education professor Kathy Schultz, the allegations being leveled against University of Illinois at Chicago education professor Bill Ayers are "charges of McCarthysim."
That's what caused her to join the more than 3,200 people - including eight others affiliated with Penn - in signing a recent national petition in support of Ayers.
The education professor is currently under attack from Republican nominee John McCain's campaign for his connection to a group called the Weather Underground that conducted several bombings in the 1970s as part of the anti-Vietnam War movement.
Recently, there has been a spate of blog and newspaper articles linking Ayers to Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate. These efforts are seen by many as "increasing acts of desperation," by the McCain campaign to impugn Obama, said Schultz.
The petition calls the attacks on Ayers misrepresentative of his actions and an assassination of his character that threaten educational organizations as spaces of "open inquiry and debate" and "free thought."
"Bill Ayers has a history of being a really great radical activist who did a lot to push issues of equity and justice in this country," said Graduate School of Education student and signer of the petition Sonia Rosen. "I really hate to see him maligned in the media."
Ayers and Obama lived within a few blocks of each other in Chicago for several years. Both worked on education reform in the state of Illinois and were members of the board of the Woods Fund of Chicago, an anti-poverty group.
Ayers also contributed $200 to Obama's re-election campaign to the Illinois State Senate in April 2001.
Much of the controversy surrounding Ayers since 2000 stems from an interview he gave to The New York Times that was published on Sept. 11, 2001.
The reporter quoted him as saying, "I don't regret setting bombs" and "I feel we didn't do enough," regarding his involvement with the Weather Underground.
Although in recent years Ayers has made it clear that he was speaking only in reference to his efforts to stop the Vietnam War, many have tried to connect Ayers' statements and 9/11 - charges many say are unwarranted.
In light of the recent criticism, the Obama campaign has been trying to "distance themselves," from Ayers, said Ph.D. candidate at the Annenberg School of Communication and petition signer Dan Berger.
"It's ridiculous because some of the most important changes in this country have come out of organized resistance," said Rosen, adding that Obama himself started out as a community organizer.
However, some see Obama's response as normal for a political figure in his position.
"I think he's just doing what most public figures do when a negative event comes out," said Berger, although he called the allegations "really disgusting attacks."
While Rosen does not think the petition will have "a concrete effect" on the campaign or the media, she said it will help "to alter the public discourse," and offer an "opposing or contradictory view than what the media represents."
"[The attacks] serve as warnings that anyone who voices perspectives and advances questions that challenge orthodoxy and political power may become a target," the petition states. "This, then, casts a chill over free speech and inquiry and the spirit of democracy."
Apparently “character assassination” is worse than REAL ASSASSINATION!!!
Two useful sites for our college students:
NoIndoctrination.org
neverfindout.org
A petition to defend Ayers? some people are just to stupid for words. Maybe the Homeland security boys could get hold of it to check for all the terrorists in America?
I kindly signed up Hugh Jazz and Heywood Jablome.
In a sane world, every single one of them would be barred from any future contact with the educational system.
Wow ... a “national” petition with 3,200 names in a nation with 300 million. We can call it the petition of the insignificant but whining.
Not surprising. Karl Marx is considered a great educator from some books I’ve read on educational philosophy.
Not sure if Mickey Mouse or the Dallas Cowboys have signed up yet, HINT HINT.
charges of McCarthyism?
Ayers is a communist and proud of it! That ain’t a “charge” anymore, it’s a resume booster!
Mr A.Corn reporting for duty comrade!!!!
It speaks volumes about the levels of indoctrination, and ignorance of history in our country to hear McCarthyism still used as a pejorative. History has largely vindicated Joe McCarthy.
History has proven McCarthy was right.
Ayers' history proves the charges against him are right.
Oh Kathy. Noöne has charged Bill Ayres with "McCarthyism". You may consider the allegations themselves to be examples of "McCarthyism", but it's you who are charging those making the allegations with McCarthyism, not the other way around
Hope this helps
tertiary education has created a large population of people, ... who have been educated far beyond their capacity to undertake analytical thought. - Peter Medawar
Congressman Billybob
Latest article, "Whatever Is True and Honest...."
The Declaration, the Constitution, parts of the Federalist, and America's Owner's Manual, here.
HA HA, I signed it Karl Marx, University of USSR!! LOL Hey at least he was a real person unlike Mickey and Minnie. this could be fun. Let’s start signing it with wacked out names!
“Bill Ayers has a history of being a really great radical activist who did a lot to push issues of equity and justice in this country,” said Graduate School of Education student and signer of the petition Sonia Rosen. “I really hate to see him maligned in the media.”
This girl is sure wasting her money on a college “education.” I want to throw up when I think what is being drummed into the heads of college students nowadays.
“I kindly signed up Hugh Jazz and Heywood Jablome.”
Oh, that’s GOOD!
Pear-shaped men, all in corduroy sportscoats with elbow patches, and broad-shouldered women sporting male sexual apparatus `covey-up’, then hunker down in helmet defilade and bravely display their white-painted bottoms to the world in yet another stunning display of academic uniformity .
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