Posted on 12/24/2004 7:06:26 AM PST by SJackson
University of Haifa - Division of Public Affairs & Information [Translated by IMRA]
District Court: Rejects Petition - Christmas Tree [Undated]
The University of Haifa welcomes the decision of the District Court to reject the petition of a group of students who wanted to dictate how holidays were marked on the campus. The court accepted the position of the University that the decision to place a Christmas tree in the area of the Dean of Students was proper and passed all tests of the protection of free expression. In addition, the court did not recognize the committee of Arab students as the representative of all the Arab students on campus. The court ruled that the petitioners are obligated to try and advance their interests via the Student Association that is the only body representing the general student population before the authorities.
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LOL - I think with Arab students protesting Christmas trees in Israel, things have officially gone 'Round the Bend!
What's even funnier is that it appears the University of Haifa offers more guarantee of the US First Amendment than many of our own colleges.
Colleges, cities, schools ... who needs the 1st Amendment, right? Doesn't that have something to do with guns, anyhow? (/s)
Yes, but the issue could be settled in most of our colleges if the administation/student body had the kind of intestinal fortitude exhibited in Israel. Its not the rights, its the determination to use them that keeps us free. They know that in Israel, we think we get them for nothing here, and we don't.
It looks like the secular Israeli courts and Israeli universities have more respect for Christmas that most "courts" and "universities" in the USA. Maybe because in Israel, the students at Israeli universities go to get a real education, instead of being trouble-making and obnoxious trouble-makers and worse like too many "students" in the USA.
It seems that "secular" Israel has greater respect for the Judeo-Christian values and traditions than much of the United States.
:-).
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