Posted on 02/02/2005 11:04:57 AM PST by NorCoGOP
State lawmakers on Wednesday denounced comments by a University of Colorado professor who compared victims of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks to Nazis, saying his remarks were "evil and inflammatory."
The House unanimously approved a resolution saying remarks by professor Ward Churchill in a three-year-old essay had struck "an evil and inflammatory blow against America's healing process."
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, also proclaimed support for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"I want to make sure this body stands firm in support of the victims of 9-11," Harvey said.
Churchill's essay and follow-up book, "On the Justice of Roosting Chickens: Reflections on the Consequences of U.S. Imperial Arrogance and Criminality," attracted little attention until his planned appearance Thursday at Hamilton College in New York state triggered protests.
The college canceled the appearance this week, citing death threats against Churchill and school officials. Churchill resigned Monday as chairman of CU's Ethnic Studies Department but retained his job as a professor.
He did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Wednesday.
In a statement released Tuesday, Churchill said was not defending the Sept. 11 attacks, "but simply pointing out that if U.S. foreign policy results in massive death and destruction abroad, we cannot feign innocence when some of that destruction is returned."
Some lawmakers on Wednesday called for the Legislature to cut funding for the Ethnic Studies Department, saying Churchill has a right to free speech but taxpayers do not have to subsidize his views.
"Maybe if his funding goes away, he will as well," said Rep. Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs.
The university's Board of Regents plans to meet Thursday to discuss Churchill's status.
The Colorado chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is not involved in the case because no official action has been taken against Churchill, legal director Mark Silverstein said.
"Certainly the First Amendment protects his ability to write freely and speak freely, especially when the writing in question occurred outside his classroom duty," Silverstein said.
WHEREAS, The tragedy of September 11, 2001, marked one of the darkest days in American history; and
WHEREAS, The terrorist attacks cost more than 3,000 innocent people their lives; and
WHEREAS, The pain of the families who lost loved ones in the September 11, 2001, attacks is immeasurable; and
WHEREAS, The healing process for those who lost a family member in the September 11, 2001, attacks is still ongoing; and
WHEREAS, It is important for the people of Colorado to aid in and support that healing process; and
WHEREAS, Professor Ward L. Churchill's essay, "Some People Push Back: On the Justice of Roosting Chickens" related to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, strikes an evil and inflammatory blow against America's healing process; and
WHEREAS, Professor Churchill's essay contains a number of statements and contentions that are deplorable and do not reflect the values of the people of the State of Colorado; and
WHEREAS, Professor Churchill's essay, which claims that the victims at the World Trade Center were not innocent, states, "As for those in the World Trade Center, ... well, really, let's get a grip here, shall we? True enough, they were civilians of a sort. But Innocent, Gimme a break." And Professor Churchill goes on to compare the innocent victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks to Adolph Eichmann, the man who executed Hitler's plan to exterminate the Jews during World War II; and
WHEREAS, The sentiment of these statements strikes at the hearts of those who lost a loved one in the World Trade Center attack; and
WHEREAS, The victims at the World Trade Center were innocent in every sense of the word and should always be remembered as innocent victims of an unprovoked attack on America; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:
(1) That the General Assembly expresses its heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the September 11, 2001, tragedy and their families; and
(2) That the General Assembly commemorates the lives lost during the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to University of Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman, the University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor's office, the University of Colorado Board of Regents, and University of Colorado at Boulder Department of Ethics Chairman Ward L. Churchill.
Ethnic Studies, I believe.
WHEREAS, Ward L. Churchill is a flaming, evil psychopath of the most loathsome and dangerous sort, we move to cancel his membership in the human race and faculty parking space.
Wouldn't surprise me if the bufoon was the "ethics" chair.
Personally, I hope he keeps his job and continues spewing his vile, verbal diahrehha. This would help continue the implosion of the Left as more and more people hear what is truly in the hearts of these people. The only people who would come to his aide are like minded people. Everyone else would want to keep their distance.
Seconded.
Who's stopping the bastard from speaking?
This kind of bastard loves the attention, negative or otherwise.
I was waiting for the CO legislature to take issue with the academic turd that is Ward Churchill.
"Maybe if his funding goes away, he will as well," said Rep. Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs."
Defund these left wing lunatic professors across the nation, and they will just fade away!
Wasn't in the public eye.
The silence from the Left is deafening.
Where's the "Free Speech" crowd on this?
Couple of questions:
1) Why dont they go ahead and defund all these so-called Ethnic Studies departments? They seem to be little more than a haven for people who hate this country and I dont want my tax dollars, through federal educational loans and grants to students, to pay for this kind of traitorus bile.
2) Would my kicking this guys keister if I ever meet him be considered a form of free speech (like burning the flag on the part of idiots) and if so, wouldnt it be protected by the Constitution as free speech?
3) Has the legislature ever heard of the term 'run on sentence'?
A day late and a dollar short, I would say.
Wouldn't that be hate speech? Doesn't Colorado have laws against hate speech?
I think it is time everyone gets a pass on free speech. Time to give Trent Lott, the late Strom Thurmund, this guy and anyone else who says something stupid.
The exception are people who are, have been, or aspire to power like POTUS, or other positions.
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