Boycott Westin Hotel for supporting America-Hating Communists (FReep This Petition)

Petition Online ^ | Sep. 21, 2005 | Anonymous

[indcons]

I am posting this petition on behalf of an acquaintance. Please help if you can. Your support will let Westin know that their tolerence of a vicious America-hating Indian (South Asian) communist will not be tolerated. FYI - this petition is being organized by Indian expat friends of America and American citizens of Indian origin. Thank you for your support in advance.

~ Indcons

[.cnI redruM]

>>>>has repeatedly called America "the biggest evil power on earth"[1] and "the biggest terrorist state."


Like Michael Moore on Slimfast. I hope you make this jerk utterly miserable!

[Phantom Lord]

Is Westin Hotels "hosting" this event, or is an organization PAYING Westin Hotels for a room to host their event in? Big difference.

[Gay State Conservative]

Is this particular hotel independently owned and operated
or is it owned and operated by the parent company?If the former is the case then there's little the parent company
can do to stop such a thing.

[indcons]

I have a good idea it is the latter than the former. Big difference? Maybe....however, I think Westin does not know the antecedents of their "distingusied" guest. I just caled them and informed them very politely about their guest's previous ridiculous history and outrageous statements. In my opinion, this is no different from an terror organization like Hamas holding an event with the help of their front organizations here.

[JimWayne]

Who are the Naxalites? Naxals blast coke plant - While departing, it is learnt, the naxalites raised slogans hailing the PWG and denouncing US imperialists. A paper was pasted to the gate, denouncing US attacks on Afghanistan.

These guys are right. Look at Sandeep Pandey attends Naxalite meet.

I also heard that some of those behind it are supporters of the newly formed U.S.-India League, a right-wing group which is supported by Daniel Pipes, Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch, etc. This is a great opportunity to build bridges with Indians as the target seems to be opposed to both India and USA. I don't see any reason why we should let an anti-American Communist speak in our country!!!

[indcons]

It is associated with the Sheraton group of hotels.

[MineralMan]

Hmm...I doubt that this hotel is "hosting" this thing for free. Rather, I suspect that the group has paid to hold their function at that hotel.

While it's still fine to petition them, it's important to note the difference between a hotel taking money for their services and donating those services to an organization.

Renting your facility to an organization does not imply support for an organization's point of view.

[Vaquero]

So Sheepdip Pandery is to be felated at this event. I say boycott!!!!!

[indcons]

Agreed....I just think Westin is not aware of their guest's history. This may let them know.

[gadgethead]

Can you make the petition available in red?

[Gay State Conservative]

It is associated with the Sheraton group of hotels.

But who owns and runs this particular hotel? It could be a franchised operation,as many major hotel chains do today.

[MineralMan]

"Agreed....I just think Westin is not aware of their guest's history. This may let them know."

That's possible, and Westin would tell you that they are in the business of renting their facilities, not in the business of deciding who should be allowed to speak in this country.

Apparently the person in question is not on any lists which do not allow him entry into the USA. So, I assume he will be here legally, having passed through our screening system.

This type of boycott is worthless, frankly. So few people will be involved with it that Westin will simply ignore the entire thing and take the money for the rental of their facilities.

An active protest is more in order, with people actually showing up and protesting, rather than simply signing some paper. Unless the signers of the petition are in the business of booking facilities for some large organization, Westin will simply shrug and file the petition in a place it will never be seen again.

Sorry, but this sort of thing never works.

[MineralMan]

Here's the press release from the organization that is hosting this event:

---

Tenth Annual ICA Recognition Dinner - 2 October 2005, Santa Clara, CA
Volunteers and Friends of Indians for Collective Action (ICA) are pleased to invite you to the Tenth Annual ICA Recognition Dinner Honoring Dr. Sandeep Pandey

Date: Sunday, October 2, 2005
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Westin Hotel in Santa Clara, 5101 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, California (see directions below)
Admittance: $50 per person (partially tax-deductible, pay at the door or send check payable to ICA to: ICA, 801 West El Camino Real Box # 355, Mountain View, CA 94040-2511)

Please RSVP by September 22, 2005 to any of the following:

Judith and Abhay Bhushan, akbhushan@aol.com, 650-424-8110
Raj Mashruwala, mashru@iitbombay.org 650-325-0691
Geetha and Raju Rajagopal, rajagop@pacbell.net, 510-559-1049
Suresh Gadad, sureshgadad@yahoo.com, 925--736-3459
Bhupen Mehta, bhupenmehta@yahoo.com, 408-446-3982
Nishita Bakshi, nishbakshi@gmail.com, 650-766-6743

About our Honoree, Dr. Sandeep Pandey:

A decade ago Sandeep Pandey quit his job at the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur, and plunged into working for Asha -- an education program for underprivileged children. His years of dedication brought him the Ramon Magsaysay Award-- the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize. At 37, he was the youngest Indian to have been conferred with the award. The award committee's citation, drawing parallels between Pandey and Gandhi himself, ends with these words - "the board of trustees recognizes the empowering example of his commitment to the transformation of India's marginalized poor." It was in the summer of 1991 that Pandey, along with two other friends, founded Asha for Education during his student days at the University of California, Berkeley. Today, the organization has 35 chapters in India, USA and several other countries. Sandeep Pandey devotes his energies entirely to his activist causes, including communal harmony. At the Asha ashram near Lucknow, he has created a learning environment where students live and study among working communities of artisans and learn trades in addition to their R's. The ashram works to overcome caste barriers that dalits face, publicizes official corruption in the local areas, and develops appropriate technologies for the rural region. ICA helped Sandeep start Asha, and has helped sup! port many of his numerous endeavors in India, including his recent India Pakistan Peace March. ICA will be honoring Sandeep at our Annual Recognition Dinner, on 2nd October 2005, Gandhi's Birthday.

Directions to Westin Santa Clara

From 101, take Exit on Great America Parkway going East, Westin is the first right after crossing Tasman (next to the Santa Clara Convention Center).

---

Past Honorees Recognized by ICA:

Dr. Mallika Sarabhai, 2004,
Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, 2002
Dr. S. N. Subba Rao and Mrs Sushma Iyengar, 2001
Dr. Sudarshan & Maitri - 2000
Dr. Parmeshwara Rao and Ms. Manuela Albuquerque-1999
Mrs. Shyamala Hiremath & Dr. P.Kumar Mehta -1998
Mr. Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Dr. Ravi Chopra & Dr. Jyoti Lulla - 1997
Ms. Poonam Goel & Mr. Prabhu Goel-1996
Ms. Jayashree Patil & Mr. Suhas Patil -1995

---

About ICA

For over 40 years/4 decades Indians for Collective Action (ICA) has been a catalyst for social change in India. Working largely through people of Indian origin who now reside in the US, ICA has addressed social, educational environmental issues and has supported innovative community development projects in over 16 states of India. ICA has mentored and spawned such organizations as Asha for Education, and Foundation for Excellence (FFE).

ica@icaonline.org, www.icaonline.org

ICA is a federally tax-exempt organization described in IRS Code Section 501(c). All contributions to ICA are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law. The ICA Federal Tax Identification number is 23-7027461.

[JimWayne]

I just got off the phone with them and told them that it is wrong to label America a terrorist state. I read out the petition 2 times (to 2 different people) and stressed the point that this is not about opposing a different political view, but opposing those who advocate violence.

Looks like it is not a franchise. Time to get into action and freep this petition! I agree signing is not enough, I am glad I kept the phone line busy for 12 minutes! If a few hundred people do this, they will get the message.

Initially, I was also asked if I agree or disagree with the petition and I said I agree with it. From what I understoof, if anyone is a preferred member, it would have more impact.

[BushisTheMan]

To me it doesn't matter.

Westin is not REQUIRED except for $$ to do or not do anything. If they love this country, they will tell this bag of crap "no, not in our backyard."

[discostu]

It is a big difference. I work on a sci-fi convention the only people the hotel knows about more than a week before the convention is the president of the convention the hotel liason and anybody booking a room that asks for the convention rate. Since we actually book the GOH rooms ourselves they generally don't even know who they are until the final walkthrough meeting when we telling the "GOH room 1 goes to this person...". When it comes to events hotel care about two things before hand: room nights, food functions; nothing else matters.

[JimWayne]

I agree with you, but whoever thought up the petition has come up with a wonderful idea. Push Westin on the defensive and get them to cancel the event hosting the anti-American. Forget arguments in favor of and against the petition. We should just give it to them.

[JimWayne]

Well said!

[brushcop]

Other than for business, I can't imagine why anyone would go to these two-bit countries and throw good money at them.