Posted on 09/19/2006 3:15:45 PM PDT by madprof98
Frank Lindh, the father of a man now serving 20 years in prison for aiding Taliban forces, will speak to CU-Boulder students on matters of human and constitutional rights Tuesday, Sept. 19 at Museum Collections W100 at 7:30 p.m.
John Walker Lindh was apprehended November of 2001, and on Feb. 5, 2002 he faced 10 charges, including conspiracy to murder Americans. As part of a plea-bargain deal, John pled guilty to possession of weapons and serving the Taliban army. As a result, all other charges were dropped.
John is currently serving a sentence of 20 years without the possibility of parole in a medium-security prison in Victorville, Calif. where he is forbidden to speak Arabic.
Ryan O'Meallie of the Muslim Student Association said this is a clear violation of John's rights due to the fact that part of the Islamic religion entails speaking Arabic.
It's another case of American injustice, O'Meallie said.
According to O'Meallie, John joined the Taliban prior to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when he became involved in Afghanistan's ongoing civil strife - not in any plots or actions against Americans.
Brian Smith, a member of the College Republicans at CU, doesn't see it that way.
He committed treason against this country, Smith said.
Smith continued by praising people like Mike Coffman - a man he sees as being the quintessential American. Coffman, the Colorado State Treasurer running for Secretary of State, chose to temporarily step down from his position to serve in Iraq. While there, Coffman helped with the election process and worked to help establish local governments.
The perspective Coffman took from Iraq, Smith said, is that for the most part the people of Iraq and Afghanistan want American help in being liberated.
John is part of a movement, an Islamic fascist union They want everyone to submit to this facet of Islam, Smith said.
Preconceptions aside, O'Meallie hopes people of all backgrounds and political orientation will come to Frank's lecture, which will include a half-hour question-and-answer session.
We encourage anybody and everybody to come out, O'Meallie said. [It's good] to let other people speak and to listen to what is said.
O'Meallie said that dialogue between Frank and students is central to understanding not only Islam, but also human rights and how bias in the media and in American society may inhibit those rights.
He's very innocent of all these things they accused him of, O'Meallie said. The issue is just basic justice His rights are being abused. He's being treated as a criminal when clearly he is not.
Smith wants people to keep in mind the price of war, especially the large number of Iraqi civilians that are being killed as a result of sectarian violence.
It's a war against civilization, Smith said.
As of yet, the College Republicans have made no plans to protest Frank's talk.
I think there are people that are going to be upset that someone is speaking at CU in favor of someone that's clearly against America. People just don't like the fact of someone attacking their country, Smith said.
Contact Kate Johnson in regard to this story at (303) 443-6272, ext. 113, or at editor@coloradodaily.com.
I've never understood why people who are in prison for murder, theft, etc -- which violate the rules of every religion I've ever heard of as well as the secular law -- get to selectively insist that they must be "accomodated" in whichever other rules of their religion that they selectively pick and choose to follow.
Nope. Much better where he is. Kill him when he gets out, if he survives.
Frank Lindh plannin on makin some money on the college tour?
Move him to a woman's prison and let him try to put them all in burkas.
Has Mike Spann's dad been invited to give a rebuttal?
Let's hope he finds a nice 300 lb boyfriend in prison.
Well gee whiz! How wonderful is this? Perhaps when Johnny gets out on good behavior any time now, he could run for office on the democrat ticket!
Lindh is a traitor and O'Meallie is a would be traitor. Someday, he will probably stab his country in the back. As the war with his IslamiNazi friends gets worse, he will one day be forced to choose sides. As a good "Moderate Muslim" he will most likely stand with his fellow Muslims in the Muslim Nation. Judging by his sympathy for Lindh, that is the only nation he is loyal to.
So Francine has given up his spot at the bus station glory hole in favor of law school, eh?
Ryan O'Meallie of the Muslim Student Association
Just the kind of useful idiot the muzzies want for their "lily whites". If they ever talk a kid named Ryan to go shaheed...
He should have died anonymously on the battlefield.
You said it first.
'the two columbine twits' didn't practice the TROP.
The sorry sob should have been killed where he was found.
He should consider himself extremely lucky to get 20 years.
he should be a burnt offering to the dead...
If there is anything to the saying, "Like father, like son" he will enjoy it.
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