Posted on 11/27/2007 8:30:05 AM PST by Turret Gunner A20
Here is the text of an email that was sent to every student at the University of Florida by the vice president for student affairs. Note, please, the hyphenated name. I don't know about you ... but that hyphen tells me a lot.
Pithy comments to follow:
November 26, 2007
To: All University Students
From: Dr. Patricia Telles-Irvin
Vice President for Student Affairs
Re: Official Response to a recent advertisement for the movie "Obsession"
Throughout our country, we have witnessed a rise in offensive behavior and actions taken against others, which has created greater divisiveness and misunderstandings among the various ethnic groups residing in our communities. One of these events occurred on our campus recently with the promotion of an event.
Advertisements for the movie "Obsession" sponsored by several student organizations appeared during the past several weeks on campus bulletin boards and they illustrate the importance of balancing freedom of speech with responsibilit.
The ads, which promoted a showing of the movie on Nov. 13 and a panel discussion afterward, entitled "Radical Islam Wants You Dead," offended many Muslim students on campus. Regardless of its original intent, the language reinforced a negative stereotype, created unnecessary divisiveness and contributed to a generalization that only furthers the misunderstanding of the religion of Islam.
We cannot speak of rights without also addressing the responsibility associated with our actions or statements, including understanding the potential consequences. One of our roles as a learning institution is to teach our students to express themselves freely, and also in a fair and conscientious manner. In an academic setting, differences of opinions are strongly encouraged, yet such opinions must be based on accurate information when describing other members of the community.
Unfortunately, in the case of the "Obsession" ads, that did not happen. I believe the groups that posted them owe the campus, and particularly campus members of the Islamic faith, an apology and a clarification.
At the University of Florida we have embraced a set of values, one of which is diversity. Diversity is not just about having representation from various cultures on campus, it also is having each member contribute to an inclusive and safe environment and collectively enhancing our understanding and appreciation of the richness brought by such differences. The University of Florida is committed to being an institution of excellence, where all members are valued and feel safe on our campus. Our role as an institution is to create opportunities for students to learn in an open and accepting environment; one that emphasizes respect for all. Let's remember that part of our mission is to prepare each other to be effective members of a global community. With that in mind, I encourage each member of our campus community as a start to learn more about the religion of Islam and some of its tenets of peace, hard work, charity and compassion.
There is little room for divisiveness in our world if we are to find peace and understanding among us. We all can win if we focus on greater inclusion and understanding as well as the delicate balance between our rights and responsibilities.
So, Doctor Telles-Irvin seems to be upset over the "Radical Islam wants you dead" phrase. She says it "offended many Muslim students."
Frankly, Doctor, I don't give a flying you-know-what that many Muslim students were offended. Know what? I'm somewhat offended that radical Muslims call for the death of America and as many Americans as possible with every passing day.
During World War II there were many Germans, Italians and Japanese who wanted as many of us dead as possible. I don't think that there were many Americans who were afraid to make that point because, God help us, it might have offended some Germans, Italians or Japanese.
Tell you what, Dr. Irvin, I'm just a bit offended that Radical Islamists continue to call for death to America and my neighbors without more moderate Muslims making a point of standing up to denounce their brethren. My guess is that there are many students on the Florida campus who would love to see the Muslim students hold a demonstration just once a year protesting the goals and actions of radical Islamists around the world. Has any such demonstration taken place on the Florida campus? I rather doubt it. I'm sure you would let us know if it did.
Another question, Dr. Irvin: Has any Muslim student or group ever written a letter to your office or to the student newspaper condemning radical Islam or Islamic terrorism? Did any Muslim student group hold a protest to object to Muslims shooting school children in the back in Beslan? Did any Muslim student or group hold a rally to protest the execution of fellow Muslims in Afghanistan just because they were daring to teach young Muslim girls? Come on, Dr. Telles-Irvin ... dates and times. Tell us all the wonderful things the University of Florida Muslim students have done to protest and condemn Islamic terrorism and the Islamic "death to America" radicals.
Oh .. I see. You don't have any dates and times? You don't have any records of any such meetings, demonstrations or protests? Well, frankly ... I'm offended by this. I'm offended by the lack of caring for their fellow students on the part of your Muslim student body.
You think that the groups that posted the movie advertisements owe Islamic students an apology? What the hell for? Is it not a fact, just as the poster says, that "Radical Islam" wants us dead? Listen up, lady! They're saying it day after day! The posters didn't say "Muslims want you dead." The reference was specifically to "radical Islam."
OK, I understand that your college major was in education ... but even an education major can understand the difference.
Since you seem to be in a writing mood ... why not take the time to create another one of your wonderful emails. This one you can send to your Muslim students. Tell them that their non-Muslim fellow students are a little concerned that while radical Islamists call for death to them and their families, they aren't hearing anything from the Florida Muslim student body in protest.
Yeah .. let me hold my breath while you get that email out.
And what's with that stupid hyphen?
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Good on ya!
Colonel, USAFR
I remember when honesty and accuracy were important - more so than diversity and inclusion.
Go pound sand, doc!
Seems to me the good doctor is full of something, and it ain’t brains!!!!
Stupid bitches like this will get us all killed.
That she's still a virgin?
She keeps them in a special holy islamic box...
Silly woman means "disagreement" and hides behind trendy code word. Anyone who disagrees is dividing the hive.
She won't know that Muslims do not "embrace" her set of values, until they are at her door demanding she let them take out her daughter to be stoned for showing an ankle or driving a car.
Ahh - just out of curiosity, what am I missing here? What has a hyphenated name got to do with this story or any other?
Just thought I'd better be brought up to date as I am a professional writer/artist and have been using my maiden name hyphenated with married name for decades.
My reason for this was to honor the wonderful grandparents that raised me - and from whom I inherited the "writer/artist genes" =
So what unpardonable sin am I committing? Or is the abhorrence of a hyphenated name political correctness in reverse?
Maybe Dr. Pat missed the part where the radical Islamists basically stated that they want us dead during their many Fatwas and declarations?
The line doesn’t say “all Muslims want us dead,” just the radicals.
That’s the truth, Dr. Pat...and it’s from their own words. It’s too bad that you and your PC ilk are too ignorant to worry about it.
You sir, are what makes FreeRepublic.com so terrific. Kudos to you for stating it so eloquently, but yet, so vehemently.
I doubt that. Go to the link and take a look at her picture (I don't know how to put it up here). With looks like that some enterprising young libertine would change that situation for sure.
Shame that the looks are wasted on such an airhead.
Diversity is not a "value", it's a characteristic. It doesn't surprise me much that someone imbued with decades of campus propaganda would confuse the two. It does not mandate an automatic acceptance of every point of view that comes down the street, especially if that point of view is exclusive of others. Tolerating intolerance is not a "value," it's self-destructive stupidity.
No. It means that she can’t quite make up her mind who she wants to be.
She's a virgin spinster her hyphen is still intact...
Your case about using a hyphenated surname is the exception rather than the rule. What Boortz is getting at here is that the overwhelming preponderance of women academics are radical liberal feminists, usually underscored by the fact that they refuse to adopt their husband's surname in favor of a hyphenated name to express their freedom from supposed domestic oppression, if they are married, that is. Just check out any academic department's gender studies program and you will see hyphens galore.
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