Defeat Troops, Professor Says(Freep Alert)

Newsday ^ | 3/28/03 | Ron Howell

[Sparky760]

Defeat Troops, Professor Says Wants 'a million Mogadishus' By Ron Howell STAFF WRITER March 28, 2003 At an anti-war "teach-in" this week, a Columbia University professor called for the defeat of American forces in Iraq and said he would like to see "a million Mogadishus" - a reference to the Somali city where American soldiers were ambushed, with 18 killed, in 1993. "The only true heroes are those who find ways that help defeat the U.S. military," Nicholas De Genova, an assistant professor of anthropology and Latino studies at Columbia University, told the audience at Low Library Wednesday night. "I personally would like to see a million Mogadishus." De Genova was referring to the Mogadishu ambush and firefight, known for its graphic image of a slain American soldier being dragged through the streets. The battle was portrayed in the film "Black Hawk Down." The crowd was largely silent at De Genova's remark. They loudly applauded him later when he said, "If we really [believe] that this war is criminal ... then we have to believe in the victory of the Iraqi people and the defeat of the U.S. war machine." At least two of the speakers who followed De Genova distanced themselves from his comments. One of them was teach-in organizer Eric Foner, a history professor, who disagreed with De Genova's assertion that Americans who called themselves "patriots" also were white supremacists. In a telephone interview yesterday, Foner went further in his criticism, calling De Genova's statements "idiotic." "I thought that was completely uncalled for," Foner said. "We do not desire the deaths of American soldiers." Foner said that because of the university's tradition of freedom of speech, it was unlikely De Genova would suffer professionally in any way because of what he said. "A person's politics have no impact on their employment status here, whether they are promoted, whether they are fired or whether they get tenure," Foner said. De Genova did not want to discuss yesterday whether he had tenure. Acknowledging his beliefs are more radical than those of many others at Wednesday's forum, he said his remarks reflect his concern for oppressed people. While he did not retract his statements, he said he hoped they do not lead to "death threats," like those he received after a controversial speech at a pro-Palestinian rally last spring. Regarding Wednesday's reference to Mogadishu, the professor, who is 35 and from Chicago, said the U.S. Army is composed largely of men and women who have a "treacherous lack of prospects for a decent life," but even so, they "have a choice" in whether to oppress people like the Iraqis. He said the Iraqis must liberate themselves from domestic oppressors as well as from foreign invaders like the United States. More than 3,000 students and faculty attended the Wednesday teach-in, which lasted from 6 p.m. until about midnight and featured more than two dozen professors and other scholars. The applause at De Genova's call for the defeat of U.S.-led forces in Iraq reflected widespread frustration at the inability to reverse President George W. Bush's Middle East policies, Foner said. "A kind of flamboyant statement like that will get an applause in the heat of the moment," the history professor said. By turns, the speakers Wednesday night said the Bush administration's actions in Iraq were bullying, illegal, deceitful, corrupt and murderous. History professor Barbara J. Fields said like-minded Americans should vigorously oppose Bush. "The 'good Germans' of the Nazi era were the few who said, 'No,'" Fields declared. Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.

[RAT Patrol]

Foner said that because of the university's tradition of freedom of speech, it was unlikely De Genova would suffer professionally in any way because of what he said.

"A person's politics have no impact on their employment status here, whether they are promoted, whether they are fired or whether they get tenure," Foner said.

Politics? Calling for death to Americans is a little beyond politics isn't it. Bot, oh gee, we wouldn't want to be intolerant of anyone.

[LurkedLongEnough]

ping

[kb2614]

Ah yes, you just gotta love Ive League education.

[RAT Patrol]

You crack me up with that picture in post 55.

[craig_eddy]

Nah, they probably just changed his addy...

[TonyWojo]

Actually I just got off the phone with the President's Office at Columbia, The school will be issuing a statement within a half hour. They have been inundated with phone calls. That bastard needs to lose his job.

[Tax Government]

Are public tax dollars in any way supporting this person? Of course. It's way, way past time to pull the plug.

[TonyWojo]

By the way the phone number is 212-854-9970

[AAABEST]

CATaction!

I'm calling now.

[AAABEST]

LMAO!!!!!!!! Again!

[Marysecretary]

You got that right!

[Marysecretary]

I e-mailed him.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Yeah. Protesting is one thing (bad enough) but hoping for the deaths of our troops should be exile material. I wish I could meet him and his boss have a few beers and chat about current events then beat both of them within inches of their pitiful little deaths.

I'll go on record, "I hope someone near him beats him to a pulp, I only wish it could be me".

[YoungKentuckyConservative]

Not at Columbia University, the college originally founded by communist kicked out of Germany. Never! (*SARCASM*)

[RAT Patrol]

I guess if wishing death on other Americans is just another political opinion then he's a great place to start.

[1 spark]

I just emailed O'Reilly.

[Sparky760]

As usual I am not disappointed in the passion of Freepers. I posted this before I left for work this morning because I was so angry and I was even late due to the effort of finding it online. posting etc. Now that I am home and viewing the response I know it was worth it. Not to mention, I feel better knowing you guys did a great job of getting the info on here to contact the appropriate people. Now if we can just get O'Reilly on this case. This to me crosses the line of free speech into the realm of treason.

[jjm2111]

Mr. De Genova:

Normally, I take the time to politely disagree with people who share a different political viewpoint than my own. All Americans have First Amendment rights and should be encouraged to state their views.

However, I am left speechless by your pathetic and disgusting and remarks concerning the U.S. Armed forces. Wishing death upon U.S. soldiers simply because you do not agree the policy of the nation's elected leaders is the mark of a craven coward. You do not have the honor nor the soul to polish the boots of any member of the Armed Services. By your words, if I get called to active service, you want me to die? That wouldn't be a threat, would it?

I'm not wasting any more words on a sniveling, useless, waste of human flesh such as yourself.

With the utmost contempt,

jjm2111
Lieutenant, USNR

P.S. I'd offer you to attempt to 'Mogadishu' me mano a mano but I know that won't happen.

----I also titled the subject line "What a great speech!" so the jerk actually opens it before he deletes it.

[Marysecretary]

I really am ashamed at the way college professors profess their hatred of our President, our cabinet members and our troops. Not one word when Clinton was bombing aspirin factories and screwing young women though! Just a little bias perhaps? I have grown to despise the left SO much. We have a lot of them here at my school, too. I like them as people, I hate their views. It's important to separate the two at times. I have my door covered with pictures of soldiers, of Bush and co., of Columbia pics. So different from what's on everybody else's door. I don't care anymore. Sometimes you just have to speak out.

[A Navy Vet]

WTF?