Posted on 03/30/2003 12:33:09 PM PST by doug from upland
E-MAIL TO PROF. NICHOLAS DEGENOVA, Columbia University Asst. Prof. of Anthropology:
Professor DeGenova, I would appreciate an answer to this communication. I want to briefly introduce you to my son-in-law Josh who is currently serving in the Middle East helping to defend the freedom of the United States. He is 22 years old, and my little girl misses him terribly. It is a great sacrifice for both of them. He is patriotic, dedicated, a hard worker, and has just signed up for another three years.
You have been quoted as recently saying, "I wish for a million Mogadishus." Since I have not heard a retraction, I presume the quote is accurate.
I do not usually take personally the statements of those who oppose the current war. We all have our viewpoint. Josh is proud to defend yours, unless, of course, the viewpoint includes advocating the violent death of Americans.
Let me put in bluntly. Is Josh among those whom you wish dead? Would you take joy in watching his body mutilated and dragged through the streets of Baghdad? If not him, whose sons and daughters do you wish would suffer the fate of the men who were mutilated in Mogadishu?
Professor, you have a short window of opportunity to take back your statement and issue an apology. I hope you will be man enough to do it.
I wish no harm to you and your family as you apparently wish to Josh, my family, and all those serving and their families. What action will be taken should you refuse, I do not yet know, but you have made this personal.
Please do the right thing.
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I don't know where this will go, but it cannot stand. Columbia receives federal government funds. Those funds should cease until he is fired. He has the freedom of speech to say what he wants, but advocating the death of Americans during time of war should have consequences.
Will someone please provide info regarding the university's major donors?
Perhaps NY FReepers might want to FReep him in person.
Letters to the editor certainly need to be written.
Maybe an ad can be placed in the school newspaper that shows bodies being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu.
Perhaps his neighbors and every veteran's organization in the area need to see his words in print on a flyer.
De Genova's hopes for the defeat of the United States were cheered by the crowd of 3,000, according to newspaper reports. But his mention of the Somali ambush -- "I personally would like to see a million Mogadishus" -- was largely met with silence.
A call Friday to De Genova, 35, was answered with a recording that said his voice mailbox was full.
Columbia University on Friday issued a statement that distanced the school from his comments but did not condemn them.
"Assistant Professor Nicholas De Genova was speaking as an individual at a teach-in. He was exercising his right to free speech. His statement does not in any way represent the views of Columbia University."
History professor Eric Foner, who helped organize the teach-in and spoke after De Genova, said Friday: "I disagreed strongly and I said so. If I had known what he was going to say I would have been reluctant to have him speak."
Foner said De Genova was a last-minute invitee, was just one of about 25 speakers and "did not represent the general tone of the event, which was highly educational."
"I thought that was completely uncalled for," Foner was quoted as saying, referring to De Genova's allusion to the Mogadishu ambush and firefight, known for the graphic image of a slain American soldier being dragged through the streets. "We do not desire the deaths of American soldiers."
President Bollinger's statement on omments by Assistant Professor De Genova:
"I am shocked that someone would make such statements. Because of the University's tradition of academic freedom, I normally don't comment about statements made by faculty members. However, this one crosses the line and I really feel the need to say something. I am especially saddened for the families of those whose lives are at risk."
Sadly, I don't see the words dismiss the professor in there.
Between DeGenova's condemnation of patriotism and his call for "fragging"--"I wish," he said, "for a million Mogadishus"--his speech provoked many of the professors who spoke later in the night to assert their disagreement.
Columbia University gets its big money from the federal government. They jeopardize that money if they tolerate discrimination and if they tolerate sexual harassment. It will be interesting to see if their federal money is jeopardized by the statement of a faculty member.
Pressure on the president of the university obviously will occur, but the real pressure points are the Trustees. They are frequently big money, big power 'guys' who absolutely have influence. The names and affilitations of Columbia's trustees are probably on their webpage.
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