The Most Hated Professor in America (barf alert)

Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required) | 4/18/03 | Thomas Bartlett

[babyface00]

Thank you for pointing out my error.

I've had the wrong definition of that word in my head for my entire life.

I wonder how many other words in my vocabulary mean something other than I think they do...I suppose it depends on what the meaning of is is.

[Rockitz]

Obviously, they won't go after him for this foot-in-mouth spaz, but we all know that will weigh heavily behind closed doors when the political machine of academia is commiserating on his viability at the university.

[RJL]

Q. Your comment about wishing for "a million Mogadishus" has attracted the most attention.
A. I was referring to what Mogadishu symbolizes politically. The U.S. invasion of Somalia was humiliated in an excruciating way by the Somali people. And Mogadishu was the premier symbol of that. What I was really emphasizing in the larger context of my comments was the question of Vietnam and that historical lesson... . What I was intent to emphasize was that the importance of Vietnam is that it was a defeat for the U.S. war machine and a victory for the cause of human self-determination.

So, If I were to say that I hope assistant professor Mr. De Genova, his family and all the hate America first protesters die a slow and painful death, I would really be “symbolizing politically” my support for the liberation of Iraq and “really emphasizing in the larger context” my support of America and my “intent to emphasize was that the importance of” America and its military might to the world as a champion “of human self-determination”.

/sarcasm

In addition to his many other failings, Mr. De Genova is a poor liar.

[ILBBACH]

Chacun a son gout. In any case, 'better' is an inadequate word to compare two very differently brilliant composers. And I've no doubt we could find plenty of FReepers who would claim JS Bach far surpasses both.

Merde! Well, I may not have convinced you with my overwhelming statement - but hopefully, by the time I'm done with them, my music appreciation students will agree with me! Although I'll just be glad if they can tell the difference between Bach and the Beatles! ;-)

[NYCVirago]

Leave it to a virulent anti-American marxist POS too blame a journalist rather than his idiotic, offensive, and traitorous comments.

Yep, and the reporter lets him get away with it, too. From the professor's description of this tabloid, you'd think he was talking about the New York Post. But it was Newsday, which is the most liberal of all New York tabloids.

[mrustow]

Q. If that's the case, then didn't you play right into their hands?

A. I think that it's healthy to generate debate and controversy if there is the possibility of clarifying positions, elucidating and elaborating positions in order to provoke more critical thinking?

Q. So you would argue that your comments have been healthy and helpful?

A. There is an impulse to jingoistic, patriotic hysteria during wartime that will seek to discredit the antiwar movement. And that is to be expected. Those of us in the antiwar movement need to confront the really concerted power, money, and resources that have been devoted to trying to narrow the range of possible speech. The real discussion of the substantive issues that I raised has yet to begin and is long overdue. In that sense, I don't think that there's any conclusive way to judge what the effect has been at this point, either for the antiwar movement or for the forces that would be invested in silencing us.

This guy is as dishonest as he is vicious. he's not mad that he was "quoted out of context"; he's mad because he was properly quoted, and thought he'd be protected by being covered only by friendly, far-left journalists and editors. DeGenova is part opf a movement that for years has silenced professors who disagreed with them.

[mrustow]

You make an excellent point, which I missed, in spite of having read and copied the original, Newsday article. I also thought he was talking about the New York Post. This guy lies like a junkie!

[demosthenes the elder]

more like "reaming"
send DeGenova to a Turkish maximum security prison and be done with him.

[Krafty123]

Schubert beats both.

[FierceDraka]

Although I would not bother or even be inclined to do so, it would seem that an old-fashioned, NYC-style ass-beating would be a far more economical and effective approach to the "problem" of an arrogant, socialist bastard who delight in yelling "Fire!!" in a crowded theater.

Or maybe dumping a 55-gallon drun of Indiana whoop-ass on his pointy little head!

Of course, I would neve, ever, EVER consider actually doing anything like that. I'd send him off to to Cuba, so he can revel in the good life in a REAL socialist workers' paradise.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

If he is the most hated professor in America, why is he still employed?

[tracer]

Your reference to "Indiana whoop-ass" sparked a twinge of nostalgia. I grew up (matter of opinion) in Indiana -- "Da Reejun" ("The Calumet Region," or Northwest Indiana, for all you "foreigners"), to be exact..........

[tracer]

"Turkish maximum security prison." Isn't that stretching things a bit?? 8~)

[demosthenes the elder]

In DeGenova's case, do you wish to place bets?

[tracer]

Ugh!! Good point.....