Posted on 09/11/2002 10:21:35 AM PDT by NorCoGOP
BERKELEY, Calif. -- Some University of California-Berkeley students planning Wednesday's Sept. 11 memorial continue to receive hate messages -- a result of their widely publicized statements against distributing red, white and blue ribbons.
Students began receiving hate e-mails and phone calls after a conservative campus publication, The California Patriot, ran an online article on the decision made by the event's planning committee not to hand out red, white and blue ribbons during the memorial.
Some students received more than 200 hate e-mails each -- many containing racial slurs -- over the issue.
"You're nothing but an anti-American hate monger," said an anonymous e-mail sent to Graduate Assembly President Jessica Quindel. "You offend and disgust me and other veterans of this great country."
ASUC President Jesse Gabriel and members of his office said they also received hate messages.
Students who received hate messages said they have been unfairly singled out and added the messages have taken away from the memorial's importance.
"The controversy has detracted from the idea of grieving the loss of life," Quindel said. "We're trying to include all voices and are being outcast and seen as wrong, which goes against American ideals. I think that shows the irony of trying to be patriotic."
California Patriot writers said in a statement released Monday that they intended for their article to ignite a reaction but did not mean for it to result in hate messages or harm to those involved in planning the memorial.
"It's important to remember we shouldn't let (the students' decision) translate into vicious telephone and/or e-mail attacks directed towards those who wanted to keep red, white and blue out," the statement said.
Sources quoted in the California Patriot's article, who wished to remain anonymous, said it misrepresented their views and included factually incorrect information.
But editors of the publication said they presented all material accurately in the article.
"It's a question of (them) lying or us (lying) and we have the notation to back it up," said Seth Norman, managing editor of the California Patriot.
Steve Sexton, the writer of the article and former news editor of The Daily Californian, declined to comment on the allegations.
Some UC Berkeley faculty members said the controversy has been blown out of proportion.
"It's really sort of surprising how big an issue this has become," said political science professor Henry Brady. "(The hate mail) shows the depth and concerns and fears that some people have and it's a shame that they've come out in this way."
Last Thursday UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Berdahl overruled the white-ribbon decision and allowed the use of ribbons that bear the colors of the U.S. flag. In a joint meeting the next day, organizers said they plan to distribute various colors of ribbons, including white.
"I deeply resent the implication that by planning this service in this way, we are unpatriotic," said Berdahl at a press conference Thursday. "We believe it is a disservice to those who died to allow this memorial to become a political rally of any kind."
Reporter: The article (in the student journal, The California Patriot) suggests that things like the Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America and the flag just might be banned by the University.
Berdahl: That's absolutely absurd. We sing the Star Spangled Banner frequently on this campus, before every football game, before every basketball game. The banning of the flag is an absurd comment as well. There's no suggestion of that. There's no thought of that.
Reporter: What do you think of the ASUC (the campus's student government) decision last night to use white ribbons in place of red, white and blue ribbons?
Berdahl: I'm told that was a financial decision because the white ribbons were cheaper. We told them well, if that's the problem we'll pay for red, white and blue ribbons. We'll have red, white and blue ribbons.
Reporter: Jessica Quindel (the president of the graduate student organization) said the white ribbons were going to be (used) because red, white and blue ribbons could offend someone.
Berdahl: I don't think that's the case at all. It doesn't offend anyone, as far as I'm concerned, and we're paying for red, white and blue ribbons.
Reporter: So there will be red, white and blue ribbons …
Berdahl: Yes. Yes.
Reporter: Will there be, during the half-hour, will there be a Pledge of Allegiance, will there be a school-sponsored Pledge of Allegiance or Star Spangled Banner?
Berdahl: I don't think that the final planning of that event is in place as yet, and so I can't tell you exactly what's going to be there. I want that part of the program to be thoughtful, to be meditative, to be reflective, to honor those who died. There will be music and there will be some statements … I will speak, as well as the student leaders organizing this event.
Reporter: If red, white and blue ribbons have already been distributed, why does Jessie Gabriel, ASUC President, and Jessica Quindel of the Graduate Assembly state that only white ribbons …
Berdahl: I really don't know, but we've been in touch with Jessie Gabriel about this and there are going to be red, white and blue ribbons. That's all.
Reporter: Are you concerned about the idea of offending anyone?
Berdahl: About the idea of offending anyone? With a memorial service?
Reporter: No, no, with red, white and blue ribbons.
Berdahl: No. No. As I said, we have flags hanging on this campus, one right outside this building. We sing the Star Spangled Banner. This is not an unpatriotic campus.
Report: Do you see that there's become a concern raised by Jessica Quindel in saying that the red, white and blue ribbons would cause a concern?
Berdahl: Why would they cause a concern? I don't know. She can speak for herself. She doesn't speak for the University. I speak for the university.
Jessica Quindel
School of Education, Masters and Credential in Science or Math Education (MACSME)
ga_president@uclink.berkeley.edu
510.643.0602
SMACK!!!
I love that statement!
Boy: they showed us this sept. 11 tribute movie today
Boy: it had yassar arafat in it, being portrayed as a nice guy
Homer: No WAy!
Homer: really?
Boy: it showed him giving blood
Boy: with a big smile on his face
Boy: yeah
Homer: He is a baby killing terrorist
Homer: where did you see the film
Boy: at school
Homer: classroom?
Boy: yeah, it was broadcasted to all tv's
Homer: school broadcast?
Boy: yes
Homer: in what ways was he portrayed?
Boy: he was in the section of the movie where it showed the political figures against terror
Homer: was he just mentioned and they showed him giving blood?
Boy: yeah, and then in a caption below it, it said "Yassar Arafat Giving Blood"
Homer: Wow. Sorry that you have to go to a Public School.
Ben: then they told us to sit down and think of how we can make the world a more peaceful place
Homer: Peace is a good goal to shoot towards, but lying about people's motives is'nt the way to acheive it.
Homer: That was propaganda that you watched.
Homer: From a left wing educational group, no doubt
You read my thoughts, why didn't the highjackers do some real good and hit berkley or Hollyweird.
I'm working on it.
She doesn't speak for the University. I speak for the university.
And the Lorax speaks for the trees.
I see once again that the taliban missed it's mark. Too bad, here is hoping that they get it right next time and take out Berkeley. Perhaps during a big anti-America peace march with transparent ribbons. Cheers Low OiL
It was bound to happen...hate haters.
Let me guess: she's either studying to become a teacher, in which case she will soon be polluting the minds of our children; or she's studying to become a laywer, in which case she'll be suing us all for our convictions.
She's studying to be a teacher. Get your children out of public school, NOW! Jessica Quindel is a little Marxist from her youth. I found this little nugget about her trip to Cuba...
WARNING: BARF ALERT
SOURCE: Shepherd Express - Volume 19, Issue 12, March 19, 1998
Milwaukee Teens Reach Out to Cuba
BY STEVE WATROUS
Jessica Quindel grew up in a political family but it took a trip far from home, to Cuba, to find her own place in politics.
"I've become a lot more active, and not just on Cuba stuff," the teen declared. "I read the paper more, I'm more involved in the community, I'm more interested in social change in Milwaukee." Quindel would like to visit the island nation again and take a new crew of Milwaukee young people.
She and many Milwaukee high school and college students went to Cuba last summer for the 14th World Festival. Some also did volunteer work, an experience Quindel missed and wants to do this time.
If the United Youth Expedition's fundraising efforts are successful, Quindel expects 10-15 of them will go in July for two activities. During the Venceremos Brigade segment, they will do things like paint houses and plant trees. They'll also live with families while attending the U.S.-Cuba Solidarity Conference.
"I wanted to start with a small group but all these people were interested," Quindel said. They're an urban, diverse bunch, mostly in the Milwaukee Public Schools and UWM, and few have traveled much. "I think it's important that different kinds of people go. We're trying to bring people who aren't upper class and can understand why it's important to study socialism."
But don't her Gen X classmates think this talk about Cuba and socialism odd?
"People don't understand how progressive MPS students are," Quindel explained. "We had a philosophy class and discussed Marxism. Many of them like the idea after they study it." [empahsis added - FoL]
"Their first response is `Cuba, why Cuba?' But then when they read about it they are inquisitive and accepting," Quindel said. They are especially impressed to hear that education is free through the college level, she added.
Jessica is 18 and a senior at Riverside High School. Her father is County Supervisor Roger Quindel and her mother, Barbara, is a labor lawyer.
One of Jessica's teachers asked if it wouldn't help more to do volunteer work in the U.S. instead of going abroad. Quindel's response: "It affects those people who go. Our whole outlook on life changes." From her experience and reading, Quindel believes the system works fairly well in Cuba. She saw little racism or sexism and noted that health care is free. [emphasis added - FoL]
This trip, however, is expensive: about $1,000 per person. The group has been learning how to fundraise with help from Cuba travel veteran John Gilman. They've sent a fundraising letter and may hold a rummage sale or sell candy. Quindel hopes they can raise at least $300 per person, although some need it more than others.
UWM freshman Mark Ledesma, another Expedition organizer, stressed the fundraising because "most of us are students and don't have full-time jobs." He wants potential contributors to know that they aren't going to a resort or five-star hotel.
Ledesma has never been out of the U.S. and admits that visiting the tropics is a draw for him, but not the only one. "We're excited about travel to a place that is forbidden by our government. It's only 90 miles away but is an entirely different world."
He thinks U.S. government restrictions on traveling to Cuba are indefensible. "The U.S. won't throw high school and college students in jail," he said with youthful confidence.
"I'm fascinated about seeing another kind of government and learning why our government can't get along with it," Ledesma said. He might even try to change that policy, he said.
Ledesma also experienced initial skepticism from classmates about this venture. "Cuba sets off red lights for people, but when I explain the trip they warm up to the idea." He sees the whole thing as a mission of good will.
On March 24, Jessica Quindel will describe her experiences at Cuba's World Festival last year. The event is part of the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee lecture series called "Milwaukee Reaches Out to the World." Quindel and two other young people are speaking from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1342 N. Astor St. The $6 admission includes a soup buffet. Call 276-9050 for reservations.
I told you she was a marxist. No big surprise. Thanks for the post. No wonder she chose Berkley as her college. Maybe she ought to go to Cuba and ask Castro to build her a Berkley type college over there?
jquindel@uclink.berkeley.edu
should work, too. finger results on uclink.berkeley.edu: Login name: jquindel In real life: Jessica Quindel
Login name: jesse18 In real life: Jesse Samuel Gabriel
Login name: hazewong In real life: Hazel Erin Wong
Here is a little something from the WSJ-Best of the Web, I think that it describes our critics very well.
Sept. 11 did wake America up. "The real effect of Sept. 11 is that American patience and tolerance for its global critics, most of whom do rather well out of America's benign hegemony, seems just about exhausted," writes United Press International's Martin Walker. Or, as Victor Davis Hanson puts it:
"As the months progressed the problems inherent in 'the European way' became all too apparent: pretentious utopian manifestos in lieu of military resoluteness, abstract moralizing to excuse dereliction of concrete ethical responsibility, and constant American ankle-biting even as Europe lives in a make-believe Shire while we keep back the forces of Mordor from its picturesque borders, with only a few brave Frodos and Bilbos tagging along. Nothing has proved more sobering to Americans than the skepticism of these blinkered European hobbits after September 11."
Thats a hate email? I guess in their minds, 'that dress makes you look fat' is hate speech.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.