Outrage at Duke

Chuck Muth's "News and Views" newsletter | 01/17/2003 | Chuck Muth

[Adder]

Excellent: Would be interesting to see if you get a response and what it says. Hope you'll share it.

[Lee'sGhost]

"This seems more like a UNC-type speaker, doesn't it?"

LOL! OK, while I understand the sentiment, Duke is actually even more lib than UNC. It's just that there are less of them and it's a private school.

[Gritty]

BTTT

[bert]

Hey CD.....

I recently visited Chapel Hill and as I exited I 40 on 15-501, i could feel the chill as I entered the depths of the Blue zone.

BTW, do you know why God made the sky Carolina Blue? Because he hadn't been to New Mexico yet.

[Interesting Times]

Here's the schedule of the African and African-American Studies at Duke, which could easily be subtitled "Working Ourselves Into a Frenzy of Racial Resentment and Animosity."

Note the entry for March 3:

Laura Whitehorn spent more than 14 years in federal prison for her role in planting a bomb in the U.S. Capitol building in 1983, in protest of the U.S. invasion of Grenada.

They knew she had bombed the Capitol when they invited her.

The great tradition of classical Western education slouches on...

[freepy smurf]

UNC forced their students to read a book promoting islam and Duke just had to top it.

[Interesting Times]

Here's how the Duke Women's Studies Department bills her, from their Calendar of Events:

3 Laura Whitehorn, revolutionary anti-imperialist currently working with POZ Magazine, a national monthly for the communities affected by HIV. Teaching Race, Teaching Gender Speakers Series is sponsored by the African and African American Studies Program at Duke University with additional support from the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture, The Duke University Women's Studies Program, the Franklin Humanities Institute's Mellon Project "Making the Humanities Central" and the Duke Women's Center. For more information about the Speakers Series or the seminar, Teaching Race, Teaching Gender (AAAS 299S, WST 210.02, SOC 299S), please contact Professor Becky Thompson at 684-3987 or bthomp@duke.edu. John Hope Franklin Center, Room 240, 4:00 PM

Interestingly, a search of the Duke web site doesn't turn up the bio quoted in Chuck Muth's email, which is identical to the one used by the African and African-American folks, except that Duke deleted the Capitol bombing reference. It would seem that whoever authorized that version has no problem with a domestic terrorist speaking at Duke, but thought it might be prudent to skip over that particular point.

[Interesting Times]

Today's update from Chuck Muth:

---

You Can't Fix Stupid

"sooo, I go to Duke, and yes it is ultraliberal, as are most college campuses today, but I also believe it is a place where we embrace radical points of view as an integral part of the marketplace of ideas. is Laura
Whitehorn a role model? no, certainly not. She is a criminal--but she is a criminal who has served her time. In the united states, we believe in giving people second chances."

So writes a Duke student (name withheld to protect the guilty) after we blew the whistle on the university's scheduled appearance on March 3 of a convicted bomber of the U.S. Capitol. And yep, this appears to be a perfect
example of the results of "whole language" education, 'cause that's exactly how the note was received.

But grammar aside, what a head full of mush. "We embrace radical points of view as an integral part of the marketplace of ideas"? Who are they gonna invite next? bin Laden? Saddam Hussein? SEN. PATTY MURRAY? And what kind of "second chance" would the victims of this radical terrorist bomber have received had anyone been killed?

I worry for this young person. Ignorance can be cured. But you can't fix stupid.

---

The Thelma & Louise of Bombers

For those of you who may not recall the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Capitol, here are some additional details: It was done to protest the rescue of those students on Grenada by President Reagan. And it was apparently targeted at
Republicans, as the bomb was placed in a rest room next to the GOP cloakroom. And Laura Whitehorn's convicted accomplice in the bombing was one Linda Sue Evans. That name ring a bell? Well, if you had memorized the list
of last-minute pardons coughed up by Bill Clinton it would.'cause Evans got one. Skunks of a feather, stink together.

---

Duke Shrugs

Statement Regarding Guest Speaker at African & African-American Studies Program

By David Jarmul [david.jarmul@duke.edu]
Associate Vice President, News and Communications
Duke University

January 17, 2003

"Duke University has received inquiries in response to a January 16 commentary in the Wall Street Journal's online 'Opinion Journal' regarding Laura Whitehorn, who is scheduled to participate on March 3 in a speaker series at Duke. As the article notes, Ms. Whitehorn was recently released from federal prison after serving more than 14 years for her role in planting a bomb in the U.S. Capitol building in 1983, in protest of the U.S. invasion of Grenada. She has been active in recent years on behalf of prisoners who are HIV-positive.

"Ms. Whitehorn was invited to speak about HIV/AIDS in prisons. The invitation was extended by Becky Thompson, who is a visiting professor at Duke through the current spring semester, teaching a graduate course, 'Teaching Race, Teaching Gender,' in Duke's African & African-American Studies Program.

"Duke does not exert control over or pressure its faculty and departments in their selection of campus speakers. One of our nation's greatest values, and one we at Duke celebrate, is the freedom for people to express their thoughts openly. Students, faculty and other members of the Duke community benefit from hearing and debating a wide variety of ideas. We have confidence in the ability of the members of our community to analyze and critique the arguments they hear, an activity that is central to democracy, and to universities in particular.

"Duke hosts speakers with a wide array of views. During the week Ms. Whitehorn will appear, for instance, it will also hold campus events on topics ranging from spiritual responses to environmental problems to intellectual property in cyberspace. Some speakers may hold views that others consider too radical or tainted to be provided a forum. Nonetheless, Duke remains committed to the academic freedom that has contributed so much to the traditions and strength of our nation."

---

**One of our nation's greatest values, and one we at Duke celebrate, is the freedom for people to express their thoughts openly.**

Except for conservatives, of course.

[lizbet]

Lesbians and Homosexuals should be locked up if they knowingly do spread their diseases to others. It is hard enough to take responsibility for the irresponsible people.

[Bob J]

Ubelieveable. I believe there are hundreds of these types who are welcomed into the University system. They and the anti-US agendas of these administrations need to be exposed. This may be a good project for EdWatch.

[jackbill]

Just one more reason to root for the Terps to kick the crap out of these trash tomorrow.

I don't know whether it was this or the fact that Maryland just inaugurated a Republican Governor for the first time in over 30 years, but the DOOKS went down to ignominious defeat today.

Actually, I felt a bit sorry for Coach K, because he is obviously a Republican - a supporter of Elizabeth Dole in the recent election.

[Ligeia]

Feb 05, 2003

Bombs Away

Heard about the firestorm kicked up by California State University at Fresno - the one started when the school announced a conference entitled, "Radical Faith: A Dialogue Between Anti-Abortion Protesters and Academics"? No? That's because there is no such colloquium. The very idea is almost laughable.

What about the outrage over the school's colloquium, "Revolutionary Environmentalism: A Dialogue Between Activists and Academics"? Haven't heard any? That's because there has been no outrage - though the conference is very real.

It will occur in mid-February and include discussions of such topics as "The Ethics of Sabotage." Those slated to attend include Paul Watson, wanted in Costa Rica and Iceland for sinking whaling ships, who once told a reporter there is "nothing wrong with being a terrorist, as long as you win." Other attendees will include representatives from the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front, parts of a fringe element that has been identified as one of the most dangerous domestic sources of terrorism.

Academia has a love affair with left-wing terrorists and apologists for terror. Harvard recently invited Irish poet Tom Paulin, who has advocated the killing of Israeli settlers (the event was postponed indefinitely). In March, Duke will sponsor an appearance by Laura Whitehorn, who bombed a room in the U.S. Capitol to protest the U.S. intervention in Grenada. Last year, for a September 11 commemoration, George Mason invited anti-American British journalist and terrorist apologist Robert Fisk to speak.

In the meantime, even mainstream conservative voices - those such as Jeane Kirkpatrick, William Bennett, or Ward Connerly - are lucky not to be shouted down, if they are lucky enough to receive an invitation to speak at all, and courageous enough to accept. The double standard has been around for ages, and railing against it does no good. But one would think in the post-9/11 world that the academy - where hurt feelings over the use of a politically incorrect word can bring down judicial wrath upon the offender - would at least pause to reflect on its romanticized infatuation with those who use, advocate, or explain away violence and destruction in the name of leftie causes.

One would be wrong.

RTD Editorial

[Interesting Times]

Very nice.

Shining our spotlight on the leftists who openly advocate and engage in violence should be high on our priority list.