Columbia Professor hopes "a million Mogadishus" are visited on U.S. Troops

National Review Online ^ | March 28, 2003 | Matthew Continetti

[Anamensis]

Teach-In, Turn On, Walk Out
The ins and outs of the antiwar movement.

n the spring of 1968, antiwar activists protesting American military action in Indochina besieged Columbia University's historic Low Library, the massive, Romanesque space designed by McKim, Mead, and White which houses the offices of university administrators. Thirty-five years later, Low Library still contains the offices of university administrators. But today, antiwar activists are welcomed inside.

Such was the case on Wednesday night, when hundreds of Columbia students braved long lines and rain for a chance to witness a faculty-led "teach-in" on the Iraq crisis. I was one of them. And judging from the monolithically antiwar attitude of the speakers — and the uproarious applause that greeted criticism of the war and of the Bush administration — I was a pro-war minority of one.

The teach-in, organized by the Columbia Anti-War Coalition in conjunction with leading faculty members (among them historians Eric Foner and Alan Brinkley and law professor Patricia Williams), included over 20 presentations from faculty members on topics including international law, humanitarian aid, and the reconstruction of Iraq.

While some presentations — notably those of political scientist Gary Sick and historian Charles Armstrong — took a dispassionate, scholarly attitude toward the events in the Middle East and elsewhere, most of the lecturers simply argued that George W. Bush, not Saddam Hussein, poses the greatest threat to world peace and security...(snip)

At times, the scene resembled a sporting event. Thunderous applause and whistles greeted anthropology professor Nicholas De Genova's sick desire that "a million Mogadishus" be visited on U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq. And then there's Roger Normand, an adjunct professor at Columbia's School for International and Public Affairs and director of the lefty Center for Economic and Social Rights. Normand took the podium to yell, "Let's see if we can make some noise in this auditorium," and began a call-and-response, "We Will Rock You"-style chant with the capacity crowd.

It became clear over the course of the six-hour teach-in that antiwar activists and intellectuals care little, if at all, about Iraq. There were few direct references to Saddam Hussein. What the antiwar professors do care about is the Bush administration. "A coup d'etat brought us to this path," said Todd Gitlin, professor of journalism and author of Letters to a Young Activist. "Our most cogent obligation is to assure that George W. Bush is not in office in 2005." ...(snip)...

"I live under an unelected government," said Bruce Robbins, a professor of English and Comparative Literature. In Robbins's view, apparently, not all wars are equally evil: "I fantasize," he said, "about being liberated by a European invasion."

I bet he does. -Anamensis

Comparisons of the Bush administration with Nazi Germany and other totalitarian, imperialist powers were also common. "We must talk in order to remind the tyrants who have ignored the consent of the governed," said Barbara Fields, a professor of history. "Our leaders have given the finger to the millions who have demonstrated against the war." Professor Normand quoted Nuremberg prosecutor Robert L. Jackson, essentially equating Donald Rumsfeld with Hermann Goering. And political scientist Jack Snyder found room in his speech to compare the Bush administration with, in chronological order, Napoleon, Kaiser Wilhelm, Hitler, and Tojo.

But what may have been most interesting about the teach-in was what the speakers persistently ignored. Not a single speaker mentioned the fact that a majority of the American public supports military action in Iraq. Only one speaker mentioned that the president obtained congressional authorization to use military force last year. And not a single professor answered, or even acknowledged, the question of whether Saddam Hussein would constitute a threat against innocents in the Middle East, the United States, and elsewhere were he to obtain nuclear weapons or provide weapons of mass destruction to terrorist proxies. Professor Robbins even claimed that "There is no threat [from Iraq] to prevent."

— Matthew Continetti is a student at Columbia University.

       

[Anamensis]

Those Freepers who'd like to drop a line gently disagreeing with Dr. De Genova may do so at npd18@columbia.edu (Telephone: 212 / 854.0199). At least, that's the most recent web info I could find on this lovely individual.

[Anamensis]

Ping?

[ClearCase_guy]

And then there's Roger Normand, an adjunct professor at Columbia's School for International and Public Affairs and director of the lefty Center for Economic and Social Rights. Normand took the podium to yell, "Let's see if we can make some noise in this auditorium," and began a call-and-response, "We Will Rock You"-style chant with the capacity crowd.

hmmmmmmm ... scholarly.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

I wonder if that puke De Genova would run his mouth with a few Rangers sitting in his class.

[jjm2111]

Original discussion here

[jjm2111]

Here's the email I sent this puke:

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.

[Vinnie_Vidi_Vici]

A million Mogadishus huh? well, we killed several thousand there, so a million times that is a few Billion, that should cover islam quite nicely

[EternalVigilance]

Can there ever be another doubt in anyone's mind that these people are the enemies of the United States?

[Anamensis]

Ah... I ran a search for "Columbia" and "Teach" but I didn't find that one. Sorry to double-post. Thanks for that link, there's even more info on this loathesome man.

[evolved_rage]

Bump for the silver lining in Columbia's dark cloud.

[SunStar]

Thunderous applause and whistles greeted anthropology professor Nicholas De Genova's sick desire that "a million Mogadishus" be visited on U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq.

Treason, anyone?

[hedgetrimmer]

Shouldn't the complaint go to his boss?

[HaveGunWillTravel]

"I live under an unelected government," said Bruce Robbins, a professor of English and Comparative Literature. In Robbins's view, apparently, not all wars are equally evil: "I fantasize," he said, "about being liberated by a European invasion."

Why doesn't this fantasy apply to the unelected, undemocratic government of Iraq? Why isn't what's good for the goose good for the gander?

[Lx]

Hell, what's his bosses' number or email?

[FITZ]

Thanks for the ping ---- the left is beginning to very clearly identify themselves, they are not for peace, they despise America, they despise the Constitution. I hope we start treating some of these traitors for what they are, at the very least it seems they could have their citizenship stripped and be deported to the country of their choice.

[End Times Sentinel]

Not a single speaker mentioned the fact that a majority of the American public supports military action in Iraq.

 

Why of course they didn't!  Don't you realize that those who aren't in the world of academia or entertainment are by and large mouth breathing, troglodytes, mindlessly knucklewalking through fly over country. 

Much like Professor Robins, I hope the euros will come in and liberate us!  Then we can set up some concentration camps and deal with the "radical right winger problem"...

 

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[D Rider]

Concervative estimates of Somali losses in the engagement that cost the lives of 19 US servicemen are above 5000. Assuming that conservative number, the good proffessor is wishing the extermination of 260,000,000 of the worlds most evil people.

If their were a million Mogadishus, there would be no one left to drag American bodies through the streets, except for the good proffessor.

[LADY J]

"Shouldn't the complaint go to his boss?"

I think the F.B.I. should be alerted to this. They may want to investigate a few of his friends too.

[delacoert]

Lemme guess, he has reached the stage in his "career" that he knows he has no hope of getting tenure and decides to play the lottery - provoke a negative administrative response to his unpopular political views with the hope of getting grounds for a lawsuit in response to losing his job.