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]

I called the provosts office because my email failed. The very nice lady suggested dropping a postcard as follows:

President Bollinger
Colombia University
NY, NY 10027

[hchutch]

Yep. And it's becoming quite amazing how much the kooks on the left are sounding like the kooks on the right.

[metalboy]

I know! This is completely utterly outrageous! Am I mad?? Let me put is this way, if I have to spend the next year and a half I am going to see legal charges pressed against this punk ass, I don`t care HOW obscure it is!! I`VE HAD IT WITH THESE MUTTS!!! I found a few laws that pertain to what he said, but I`m not sure if it refers to civilians or military personal. This is an outright call for an attack against our military !! EITHER WAY HIS ASS IS MUSH!!

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I'm trying to envision what the perfect world for the kooks on the right would look like - and am running into several dozen contradictions.

[Free ThinkerNY]

The fraudulent Antiwar Left is really PROwar on America.

[Anamensis]

This is one case that needs lots and lots of attention. Letters to the provost using the terms "hate speech" and "hate crime" might be in order. Freedom of speech protects one from governmental intervention... it does NOT guarantee job protection.

[metalboy]

That amendment to Section 3 of the Espionage Act of June 15, 1917 mentions nothing about being part of the military! It starts of with WHOEVER...Either way, I`m consulting with an attorney to see if this can be applied to this punk. I live in Manhattan, and believe me if it does, I am going to see that charges are brought against that peice of s**t. That son of a bitch! I know 4 guys who are busting their asses over there right now and this scum bastard is calling for their death in public?? Ho hoho !! OH MAN!!

[Nick Thimmesch]

m

[AAABEST]

This trog wishes that American kids lose limbs and their lives? OK then, we wish that he loses his job. Free speech works both ways.

Emailing him personally is fine, but hit him where it hurts. Here's the contact information for the Provost, his boss in the Anthropology Dept. and Public affairs:

Jonathan Cole (Provost)	email: jrcs@columbia.edu phone: 212-854-2404
Nicholas Dirks (Anthropology Dept Head)	email: nbd7@columbia.edu phone: 212-854-4552
Columbia Public Affairs Dept	phone: 212-854-5573

[Chewbacca]

Communists are Saddamites!!!

[f.Christian]

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.



I'm e-mailing this thread to a media mogul friend of mine (( firehat )) !

[AmericanInTokyo]

good for you! you certainly have the spirit.

by the way (and I violate this myself), but when you get into some very detailed strategic planning against this anti-american buzzard, you probably might want to limit that to 'freepmail' as I wouldn't put it past them to catch on and listen in and check your every move.

good luck with the legal lawsuit/arrest against this NYC TRAITOR. :-)

[3AngelaD]

Obviously, their ideal is the Soviet Union while Stalin was in charge. Notice they didn't compare Bush to Stalin, whom they admire and would revive if possible. He killed millions more than Hitler. These people are without exception left-wing weaklings who can't stand the thought of their native country, have no respect for our Constitution and our traditions, and would be incapable of earning a living outside of academia. Your tax dollars at work. And yes, the De Genova degenerate is a traitor.

[JimRed]

Somebody post a picture of this **** sucker, please!

Yes, and his home address as well. That neighborhood needs a good FReeping!

[Anamensis]

The best thing, according to the administrative person I spoke to at Colombia when I called a half-hour ago, is to write the president of the university and complain:

President Bollinger
Colombia University
NY, NY 10027

[Revolting cat!]

Here's the brave hero of the academe himself:

[Minty]

Nicely said. The weasel deserved it.

[bt_dooftlook]

Here is the letter I emailed to the school president -

"Sir:

I am writing to protest most strongly the anti-American tenor of the comments made by professors and staff at the recent Columbia "Teach-In".

In particular, the comments of one Nicholas De Genova, wishing that 'a million Mogadishus be visited on the US soldiers in Iraq', are hateful and, indeed, border on sedition. How dare he wish death or injury upon our men bravely fighting to protect us in a war brought on by Saddam Hussein's intransigence, dishonesty, and fecklessness!

Where is the balance? Where is the acknowledgement of the heinous crimes committed by Saddam Hussein against his people and his neighbors? Where especially is the thanks that Mr. De Genova owes to the military that protects the freedoms he hides behind to attack them?

Mr. De Genova is entitled to his opinion; however, in failing to provide the least nuance of balance for his young charges, and in calling for the gruesome death and humiliation of his fellow citizens, surely he has crossed the line of decency and civility expected of American adults and citizens. He should be censured and removed.

Anxious to hear your views on this matter..."

[FITZ]

Thanks ---will do!

[Anamensis]

The photo doesn't show up on my browser, could you tell me the link?