By
Garrett Troy
October 25, 2007
Last night's presentation of the film Suicide Killers drew the ire and protest of those opposed to the College Republicans' Islamo-Fascism Week. But as the week wraps up, discussion continues.
Nationally-syndicated radio host and author Michael Medved will be speaking in Kane 220 at 7 p.m. as part of the College Republicans and David Horowitz Freedom Center's Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week.
Medved said he wanted to speak at the University of Washington so he could provide another side of the argument concerning the War on Terror and "foster debate."
"I hope to have a chance to address them with the people that attend. As with my radio show everyday, I would be glad to exchange ideas and arguments with people who disagree."
The speech, which he hopes to keep brief, will be followed by a question and answer session, at which point dissenting opinions are welcome.
Tuesday, Medved was in Philadelphia speaking about what he calls "the four big lies about Israel and the Middle East." He said his speech at the UW will not be focused on that topic but on what he calls "Islamo-Nazism."
"Most people, including most university students, don't know what a fascist is. It is a term that is thrown around a good deal, and everyone knows it is unpleasant," Medved said. "But there is a huge degree of difference between Francisco Franco and Adolf Hitler. What we're really dealing with here [is] what's at the very heart and soul of Nazism — anti-Semitism. Not all fascists were anti-Semitic, but all Nazis were."
Reggie Dylan, of Defendcriticalthinking.org, strongly disagrees with Medved's assessment of world events.
"There are many different forces at work here," Dylan said. "Putting it up as a single package and putting it over a template of World War II, ... with these people you're either with 'McWorld' or you're with jihad."
Medved said the current conflict has more in common with the Cold War and not World War II.
"World War I and World War II had straight, clear purposes," he said. "This is World War IV. Much more similar to World War III, which was the Cold War."
Dylan sees Islamo-Fascism Week as the latest incarnation of an assault on dissent and critique.
"There has been a concerted effort over time to prevent critiques of the dominant narrative," Dylan said. "I see this as a very immediate effort to prepare people for war with Iran and a longer-term strategy to undermine critical thinking and dissent since 9/11. David Horowitz has said, 'college campuses are the weak link in the War on Terrorism.' He's already declaring this week a victory and saying, 'This is the basis of a new movement.'"
The precise outcome of this week remains to be seen.
"The long-term impact will be to remind people that there are multiple points of view regarding the War on Terror and its causes and its cures," Medved said.
Dylan, on the other hand, said he is fighting one more battle in an arduous ideological struggle.
"We've been working for the last couple of years in opposition to this assault on dissent," Dylan said. "We're working hard to make it backfire through a counter offensive of awareness and serve [Horowitz] a defeat."
[Reach reporter Garrett Troy at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]
24 Comments
#1 Zahir
on October 25, 2007 at 2:56 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Just a little 411 about the people associated with Islamo-fascism awareness week: It is the brainchild of David Horowitz, who In 2003 maligned Rachel Corrie, killed by an Israeli military bulldozer while protesting a house demolition in Gaza, as a "terrorist" supporter. In 2001, right-wing extremist Ann Coulter, also associated with this nationwide event, said in the National Review: "We should invade [Muslim] countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity." These people do have free speech rights, but they're clearly not "experts" on these issues, and they definitely have their own agenda. Attaching the name of a religion that is practiced by over a billion worldwide, of whom an overwhelming majority are peace loving people, to small extremist/fanatic groups with a relatively small following, is simply WRONG! The main reason why these extremist groups have gained more followers is due to the cowboy-mentality foreign policies that people like Horowitz and Coulter (and their supporters the neo-cons) have implemented in Muslim countries through their puppet politicians. The proponents of the "Islamo-fascism" concept want to play upon emotions rather than to really spread "awareness." They're trying to get us all ready for a war with Iran whose leader Ahmedinejad (just like George W. Bush) thinks that God is speaking to him. The last thing the world needs is a war between religious zealots!
#2 zfy
on October 25, 2007 at 8:36 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Garrett Troy should be fired from The Daily's staff and whoever had the bright idea of putting this guy on the front page of the paper every day this week should probably also get the axe.
#3 lora
on October 25, 2007 at 10:19 a.m.(Atlanta, GA | Unverified Name)
It should also be said that last night before the movie, the College Republicans claimed that they weren't "racists" and wanted to have Q& A about "terrorism." However, after the movie, they all walked out of the room and refused to have any real dialogue.
At Emory University last night, 200 people were at the IFAW event where Horowitz was speaking. 80% of the people were there in opposition to IFAW.
The College Republicans had a table at the entrance and were informing people that if they wanted to ask questions, they were to write them down on index cards and turn them in - that people would not be allowed to directly pose questions after the speech.
When Horowitz came onto the stage, he was met with a combination of applause and loud booing. As he started his speech, several people sequentially stood up and turned their backs to the speaker. Signs pinned on their backs had the international no symbol over the words IFAW. As he continued his speech, different people in the audience interjected questions and corrections. More people stood up and turned their backs, and this emboldened others in the audience to continue to challenge Horowitz as he spoke. Horowitz was visibly taken aback by the opposition and stopped his speech several times, having difficulty getting back on track. His retorts to the audience consisted of childish name calling, disparaging the IQ of the audience.
About 20 or 30 more people stood up and turned their backs. This created a lot of turmoil and heated discussion throughout the room. During this period, Horowitz walked off the stage. A chant broke out, “Racist, Sexist, Anti-Gay, David Horowitz Go Away.†After a few minutes, a College Republican came on stage and announced that David Horowitz decided that he would not continue his speech, and they ended the event.
Horowitz could have continued despite the vocal opposition, as other speakers on the IFAW tour apparently have done this week under similar circumstances. It was clear that the majority of the audience was determined to continue interacting with him throughout his speech, since there was not going to be an open question and answer period at the end.
David Horowitz stopped his own speech mid-way through his event at Emory University, and in typical fashion is claiming to be the victim of the “fascist left.â€
#4 Stu
on October 25, 2007 at 11:04 a.m.(Milwaukee, WI | Unverified Name)
Zfy, why are you mad at the dude who wrote it? He's just talking about what's going on.
What I'm pissed at is the obvious racism of the CR. That's what's messed up.
#5 drew
on October 25, 2007 at 11:46 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I agree. Garrett is doing a good job of presenting an unbiased news piece. Props to him. No props go to the CR...I can't wait to see Medved get the modern day equivalent of rotten cabbage thrown at him during tonight's event...Who the f*ck is he and why is he an "expert" on the topic? I'd rather listen to an obvious expert, such as a professor of Islamic studies, not a radio SHOCK JOCK who yells dissenting opinions down on the air and who has no education background on the subject matter.
#6 drew
on October 25, 2007 at 11:46 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I agree. Garrett is doing a good job of presenting an unbiased news piece. Props to him. No props go to the CR...I can't wait to see Medved get the modern day equivalent of rotten cabbage thrown at him during tonight's event...Who the f*ck is he and why is he an "expert" on the topic? I'd rather listen to an obvious expert, such as a professor of Islamic studies, not a radio SHOCK JOCK who yells dissenting opinions down on the air and who has no education background on the subject matter.
#7 Assaf
on October 25, 2007 at 12:50 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Garrett's presentation is a hatchet job.
He repeats the mainstream media's mistake of presenting two totally unequal sides as if this is a symmetric debate.
This is what the American media did, for example, for global warming for many years. Present a couple of quack or disgruntled scientists bankrolled by the oil industry, on the same level as the entire scientific community. This "balance" has of course been very detrimental.
He should do a little more background work. It's really quite easy to see that Horowitz et al. are way out in ultra-right field, beyond the pale and beyond what should be respectable debate. Yes, freedom of speech exists, but this does not entail putting a respectable facade on conspiracy-theory creeps who certainly don't deserve it.
A very sorry coverage overall (and I've now read all 3 pieces on the issue).
As to the issue itself: no need for "islamo-fascism" mumbo jumbo. It's really quite simple. The West and especially America has been dominating the Middle East for over a century now, doing whatever it wants to it - dividing it into countries as it saw fit without consulting the locals, extracting oil via corrupt puppet dictatorships that they prop up (while talking high and mighty about "democracy"), supporting the Israeli Occupation while paying lip service to Palestinian rights, inundating the area with armaments and making it a permanent battle zone, and of course now the Iraq war.
Arabs and Muslims resent that, and Islamic extremism reaps the political benefits. The best thing "we" could do about Islamic extremism is treat the Middle East more fairly. Not to do there what we wouldn't want done to us here.
#8 Assaf
on October 25, 2007 at 1:03 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
To the reporter:
Doing background work on Horowitz takes about 1 minute of Google time.
Here - http://www.campusprogress.org/tools/155/
Or even here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ho...)
One of his personal obsessions is to oppose reparations for slavery.
#9 Tom
on October 25, 2007 at 1:38 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
I agree with Assaf's point in an overall sense, however I don't think that the guy should be fired but rather should be struggled with to see that this thing of "balance" doesn't start from what is true in a fundamental sense and makes what is completely false and untrue seem like its on an equal playing field to what is actually true.
Now about Horrowitz being "off the pale" there is truth to that as well. BUT what does it mean when this guys books has been distributed to the top 2000 Republican Campaign Operatives during a presidential elections? This guy is a fucking loon who is off the pale that has ties to the highest levels of power. That is some scary shit that we can't just dismiss but rather have to take seriously and confront.
#10 The Truth
on October 25, 2007 at 2:02 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Just a little 411 about the people associated with Anti-Islamophobia and Racism Week: It is the brainchild of Hala Dillsi and Max Wagner, who called an effort by the CR to educate people in about the legitimate dangers of a global terrorist network mere hate speech. These people do have free speech rights, but they're clearly not "experts" on these issues, and they definitely have their own agenda. Attaching the name of a political affiliation that is practiced by over a million nationwide, of whom an overwhelming majority are peace loving people, to small extremist/fanatic groups with a relatively small following, is simply WRONG! The main reason why these extremist groups have gained more followers is due to the ineffective and worthless foreign policies that people like George Soros and Cindy Sheehan (and their supporters the neo-libs) have tried to implement in America through their puppet politicians. The proponents of the "Anti-Islamophobia/Anti-terrorist" concept want to play upon emotions rather than to really spread "awareness." They're trying to distract us from the potential dangers resulting from semi-insane, despotic leaders like Ahmedinejad, who believes that God speaks to him. The last thing America needs is another devastating attack on our soil as a result of ill-preparedness stemming from this propaganda.
Does that look familiar? This, and more, can be said about your "anti-racist" propaganda. When will you ever learn that this effort has nothing to do with race, but has everything to do with protecting you and your family from a growing threat? Of course, we all know that when a liberal can't win, they resort to calling their opponent a racist/sexist/bigot.
#11 Brad
on October 25, 2007 at 3:01 p.m.(Philadelphia, PA | Unverified Name)
Irony seems to be lost on most of the commenters here. Judging by the comments above, which viewpoint do you think is the dominant one on the UW campus? Not the one the UWCR's are putting forth. Given that, I find it hilarious that Reggie Dylan calls this event "this assault on dissent," while someone who obviously shares his view applauds Horowitz being shouted down at an event. Assault on dissent indeed.
#12 Tom
on October 25, 2007 at 3:18 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Actually, I'm not a liberal, I'm a revolutionary and the reality is that this "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" is Racist and Sexist and full of bigotry. I have to tell everyone here that the movie that was shone last night was absolutely full of shit. Not only was it absolutely full of mis-translations and lies about what people were saying but it also used what people were saying and then acting as though it came from the Koran. On top of that what was even in the movie was a really shotty job anyway that very deliberately twisted a series of events that happened over the span of about 30 years and made it seem like that was every Palestinian fighting against the occupation was a Islamic-Fundamentalist zealot and made it seem like that was an every day occurrence. It took things out of context, refused to look at or catalog the overall struggle between the Palestinians and Israel, what Israel has done to the Palestinian people, or even put out a time line of when these events happened!
But to get to the heart of this, this week is a lot more than even just racist/sexist/bigotry it is a political assault from US Fascists aimed at whipping up hysteria against Muslims and pave the way for and create public opinion for attacking Iran. When will YOU ever learn that this effort has nothing to do with "protecting Americans" but everything to do with silencing dissent and opposition to the US wars in the middle east. And if you aren't in opposition to the MSA then why does the national IFAW website say they are "a front group for Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood".
Oh, and by the way, for opposing any form of "religious supremacy" it certainly goes well to have Ann Coulter speaking for the group because she has said "we should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity." Good job at spreading awareness guys. Definitely doing your job by showing shotty ass movies like "Suicide Killers" and spreading hate speech in order to spread hysteria.
#13 Rush Limbaugh
on October 25, 2007 at 7:48 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Wow, take away a liberal's biggest weapon and you force him/her to have to write a thesis about their propaganda. Way to turn the whole issue 360 degrees; that's exactly what we're fighting: religious supremacy. It's estimated that only 1% of the world's Muslims are extremists, that's approximately 15 million in the world. That's 15 million too many. Why are you so against trying to get them before they get us? Surely, you think that we can actually reason with these terrorists, do you?
#14 The Truth
on October 25, 2007 at 8:02 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Good luck killing 15 million Muslims "Rush Limbaugh!" Your strategy will only create another 15 million more to replace every one that you kill.....Neo-Cons are the biggest DUMBASSES that ever came along. These are the same type of people who would have supported slavery during the civil war, the Nazis during WW2, a continuation of the Vietnam War, and a military conflict against the Soviet Union during the Cold War-which was not necessary by the way-we defeated the Soviets (temporarily!) using smarts and without ever lifting a weapon. Oh, and by the way, peace in the Mmiddle-East will never be realized without JUSTICE! The Muslims in the Middle-East will fight to the LAST MAN until we give them JUSTICE! (consult Israel on this). So, be prepared to send your grand-kids to war, and on, and on, and on...........
#15 LBC
on October 25, 2007 at 9:19 p.m.(Washington, DC | Unverified Name)
Wow. You guys managed to shout down someone with whom you disagreed. Congratulations. You have done your cause proud by showing that you will not tolerate views different from your own. I love Ahmedinejad is allowed to speak on a campus without being shouted down, but apparently someone protesting Islamic terrorism is not worthy of an audience. It makes me sick that our college campuses are so opposed to the idea of differing viewpoints being expressed.
The people who acted in this manner would make the brown shirts very proud.
#16 The Truth
on October 25, 2007 at 10:36 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Just for the record, that last post was not made by me, it was concocted shamelessy by a misinformed liberal; which further proves that liberals don't have a mind of their own, they just steal other people's ideas and identities. I, on the other hand, would never change sides and write such a closed-minded propaganda piece. Moving on, what makes you so sure that Muslims want justice that bad? This seems to go against your earlier assumption that 15 million more terrorists will be created. Unless it's perverted justice. Besides, we are giving them justice: the army is in the lengthy process of rooting out terrorism, wherever it hides, for their attacks on our freedom.
Now, on to the shouting which I heard and saw in Kane Hall today. Although it was entertaining to watch the protestors make utter fools of themselves, I must say that it didn't help their cause any. Endlessly shouting and demanding to see Michael Medved only encouraged ridicule from the masses around. It seems to me that these protestors haven't studied physics or just misunderstand the logistics of some situations. How do I put this?? When a room fills up to capacity, there is no more room to sit down. Additionally, certain fire escape laws must be upheld if the university is to protect itself from certain lawsuits in case of an emergency. What the protestors didn't seem to understand was that no more room means no more room, two bodies cannot exist in the same place, although this is debatable in quantum physics. If there was really such a great need to see Michael, better planning should have taken place before the event. For example, instead of protesting outside Kane Hall everyone could have gotten in line; or this outdoor protest could have been held a little earlier. That way, protestors would have been able to shout themselves hoarse AND STILL have the opportunity to see and debate Medved.
Now, for my closing remarks, I would like to pose a question: Since the Trade Center bombings and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, how come there hasn't been a single terrorist act against America since then? If we're supposedly creating new terrorists, how is it that all we've seen so far have been meaningless threats that seem more like addmitance of defeat? Could it be that our foreign policies are actually working? Please refrain from too much childish name-calling, let's just stick to, at least, a semi-intelligent debate.
#17 Answers to: "The Truth"
on October 25, 2007 at 11:28 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
1). What makes you so sure that Muslims want justice that bad? This seems to go against your earlier assumption that 15 million more terrorists will be created.
Answer: OK douchebag, why don't you follow my logic before going off on a tangent. I said that 15 million more terrorists will be created IF you continue to employ the same strategy (trying to kill/root out the terrorists) and deny the Muslims JUSTICE. Just ask Israel-they've been trying to "root out" the terrorists since for 60 years!
2). Since the Trade Center bombings and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, how come there hasn't been a single terrorist act against America since then?
Answer: Is this a "victory" for you? How many MORE attacks have there been around the World since 9/11? What about the bombings in Madrid? London? Have the number of terrorist attacks around the globe declined or grown? Have terrorist organizations been able to recruit more followers? How many Americans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan? Are we really winning in Iraq and Afghanistan? In a war that has lasted LONGER than WW2, and will end up costing us $2.4 trillion, and where almost 4000 Americans and 600,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed, the scenario that exists today is a). no Westerners can freely walk the streets of Iraq b). ALL our troops are unable to walk the streets without the fear of being BOMBED with IED's, and have to spend most of their time HOLED UP behind the heavily fortified walls of military bases c). a MAJORITY of Iraqis support Americans being killed d). all our diplomats cannot ever leave the Green Zone. You seem to forget that 60% of Iraqis are SHIA muslims loyal to Teheran, and they are content to simply wait things out. Life in IRAQ will return to how it has always been for thousands of years. Do you think that we can change the country/region within just a few decades? The longer we stay there, the more we will be HATED! And terrorist organizations will only continue to grow-we're playing right into their hands with our DUMBASS strategy. The British (at the HEIGHT of their EMPIRE) tried what we are currently attempting, and they FAILED-what makes you think that we can succeed? And by the way, the numbers reported by Patraeus were SKEWED heavily in our favor-the definitions of attacks against us and casualties received were MODIFIED to make us "look good"-so as to keep the effort going. When will you ever realize that we can NEVER change the Middle-East using GUNS and BOMBS! This is a BATTLE OF IDEAS! The only reason why we are using the military is because this method helps keep certain people in power, AND, because of WAR-PROFITEERS and NO-BID contracts to corporations like Halliburton and BlackWater. Our 'Christian Crusader' mentality can NEVER help us succeed in Muslim countries. WAKE THE FU*K UP!!!!!!! We can be SMARTER about all this by thinking with our brains instead of our BALLS!
#18 OBAMA 08'
on October 26, 2007 at 12:08 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
VOTE FOR OBAMA IN 08'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#19 LBC
on October 26, 2007 at 12:59 p.m.(Washington, DC | Unverified Name)
Umm, it is amazing the seeming alliance being formed between the most unlikely of friends... liberal activists and Islamofascists. Why on Earth are liberals defending viewpoint that says women must ride in the backseat (Taliban). "There are no homosexuals in Iran" (Ahmedinejad). As a libertarian I oppose a lot of Bush policies, but I think it is important to oppose all efforts to oppress people. A few closing thoughts:
1) A person should be able to make a documentary about the treatment of women and not face death (Theo Van Gogh)
2) A person should be able to make any cartoon they want without having to fear for their life.
3) A person should be able to enter into consenting homosexual and straight relationships without having to face death or imprisonment.
4) A person should be able to practice their religion (including attempting to convert others without fear of death)
I know most liberals would say they agree with these principles. Standing up for these freedoms and others is what I think the CR presentation was about. Lets stand up for these viewpoints which I think all of us agree with.
#20 To "LBC"
on October 26, 2007 at 3:02 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Everything you mention are YOUR beliefs! If others around the World do not have the same beliefs, should we force them to believe what we believe in? At the barrell of a GUN and with BOMBS? This kind of arrogance is exactly why many people from other parts of the World HATE America.
#21 LBC
on October 26, 2007 at 4:39 p.m.(Washington, DC | Unverified Name)
I'm not eager to force others to accept my viewpoints. I do generally think the things I've listed are freedoms that people deserve everywhere. In case you didnt notice I am not advocating bombing countries in order to bring justice. Yes, they are my beliefs. The point of public debate and protest are to express beliefs. It was the belief of most that apartheid in South Africa was wrong. Are you saying protesting apartheid in order to hasten its end is an example of Americans forcing their beliefs on South Africa? Yes, it is my belief that it is wrong to kill someone for making a movie or for being homosexual or for changing religions. I stand by those beliefs and I will try to convince others that they are the right ones. I'm glad that at least the college republicans seem to share my beliefs.
#22 To "LBC"
on October 26, 2007 at 6:37 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
What you see with the College Republicans, the David Horowitz Center, and the Neo-Cons backing these institutions is a public facade. They are wolves in sheeps clothing who seem to be trying to "spread awareness" and have "debates" on these issues, but what their puppet politicians are actually doing abroad through their foreign policies is quite the contrary. Lets remember what Ann Coulter said in the National Review: "We should invade [Muslim] countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity." She was speaking to "her crowd" (National Review readers) when she made this statement-and would not make a similar statement at any of these "Islamo-fascism" college events I'll bet ("Wolf in sheeps clothing?"). One last thing, before we can go around the World and "express our beliefs" why don't we align our foreign policies with these "beliefs" first? We can say all the good stuff as much as we want all over the globe-what will matter in the end to everyone is OUR DEEDS! And lastly, let's end the APARTHEID in Palestine sometime soon, now shall we?
#23 The Truth
on October 26, 2007 at 8:13 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Wow, I can see from your response that even a semi-intelligent debate cannot be had. We shall have to stoop lower; perhaps middle school level, as your response indicates that as your highest form of education. It seems that by your logic, terrorist organizations will continue to grow no matter what we do. So we should just pull out and let them attack us? I hope you do realize that we started this campaign in the middle east because they attacked us first. Furthermore, please understand that Islamo-fascists hate you and your family because of the freedom that you enjoy and that leaving them alone won't make them our friends. Also, spell-check is your friend, probably your only friend.
#24 To: "The Truth"
on October 27, 2007 at 9:02 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Terrorist organizations will only continue to grow as long as there are people like you out there in America casting votes. They will wither and die when SMARTER people start making the decisions in this country. If we are attacked, I am all for retaliation. BUT, retaliation that is based on THOROUGH research, SOUND intelligence, and FOCUSED on the VERY people who attack us. We used 9/11 as an excuse to attack a country that had NOTHING to do with 9/11-which is why Osama bin Laden is still alive today (6 years after we promised to get him). But then again, I think that Republicans and the Neo-Cons DO NOT really want him DEAD-as long as he is out there alive, and putting out videos every few months, the Republicans and Neo-Cons can say that the "fight" needs to go on; and they can continue to KEEP US ALL LIVING IN FEAR indefinitely, and continue to use this environment to MOULD this country into a FASCIST state, where the power of the Executive branch is SUPREME, and Justices for the Supreme court are selected based on what they think about ROE vs WADE, and the Legislative branch is constantly seeking that 60% vote to override the Presidents VETO. Our founding fathers are TURNING IN THEIR GRAVES!!!!!!! We may as well BURN the Constitution, and FORGET the GREAT principles that this country was founded upon. A new America is being created by the neo-cons my friends, and they're using 9/11, and "Islamo-Fascism," as BLINDFOLDS and HANDCUFFS to hold back: 1). All who REALLY care about this country, and 2).All who TRULY understand what AMERICA should be all about. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!
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