Univ. of Michigan to Host 'Zionism is Racism' Conference

[L@mplighterM]

Sep. 30, 2002
Univ. of Michigan to Host 'Zionism is Racism' Conference
By MICHAEL FREUND


Snip:


The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor is slated to play host to a national student conference late next week, one of whose "guiding principles" is that it "condemns the racism and discrimination inherent in Zionism", the Jerusalem Post has learned.

The Second National Student Conference on the Palestine Solidarity Movement, which is scheduled to begin on October 12, is being sponsored by pro-Palestinian and socialist groups. It aims to promote an end to US aid to Israel and to encourage divestment by universities and corporations from the Jewish state.

In the conference's promotional material, organizers refer to "apartheid Israel", and refuse to condemn Palestinian terrorism, stating, "As a solidarity movement, it is not our place to dictate the strategies or tactics adopted by the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...=1033392582358



I don’t think that Universities should host conferences of this nature.

[danholo]

Why do I get the impression that most pro-Palestine people are anti-semitic?

[minusthejihad]

Ugh! I purposely didn't go to that shi**y school because of the level of pompousness and arrogance exhibited by its students. I went to Michigan State University instead and am happy for it. however, U of M has a huge Jewish community and student body. I am shocked that U of M, would play host to this sh**!

I'm emailing and calling all of my zionist friends still back there and making sure we will be represented as peaceful protestors, unlike those wonderful Montreal Pro-Paestinian protestors.

Gross.

[Mediocrates]

Can you please get the dean, chancellor, or other senior muckamucka in charge's email, p-mail or phone mail and post it here please?

Who are the sponsors of the conference is there any contact information for them?

[Mediocrates]

Is there a contact at the school - dean, chancellor, some other muckamcuk for whom you can post contact information here?

Who are the sponsors? What are their contacts?

[minusthejihad]

I will get on it ASAP. My sister works at the JFS in Ann Arbor, so I'm sure she can get me some info. I will post it in this thread ASAP.

[Formula]

Those are the kind of articles that make me want to go outside and "break some anti-semitic legs"

[minusthejihad]

Here is an article off of the U of M website, a message from the president....

Palestinian Solidarity Conference
The President’s Office has received many messages about a student conference on Palestinian solidarity, scheduled to take place on our campus in October.

This conference is sponsored by a student organization, following established University procedures for holding events on campus. We expect the organizers and participants to respect all University rules concerning appropriate conduct on campus. The agenda of the conference represents the views of the organizers and not the University of Michigan.

One of the issues that the student conference will address is the divestment of University stock in companies doing business in Israel. I do not support this divestment. As a matter of University policy, we do not believe political interests should govern our investment decisions. The University has divested stock just twice in its history. Both decisions to divest were reached only after sustained, campus-wide support that followed extensive research by faculty-led committees, which in turn prepared a compelling case that such investments were antithetical to the basic mission and values of the University. Those conditions do not exist, and I do not plan to ask our Board of Regents to pursue divestment.

When matters of intense emotional impact are presented on campus, it is vital that we uphold two cherished values upon which our academic community depends. One is the right to explore and debate the widest possible range of ideas, even if those ideas are offensive or repugnant to some members of the community. Candid expression and open debate are intrinsic to academic freedom. We afford that freedom both to those who organize and participate in this conference, and to those who disagree with the views thus presented.

The other cherished value is the respect that we owe to each other as human beings and as fellow members of this academic community. We constantly strive to build a community that is welcoming to all and that does not foster hatred and discrimination. It is especially important during difficult times and when dealing with divisive topics that we extend to one another the highest levels of tolerance and mutual respect.

We know we are not somehow separate from the larger world, or immune from global events. We must and we will take a strong stand against acts of incivility and hate wherever they occur; because by doing so, we protect our right to live, study, and express our views in safety.

Just yesterday we experienced a disturbing incident when, in violation of University e-mail policy, a message containing inflammatory language was distributed to many U-M faculty members. The message was neither authorized nor aided by University administrators. The authorship and other related circumstances are under investigation, and the Provost’s Office will handle the matter consistent with University procedures. Although we defend the right to freedom of expression, we also have a responsibility to vehemently dispute speech that is incompatible with our principles and beliefs. The e-mail contained language that was deeply offensive and hurtful to me and to many others in our community, and I condemn it. This country’s history teaches us that ugly speech is best neutralized with other voices and more speech. I ask for your collective support in maintaining civil and respectful campus dialogue on important issues.

Such values of civil discourse hold a special meaning for us at the University of Michigan. Our diverse population includes more than 4,000 international students; one of the largest Jewish student and alumni bodies of any major university; and a significant enrollment of Arab American students on campuses situated near one of the most sizable Arab American communities in the nation. Many students and faculty are deeply engaged in studies on Middle Eastern topics through longstanding and internationally recognized academic programs, including the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, the Jean and Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, the Department of Near Eastern Studies, and the Center for Arab American Studies at U-M-Dearborn.

These rich resources also provide us with a unique opportunity and responsibility to study and debate, in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect, the pressing issues facing our world. I am committed to ensuring that this University remains a place where that will always be possible.

Sincerely,

Mary Sue Coleman
President, University of Michigan

I see, so this conference would go against every rule she just listed except which one again?

[minusthejihad]

http://directory.umich.edu/

All UofM contact information through a directory.

Formula, I'm down with you, except I'm in California right now, but when I move back to Michigan you can sure as hell believe I'll have my America-Israel bumber stickers and flags on my truck as I bump "Hava-Nagila" driving down Michigan Avenue through Dearborn (America's largest Arab community) with no fear. And in case anyone tries to use force to make me stop, they can talk to my gun.

[minusthejihad]

Another reason I chose Michigan State University or University of Michigan is because I had a weird feeling about going to such a liberal school, even back when I was a liberal. You can sure as hell bet that the rednecks up at MSU wouldn't want some terrorist supporters hangin around.

For any of you that understand U of M's heavily Jewish demographics, its like the KKK walking into Brooklyn.

[L@mplighterM]

I guess I’m not the only one that believes that universities shouldn’t host conferences of this nature. The topic is inflammatory particularly in lieu of the current situation in the ME and its certain to add more fuel to the flames.

A conference like this will most certainly result in loss of life because it strengthens the resolve of fanatics.

Given the current status of the situation in the world one can quite imagine that this will not be a peaceful event. The Palestinians don’t require conferences of this nature because no matter what when everything is said and done it will have done nothing to change their position about Israel or the US.

Considering the fact that they will refuse to condemn terrorism I would brand such a movement as supporters of terrorist organizations. A nation can’t remain healthy and strong if some are working hard to eliminate terrorism whilst the other are refusing to condemn it.

[freethepeeps]

Originally posted by L@mplighterM
I guess I’m not the only one that believes that universities shouldn’t host conferences of this nature. The topic is inflammatory particularly in lieu of the current situation in the ME and its certain to add more fuel to the flames.

A conference like this will most certainly result in loss of life because it strengthens the resolve of fanatics.

Given the current status of the situation in the world one can quite imagine that this will not be a peaceful event. The Palestinians don’t require conferences of this nature because no matter what when everything is said and done it will have done nothing to change their position about Israel or the US.

Considering the fact that they will refuse to condemn terrorism I would brand such a movement as supporters of terrorist organizations. A nation can’t remain healthy and strong if some are working hard to eliminate terrorism whilst the other are refusing to condemn it.

We get used to being called anti-semites and terrorist defenders! However many times it is said, it doesn't mean it is true.

Terrorism is difficult to define, no?

On the other hand:

Which part of this definition

often Resistance An underground organization engaged in a struggle for national liberation in a country under military or totalitarian occupation.

doesn't apply to the Palestinians?

Source:

[ibrodsky]

often Resistance An underground organization engaged in a struggle for national liberation in a country under military or totalitarian occupation.

Based on this definition, the Palestinian people should turn their guns the other way.

[freethepeeps]

Originally posted by ibrodsky


Based on this definition, the Palestinian people should turn their guns the other way.

I reckon they find the tanks, helicopters, F16s, M16s and soldiers (ie military) the most pressing matter at the moment!

Besides which, aren't I always being told that Arafat has the "Resistance" completely under his control?

[Miriam]

Originally posted by freethepeeps
We get used to being called anti-semites and terrorist defenders! However many times it is said, it doesn't mean it is true.

Terrorism is difficult to define, no?

Thanks, interesting:

4. Academic Consensus Definition:

"Terrorism is an anxiety-inspiring method of repeated violent action, employed by (semi-) clandestine individual, group or state actors, for idiosyncratic, criminal or political reasons, whereby - in contrast to assassination - the direct targets of violence are not the main targets. The immediate human victims of violence are generally chosen randomly (targets of opportunity) or selectively (representative or symbolic targets) from a target population, and serve as message generators. Threat- and violence- based communication processes between terrorist (organization), (imperilled) victims, and main targets are used to manipulate the main target (audience(s)), turning it into a target of terror, a target of demands, or a target of attention, depending on whether intimidation, coercion, or propaganda is primarily sought" (Schmid, 1988).

Would a "protest march" against "Israeli occupation" bang under the windows of a Jewish home for senior residents in Europe fall under this definition, I wonder?