Mob Rule at Columbia

In a follow-up to my previous article about the Riot at Columbia University (free speech under fire), mob rule is pretty much the answer to people who are opposed to their "undisputed" position.

As an example of comparison, a conservative speaker was invited by Democracy for America at Macalester College to participate in a panel debate about the war in Iraq on the fifth anniversary of 9/11.

No one disrupted the panel debate and no one chased the conservative speaker from the dais. (Frontpage Magazine) Even though the audience was unenthusiastic about his point of view, no violence occurred.

Unlike Columbia University...

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It is actually interesting to note one point made by Captain's Quarters in his article.

The purpose behind the use of Arabic in their "No one is ever illegal" banner

You kinda expected only Spanish and English, so why Arabic? Jim Gilchrist and his Minutemen are patrolling the border between the US and Mexico, so English and Spanish would clearly be the most obvious choices. Was this a cheapshot directed at discrimination being used against Arab immigrants? Or is there a hidden agenda behind there?

In our academic institutions, students, faculty, and staff learn different viewpoints. We should learn to accept them at face value even though we may disagree with them.

The Chicano Caucus, the African-American Student Association, and the International Socialist Organisation were bent on making their voices loud using easy slogans to denounce and criticise. They did not care if the rest of the audience wanted to at least listen to the founder of the Minutemen Project. They probably think that allowing this individual on campus was too much for them and they had to react in a violent way.

It is also quite ironic for this to happen at Columbia since this is where the most prestigious school of journalism is located.

I would even suggest to Princeton Review to install a "Suppression of Opposing Viewpoints" category. Columbia University would certainly acheive top spot there.

We also should go back to one junior student, Ryan Fukumori, who stated that the Minutemen "had no right to be able to speak there."

Remember the Constitution? Remember the First Amendment? Remember the phrase "the right to free speech?" I will leave it out there for that person to retract his illogical statement.

Kulawik, president of Columbia College Republicans, believed "we wanted to hear views we don't usually hear at Columbia. I'm quite ashamed of the university and my peers. I expected them to listen and ask tough questions."

They did listened, and instead of tough questions, they responded with tough action.

We are the victims...

In a NY Times article, senior Columbia student Monique Dols (History) mounted the stage in protest and unfurled a banner. “We have always been escorted off the stage and the event continues,” she said, adding that this time the protesters were attacked.

“We were punched and kicked,” she said. “Unfortunately, the story being circulated is that we initiated the violence.”

Obviously, since security guards and event organisers were trying to remove you from the stage and you resisted. What a wonderful excuse to paint yourself and everyone else who rushed the stage as the victims.

Author's Note

This clearly does not mean the whole entire student body and faculty at Columbia University are in favor of suppressing opposing viewpoints with violence. However, the student body should look at this event and reflect. They should realise not to let ultra-fringe type groups dictate their thoughts and actions. The Student Council at Columbia should take action to show that they do not support this type of protest and that constructive debate should be upheld.

Thank you.

Los Angeles Times - Minuteman Founder Forced from N.Y. Stage

TigerHawk Blog - Interdicting speech at Columbia

Fox News (Talking Points) - O'Reilly Interviews Marvin Stewart (Minutemen) about Columbia protest

UCLA's Daily Bruin criticises disruption in their editorial

NY Sun - Violence at Columbia

The Chronicle - Anti-Immigrant Speaker Greeted with Brawl at Columbia U.

The Harvard Crimson - Ivy Infusion: Columbia's Battle of Lexington

NY Post - Columbia's Speech Thugs

Finally, the major newspapers are covering it:

Washington Times - Crazy at Columbia

New York Times - Columbia Investigating Protests That Stopped Speaker

New York Times - Silencing of a Speech Causes a Furor

San Jose Mercury News - Mayor criticizes Columbia students who stormed stage

NY Post - Columbia Prez Talks Tough

Narco News - Free Speech Threatened at Columbia University

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Now, the College Republicans at Columbia are adding more fuel to the fire. The NY Sun is reporting that they will host two ex-terrorists and a former Nazi at their next lecture event next week. Scheduled for October 11, it will feature a former Palestinian Liberation Organisation terrorist, Walid Shoebat, a former Lebanese terrorist, Zachariah Anani, and a former member of the Hitler youth and Nazi soldier, Hilmar von Campe.

Mr. Shoebat runs an eponymous organisation, the Walid Shoebat Foundation, which "cries for the justice of Israel and the Jewish people." It opposes the creation of a Palestinian state.

US Newswire - Two Ex-Terrorists, Former Nazi to speak at Columbia U