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Ex-terrorists to lecture at CU
Some student groups concerned about anti-Islamic message
Two self-labeled terrorists-turned-peace activists will speak next week on the University of Colorado campus -- and some students, in anticipation of the visit, say they fear the paid guests will spread hateful, anti-Islamic messages.
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The Cultural Events Board, which doles out money to student groups to pay for speakers, granted the College Republicans' request to fund the controversial, $10,000 campus talk: "Why We Want to Kill You."
Walid Shoebat and Kamal Saleem — former Islamic terrorists who are popular guests in the college-speaking circuit and on conservative talk shows — will speak at 7 p.m. April 29 in the Glenn Miller Ballroom on CU’s campus.
The speakers say they will “share their personal experiences and stress the dangers that the Western world faces today, as Islamic Fundamentalism grows with fervor around the globe.”
Shoebat said college campuses are fertile recruiting grounds for the radical Islamic movement.
In advance of the meeting, an e-mail circulated Monday among CU student-diversity groups and the Muslim Student Association urging students to research the speakers and expose them, saying Shoebat is a “hateful liar” and classifying the event as “completely anti-Islam.”
The Muslim Student Association this week is hosting an Islamic Awareness Week, with student panels and other events.
Shoebat said his speaking engagements are often met with hecklers and demonstrators, but he said college students are getting a one-sided view on the war on terror and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“Criticizing a religion is not racism,” he said in a telephone interview Monday. “Critiquing a religion is a form of speech. If people cannot critique religion in this country, then we are beginning to see a downfall.”
Shoebat —as a teenager and member of the Palestine Liberation Organization — said he participated in a “failed terror attack” by planting a bomb on the rooftop of a Bethlehem bank that exploded but did not hurt anyone.
Shoebat said that in 1993, while challenging his wife to convert to Islam, he studied the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, and became convinced that he was on the side of evil.
“I had a spiritual change,” said Shoebat, now a Christian. “I fell in love with the Bible. I love the Bible. I saw the Bible as a better transcript than the Quran.”
He said that during his visit next week, he wants to deliver the message that poverty and lack of education are not root causes of terrorism.
“As a nation, we must not give excuses to terrorism,” he said. “The root cause of terrorism is a rise in the phenomenon of radical Islamic fundamentalism.”
The American-Islamic Relations council has criticized Shoebat’s visits to other college campuses, including one at Michigan State University last month, saying he is either a “fraud” or should be detained by the justice department for his supposed terrorism in Israel.
Kelly Brewer El-Yacoubi, a member of CU’s Muslim Student Association, said the group doesn’t have a planned protest but encourages students to research the speakers.
“MSA is not a political organization in nature, as compared to other student groups, and we believe in a message of peace,” she said. “We have positive events. We play offense rather than defense.”
She said she realizes that some campus events are meant to provoke students.
“We really value the equality of people, and if there’s a racist event, we would never support it,” she said.
CU students pay about $20 a year to two organizations — the Cultural Events Board and Distinguished Speakers Board — that bring in speakers. Together, that amounts to less than 3 percent of the annual, mandatory $670 student-activity fee package.
Bronson Hilliard, spokesman for CU, said the administration does not “micro-manage the speakers list that comes forward from our student groups.”
A review this school year, conducted by CU’s Internal Audit Office at the regents’ request and agreed upon by student leaders, found that the way the student union funds its guest speakers is in line with university rules, and the paid guests represent a diversity of viewpoints. But there were no records for unfunded events, and auditors recommended the student leaders strengthen their compliance by documenting denied proposals.
Contact Camera Staff Writer Brittany Anas at 303-473-1132 or anasb@dailycamera.com.
Posted by The_Belfrey on April 22, 2008 at 12:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ATTENTION, PROGRESSIVE THINKERS OF BOULDER:
Some big ol' meanies are coming to town with a horrible message of hate and intolerance. They plan to say that there are there is a segment of the Muslim faith that actually advocates violence in defense of Islam, and that there are people who are guilty of committing horrible crimes in the name of Islam. They claim to not only have facts to back this up, but that they actually took part! Can you imagine such slanderous falsehoolds being spoken within our fair borders? Why, the very thought! So here's what we're going to do:
Clearly this is nothing more than anti-Islam propaganda...you can see that, right? Everything that's done in the name of Islam is holy and pure and results in a virgin-filled afterlife. So we're going to start a campaign to discredit them before they show up. If we call them hateful liars and anti-Islam ahead of time, lots of folks will just take our word for it and shun them. When they show up, we'll sit in their audience and just try to shout them down. No one could ever take them seriously if we go and just yell louder, right? We might disagree with their position, but we should never be forced to react rationally and intelligently!
And in the event that there are still a few people left who insist on making up their own minds about these two, just toss out the word "racism." Pay no mind that this is an issue regarding religion, not race, and that practicing Muslims come from all racial backgrounds; that word is guaranteed to sway people over to our side, because no one wants to be called racist for considering an opposing viewpoint. Want people to defend Islam? Call 'em racist. Want people to eat vegan? Call 'em racist. Want people to stop picking on poor Club Nitro? Yup, racist. Works every time.
Diversity means that we have no obligation whatsoever to tolerate people with viewpoints that make us uncomfortable, so let's do what's morally right and fight propaganda with more propaganda!
What, you think I'm being to hard on these CU minority and diversity groups? Well, you're just racist!
Posted by The_Belfrey on April 22, 2008 at 12:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, by the way, I actually did research these two. Guess what I found? Organizations, web sites, and individuals with clear social and political agendas attempting to discredit these two as frauds without a single fact or shred of evidence (but lots of speculation and perjoratives) to support their claims. I'm supposed to ignore these guys because they get called a lot of unpleasant names and some blogger at truthdig doubts their stories?
But hey, don't take my word for it. Do your own research.
Posted by Thedailyispathetic on April 22, 2008 at 1:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a soon to be former poli sci major at CU so I'm going to say what I think and then you all can make smarmy comments at your leisure. Just so you know, I'm a gun-toting social liberal who also happens to be a fiscal and international affairs conservative.
I have zero problems with these two coming to CU. Concessions have been made to Muslim student organizations in the past, but the reality of this issue demands that less than politically correct information be availeble. People, the birth rates in Islamic states, especially ones where international terrorists are active, are skyrocketing. Native Europeans will most likely be outnumbered by their Muslim minorities in the next fifty years. I'm not saying that is bad in any definition, but the truth is that the demographics of terrorism show that if the acceptance and support of terrorism continues at its current rate, we count assume that the number of those who support these ideas will number near the hundreds of thousands in Europe alone. High on the Isalmic FUNDAMENTALIST agenda is the implementation of Sharia law. With an increased population, the possibility of democratic implementation of draconian social law is possible. I am in no way condemning the Islamic faith, but we need to be aware of what the consequences of Islamic fundamentalism can ultimately be. So I support these two in coming to CU. I haven't fact checked them yet, but at least on the surface, it seems necessary for debate and solution making process of how to prevent militant Islamic terrorists from committing atrocities.
Posted by geneloehrlein on April 22, 2008 at 1:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought CU Boulder was all about free speech, diversity, and all that other fuzzy feel good stuff. Keep an open mind already!
Posted by UncleEthan on April 22, 2008 at 5:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OH NO! The "possibility" of spreading a "hateful, anti-Islamic" message cannot be tolerated! Just try spreading a hateful, anti Christian or anti Jewish message and see what happens. Oh yeah, that's OK, tolerated and welcomed with open arms. Please, Muslim Students Association - tell us about Islam, the religionn of peace. But don't leave out 9/11, sucicide bombings, stoning, beheading, amputations and Darfur. We want the entire peaceful picture.
Posted by Toxic_Prairie_Dog on April 22, 2008 at 6:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"they fear the paid guests will spread hateful, anti-Islamic messages."
Yes, cutting the heads off of live human beings as said human beings choke on their own blood, trying to shout out but no longer having a complete path for air to pass over their vocal cords, dying seconds later, is loving, not hateful. Thanks for clearing up that definition for us.
The message is against radical Islam - one of the most hateful ways of thinking on Earth. Please stop supporting radical Islam.
Posted by Bigair on April 22, 2008 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The message is against radical Islam but it sounds like it should cover all of Islam. If that wasn't the case why is the Muslim Student Association calling them “hateful liar” and classifying the event as “completely anti-Islam.”
The Muslim Student Association should spend their time speaking out against the horrible things Muslims do in the name of allah.
Posted by glx1747 on April 22, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny, I thought liberals were anti-religion of all origins!! Surely, the libs think that allah is just as evil as Jesus? Funny how irony works within the "progressive's" minds.
Posted by meatpieandtatters on April 22, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Reformed haters? I'd rather hear about the Federal Reserve ripoff and how our Congressional slobs are nothing but paid minions for the Rockefellers.
Posted by RoundisaShape on April 22, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice to see comments supporting these two speakers. Way to go community!
Posted by SoldierInWarofIdeas on April 22, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That this would be in the least bit controversial is sad, sad, sad. It is an indisputable fact that there is a concept called jihad which is a fundamental pillar of pious Islam. While intellectuals debate whether or not the definition of "jihad" involves simply soul-searching (inward struggle) or whether it includes externally directed violence, a significant number of Muslims around the world clearly subscribe to the latter.
9/11, Kobar Towers, The Tanzania and Kenya Embassy bombings, the U.S.S Cole, the 1993 world trade center bombing, the Bali Bombs, London, Madrid, Daniel Pearl, too-many-Iraq-atrocities-to begin-to-relate, etc. etc. etc. etc. are all the proof I need and should be all the proof that pretty much any rational being needs. ( I think a prairie dog could see it, but I digress).
I agree wholeheartedly with Bigair that groups such as the Muslim Student Association would be much more effective if they would speak out loudly against violent Jihad as well as promote the positive virtues of their religion.
Posted by SoBoPop on April 22, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The PC cops have a Doug Bruce hangover this morning.
Posted by IXLR82 on April 22, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
P"osted by meatpieandtatters on April 22, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Reformed haters? I'd rather hear about the Federal Reserve ripoff and how our Congressional slobs are nothing but paid minions for the Rockefellers."
Gee, that's relevant and useful
Posted by IXLR82 on April 22, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"they fear the paid guests will spread hateful, anti-Islamic messages."
Outrageous!! Islam is a religion of peace. Just because a cartoon can cause several hundred thousand muslims to march in the streets demanding death to the artist, and they cut the heads off enemies on video, doesn't mean it's not.
You should know better CU! The only relegion you are allowed to bash on campus is Christianity.
Posted by Toxic_Prairie_Dog on April 22, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"I feel this detracts from the great threat to humanity, Carbon!"
I believe that the speakers will hold their breath the entire talk, thereby not emitting CO2, saving the planet.
Posted by producto on April 22, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Terrorists invited to CU. How nice.
Posted by lidarman on April 22, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe it's really Jeff Dunham showing up with Achmed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uwOL4...
Posted by user4356 on April 22, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Shoebat is a popular speaker at fundamentalist Christian churches and on conservative talk radio. He converted to Christianity in 1993 and his claims of being a "ex-terrorist" are dubious. See Jerusalem Post article dated 3.30.08:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellit...
Posted by The_Belfrey on April 22, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ooooooo....dubious. Clearly this means that Islam is completely peaceful, that no one has ever acted violently in the name of Islam, that 9/11 didn't actually happen and was just a really good episode of "24," and that Daniel Pearl is still alive and living comfortably in Islamabad with his many beautiful wives.
Oh, wow...a speaker at fundamentalist Christian churches. You know, like the Air Force Academy and Columbia University. Yeah, they are clearly preachin' it to the choir brotha! As we all know, if you speak at any fundamentalist Christian church this obviously means you're lying about your past and you just want to bash Islam because it's fun and fundamentalist Christian chicks dig it. I mean, why speak at Christian churches when your message would be so welcomed as the local mosque?
What's that? Conservative talk radio you say? Because you just know they have to keep turning down those dozens of invitations to speak on Air America so they can maintain their image.
Again, the only people trying to discredit these men have no facts; they can only name-call and speculate, and make non-claims like the above in the hope that people won't think for themselves. What are you afraid of? Afraid to hear that your precious little religion has a problem with violent members? Afraid that someone's going to go fatwa on you if you criticize those who murder children in the name of Islam? Afraid that you'll become the lead role in the next beheading vid for suggesting that there are people who truly beleive they must kill non-Muslims, and this this might actually be, oh I dunno...bad?
Here's a radical notion: denounce violence and violent people in your religion, loudly and publicly. Name names. Go on national television and deliver a statement that goes something like this: "Shiekh Allah Mohammed al-Jihadi is a violent terrorist and does not follow the true teachings of Islam. We strongly condemn his acts of violence and his philosophies. He is not a true Muslim, and we officially denounce him." Until that happens on a global scale, you are complicit cowards, and slaves to a 12th-century mafia mentality that's put forth by these machete-wielding psychopaths.
Posted by Frobitz66 on April 22, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was going to hold my tongue but ...
"SoldierInWarofIdeas" blabbered about jihad being a "fundamental pillar of pious Islam". Sorry. Try again.
As anyone who understands Islam would know, the 5 pillars (and there are only 5) are:
1) Witness - acknowledgement of monothestic belief
2) Prayer - 5 times a day
3) Giving Alms - charity
4) Fasting
5) Pilgrimage
Now, I have no problem with these two individuals describing their experiences. I also have no problem with their conversion to Christianity. These are their prerogatives.
What I do have a problem with is ignorant people making off-the-cuff comments about a religion that they do not understand.
We need more understanding in this country to help counter ignorance. If these inflammatory speeches help bring that about, more's the better.
Posted by glock27 on April 22, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Frobitz66:
If there are only 5 pillars of islam and none of them include killing infidels, how is it that imams continue to use the koran to justify killing non-muslims?
Posted by SoBoPop on April 22, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Its the mythical sixth pillar of Islam, made of salt, which some say melted and can only be known to true believers and the religiously deranged.
Posted by Frobitz66 on April 22, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Glock27:
You're right. It is the imams who are creating the trouble. But then look at who funds most of them. Our good old oil-bearing friends, the Saudi's. Look at what they're preaching. Intolerance, prejudice, and the misguided hope of eternal salvation if their orders are followed. In that sense, the common perceptions here in the US are correct.
So what do the Saudi's have to do with this? IMHO, the Saudi's have the most perverted view of Islam of country/culture.
Want to fix the problem? Put pressure on the Saudi's to reform: politically and socially. Fix that problem and you then have a chance for more "enlightened" theology to come out of that part of the world.
Another thing to be conscious of is that most of the "radical" Muslims come out of impoverished and uneducated environments. Scant few of the many well educated Muslims that I know have even the remotest sympathy for these radicals.
So to recap: social and political reform in Saudi combined with the same plus economic reform in the rest of the Muslim world and you have a chance of defeating the monster of "radicalism".
Posted by glock27 on April 22, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Frobitz66:
The radical muslims who flew planes into the world trade center were upper middle class and well-educated.
Imams all over the world teach that infidels may be killed. I assume that muslims marching in Denmark to demand the killing of Danish moviemakers and cartoonists are merely the tools of rich Saudis.
When I see muslims demanding civilized behavior from their fellow muslims I will believe that islam is not a primitive religion of death and tyranny.
By the way, I assume that you are speaking out against muslim savagery at your local mosque...aren't you?
Posted by Frobitz66 on April 23, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Glock27:
You're assuming. ;-)
Posted by 60s4ever on April 24, 2008 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm hearing on the other blogs that these guys are fake. In any event, wouldn't it be great if these dudes came to talk about fear and hatred and nobody showed up?
Posted by jimsarushfan on April 25, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Free Speech? Only, yes ONLY if you are speaking the politically correct speech approved by the elite liberal element on campus. Christian's are not welcome...
Posted by rwb1 on April 30, 2008 at 6 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am honestly relieved to see that so many in the community can see Islam for what it is as a false and hate-filled religion, and that so many in this community are still clear-minded about both Islam and free speech. I only hope that many of you are college students, but either way, the response from the community is great. If you are sympathetic to Islam, or a follower of Islam, please know there are many praying for you.
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