All is Not Right in Cambridge

Submitted by Sharon Epson (United States), Jun 6, 2002 at 11:26

One hears the same "buzz words" or phrases reiterated by different individuals representing Muslim-American organizations on different TV chat shows that it is hard to believe that these individuals are speaking their own minds, and not from a script that coaches them to press certain buttons. For example, when MSNBC/CNBC's Chris Matthews went "one-on-one" vs. Hussein Ibish last week on the same topic of the "jihad speech at Harvard," Ibish stated, "This is complete McCarthyism," an accusation with which Matthews took great exception. Similarly, Dave Marash stated in his NIghtline report, available on the Nightline web site, and interview with the student whose speech is at issue: "Yasin's response to the attention: 'It seems a little McCarthyist.'" I'm not sure where McCarthy comes in, but it is a comment designed, I believe, to generate an emotional response from media to 'back off" from asking the hard questions, like about this student's relationship with fundraising for an Islamic charity accused of being a terrorist front.

Similarly, the style of these debates appears so similiar as to make one think that all these representatives are coached in the same style of rudeness. Most of these individuals employ the style of speaking in a tone of righteous indignation, and of interrupting their "adversary." How many times have we heard the "moderators" attempt to get these individuals to allow others to get a word in? [Alan Keyes on MSNBC is one of the most assertive ones in this regard]. More often than not, we see Dr. Pipes and others like him, having to waste time telling people like Dr. Hartout, "Now I didn't interrupt you..." The same style was employed by the young Muslim American student from San Francisco State University who made the rounds of the TV chat shows to claim that her organization's rights were impeded during its counterprotest against a pro-Israel student rally.

Americans, including the ACLU and its progeny, must recognize that individuals and organizations like these must not be supported, nor must their agenda be facilitated. This Harvard student has successfully gotten more attention than he deserves. And the politically correct administration at Harvard must, in Dr. Pipes' words, "look very hard at its own soul and understand where it stands in the war on terror."

Thank you, Dr. PIpes for your courage to speak out -- over and over -- for the good of us all and our freedoms.

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