Does that mean that there's not going to be any expulsions, after all? [Updated and bumped.]
By Moe Lane Posted in Archived — Comments (29) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
[UPDATE: And here's the original YAF response, via the Washington Times. One wonders whether GWU is going to force the actual people making racist commentary to publicly condemn hate speech.]
This is how it went down. Via Volokh, btw.
The YAF at George Washington University [is] going to be hosting Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week later this month.
Monday, this flyer shows up. Please take a really, really good look at it. If you feel like preemptively laughing at the GWU administration, hold it in.
Outrage ensues, with calls for understanding, tolerance, and the immediate expulsion of whoever did this. KEEP HOLDING IT IN!
Tuesday, it is revealed that the poster was actually done by antiwar activists who wanted to highlight the racism of the YAF... by making a racist poster themselves. You may read their rather whiny letter here. You can also stop holding it in.
They also claim that it was all a joke; which, to be fair, might seem to be a reasonable tack to take, what with the lasers in eyes and heroin peg-legs and whatnot. Alas for them, the administration has already gotten on its high horse about this and everything. It is going to be highly entertaining to watch either: GWU admit that they are collectively stupid enough to believe that conservative groups would actually put up posters like this; or actually go after antiwar activists for espousing racism.
Pass the popcorn.
Moe
PS: Still supporting expulsion, SA Executive Vice President Brand Kroeger? No? Why?
The vast majority of racist or sexist comments I see nowadays are from liberals trying (and failing) to mock conservatives via their strawman perception.
---
(Formerly known as bee) / Internet member since 1987
Member of the Surreality-Based Community
Unsophisticated boobs -- it should have been their first, automatic reaction -- 'hey, this is very likely to be YAF opponents trying to raise controversy'. But nooooooooo, their first, knee-jerk thought was 'those dirty conservatives'.
I predict furious backpedaling -- 'well, expulsion's awfully strong for a little prank like that'.
It's war -- so when can we start shooting back at the enemy Democrats?
But I'm sure Georgetown would handle this in a similarly dumb fashion.
Wait, that's no reason not to make fun of GW...where people pay more for less.
“I think we are the team to beat in the NL East -- finally.” - Jimmy "MVP" Rollins, 1/23/07
One could have hoped that the "lasers in the eyes" part would have given it away as a joke. Unless some people think other people really think that way about other people . . .
Great post!
"We wanted to counter the true hate speech that is embodied by the upcoming Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week."
Apparently they are able to read minds, which enables them to predict the type of "upcoming" speech that will take place.
On another, related subject - any guesses on who might have placed the noose on the black prof's door at Columbia? Let me help with a riddle - if I own the glass company in town, and threw a rock through your window, who would you call?
Let's say the YAF office had gotten bombed and several of their members shot. A Muslim student is caught and said he felt so threatened by the posters that he felt he had to act in self defense against such evil people.
Then what?
Then what indeed...perhaps they would consider that collateral damage in the jihad against conservatives...
He should be charged with murder.
...a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right...
---Thomas Paine---
The administration should be embarrassed and back down. Yes, the flier should say "This is a parody", or perhaps, "In case you're a moron, this is a parody."
It's not, however, the same to expel someone for making an insensitive parody you misunderstood, as it is to expel someone for sincerely promoting militant racism.
you're a liberal? The ACT of creating and distributing the posters was enough to expel the young conservatives. But you think the SAME ACT is not enough to apply to liberals? Great equal protection there isn't it?
Socialism doesn't work. It looks nice on paper, but it's been tried and it's failed miserably every time (usually accompanied by widespread death and suffering).
Proud member of the V.R.W.C.
Well sure the conservatives would be expelled if they had done this because their thinking would have been unjust and evil. However, since this prank was done with 'good' intentions, then maybe just a little probation is warranted. You see, you have failed to take into account the motivation or intention behind the act and instead have chosen to focus on the act itself. How old fashioned. After all, this is the age of 'hate' crimes, where we can somehow peer into a person's heart and determine that if they committed an act out of 'hate', it must be far worse than if they committed the same act out of 'love'!
I know you guys are being ironic, but understanding the author's intent is the fundamental nature of satire. I'm not tying this to liberal/conservative--or endorsing this over-the-top flier. If a conservative group created a satirical flier that demonizes Christians for instance--and the flier was mistaken for sincerity--I'd be on their side too, because it's a miscommunication.
Would you hold The Onion, or Johnathan Swift accountable for the face-value meanings of what they write, or would you agree that intent does play some kind of role?
If the 'victims' of the 'racism' are the people identifying with the group depicted, what's the intent matter?
for "hate crimes" against "protected" groups.
Here's an example that came up in the Austin area recently. Some idiot car sales manager thought it would be funny and catchy in a flyer he e-mailedt to some customers to call attention to Ford's new air-conditioned seats by starting it out with "Tired of the Wet Backs"?
It was completely stupid and now the dealership is having to grovel and figure out how much $$$ they need to pump into the various liberal Hispanic groups in order to convince them that their apology is sincere.
Did the guy intend any harm? I strongly doubt it. My guess is he's a moron, not a racist. Is he being crucified along with the dealership? Certainly. Will any apology or action be sufficient? Of course not.
The problem is that GWU has already demonstrated through its actions that it would not accept a satire defense - at least not one that came from a conservative group. They piled right into YAF without thinking twice.
One would expect that they will show that same sort of unblinking zeal towards the people who actually did the deed. Or at least think that it's a legitimate question why they won't.
Shorter Moe Lane: the theoretical later. We want to hear why GWU [bleep]ed this whole specific thing up, and if there's going to be a walkback on the rhetoric, we want to know why.
Moe Lane
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Moe, if you're referring to the "Hatchet" article, the only person calling for expulsion is the Student Association VP, and the only person calling it hate speech is the pres. of the conservative group. The adults were more careful with their language.
However, if I missed your evidence, and the University has gone overboard, the right thing to do is not to stay hysterical and expel them, but to face their mistake, be embarrassed, and perhaps exact some lighter punishment on the students for being tasteless.
this:
University President Steven Knapp condemned the posters in a news release issued Monday evening.
"We do not condone, and we will not tolerate, the dissemination of fliers or other documents that vilify any religious, ethnic, or racial group," Knapp said in the release. "This flier does not represent, in any way, shape or form, the views of the administration of GW."
and this:
You should issue an apology to the conservatives unfairly targeted. It was obvious that the fliers were spreading lies, but your administration, led by Bridgette Behling—the assistant director of the Student Activities Center—sent emails to the young conservatives pressuring them to sign statements disavowing any hate speech that may originate at any future Young America’s Foundation event.
...you can find that link via here.
So, no, they weren't being careful, with their language or anything else. They went gunning for the YAF. And we'd like to know whether they're going to go gunning for the people who were actually peddling bigoted trash. And if they don't, we want to know why.
Simple as that.
Moe
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Thank you, Moe. I don't want to drag this out, but I guess I find the president's remark to be tamer than you do. A broad value statement, and a non-endorsement, with no reference to consequences. If you read a more villifying tone in what he says, or want to view the remarks of students as speaking for the university, then you're entitled to your opinion.
Debating the real me has turned out to be a lot less rewarding than debating the imaginary me in your head. A common problem on the Internet, to be sure.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
I think I have to agree with Joe Felice on his last point there...
The statement from the University President IS a lot tamer than you have suggested in previous comments.
The actions of the other people with those emails were beyond the pale, of course, but nothing in your links suggest that the school itself is calling for the expulsion of anyone involved. Just the student leadership.
Carlos: "What? Were they [Democrats]?"
Seth: "They look like [Democrats]? Is that what they looked like? They were vampires.
"[Democrats] do not explode when sunlight hits them."
You'll find that the first suggestion that the administration itself was advocating expulsion was by... Joe Felice, who then used it as a central point for his argument, such as it was. As I'm not under any obligation to argue as he pleases, he's sort of out of luck.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Thus, hate espoused by the left is merely an attempt to demonstrate their never ending love and tolerance for all.
So, It's O.K. to hate, as long as it's in the name of tolerance.
Got It?
Recommended for the irony alone.
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
His first term? We just celebrated the 10th anniversary of his second term. :)
...a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right...
---Thomas Paine---
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
Freedom Fighter in Occupied VA