A week or two ago, Israeli Ambassador Oren spoke at my school, UC Irvine. He was interrupted 17 times by various members of the UCI Muslim Student Union. The 17 were arrested for violating free speech, and although 6 were actually from UC Riverside, the remaining "UCI 11" are pending discipline.
I have my thoughts, but that is unimportant for the moment. Not long after the arrests, a controversy at UC San Diego broke out concerning the annual "Compton Cookout." Shortly thereafter, a "minority student" hung a noose at the campus. Then, this opinion piece, in the UCI New University, came out, questioning the need for a black history month. Then there were some protests at UCI where rally'ers stormed the administration building and refused to leave the top floor. They were arrested. Just this week, another incident, involving a KKK-like pillowcase with eyeholes, was found at UCSD. Apparently, there were issues at UC Berkley and UC Santa Cruz as well.
Today, on behalf of the "Irvine 11," the Black Student Union and others (mostly members of the Muslim Student Union) staged a silent rally, a part of the UC BSU's "UC us now?" campaign, in the middle of the student center on Ring Road.
I was there for the action...
2 comments:
Great photos, as always. I'm ever somewhat perplexed by this sort of thing, but I go to a community college--and since you have in the past, I'm certain you know that the people there are concerned with minor things like going to class and getting an education.
First Amendment rights and all that, but I'm too old for that sort of crap.
"...violating free speech..." that makes no sense, disturbing the peace yes, but they weren't violating his right to free speech, they were making it difficult tho. Props to him for not giving up and walking away.
The video brought to mind the incident I told you about some time ago when Pierre Salinger was at Cal Poly to speak.
As for the "Compton Cookout" - interesting that their little swipe at the Compton stereo-type shows them to be the stereo-typical college fraternity. Whatever legal action does or doesn't follow the University probably has the option to sanction the fraternity. Me, I'd close them down. Period.
As for that essay - I was ready to take her on with the first sentence. The essay, at least as far as I read it, is loaded with sophomoric nonsense. Note to writers everywhere: if your first sentence makes the reader mad, you risk losing the reader and part of your audience.
The noose, hung by whomever, is a provocation and probably meant to be. Agitation keeps the fires burning.
As we grew older the college students of my era liked to think that discrimination was less of a problem and we'd had a hand in making it so. Then our grand-children blithely demonstrate the fragility of the hopes and dreams and, frankly, the hard work and suffering (unto death) of those who worked so hard for equality in the 60's. How can it be that we're seemingly moving backwards??? How can it be?
And now, for the good stuff - damn fine photography Jason! Oh, how I wish I could focus as well as you do......
PS: interesting that the word verification is spewh - obviously the "h" is silent :)
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