Speaking of SPHR, they appear to be moving ahead with their agenda, unfazed by their massive loss in the CSU elections. In what they’re calling the “Karameh Campaign”, they’re planning on issuing “demands” to Concordia’s administration.
Most of this seems pretty transparent. The constant use of “war criminal” is an attempt to slander Benjamin Netanyahu with a false allegation that they know they cannot prove. Their reference to the “criminalization of dissent” flies in the face of evidence that conclusively states that what they are engaging in is, in fact, the politicization of criminal activity. Their “demand” that charges and sanctions be removed from the rioters is nothing short of a joke (incidentally, if you have not yet signed the petition to bring these criminals to justice, please do so!)
The “inquiry into racism” was already called for by the CSU, which gives some insight into its true motives. However, with the old CSU out and the new CSU coming in, it will hopefully end up being more of an opportunity to raise discussion points, rather than a witch-hunt against the “Zionists” and the administration.
As for the third point, normally, students can use space to hold events, and a police presence wouldn’t be necessary if SPHR didn’t insist on turning these events into violent clashes.
Their “principles” are equally transparent: Their standard calls against the “criminalization of dissent” and the “discrimination against refugees”. Their reference to “civil disobedience” would be all very well and good, except for their stubborn conviction that smashing windows and beating up people in kippas consists of “civil” disobedience. And note their use of “in Palestine” – um, last I checked, Palestine isn’t a country.
Finally, perhaps most offensive is their attempt to re-define “anti-Semitism” as meaning “racism against both Arabs and Jews”. That is a racist attempt to twist two thousand years of history around and turn the Arabs into the innocent victims. There’s no such thing as a “semitic” race – that’s an invention of racists. Antisemitism means racism against Jews. Don’t like it? Write to the publishers of the dictionary. Nobody’s denying them the right to protect against other forms of racism, including anti-Arab racism. But their twisting of the term antisemitism enables them to claim to be against antisemitism, when in truth they’re perpetrating it.
SPHR is looking for groups to “endorse” these demands before presenting them to the university. Hah! If you’d like to let these jokers know what you truly think of them, you can send them an e-mail to express yourself.
Update: I’ve removed the actual text of their “demands” and “principles” from my site, because I realized it could be mis-construed that I was actually promoting the damned thing. Of course, as nothing is further from the truth, I took it down to avoid confusion, but I left the link up so that you can read it and see for yourself what they’re up to.
Why not address “imigrant and refugee rights” in arab countries?
Falstaff: because Concordia is in our community. Other countries are, well, far away. You’re missing the point.
Segacs: why not post the text, but with a disclaimer? I’m sure SPHR will remove it as soon as they learn that it’s in the public domain.
Sorry James, didn’t realise Israel was in the Concordia University campus.
The Karameh campaign isn’t about changing what goes on in Israel — it’s about changing what goes on at Concordia. Have you read the linked-to message? If so, do, then respond; that’s what’s on the table here.
signed for Hillel’s freedom from SPHR radicalism and terrorism
James, you raise a valid point which time and again is over-looked (deliberately?) by the pro-Israel mob on campus. SPHR has as much right to discuss what goes on in Palestine-Israel as does Hillel, yet Hillel members never get accused of bringing “their” troubles over here despite the fact that the ratio of citizens:international students in each group is roughly the same. More to the point, karameh is concerned with what goes on here in Montreal and the only response which the Hillel clique seems to be able to muster is “Arabs go home.” Sorry Hillel, we are home and we will make our concerns heard no matter how many racist letters you send us 🙂
Ah, Hanthala, deliberately pretending to have missed the point, as always . . . I was expecting you to have a comment or two about this.
But tell me, why is it that you insist on labelling Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” even though this is a false allegation and you all know it?
Why is it that you are deliberately redefining “antisemitism” as “anti-Arab racism”, knowing full well that this is an incorrect definition of the term?
And furthermore, why is it that you have comments on virtually all threads on this board – except the one that brings up how the International Solidarity Movement was found harbouring a wanted member of the Islamic Jihad? Are you not, yourself, a member of the ISM, Hanthala? Do you condone or condemn this?
“Their “demand” that charges and sanctions be removed from the rioters is nothing short of a joke…”
That only makes sense if you consider every student who was at school that day a “rioter.” It is clear to anyone who has seen the video footage and reviewed the rights and responsibilities hearing material that the people engaged in “violence” that day were not the ones put on trial. It is also clear that the trials made a mockery of natural justice. For instance the student who was convicted for simply being in school that day (the students’ mere presence in his own school apparantly constitutes harassment) on the basis of two Concordia security guards’ (ie. Concordia employees) “testimony” (who were not even present in the lobby or mezz that day) that they felt “threatened.” Moreover, the guards were not even present to testify at the trial! Instead, their “testimony” was relayed by a third Concordia employee which means that the “testimony” cannot be cross-examined.
“As for the third point, normally, students can use space to hold events…”
Correction, SOME students can use space to hold events. You cannot retroactively use the events of September 9–a protest organized by a coalition of students, not SPHR (whose members were involved in calming the situation as seen on video footage and media reports)–to justify the administration’s refusal to grant space for SPHR events over the last 3 years.
“Their reference to “civil disobediance” would be all very well and good, except for their stubborn conviction that smashing windows and beating up people in kippas consists of “civil” disobediance.”
Again, the students put on trial for the events of that day were not involved in “smashing windows and beating up people in kippas.” These are the people who should be facing trials along with the “people in kippas” and the pro-Israel students and wider Montreal community members who engaged in violence (footage shows a faculty member punching a demonstrator, witnesses have also reported pushing, shoving, spitting, and at least three counts of sexual harrasment on the part of the Zionist mob).
Please do send emails to karameh, the ones received so far are perfect evidence of why karameh needs to exist and continue its struggle.
Hanthala, ain’t that the pot calling the kettle black!?!
“But tell me, why is it that you insist on labelling Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” even though this is a false allegation and you all know it”
Netanyahu is a war criminal.
“Why is it that you are deliberately redefining “antisemitism” as “anti-Arab racism”, knowing full well that this is an incorrect definition of the term?”
Not my doing and to be honest Segacs, not sure I agree with it. We’ve had this discussion before. However, even if defined as such, it still means that karameh (and SPHR) is comitted to fighting anti-Jewish racism and in the years that I’ve been around and involved, I’ve seen this principle in action–anti-Jewish racism or anti-semitism (or antisemitism if you prefer) is not tolerated within SPHR. I’ve yet to see ANY discussion of anti-Arab racism within Hillel as an organization (though some of its members have privately admitted that it is a problem within the organization–which takes its lead from the openly racist B’nai Brith–and that it is not being addressed).
“And furthermore, why is it that you have comments on virtually all threads on this board – except the one that brings up how the International Solidarity Movement was found harbouring a wanted member of the Islamic Jihad? Are you not, yourself, a member of the ISM, Hanthala? Do you condone or condemn this?”
No, I’m not a member of the ISM. I haven’t commented on that thread yet because I’m not aware of the details of the story and haven’t had time to check it out. The IDF’s accusations are not proof enough for me. In addition, from what I know of the ISM, it was not knowingly harbouring a criminal. The organization is devoted to non-violent direct action and seeks to offer an alternative form of resistance to the occupation from that exemplified by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, etc. I’m also suspicious that this is some kind of IDF stunt to discredit the organization because of recent events.
From your petition: “We, the undersigned, are horrified by the violent attacks by Arab protestors…”
WOW! Another example of why karameh needs to exist. Why target Arab protestors? Why not include a demand that all protesters and counter-protesters be they Jewish, Arab, Muslim, Christian, French, English, Italian, Greek, etc, who engaged in acts of violence be brought to trial?
Because the Arab protesters are the most rabid in the area, excepting some of the radical left like Trish or Slater who are just as bad. Don’t try to be so PC. With the exception of those like Adam Slater or other Jewish Antisemites, I haven’t heard of violent Jewish protesters. Face the facts, the Arabs/Muslim protesters and their brainwashed lefty psychotics are the perpetrators of violent protests, particularly against Jews.
Finally, on the use of your word “Mob” There is no general Jewish “Mob”, however there certainly are many arab mobs, including the mob that ferociously, like a pack of angry wolves, attacked students entering the hall for the Netanyahu speech. Arab students always cite racism and anti-arabism and criticize everyone for hating them, but no matter how terribly Arabs treat each other, they will never criticize their bretheren or accept/talk about their own faults and misfits in their societies; rather they deflect their problems away from the truth and blame them on the zionists.
Got out of bed this morning and stubbed my toe – bloody zionists!
hehe! that’s great Shiek!
Historical (academic) anti-semitism did include arabs as semites. And arabic is certainly a semitic language. There are plenty of good words to describe those with an animus against Jews. Anti-Jewish is one. Jew-hater is even bettter — more visceral.
As well, the techniques of anti-semitism have been used agaisnt Arabs. For example, The National Review used a viciously anti-semitic caricature of Yasser Arafat last yeat. They gave him a big hook nose, googly eyes, and a lascivious grin. Jewsih organizations outh to (but rarely, if ever o) protest agaisnt anti-semitic descriptions of Arbas in mainstream media.
(One exception: Both Jewish and Arab organizations got together to protest Star Wars Episode I’s anti-semitic caricatures.)
Sheik al Schmuck — If that’s the level of discussion you have at Concordia, you deserve your crappy reputation.
I haven’t HEARD of Zionist counter-protesters being violent on September 9, I SAW them and so did many others.
Ikram, that’s an interesting point about anti-semitism (antisemitism). Do you happen to remember around what time last year the National Review used that Arafat caricature. I’ve seen quite a few old anti-Jewish (stereo)types of representation now being used againt Arabs. Ah..plus ca change…