Academic Freedom Does not Cover Political Proganda
DuTcHelMDiSeaSe
John Manning
> http://www.newcriterion.com/weblog/2005/02/ward-churchill-is-not-problem.html
Kevin Drum nicely deconstructs this tiresome Ward Churchill witch hunt.
Washington Monthly, February 5, 2005
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_02/005595.php
PACK JOURNALISM....After reading yet another article about University of
Colorado nutjob Ward Churchill in the LA Times this morning, I began to
wonder. How did this story get so much play? I mean, the guy's an
obscure academic in Boulder, and the "Roosting Chickens" paper that
created all the flurry was written three years ago. What gives?
The short answer is twofold: it's the result of both the agenda-setting
power of the right wing outrage machine and the agenda-setting power of
the New York Times. According to Nexis, here's how the story developed.
On January 26, a local newspaper, the Syracuse Post-Standard, wrote
about Churchill's upcoming visit to nearby Hamilton College. The paper
quoted Hamilton art history professor Steven Goldberg saying that it was
"morally outrageous" to bring Churchill to campus. On the same day, AP
distributed a short dispatch about the controversy.
On January 27, the conservative New York Post picked up the story and
Joe Scarborough mentioned it on his cable talk show.
On January 28 it led Bill O'Reilly's program. After telling his audience
that free speech has its limits — "I can't subject my audience to
irresponsible ravings," he said, apparently without a trace of irony —
O'Reilly declared that Churchill didn't deserve to be an American
citizen and then suggested that he should be arrested for sedition.
On January 29 the right-wing Washington Times called Churchill a fascist.
On January 30 the Scaife-owned Pittsburgh Tribune Review weighed in.
Then, on January 31, the New York Times devoted a thousand words to the
controversy. At that point, a story that had been mostly confined to
wire services, local media outlets in Syracuse and Colorado, and right
wing provocateurs, went mainstream.
Within the next three days stories appeared in the Seattle Times,
Philadelphia Daily News, New York Sun, Miami Herald, Los Angeles Times,
Deseret Morning News, New York Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer,
Washington Post, Kansas City Star, Detroit Free Press, CNN, NPR, and the
CBS Evening News. Richard Cohen reported that O'Reilly's segment had
resulted in over 6,000 letters and emails, including death threats, to
the president of Hamilton College.
It's fascinating how a trivial story like this managed to spread so far,
isn't it? The right wing machine pushed, the New York Times responded,
and then the rest of the press followed. Within days, the previously
insignificant Ward Churchill had become a household name and a virtual
poster boy for lefty nihilism based on something that no one on either
the left or right had cared a whit about in the three years since he
wrote it. Truly an object lesson for us all.
UPDATE: In case you're curious (and who wouldn't be?), I did a Nexis
search on Ward Churchill all the way back to 9/11/2001. Sure enough,
there's only one mention of his "Roosting Chickens" paper in the entire
time between then and now: it was in the Burlington Free Press in
December 2001, reporting on a small rally of peace activists at which
Churchill spoke.
And guess what? It turns out that even Vermont peaceniks didn't
sympathize with his views. "It's clearly not our position at all, and
it's unfortunate it came out now," said one organizer after learning
about Churchill's essay. "What he said is so completely at variance with
what we believe," said another. "We do not want to see a growing
movement for peace derailed by the views attributed to a speaker," said
yet another. As Free Press columnist Sam Hemingway put it, "One thing's
sure: UVM and the people responsible for sponsoring his visit to
Burlington don't support what he wrote about the victims."
Churchill's a real lefty icon, isn't he?
Art Bulla
being an Indian. Typical of the delusional left. Not moored in truth or
reality.
--
"Nothing has more retarded the advancement of learning than the disposition
of vulgar minds to ridicule and vilify what they do not understand."
Dr.Samuel Johnson.
The Revelations of Jesus Christ:
<http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0-595-28287-3>
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I
yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is
not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the
revelation of Jesus Christ. (New Testament | Galatians 1:10 - 12)
Discourses of Brigham Young, Pg.68
As it has always been, and will be yet for some time, when the sons
of God assemble together Satan will be on hand as an accuser of the
brethren, to find fault with those who are trying to do good. The power of
the
Devil is limited; the power of God is unlimited.
Who owns this earth? Does the Devil? No, he does not, he pretended to own
it when the Savior was here, and promised it all to him if he would fall
down and worship him; but he did not own a foot of land, he only had
possession of it. He was an intruder, and is still; this earth belongs to
him that framed and organized it, and it is expressly for his glory and
the possession of those who love and serve him and keep his commandments;
but the enemy has possession of it. 15:5. If true principles are revealed
from heaven to men, and if there are angels, and there is a possibility of
their communicating to the human family, always look for an opposite power,
an evil power, to give manifestations also; look out for the counterfeit.
"But we ask, does it remain for a people who never had faith enough to call
down one scrap of revelation from heaven, and for all they have now are
indebted
to the faith of another people...does it remain for them to say how much God
has
spoken and how much He has not spoken?" Joseph Smith
"Every generation has flattered itself that it is a little better than the
one that preceded it. Every generation has prided itself in its knowledge
and great advancement in the arts and sciences and its superiority over
preceding generations; yet the power of the adversary and his hatred of
righteousness and truth are as great to-day as they ever were since the
creation of the earth." Journal of Discourses, Vol.11, Pg.228 - Pg.229,
George Q. Cannon, May 6, 1866
"Some men are natural born saints; whenever a principle is advanced they
understand it, and drink it in; * * * while there are others who do not
understand and oppose every principle that is not clear to their mind. This
can be accounted for, that we are not all pure blooded, for Ephraim became
foolish and mixed up with the gentiles. When we find the pure blood of
Ephraim, we find a natural born child of God and there is nothing in the
gospel that is objectionable to them, but the others have to exercise faith
in God and humble themselves before Him and live for it." (Deseret Weekly,
50:250-251)
35 And the rebellious shall be cut off out of the land of Zion, and shall
be sent away, and shall not inherit the land.
36 For, verily I say that the rebellious are not of the blood of Ephraim,
wherefore they shall be plucked out.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 64:35 - 36)
"John Manning" <jrob...@terra.com.br> wrote in message
news:110enln...@news.supernews.com...
John Manning
> Manning is a mendacious about not being a queer as Ward Churchill is about
> being an Indian. Typical of the delusional left. Not moored in truth or
> reality.
Reality?
"They brought me handcuffed for trial for involuntary commitment."
~ Art Bulla, recognized by the authorities as a nut job