The Accused & The Reality

Okay, so we know Hamas and Hiz B'Allah are on Bush's national shitlist. And so it should be. But we all also know that Bush's shitlist just doesn't apply to San Francisco State University. Yes, you heard that right: all cultures, ethnicities, and hate-inspiring dogmas are protected in that lame, sorry excuse for an institution. Basically, some time in the last few weeks, some local College Republicans stomped on "homemade" Hamas and Hiz B'Allah flags. But guess who's raising a stink? Well, let us put the facts together:

The OSPLD and ASi uphold this phrase in the University's Strategic Plan: “SFSU facilitates teaching, learning and work experiences among students, faculty and staff that promote equity and social justice within a respectful and safe environment.” Okay, that's a fair rule of conduct.

Next: "Amid heavy campus police presence at an Oct. 17 anti-terrorism rally in Malcolm X Plaza, some members of the crowd turned angry when the College Republicans stepped on homemade Hezbollah and Hamas flags, though the student group claims they were not initially aware the flags contained the Arabic symbol for God."
Again, okay. So, the College Republicans did not know that Hiz B'Allah, which translated into "Party of God," would not have the Arabic symbol for God on the flag. How stupid of them, one might say, for not drawing that connection. However, some credence should be given to the fact the CR students were unaware (and hence would not have stomped on the flags had they known the presence of a God-symbol would inspire backlash). But we all know that Hiz B'Allah and Hamas use propaganda and lies to further their agenda, so a God-symbol on any of their flags should be taken with a face value of zilch. So, now, who are these "members of the crowd?"

Well: "After that, the College Republican-organized rally dissolved into a heated shouting match between the group and a mix of students, including some Muslim students, eventually resulting in formal complaints to student representatives."
Um, "some Muslim students?" I would have hoped this batch could have placed a difference between respectable Islam and outright terrorists groups. But their inability to draw this conclusive difference is truly a shame.

And a priceless quote: ‘They were voicing their concerns that this event was even allowed. They were offended,” said Kimberly Castillo, board member and chair of University Affairs, the committee that drafted the resolution. “We felt it our duty to respond.”
Honestly I could not stop laughing. Offended? They? I would only expect Hamas and Hiz B'Allah sympathizers to be offended. Shows you where some people's loyalties lie (hint: not with the U.S.).

The Associated Students board's resolution states thus: “The actions on the part of the College Republicans amount to no more than hateful religious intolerance, and constitutes an attempt to defy policies outlined and defined by San Francisco State University’s values,” the resolution says. “Members… pre-mediated the stomping of the flags knowing it would offend some people and possibly incite violence.”
Now, you see, I have serious trouble believing the CR students were truly attempting hateful religious intolerance directed specifically at Muslim students. That is an unfounded accusation. And the concept that the CR could be punished because somebody would be offended is also a complete lack of common sense. If all acts that "offended" somebody were punishable, the AS board would be printing resolutions against everything by the minute. And for that matter, since burning any flag would doubtlessly offend someone, why not concurrently ban burning of the American flag and, for that matter, all flags? I don't see them doing that!

And that is all I have to say on this matter,
- The Samaritan