<p>I know this may be a bit too political, but I just came across this tidbit of information I’d thought I’d share with the group:</p>
<p>A Northeastern University Muslim Chaplain reportedly called an attempted attack on American forces in Afghanistan “brave” and said Muslims should “grab on to the gun and the sword” to fight injustice, the Investigative Project on Terrorism reported. Abdullah Faaruuq made the remarks at a Dec. 8 fundraiser for Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman who was found guilty of attempted murder and assualt on United States officers and employees in Afghanistan. She was sentenced to 86 years in prison in 2010. “What a brave woman she is. What a Brave woman she continues to be, and how much her bravery and her faith and her belief warrants our support at this time…she would have took (sic) her West Indian machete and cut her way through those kafirs [unbelievers].”, Faaruuq said at the fundraiser. Northeastern University officials have so far refused to comment on the issue.</p>
<p>Beyond belief! Hopefully Northeastern officials will find some gumption and fire this “chaplain”. If you do a Google search - you will find quite a few articles about this chaplain and his comments - but not one word from Northeastern University officials. But then - silence speaks for itself, no?</p>
<p>Just want to share that I conducted alumni interviews for Northwestern today. These kids are unbelievable. And to think that most won’t get in. Makes me think that there are benefits to being a parent of a B student. The numbers game at the top colleges is stacked against even the best students. One girl told me today that her mother says that college admissions is a “crapshoot.” I asked her if she agreed - she had a good answer. She said she can’t buy that, otherwise, there wouldn’t be value/benefit to her hard work. So she keeps working hard, hoping that it can make a difference. I am really rooting for some of the kids I met today, but also told them that there’s more than one school that’s perfect for them.</p>
<p>nbc: We just visited Lafayette in the fall (for my A student). I can fill you in, if you want.</p>
<p>Very disturbing words from the chaplain. I know that free speech is one of the highest values held by universities, but I hope that Northeastern says something about this.</p>
<p>re: Northwestern interviews. That was such a thoughtful response the young lady gave. It may be precisely the kind of reasoning that shines through in her app and results in an acceptance.</p>
<p>I guess I really live in a bubble. “Free speech” valued by universities does not sit well with me when the speaker is in the United States of America, teaching and counseling students as a “Chaplain” and stating that attacking Americans is “brave” and should continue to happen. I am still so naive…thinking that people will just come around to see that their way of thinking is harmful and will correct itself.</p>
<p>I just hope that Americans in general and Jews stop dismissing all these comments and ignoring them. This is how Hitler began, because people dismissed him and didn’t take him seriously. </p>
<p>I know this is a column about Jewish B students and I want that to continue, but somewhere, somehow people need to take the lead and put a stop to all this “free speech” that can lead to much more harmful retoric and brain washing…which it already has.</p>
<p>Just look at what has happened to Europe. A disaster. It’s really scary. And then to have people of “respect” and “honor” as Chaplains of major US universities saying these things publicly? What the hell is this world coming to? </p>
<p>We once talked in this column about teaching and supplying our college kids with facts about our history. Has anyone had their kid say anything to you about this kind of stuff at their school? I’m worried about our kids future. Sorry to be so grim, but it’s a scary world out there and we need to be proactive about what happens to our kids on these campuses and maybe even how to partner with the Hillels to reach a larger audience.</p>
<p>On that note, one of my children’s friends at college started asking me questions about the middle east situation. At first I thought he was curious about our perspective, but as the conversation progressed it was clear he believed that Israelis were unfairly victimizing the Palestinians and were completely responsible for the situation. While trying to be sensitive to both points of view, I proceeded to explain that it was way more complicated than that, considering the history and geography of the region, however, the conversation went nowhere as he was unable to consider more than his point of view. It felt like Animal Farm: Israelis baaaad, Palestinians… gooood.
After he left, I asked my kids what was going on, and they said he has been learning about this at school. This young man is an intelligent critical thinker, however he is unable to consider anything but the anti- Israeli point of view he has been taught. Obviously I am biased, but quite willing to hear another perspective and this student could not…
I truly worry about the amount of anti-Israeli information being taught to young people who truly do not have the full history. Additionally, it bothers me that such a simplistic approach to conflict was presented as there is always more than one side to a story. I fully believe in free speech and sharing of different opinions on campus, but I felt my voice had already been drowned out. I hope the Hillels will take on the task of presenting the other side.</p>
<p>I’ve not seen anything about the Northeastern issue, but we have our own idiot to deal with. Did you see how the editor of the Atlanta Jewish Times suggested that assasinating President Obama would be one possible strategy that Netenyahu should consider? :eek: :eek: :eek:</p>
<p>Unfreakenbelieveable.</p>
<p>D1 told me about a discussion that she and a dormmate/friend had about middle east issues. They have very different perspectives…but their discussion was informed and both were clearly trying to be respectful and fair to each other. What more could one ask for? :)</p>
<p>SlitheyTove, i just have to interject here and say that every time I see your username, my mind goes right to the first lines of the poem…it’s fun just to THINK of words like “brillig” “gyre” and “mimsy”…and then I wish I’d been more creative in choosing my own username:)</p>
<p>Going back a few posts to the Muslim chaplain at Northeastern and the free speech issue - this is why I feel it is so important for our kids to be at a campus with a Hillel and a reasonable number of Jewish students. Strength in numbers.</p>
<p>Northeastern’s Hillel has a new website and looks quite active:</p>
<p>I’m appalled at the Atlanta Jewish Times editor–and I don’t want to spread the story any further because it’s just so ugly… </p>
<p>Pennylane2011, there’s been a few postings on this forum as well as others about anti-Zionist sentiment on campus. You may want to look at the David Project website–they are doing what they can to continue to educate students about Israel. If things in Iran heat up, I expect there to be even more negative rhetoric.</p>
<p>Back to getting kids into college…somehow, frustrating as it is, I feel like we have a little control over the process.</p>
<p>@ccc: I am with you all the way; I am a stalwart supporter of Israel and have had to bite my tongue at times before causing fist fights. I do my best to make strong arguments by reading everything possible, so that I am armed with accurate information.
I guess what I tried to convey is that Universities often try to maintain neutrality in cases like this. I personally hope that someone from the administration steps up to condemn the remarks, but it’s unlikely.
As for the remarks from Atlanta, what a shame. At least he resigned promptly. Actions like that reflect badly on all of us.</p>