Where freedom of speech and common sense & decency part company…
The latest anti-American venom being spewed comes out of a rotting hole from the head of Ward Churchill and to be honest, I don’t know if I am more angry with him or with the way the American media and its audience is handling this diatribe.
Following in a long line of anti-American – anti-Bush characters in the media as of late, namely Michael Moore, Howard Stern, Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schroeder, Dan Rather, anybody at the New York Times (to name a few), now comes an old but new face – Ward Churchill. Why are Americans allowing this perversion of the American dream to continue? This type of radical leftist ideology is creeping up from beneath the surface just as it did forty years ago prior to and during the Vietnam War. They are calling it progressive thinking, but think of it as putting a pretty, five hundred dollar dress on a five dollar hooker. You can dress it any way you want, it is still way out left.
Churchill, author of many books detailing a ghoulishly cartoonish characterization of America as a monster that has completely engulfed the rights of every minority it has ever come across...FOREVER. It is funny when persons like Moore and Churchill moan and groan about how horrible capitalist America is, yet they have no problem selling their tools of hatred, namely books and DVDs. If they hate capitalism and believe in their cause so much, why not give away these pearls of wisdom for free? His books are intended to feed the liberal un-Americans that inspire these books, like raw meat to a rabid dog. Only the most liberal, conspiracy minded and paranoid persons would actually believe in many of the fallacies described in his books.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Steve S
It is time to silence these left wing critics
Do you propose by firing squad or noose?
2 - Temple Stark
old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old old
You don't have to post everything on your blog here. This was discussed ad nauseum here. Yes, Churchill is a sham idiot - unlike anyone else out there.
3 - Dave Nalle
>>Why are Americans allowing this perversion of the American dream to continue? <<
Because the American dream is founded on the idea that idiots like Churchill be allowed to speak their idiocy to the world so that they will be known for the fools which they are. In America you have the absolute RIGHT to be anti-American. We can revile you for it, but we don't have the right to shut you up just because we don't like what you say. That's what makes us better than the European nations which bow under the thumb of creeping socialism and politically correct intolerance.
Dave
4 - Jim Carruthers
How do you manage to type with your head shoved up your ass?
Just wondering, since obviously voice recognition software wouldn't work.
5 - gonzo marx
oh my stars and garters..
is this Jeff Gannon's lover?
that would be a piece to the missing puzzle, wouldn't it?
clue forming here for ya...if you think Fox news, or Rush Limbaugh are unbiased news sources...well then, i have a wonderful bridge in Brooklyn for sale
"It is time to silence these left wing critics and reintroduce nationalism"
funny to hear a nice jewish boy like this quote from Mein Kampf
ooops...did i say that out loud?
nuff said
6 - alienboy
Nalle: That's what makes us better than the European nations which bow under the thumb of creeping socialism and politically correct intolerance.
Really?
You must be feek¡ling tired nto write nsuch shallow rubbish. I'll put it down to HST-induced hangover
7 - Silas Kain
The American media would rather cover stories showing the world the horrors of the Abu Ghraib prisons (during war time), yet disappeared when it came to displaying outrage at the beheadings that quickly became a weekly staple on the Al Jazeera network.
The American media has been the Bush Administration's accomplice. They have become silent partners in the deceiving of America by hesitating to challenge the Administration.
CBS would rather purport stories about President Bush and his service time then applaud him for slicing through the Middle East and terrorism by introducing the benefits of democracy.
Benefits of democracy? That remains to be seen. Things are too volatile in the Middle East, especially in the Arab world, to say that democracy has taken hold. A state governed by Islamic law is a theocracy, NOT a democracy.
It is time to silence these left wing critics and reintroduce nationalism.
Gee, we had that chance in the days following 9-11. There was a spirit of nationalism then. It lasted about as long as a sound bite and we're right back where we started. To be on the extreme right is no better than being on the extreme left. To silence a left winger is no different than imposing a burka on an Afghan woman during the Taliban regime.
We are the greatest country in the world and the finest example of what democracy and freedom can do for not only the country but for the world.
Greatest country? We are capable of being the greatest. Finest example of democracy? We can't even get accurate election results. On the surface we may look free. I'd like to debate the degree of freedom we have today.
8 - Shawn
If what the capitalist idealogues are saying about supply and demand is true, why *shouldn't* Churchill sell his books?
Churchill is not trying to be so pure in a lifestyle sense. Churchill is doing criticism, not spiritualism or self-realization.
Check it out: http://www.etext.org/Politics/MIM/mn/sept112001/index.html
9 - Richard Porter
Your comments are exactly what I speak about. Rather than focus any anger at a man who on a daily basis rails against how horrible America is (and yet still lives here) and preaches this same hatred to the next generation, you attack someone who wants people to display their love for this country and not be so overly critical. Such is the "progressive" movement that I have detailed.
If you are so supportive of freedom of speech, what would you do if someone on a daily basis approached you and your family and badgered them with their hatred? Would you consider it their right to express themselves or would you get angry and fight back?
10 - Eric Olsen
good point Richard - I think in a free society both would have t obe true
11 - Richard Porter
I just want to make sure I have this straight for those who commented negatively about this post:
It is OK for Ward Churchill to preach hatred to our youth about evil America
It is OK for the media (who have not been pro-Bush at all, you are incorrect) to put on the air over and over again the evils that America has done but not the evils that have been done to us.
It is OK for Dan Rather to go on the air with incorrect information about the President just before an election
It is OK for racists to preach violence against other groups
With your thought process, you must believe that it was OK for people to bomb Government buildings, such as in Oklahoma since they were expressing their "rage against the machine
__________________________
I understand that with freedom of speech, you get to place all types of thoughts and ideas under one neat umbrella, but does it really release everyone from being responsible citizens?
The core of this post in case you haven't figured it out is that Ward Churchill is in a very powerful position as a mouthpiece to the next generation. Yet, as confusing as it may seem to me, he has decided to use that power to push his own hateful agenda. This agenda has been posted in the very books that of course in a "supply and demand" mode allow him that right to sell his books, but really reveal the hypocrotical person that he is.
He does not have to be "pure" but if he hates capitalism why who would he participate in it? I don't believe in communism so I do not participate in those groups. Why would he?
And for Jim Caruthers, as for "having my head up my ass" as I type, after reading your posts I am not sure where your head begins or your ass ends. Can you rerun that fascinating thought about Russ Meyers again? I think everyone missed it thie first time.
And Silas, the American media has not been silent about anything involving Bush. Have you heard of the NY Times, CBS, CNN, ABC news (during election time)? These groups have become blind to the truth while trying to quench their thirst in their witch hunt for the President.
12 - Eric Olsen
Richard, It pleases me when writers are not intimidated by attempts at rude dismissal - it's prefectly reasonable to express outrage over something you find outrageous. Other than firing his ass, how would you propose to "silence" Churchill? I believe his views simply need to be countered, although I agree teachers have undue power over at least some of their charges.
13 - Richard Porter
Eric,
Thanks for the support! I of course believe he should be fired but it is appalling that universities would still continue to show an interest in having him speak at their campuses.
Would they invite the leader of the KKK to offer his viewpoints to their students? Are there no positive uplifting people in the world that can speak to today's students?
Also, it is is still confusing (and disheartening) to me that more people aren't expressing their outrage over his preachings. His rantings are almost "cult" like in their nature and that is a scary thing.
14 - Eric Olsen
his appeal to the young is that of the contrarian and usurper, a la a Chomsky: "Wow, I've never heard it put that way before, the scales have fallen from my eyes. Fight the power!"
15 - Richard Porter
Eric
Well you hit the nail on the head. As you can see by the choice of book from Amazon, "Brainwashed....", colleges are famous for this type of education. There is really not much left to say on this one.
16 - Distorted Angel
There are also plenty of young who see him for what he is. Not all college students eat up everything they're fed by their professors. I happen to think that it's a good thing for young people to be exposed to extreme ideas on both ends of the spectrum - it helps them to develop their ability to separate bullshit from reality. College isn't supposed to be a safe place where one is fed uplifting messages, it's supposed to be a place that challenges you to continually redefine your perception of the world and your place in it.
17 - Richard Porter
That is one way to look at it...
...another way, is that the "Ward Churchills" prey on our youth at a time when they confused about their identity and their place in the world. Notice he doesn't preach to a roomful of 40 year olds who have been around and have seen his type before.
Do not even begin to praise him for "challenging" our youth. Was Hitler successful at challenging German youth before WWII?
Perhaps I live in Lollipop Land where I believe uplifting messages are actually beneficial at any time of our lives?
18 - Distorted Angel
Perhaps you misunderstood me, Richard. I'm certainly not praising Churchill, not for a minute. I do, however, give college students way more credit than you do. Also, I have worked in academia literally my entire adult life, and I don't agree with you about the "type" of education that is being offered to students today. Thought-provoking discussion that allows for the free expression and examination of all types of thought is what we ought to be striving for in our educational system and in our public discourse. Uplifting messages are fine for church.
19 - Eric Olsen
DA, I basically agree with your position on this, but universities need to attempt some balance in their exposing the tender minds to "extreme" positions
20 - bhw
Uplifting messages are fine for church.
DA, you took the words right out of my mouth.
Notice he doesn't preach to a roomful of 40 year olds who have been around and have seen his type before.
And
Do not even begin to praise him for "challenging" our youth. Was Hitler successful at challenging German youth before WWII?
Hmmmm... did Hitler speak to and sway only German youth? I seem to remember learning that his message reached Germans of all ages, even savvy 40-year-olds.
You're giving Churchill too much credit and young people too little credit. He's not Hitler -- he hasn't risen to power in this country. He has no ability to do what Hitler did. But he does have the right to speak.
I think I'll bookmark this BC post so that the next time someone on the Right accuses the Left of "PC bullshit" and silencing speech [as with the recent Harvard president incident], I can remind them that calls for restricting free speech come from all over the political spectrum wheneven an unpopular opinion is voiced.
21 - Eric Olsen
it is imperative that we let the thousand voices speak, but also that we denounce that with which we disagree and do so with a vigor proportionate to the outrage. We should not call for voices to be silenced, but loudly denounce the offal as we wade through it
22 - Distorted Angel
...but universities need to attempt some balance in their exposing the tender minds to "extreme" positions
Eric, balance is the norm. Mainstream is the norm. We hear about the "extreme" positions because they're, well, extreme, and so therefore attract notice. For every lunatic like Churchill that a young mind is exposed to, there are dozens more who embody values and espouse views that most of us would not find controversial.
23 - Eric Olsen
yes, but I am saying the extremes need to be reasonably balanced
24 - Distorted Angel
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by that. Can you expand upon it, or give an example?
25 - bhw
That's not fair. The world is full of many more Right wing loonies than Left wing loonies.