In 1933, shortly after Adolf Hitler became the German chancellor, the Oxford Union famously adopted a resolution which said "That this House will in no circumstances fight for its King and Country." The measure was passed by a vote of 275 to 153.
Winston Churchill reacted by saying that "one could almost feel the curl of contempt upon the lips of the manhood of Germany, Italy, and France when they read the message sent out by Oxford University in the name of Young England."
Shortly afterward, his son, Randolph, tried to have the resolution stricken from the books, but the motion was resoundingly defeated by the Oxford Union.
In other words, otherwise bright students at a distinguished British university are capable of foolish things. At least in this case, it must be said, "Young England" rose to the occasion six years later, when the Second World War began, and revealed its true colors of patriotism, courage and grit.
Recently, another British student union was presented with a controversial proposal. The London School of Economics (LSE) debated whether to seek the twinning of this world-renowned institution with the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG).
After a spirited discussion, the motion was carried by a vote of 161 to 133. The university administration distanced itself from the decision.
As an alumnus of LSE, I am ashamed of the student action. Sure, LSE has a reputation for feisty politics, but this is taking it a bit far.
IUG was established in 1978 by none other than Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Yassin, it will be recalled, was the founder of Hamas. In 2007, a New York Times reporter described IUG as "one of the prime means for Hamas to convert Palestinians to its Islamist cause." Indeed, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, IUG "has emerged as a training ground for the political and spiritual leadership of Hamas. Many Hamas leaders who are also academics have taught at the university...."
Yassin was hardly cast in the mold of a Western liberal educator. Among his many public utterances, he declared that "reconciliation with the Jews is a crime" and that "Israel must disappear from the map." He claimed that Israel is, in fact, Muslim land, and is to be reserved for those of the faith "until Judgment Day."
And Yassin didn't just limit himself to rhetorical flourishes, either. He pursued "armed struggle" against Israel, targeting civilians and blessing suicide bombers.
Moreover, in 2007, during the civil war in Gaza between Hamas and Fatah forces, the latter entered the university and found rocket-propelled grenade launchers, rockets, assault rifles and ammunition, all of which was subsequently shown on Palestinian television.
Two years later, Israel struck two IUG buildings which, according to military spokesmen, were used as "a research and development center for Hamas weapons, including Kassam rockets." Those rockets were used to attack indiscriminately Israeli towns and villages near the Gaza border, with the aim of killing and terrorizing residents.
When I first heard the news that the LSE Student Union voted to twin with IUG, I was speechless.
How could students at a world-class university that celebrates the open and respectful exchange of ideas find common cause with the academic standard-bearer of Hamas, a Sharia-based, obscurantist, violent group?
How could they claim solidarity with an institution that is actively involved in a long-term campaign to destroy a neighboring nation - and a democratic one at that?
How could they, living in a world of pluralism, gender equality and sexual freedom, join themselves at the hip to such a regressive, repressive social environment as IUG?
How could they, students of a university which was one of the stepping stones in British society for Jews to gain equality, identify with a school that preaches hatred of Jews and celebrates their murder?
The answer, I fear, is the bizarre alliance that has emerged in the UK between the keffiyeh-worshiping far left and Islamic extremists.
When neo-fascists come along spouting reactionary slogans about women and gays, the far left unhesitatingly denounces them. But when misogyny and homophobia emanate from the lips of Islamists, they're likely to get a deferential pass from the suddenly culturally-sensitive.
Ken Livingstone, former London mayor, and George Galloway, Member of Parliament, are two prime examples of what the communists referred to as "useful idiots" - those who, in their ultimate naiveté, would help the extremists ascend to power, only to be the first in line for destruction once the goal was attained. In the case of Livingstone and Galloway, they've rarely met a Middle Eastern radical with whom they couldn't agree. And, of course, they have their counterparts at LSE and on other university campuses, in trade unions and in the media.
The LSE Student Union vote was a sad day for the British academy. It betrays all the values that have made Britain a beacon of liberty and enlightenment.
One can only hope that this decision will follow the path of the 1933 Oxford Union resolution - and make its way to the dustbin of history as rapidly as possible.
israel's goody, goody rhetoric needs to be backed up with it's actions which to date have been quite the opposite..
If this was the intended goal, then I am for it.
LOL
It seems everyone forgets that there was NO education, NO universities in Gaza, prior to 1967. It was under ISRAELI administration that higher learning was encouraged, and developed, in Gaza, in all the administered territories. But as is recognized, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
And what is LSE making "common cause with"? An arms depot! A"center of learning" that teaches hatred and intolerance; that inculcates that "reconciliation with the Jews is a crime"; that educates that "Israel must disappear from the map"; that Israel is, in fact, Muslim land, and is to be reserved for those of the faith "until Judgment Day."
And, antisocialite, if you have made it this far in life, and still don't realize that Hamas, Hizbullah, their patron Iran, Al-Queida all exist "in order to bring about the greater Islamic Caliphate", it is unlikely these facts will open your eyes in time. And there is no sarcasm here.
Here's an article from Times:
January 15, 2010
"A senior figure in Hizb ut-Tahrir, a hardline Islamist group that the Government keeps “under continuous review”....is teaching and preaching at a top university.
Hizb ut-Tahrir is banned in Germany for anti-semitic activity
The Times has learnt that Reza Pankhurst... is a teacher at the London School of Economics and regularly preaches to students at Friday prayers.
The group is supposedly barred from organising and speaking on campuses under the National Union of Students’ policy of “no platform” for racist or fascist views.
The presence of one of its prominent members as a university teacher raises new concerns about Islamist radicalisation on campus. "
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6988753.ece
In no way shape or form a direct quotation from a newspaper bearing directly relevant connection to the LSE can be classified as a fallacy.
Lesson over.
Telegraph reports:
"The London School of Economics.. has been host to at least three al-Qa'eda-linked terrorists, The Telegraph has been told. An intelligence report says that the trio studied or lectured at the London University college between 1990 and 1993, when it became a breeding ground for Islamic extremism."
Another alleged terrorist was arrested in Delhi last month for reported involvement in the recent attack on the Indian parliament. He lectured to Muslim students at the LSE in 1993, according to the report...
...former students expressed surprise at the rise in Islamic radicalism at the university."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1382818/Al-Qaeda-terror-trio-linked-to-London-School-of-Extremists.html
The author of this article addressed at length the the puzzling coalition between ultra-rightwing islamic militants and quasi leftwing sector of Western multi-multiculturalists.
Much in history is inherently unpredictable.
Patterns of causality are often too complicated to be subjected to systematic predictive analysis. Even if one discounts stochastic events.
Translation---You never know.....
In 1941 Germany appeared unstoppable to many. The pattern didn't continue.
In the 70s-80s the crime rates in U.S. were moving up. This didn't continue.
Malthus was wrong, repeatedly.
Do your homework a little better, instead of being a shill for anti-muslim rethoric.
Thankfully you eventually overcame that affliction.
1.Red herring fallacy-- a deliberate attempt to change a subject or divert an argument
2.Association fallacy
3.Appeal to motive fallacy.
No matter what the topic you're happy to copy and paste from your collection of anti-muslim tid-bits.
And when it comes to Israel, you follow the same strategy as Mr Harris: whatever you do don't speak about Israel, simply bang on relentlessly about what the muslims have done.
This is beyond dispute at this point. Islamic extremists have cleverly co-opted post-modernist language game of the liberals to promote right-wing religious agenda.
The talk of "freedom of expression" and respect for cultures and religion ( only one religion to be precise) is used to forward utterly oppressive agenda.
And many swallow the rhetoric hook and sinker.
Having been brought up to respect the liberation struggle of post colonialist states, certain liberal groups mistake the ultra right wing religious agenda as a continuation of liberation struggle. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Luckily, many common people and some politicians are begin to see how utterly bankrupt the multi cultural politics have been. Let us hope the damage can be reversed.
Liberals are centrists, not far left. Surely someone with an Eastern European name will know what far left is really about?
If your mentality was a little less tribal you'd understand liberals support human rights, which are universal rights - no special rights for muslims, or jews.
It is Weimar Republic syndrome.
Communists vehemently oppose he Islamic religious fundamentalists.
I know Islamic supremacicsts support "human rights". Even National Socialists support "human rights". The "centrists" or "liberals" that you are part of, are in the same camp of "supporters of human rights."
It is mind boggling that a fairly reputable institution of higher learning such as LSE,would want to be associated with this. Shame.
for some examples, search speeches by Gaza university Professor Dr. Ishmail Radwan on youtube.
LOL
did you even read what the article was all about, or just cut and pasted from somewhere else...this article has nothing to do with LGBT or racism...
So I'm asking you now...how do you know I am making it up? Are you British? Did you attend uni in the UK? Anything?
The BNP is a racist, homophobic, xenophobic set up.
I think all you have to be if you're vigilant against the BNP is merely civilised.
The far left is not racist, homophobic, or xenophobic...except more and more often, they support organizations and regimes that are. And that is the danger. The far-right is well known to be an extreme...the far left, however, is not and therefore get a free pass.