Are chemical weapons the only type that kill? If not, I don’t see your point.

I’d also be interested in whither or not you support other arms companies? After all, the Israelis aren’t the only ones bombing civilian populations (although unlike Hamas, they are the only ones using disproportionate force).

This protest does seem to be partisan. The strong involvement of socialist political groups but not more moderate parties is telling and there is no way this is anything but political.

I don’t know about Glasgow, here at Strathclyde, the majority included international students like myself, with no political affiliations. Amongst the locals I only know of 5 who have any associations with a party. However, externally we did receive the support of MSPs from Labour, Greens and SNP. Don’t know if those count as ‘moderates’.

I’m not sure where you are getting the ‘necessity’ from. People should have the right to choose who to work for and the University shouldn’t be censoring it’s career fairs.

Not so sure about that. I’d have serious problems with the producers of Zyklon B or Agent Orange recruiting on campus. It is not merely a question of who actually chooses to join them, it is a question of an institution of higher learning giving them legitimacy by allowing it space on its campus.

Hell, you’re protesting to help give the Palestinians a much needed freedom of choice as to how to live their lives free of Israeli tyranny.

Correct. And to disallow merchants of death on campus is the same as invading, ethnically cleasing, occupying, starving, and besieging a people? I’m not sure if that is such an apt parallel.

Andrew writes:
Are you aware that Israel has a thriving and active gay scene? That its gay citizens can go out at night, with their friends, without fear of beating and arrest? That Israel has had a woman prime minister?

I’m aware that when Natalie Portman was shooting a scene in Jerusalem she and her whole crew were chased out of the place by a group of Israelis who found her kissing her Israeli co-star offensive.

But i’m not quite sure what the argument here is: If there is no ‘thriving gay scene’ in Palestine, then it has no right to be free? There was no thriving gay scene in the townships of Soweto, so would you also consider the end of Apartheid a bad idea?

Secondly; I am not Anti-Islam. I am against all monotheistic faiths, which produce religious citizens full of backwardly minded, intolerant and divisive views.

Unlike I presume the forward looking enlightenment views of say a Hitler or a Stalin? The Gulag, the holocaust, WWI, WWII, Vietnam, the carpet bombing of Cambodia — they were not a product of monotheistic faiths, but the contrivances of enlightenment reason.

The “church” (in any of its guises) no longer has any credibility.

By and large I agree. But perhaps you never heard of Liberation theology, or of the Hizbullah.

So yes, for a religion which has allowed the execution of people based on their “straying” from the Koran’s teachings, I would say I have every right. As you do to your views.

Not sure what you mean by ‘religion’. Religion is a concept, and a practice, it has its interpreters including, always, some who are more extreme than others. I presume you are talking about specific interpretations, in which case your point is void, since you are generalizing. Perhaps you aren’t aware that there is no central authority or hierarchy in Islam (except in Shi’ism). There are plenty who stray from religion, I’m not aware of any mass executions going on as a result. Are you?

Secondly; I am not Anti-Islam. I am against all monotheistic faiths, which produce religious citizens full of backwardly minded, intolerant and divisive views. The “church” (in any of its guises) no longer has any credibility. So yes, for a religion which has allowed the execution of people based on their “straying” from the Koran’s teachings, I would say I have every right. As you do to your views.

Refrain from name calling too please, it’s a bit beneath you.

Is BAE currently producing chemical weapons? I was under the impression their production was outlawed in Britain and their sale largely banned in and by European states.
I’d also be interested in whither or not you support other arms companies? After all, the Israelis aren’t the only ones bombing civilian populations (although unlike Hamas, they are the only ones using disproportionate force).
This protest does seem to be partisan. The strong involvement of socialist political groups but not more moderate parties is telling and there is no way this is anything but political.

I’m not sure where you are getting the ‘necessity’ from. People should have the right to choose who to work for and the University shouldn’t be censoring it’s career fairs. We’re not idiots, let us make our own choices. I also see no reason why ‘freedom of thought’ does not equate to ‘choice of whom to work for’.
Hell, you’re protesting to help give the Palestinians a much needed freedom of choice as to how to live their lives free of Israeli tyranny.

The producers of Zyklon B and Agent Orange were also providing plenty of employment. Would that count as investment in community? Or am I being a ‘partisan’ with a ‘political’ agenda if I think that investing in the business of death and destruction is unethical?

If employment is the criteria you are going by, then you can hardly invoke ‘freeom of thought’, since the decision is being made of necessity rather than of choice. But if there is a choice, a person is choosing a weapons manufacturer over a more useful industry, then perhaps the person could use some adult supervision.

“…investment in the community”

Glasgow University investing in BAE Systems is investing in the community. You can see BAE facilities from the University and they are one of the largest employers in Strathclyde.

You would all do well to remember however, that Universities are places to foster freedom of thought. Rather then trying to get the university to force a political stand point on us, you should be appealing to us as individuals to make up our own minds.
It’s mildly insulting to be told, after 5 years of study, that rather then be able to make my own choice at a graduate fair, I should only be able to investigate recruiters that are deemed ‘ethical’ by a partisan political movement.

Looks like you got your countries mixed up. No one here is showing solidarity with Israel.

That is totalitarian in nature, and follows the rules of Islam to the detriment of its own citizens and indeed the citizens of those countries which it attacks?

I don’t think Israel follows the rules of Islam (why, are you a anti-muslim bigot?), however, you are right, it does work to the detriment of its own citizens and the citizens of those countries which it attacks.

It is quite another to show support to what is, for all intents and purposes, a backwards and dangerous country.

You are right, that is why we are calling for divestment from Israel. It is indeed a retrograde and dangerous country, and has launched unprovoked attacks on each one of its neighbours. Within the 60 years of its existence, it has launched 6 major wars.

I’m glad we have your support, even if we find your anti-Islam bigotry repugnant.