Michael Oren Receives Special Welcome at UC Irvine
February 15th, 2010 § 6 Comments
More than 10 Palestinian solidarity activists were arrested for making their voices heard during American-born Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren’s speech at the University of California Irvine last week. They were rude and disruptive and considering Oren’s background, some might argue not nearly enough. Freedom of speech is a widely publicized and cherished constitutional right in the land of the free, but it is interesting to see how quickly it is wrenched away when people start saying things that challenge the rationale of US foreign policy.
The entire clip is worth watching, but to get a sense of the narrow-minded immaturity displayed by the “adults” in the crowd, pay particular attention to 5:15 and 5:22 when (a professor?) tells the students who are being forced out that “you’re failing your exams!”
While remaining hopeful and amazingly resilient, Palestinians are tired of enduring the longest occupation in modern history. Students and activists like the ones shown above and here are refusing to remain silent and complicit while their government aids the Israeli war machine with American tax dollars. Opposition to the US’s war on Vietnam was widely displayed in American universities and exploded to violent boiling points before the end of it. While the same level of committment is still not prevalent enough among American students for the Palestinian cause (and there are many devoted activists who are working to change this), events like these exist as hope-inspiring precursors.
These students are inspiring.
“michael oren, you will see/ Palestine will be free!”
“the level of committment” to the so called palestinian cause doesn’t exsist in the US because its not a worthwhile cause. –ever think of that??
I will never believe that this is the most effective venue in which to voice these concerns. This type of disruptive activity does nothing to further the cause in any respect, however abstract. This is not the way to effect progressive change on any level.
The fact that you think the cause is ‘abstract’ might explain that absurd belief.
Muslim Public Affairs Counc (MPAC) Calls on UC Irvine Chancellor to Investigate Arrest of 11 Students
… MPAC has also called on the University Police to investigate death threats against Muslim students who attended the event on Monday.
Such representatives as that apologist for war crimes should not receive invitations to speak on campuses. Good that there are brave people who stand up to such despicable apartheid apologists.