2 Ex-Terrorists and a Former Nazi Columbia University

Before the event started, members of the Muslim Students Association went to their prayer room on the first floor of Earl Hall and found copies of a press release from the Walid Shoebat Foundation taped to the prayer room door, posted on bulletin boards throughout the hall, and stuck in members' mailboxes. The statement, released early Wednesday morning, quoted Shoebat as saying: "It is interesting to note that the official line of the Arab Student groups on campus is not to protest against us peacefully or even to turn up. Yet last week they choose to participate in a violent onslaught regarding a subject that is not directly relevant to their cause. This should prove that standing up to intimidation and bullies is the only option on campus and in the free world."

Omar Siddiqi, CC '09 and president of the Muslim Students Association, called the fliers a "desecration" of University students' safe spaces. "I feel as though my personal safe space was violated because this happened at our prayer room door." Siddiqi said that he didn't attend the speech because "I knew what he was going to say." He added, "I respect his right to speak, but they [speakers including Gilchrist and Shoebat] deprave and dehumanize groups." More here

Crowd size moderate. Not surprising since Columbia refused 125 people entry. Pity, these were good folks. Standing outside the building in the rain no less. They were people who probably hadn't the time to retreive their email prior to heading all the way uptown to Columbia in the rain.Disinvited at 5pm. By email.  And so they were denied admittance.It was ridiculous and Shoebat was pissed. There were numerous open rows. Once again punishing the right for the  left's self indulged, reactionary  and violent behavior.

Security was light but I had to check my handbag!  This was a first. A first.......... even Netanyahu at NYU didn't require such stupidity. My bag was 8" X 8"", quite small.

The Columbia College Republicans were mortified and apologized profusely. And the speakers were angry and railed against what they considered to be further encroachment on the freedom to speak and assemble.

COLUMBIA CUTS CONSERVATIVE GUEST LIST

Within hours of the event, University Chaplain Jewelnel Davis' office revoked the invitations of nearly 100 guests of the
Republicans. This prompted outrage from people both inside the auditorium and outside, where some of the formerly invited guests who had come from as far as Harrisburg, Penn., stood.

Guests said Shoebat was blocked from personally admitting them by
University officials.

"The excuse that they used was that they were afraid of repercussions. I guess as a result of security," Shoebat said during his speech. "If Hillary Clinton comes to speak at the University, they should keep a lot of people from going, too." 

Here is the complete audio file for Shoebat's speech and the Q & A that followed :

Download walid_shoebat_mp3_small.mp3 [UPDATE: This audio link is working now thanks to the hard work of reader David. Many tried but David succeeded]

On Wednesday, October 11, at 7:30 p.m., two ex-terrorists and a former Nazi began  their "Campaign for Freedom" at Columbia University. Their goal is to expose the various facets of radical Islamism and its global implications.

Walid Shoebat, the author of Why I Left Jihad, was once a terrorist in the PLO. Today, he came to expose himself to the young Arab and Muslim societies, particularly in Palestinian towns and villages, create, recruit and indoctrinate their teenagers to become terrorists with the goal of destroying the State of Israel. Speaking throughout the country in synagogues, churches and college campuses, he talks of the religious inspiration and teachings motivating terrorists and why their goal isn't a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, but the eradication of the Jewish people.

Columbia disinvited 150 truth seekers but I managed to hang on and bless my soul I am glad I did. Wald Shoeebat is a powerful witness. Born, raised a Muslim, his testimony is incontrovertible. Bottom line, it's in the Koran, all of it ............... the worldwide conflict  is no accident and the West doesn't get it. This was no New Yorker event.

Here is the courageous, truth teller Walid Shoebat

I was glad to have the opportunity to bat things about after with Cassandra  Shoebat

Zak Anon's remarks......... low, even powerful speaker of painful truths.

Download Zak Anin Hilmer Von Campe MP3

Question and answer rocks the enlightened lilliputians

The students asked alot of young, "enlightened", kumbaya, idiotic questions - "I am feeling some hate in this room around Islam........."

I will transcribe the money quotes as soon as I have a breather.

UPDATE: Here are thoughts from others that attended the event that sums it up brilliantly.

I got to Lerner about 6:45 with sandwiches, but the guards wouldn't let us bring food into Lerner auditorium, even though parties with food are often held there.  I had to check my tote bag, my umbrella, and my PURSE.  They made another friend check his jacket.  But they had no metal detectors and did not frisk us.  So we could have been packing.  I spotted Jewelnel Davis and expressed my indignation about not being able to bring my (registered) family.  She spouted the party line about the priority of safety and not wanting people to storm the stage or get kicked in the head.  I said they would have a lot of angry people out front (they did; I was hearing angry voices by 7:00), and she said yes, but they would not be inside.  I asked why the late notice, and she said they had not anticipated so many (>125) non-CUID registrants.  I asked why not.  She said there were only 20 last week.  I said, That was last week.  This is ridiculously poor planning.  She said this is what we have to do. 

About 150 people were present in an auditorium that can hold ~400.  Jewelnel began promptly at 8 by making a 5-minute speech about freedom of speech and civil academic discourse.   She said the speakers would speak until about 9:15, and the Q&A would go until 10, after which everyone would be expected to vacate the premises.  Then the speakers started.  The first terrorist, Zakaria Anani, is, I think, a Baptist minister, but he is the son and grandson of imams, and at age 13 he became a militia fighter in the Lebanon war.  At age 14 he made his first kill and celebrated.  By age 16, he had killed 233 people and felt that his life had become meaningless and would not last long.  Then he encountered a Baptist minister and converted.   His imam told him that he had 3 days to convert back or be killed.  In the next 20 years, there were 18 attempts on his life.  For the first 10 years or so he was living in the Christian sector of Beirut, married, had children.  One of the attempts injured him and his youngest daughter.  After that his church got spooked and sent him away; he and his family moved to Canada.   Somewhere along the line someone asked him the reason for the Islamic teaching that Jews have the wrath of God on them.  He tried to research it and realized that the Jews were being wronged.  But, he said, the western world does not understand.

The second speaker, Hilmar von Campe, also is a devout Christian who now lives in Alabama.  He was 7 years old in 1933 when the Nazis came to power.  His father was a state official of some sort who was ousted by the Nazis and relocated to an area that is now one of the Czech states.   He reminded the audience that the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi party) was far left.  Josef Goebbels, the chief liar, said We are Communists.  Hitler eliminated all other parties, trade unions, youth organizations, etc.  All young people had to join the Hitler Youth.  Newspapers, radio, and the film industry were controlled by the Nazis.  In school, there were jokes about religion and God, and constant rhetoric about how bad the Jews are and how good the Germans are.   On 9/1/39, Hitler reported that the Poles had invaded Germany and that Germany had to defend itself.  Although he and his circle hated the Nazis, all felt that they had to defend Germany first and deal with the Nazis second.  He said that many people were unaware of the Holocaust, but that everyone was aware of the discrimination against and unhuman treatment of Jews and all kept silent, including the churches.  He said he became a liar too.  He also said that in 1972, the KGB and Andropov adopted a policy of turning the entire Islamic world against Israel and the United States.  During Q"&A, he cited as his source a book, Red Horizons, by a defecting Rumanian general.

Walid Shoebat pursued that theme.  His father was Palestinian, his mother an American who naively went to the Middle East to visit her husband's family and was trapped there with her children for 35 years.  He said that Muslims fought on the Nazi side in World War II and murdered the Jews of Bosnia.  He said that he was educated to believe that Jesus was a Palestinian revolutionary who came to liberate Palestinians from Zionist oppressors, that Jews spread Mad Cow disease, cause tsunamis, etc.  He translated Jihad as Mein Kampf.  He is a convert to Christianity.  He also said during the question period that when Muslims are at least 20% of a population, they are obliged to seize state power.  He also said that Muslims do not believe in the separation of church and state.

The question period was better than I expected.  The questioners were somewhat critical but they did not rant.  The answers were generally to the point, despite some language problems.   The speakers were fairly critical of Jews and others who think appeasement can bring peace.   Walid pointed out that the word hudna, usually translated as truce or ceasefire, actually means strategically taking time off from fighting to regroup and obtain concessions.  Muslims feel no obligation to tell the truth to non-Muslims.   When criticized for hate speech, they responded that they were criticizing Islam, not Muslims individually.   Walid had said at one point that Muslims should have a right to convert to Christianity, that Jews should have a right not to convert to Christianity, etc.  A couple of questioners interpreted him as saying that Muslims should convert to Christianity.  He straightened that out.   Some questioners asserted that moderate Muslims do not believe all those bad things.  Anani said, if you think your imam is moderate, ask him what would happen if his son converted to Christianity.

Walid's overall presentation, and that of the group, was, I thought, much stronger than his presentation at Columbia a couple of years ago.  I am sorry you had to miss it.

Thanks, but no need to attribute.  In fact, I would prefer to be anonymous on blogs if it's all the same to you.   You seem to have cut off the part about the Q&A, but FYI, I also sent Jerry this addendum: A young black male questioner said that although the speakers spoke positively about the United States, he (the questioner) felt that for a black man the United States was a very violent place.  Also, Walid had expressed his admiration for Martin Luther King Jr, and the questioner asked what about Malcolm X.   Anani responded that if the questioner thought the United States was violent, welcome to Beirut, where, for 30 years, 200-300 people were killed in the streets daily.  Look at Iraq now, where Sunnis and Shiites are killing each other.  All through the Muslim world, sectarian violence is a problem, and it has nothing to do with the United States.  Walid said that all countries have problems, but Abu Ghraib and Baruch Goldstein are exceptional, and acts of violence and hate crimes are routinely denounced in the United States and Israel, whereas the Muslim world celebrates killings of Americans and Jews.   He said he did not have a high opinion of Malcolm X, who, unlike MLK, preached divisiveness rather than love.

In response to a question about the power of clan leaders, Walid said, yes, clan leaders have power, but they are also vulnerable.  Years ago, 18 clan leaders were murdered because they admitted having sold land to the Jewish National Fund.  Walid went on to say that everyone had sold land to the JNF at tremendous profit.  The land was sold, he said, not occupied by force, but no one was allowed to admit it.  He said, it's not about the land.

Several questioners made clear that they were disturbed about what they were hearing and wanted solutions.  The group said, we are here because knowing the truth is the beginning of the solution.  Von Campe said the United States has to stand for the truth and for freedom.

Interesting analysis over at JeffreyMark here;

This campus double standard actually evolved over a period of time only to reach its ugly pinnacle in recent years. A now classic book,The Closing Of The American Mind by Allan Bloom, prophetically laid the foundation for understanding the contemporary secular University.

In his introduction Bloom says about the modern student:

They are unified only in their relativism and their allegiance to equality. And the two are related in a moral intention. The relativity of truth is not a theoretical insight but a moral postulate, the condition of a free society, or so they see it. They have all been equipped with this framework early on, and it is the modern replacement for the inalienable natural rights that used to be the traditional grounds for a free society. (p.25)

UPDATE: Fire off an email to the enemies of free speech at Columbia:

Jewelnel Davis
University Chaplain
Associate Provost
Director of the Earl Hall Center
jd260@columbia.edu
chaplain@columbia.edu

 

Comments

[Bryanna]

"I am feeling some hate on this room around Islam........."

Wait until these Leftist-in-training youths find out what Islam really is and they'll think "hate."

[BillBowen]

Pamela, thanks for the audio and video of the event. I'm more than a little digusted on how Columbia handled this (invoking the "heckler's veto") but I can't say I'm all that suprised.

I've heard Walid speak in the past and he brings a very powerful message, which I hope some of the clueless oafs in D.C. just might think about listening to (they bloody well might learn something).

Idea - would it not be great to get together, on one stage at the same time (or even on a conference call), Walid, Hirsi Ali, Bridgett Gabriel and Melanie Phillips?

Bryanna, AMEN to your comment (and it goes DOUBLE for the feminists).

[Bryanna]

Interesting comment BillBowen, also interesting website
http://www.billbowen.com/

Not sure about the combination of Walid, Hirsi Ali, Bridgett Gabriel and Melanie Phillips all at the same time though. Melanie Phillips would be quite a show by herself. Maybe two would work though.

[Missourimama]

GREAT post, thank you so much for keeping us updated on this. I really wish Bill O’Reilly would do a story on this.

[Abu Daboo Doo al Bedrocki]

Great story. Mr. Shoebat is very impressive and obviously knows his subject matter inside and out. I am going to buy his book to read on the plane over to France. It should help strike up some interesting conversations....

Pamela, I don't know if you knew, but there are two versions of the same bit of video (I think the 2nd window and the last window). Thanks for being there and getting the video for everyone. I wish I could have seen him myself. I had the idea of seeing if he could be brought to my alma mater to speak. But, as with most universities, they are probably too cowardly.

David

[Grey Archer]

I was feeling some hate in this room around New York in 2001. I was feeling a pinch of disdain around the US Cole. I was feeling the slightest bit of anger in Madrid.

The poisoning continues in our "higher" education indoctrination programs. There is nothing enlightened about being a young iconoclast at Columbia.

[Daily_Infidel]

Atlas,

Great stuff. Amazing speech by Shoebat. Thanks for putting all this up on the web. Even though I'm still disappointed my invitation was denied, at least I was able to hear what we missed.

Shoebat's message needs to be heard by all.

[Richard Davis]

OUTSTANDING WORK ATLAS! Exceptional videos and audio, should be required viewing by all students.

Thanks for all your hard work. Nice photos. It's like I was there.

Shoebat is awesome. Another new hero of mine!

Columbia should be ashamed it didn't allow the RSVP'ers.... not letting in the people was disgraceful. America needs to witness speakers like this, as many as possible.

Columbia's President (Bollinger) is a disgrace and should resign for not letting in the invited guests.

There's only one way to win this war and that is through educating America about the TRUTH of Islam.

One person at a time.

BZ!

[DoctorDentons]

RD: Being an old (and I mean old) military man I appreciate the BZ...I wonder how many others know what it means ?

[wxjames]

Pamela, Richard Davis is correct. However, you continue to pile on the news. We must debate and digest these positions, yet you just blast past them at warp3.
Try to slow down especially when you have an eye opening entry like this one. No need to post crap about Alec Baldwin when we have really important things to consider.
Thanks for your great work.

[Vince]

Pamela: Thanks for your efforts and allowing us the chance to hear the spearkers.

Anyone: When I click on the link to the wav file (Download walid_shoebat_1011.wav ), or download the file, I get essential a zero-size file. If I open it in WMP I get a note about unreconigned format. Is this happening to me? What codec should I have?

[Vince]

Pamela: Thanks for your efforts and allowing us the chance to hear the spearkers.

Anyone: When I click on the link to the wav file (Download walid_shoebat_1011.wav ), or download the file, I get essential a zero-size file. If I open it in WMP I get a note about unreconigned format. Is this happening to me? What codec should I have?

[BillBowen]

Bryanna, sorry that I cannot take credit for that web site (http://www.billbowen.com/) - it belongs to someone else.

Pamela, thanks for the additional comments about the event last night. You filled in a lot of the blanks - almost as good as being there.

Vince, yes, I am having the same problem with the Walid audio (either wav or mp3) - zero byte files. Pamela, could you check into that? Thanks.

Pamela, one additional question: what are the chances of getting Walid on Atlas Radio so we can ask him some questions?

[Pamela Geller]

I have been having trouble with the Shoebat speech and Q&A - the best part of the evening - bear with me. One of my fabulous readers is working to repair.
I will figure it out!
I promise!

[Catttt]

Thank you, Pamela, for being our eyes and ears on the scene. Excellent!

[Richard Davis]

DoctorD - that's cool you noticed the BZ, and from what I've read that you've contributed, you are STILL a solid warrior in this fight of our lives.

Our mission continues.... (fight jihadists and defeat liberalism)

What were you? Grunt? Jarhead? Squid? Flyboy? I was a squid.

I go to NYC every now and then, we'll have to get together for a cold one, have some fun, tell some lies. First one's on me.

[Pamela Geller]

Alec Baldwin? Huh? Are you confusing me with the PuffHo?
Every post in the Atlas Sphere is a brick in the wall brother ;-D

[Miluimnik]

Shalom Pamela,

Great stuff! I hope that you can find the time to attend our symposium....Walid will be there and woe to him that tries to make balagan at the affair.

http://www.americastruthforum.com

http://www.americastruthforum.com/symposium.htm

Chag sameach veh

Gamar chatimar tova

Michael

[C Max]

I love it when leftists make excuses for trying to shut down free speech.

Thanks for making it in to hear these people talk, and reporting on what they said.

[Lawrence]

"I feel as though my personal safe space was violated because this happened at our prayer room door."

But it is okay for you to support a belief that espouses cutting off peoples heads?

{sigh}

[Mike_Nargizian]

Pamela -

Where is the video link for the Q & A session.. I've seen them speak before?

FEW POINTS REGARDING THE EVENT -

I never got an email from anyone at CUGOP explaining and apologizing the day after (an absolute joke!!) they couldn't even take 10 minutes to do a block email to the 120 people they gave their word to DISGUSTING! -

I never got an email providing contact information for Univ people to voice my disgust to -

I had to get the Univ Chaplain number and contact information myself -

The University is obviously a disgusting phony joke... but that has nothing to do with the lazy, unaccounatable and uncaring attitude of the CUGOP and the Jewish org's on campus.

Mike

[yonason]

Here's a post, in it's entirety, by someone named "inge" to an article on "Dr.Sanity"
http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2006/10/alice-in-wonderland-or-democrats-in.html
that essentially agrees with Von CAmpe.

"I am a european citizen living in the USA. I met my husband while a soldier in the US Army. Being the daughter of a 'Nazi Survivor', and listened to the lunatic left fringe, I can only say that: They should feel very lucky carrying US citizenship, and living in the greatest country on earth. I saw firsthand what nazismn did to my family, and relatives. My loyalty lays with the USA, and not Germany. It pains me to listen to Dems, and their allies. It reminds me what my father always told me about european behavior during the time Hitler rose; the attitude is the same - frightening, sickening, terrifying, and mostly sad. While I can't vote, I hope that you all vote republication. It is the only way to survive. - Also thanks, Dr. Sanity for a always good dose of news; I read your blog every morning, enjoying my cup of coffee!
Inge | Email | Homepage | 10.26.06 - 1:14 pm | "

WOW! My suspicions are confirmed yet again, as others who know what it was really like see the connection.