David Horowitz
Everyone I know at Ohio State University, as well as in Columbus, was sickened when, last week, the student newspaper The Lantern published an ad by David Horowitz and David Greenfield, titled, “Former Leaders of the Muslim Student Association (MSA): Where Are They Now?” The ad lists people it claims are linked to terrorist groups, while selling a book called, “Muslim Hate Groups on Campus.”
The reaction to the ad was so great that The Columbus Dispatch later reported on the controversy: “Ad in ‘Lantern’ upsets Muslims: List of alleged links to terrorism decried as hate speech.” The Dispatch explains, ”Many Muslim students at Ohio State University have been outraged by an ad in the student newspaper that ties former Muslim student leaders in the U.S. to terrorist groups.”
“Many”? “Muslims”? “Outrage”?
“All” people of good will–of any or no religion–were saddened by The Lantern’s willingness to pass on smears.
Nevertheless, The Dispatch does give some valuable truths, including:
1. The “conservative David Horowitz Freedom Center…., based in Sherman Oaks, Calif., paid for the ad.”
2. “David Horowitz, founder…, said Ohio State was one of the first schools his group sent the ad to, and the first to agree to run it.”
3. The “black and white quarter-page ad cost $502.42.”
4. “Dan Caterinicchia, faculty adviser for The Lantern, said the newspaper can reject advertising that denigrates individuals, groups or organizations based on such things as race, nationality, ethnicity and religion. ‘In this [case], the adviser and co-chair of the publications committee agreed that the ad did not violate the policy,’ he said.”
5. “Caterinicchia added that The Lantern plans to publish a commentary on the ad in the Student View section of the paper, as well as a few letters to the editor and an ‘editorial response of some kind.’”
That response and the letters appeared here: “Lantern staff prides itself on diversity, dialogue.” The editorial–like The Dispatch’s article–frames the ad and the offense it caused as a disagreement over free speech:
“Our responsibility as journalists is to bring our readers fair and objective stories, no matter how unpopular the views expressed in those stories might be. In order for us to continue to invoke our right to free speech every day, we cannot, in good conscience, support the suspension of that right for other people.”
But the editors have neglected their first job as reporters: to investigate. A simple web search would have revealed David Horowitz’s mission to censor honest debate on campus and in the world–particularly about Palestine and Israel–, through CAMERA and FrontPage, as well as the incitement Horowitz himself provided Anders Behring Breivik, who murdered 90 youths in Norway, in part out of a mad belief that he was defending Israel.
Horowitz has achieved his goal, for as The Dispatch tells us, “He’s glad it [the ad] created a stir. ‘There is no other hate group that can be on campus and have public support,’ he said. ‘I think people just have their heads in the sand, and I want to help inform them.'”
But The Dispatch interviews only one member of the Muslim Student Association, Jana Al-Akhras, and does not quote any representatives of other reputable organizations, including the many who co-signed the letter Al-Akhras wrote to The Lantern’s Editor.
The Dispatch mentions, but does not investigate, the fact that “The ad also pitches a pamphlet called Muslim Hate Groups on Campus, published by FrontPage, an online publication funded by the conservative David Horowitz Freedom Center.” The Dispatch merely juxtaposes the lie embodied in the pamphlet’s title with a counter-argument: “OSU Undergraduate Student Government President Nick Messenger called the ad ‘false, bigoted and full of hate speech that doesn’t have a place on campus.’”
The public in Columbus is ill-served by such cowardly “He-said”-versus-“He-said” reporting, as we can see by the ignorance in some of the “Comments” at the Dispatch.
This dismal sell-out for a mere $502.42 by OSU’s student newspaper smears not just people of a faith, Islam, but all OSU students, faculty, and staff, people of conscience, who daily dedicate themselves to learning. The fact that the citizens of OSU immediately swamped The Lantern with brave resistance to Horowitz’s effort to spread fear tells far more of the campus loyalty to freedom and fairness for all than anything I can say. Likewise, the few letters that The Lantern printed–of the many it received– eloquently prove how committed are the people of OSU to liberating their own minds, rather than clenching them shut.
This is just creepy. Did they just scour JihadWatch for the names and then somehow tie them back to the various MSAs?
I can’t believe a student newspaper would print ads basically calling other students terrorists.
Feels like a very active double standard out there: [1] it is regarded (by some) as anti-Semitism to decry Israeli lawlessness, even tho Israel is *NOT* all Jews, but [2] it is not regarded as racism (by the same “some”) to decry terrorism on part of SOME Muslims.
Sorry to hear about this. There have been many folks who have been focused on bringing factual literature and information to that campus.
Some years ago I attended a Palestinian Solidarity conference at Ohio State in Columbus
There was a Rabbi who stood outside the Palestinian solidarity conference which was on campus with a loud speaker screaming “murderer, murderer” at everyone going into the conference. Around him stood a young group of Jewish students who attended Ohio State. I asked them to come in. That I would walk out with them if there were any anti Jewish remarks. If in any way the conference was not focused on Israel’s illegal policies and subsequent crimes. They refused and screamed. I asked them to come in again very politely. The rabid Rabbi picked up the megaphone and screamed right in my face “murderer, murderer” Had no idea that cameras were on us and when I turned around I said “I think I have just experienced just a tiny fraction of what Palestinians experience everyday via efforts to humiliate them.
I turned around and asked the rabid Rabbi once again to come in and discuss the issues, share his perspective. He picked up the megaphone again and screamed “murderer, murderer” My dear friend Art Gish (lived with Palestinians in the winters for 15 years) was standing off to the side (he was one of the speakers at the conference) I walked over to him and he said “you did just experience a tiny fraction of what Palestinians experience every day”
The rabid Rabbi and the Jewish students at Ohio State continued to scream “murderer, murderer ” to every person going into the conference.
After the conference I was outside and engaged a group of young men who identified themselves as Jewish students in a conversation about the conference, about the conflict. Heard some of the say the most racist comments I have ever heard about the issue coming out of their mouths with no conscience what so ever. Calling Palestinians “vermin” saying they should be put on buses and shipped off of their lands. Yes and I heard them say “run into the sea” I have attended Palestinian marches in DC several times and attended this conference. Have never ever heard such hateful comments out of Palestinians or anyone else involved with seeking justice for the Palestinians
Keep pushing
I would expect a list of those people called terrorists, with some comments from more knowledgeable people. Maybe they are indeed terrorist? Point is, without more info this is just a meaningless discussion, based on hearsay and outrage. If I’d like that I’d already be a fanatical supporter of Israel. :)
Send editor an e-mail:
“Your ad in the Lantern – would you list Jews from Harward that ended up behind bars??? – if you would it’s free speech. If you would balk it means you are a racist.”
Was too angry to correct my grammar.