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Taking The Jew Hating Desmond Tutu Down a Notch

THURSDAY OCTOBER 4 2007 9:00 AM

Submitted by FearTheReaper. Edited By erin_broadley.

TAGS: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Israel, University of St. Thomas

In April, members of the Justice and Peace Studies program at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota booked a major speaker: Archbishop and Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu. Tutu was scheduled to speak at PeaceJam International, which is obviously the lamest name that anyone could have come up with. But people were still excited, until the school told them Tutu would not be allowed to speak because it might upset a few Minnesota Jews.

St. Thomas administrators�concerned that Tutu's appearance might offend local Jews�told organizers that a visit from the archbishop was out of the question.

Wow, wouldn�t want to offend anyone. Not here in America, anyway. You know, the country in which Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad just spoke at Columbia University and everyone was allowed to speak his or her mind. Seemed like a terrific example of our free speech rights that we hold dear in America. The school vice president attempted to explain why he is an asshole.

"We had heard some things he said that some people judged to be anti-Semitic and against Israeli policy," says Doug Hennes, St. Thomas's vice president for university and government relations. "We're not saying he's anti-Semitic. But he's compared the state of Israel to Hitler and our feeling was that making moral equivalencies like that are hurtful to some members of the Jewish community."

We heard some things, but, but he�s not anti-Semitic. He�s a�good guy�who�ah�said Israel was like�ah..Hitler. Note Hennes' quote,

�and against Israeli policy.

What a great reason to forbid an archbishop from speaking. Let�s just call this what it is: The stifling of free speech by the Jewish lobby. Groups like the Zionist Organization of America and the Anti-Defamation League have attacked Tutu for his criticism of Israeli policies because of a speech he gave in 2002. Let�s check how he compared Israel to Hitler, shall we?

First of all, the speech was originally called, �Occupation is Oppression,� but Tutu decided to change it.

I would like to change that to "Give Peace a Chance, for Peace is Possible"; for we are bearers of hope.

What a fucking asshole. I already am enraged at his obvious anti-Semitic nonsense. Carry on, Jew hater.

People are scared in this country [the U.S.] to say wrong is wrong because the Jewish lobby is powerful � very powerful. Well, so what? This is God�s world. For goodness sake, this is God�s world! We live in a moral universe. The apartheid government was very powerful, but today it no longer exists. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Pinochet, Milosovic, and Idi Amin were all powerful, but in the end they bit the dust.

Injustice and oppression will never prevail. Those who are powerful have to remember the litmus test that God gives to the powerful: What is your treatment of the poor, the hungry, the voiceless? And on the basis of that, God passes judgment.

So, there it is. Desmond Tutu comparing Israel to Hitler. Or, no wait, he didn�t AT ALL. Is it possible for the Jewish Lobby and University to be bigger cunts? I submit it is not. And I�m sure their decision also has nothing to do with the fact that Tutu will be giving a speech in Boston this October at a conference called: "The Apartheid Paradigm in Palestine-Israel: Issues of Justice and Equality."

You know your policies are on solid ground when you can�t handle criticism from an archbishop. Nothing like stiffling free speech to make people see things your way.

One professor at St. Thomas, Marv Davidov, was not pleased with the decision.

As a Jew who experienced real anti-Semitism as a child, I'm deeply disturbed that a man like Tutu could be labeled anti-Semitic and silenced like this. I deeply resent the Israeli lobby trying to silence any criticism of its policy. It does a great disservice to Israel and to all Jews.

And as if telling Desmond Tutu to fuck off wasn�t enough, Cris Toffolo, chair of the Peace Studies program was demoted for telling Tutu that he would not be allowed to speak and that he could be subjected to a smear campaign.

This is pure bullshit," says Davidov. "As far as fighting for civil rights, I consider Tutu to be my brother. And I consider Cris Toffolo to be my sister. They're messing with my family here. If Columbia permits a Holocaust denier [Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad] to speak at their university, why are St. Thomas officials refusing to let Tutu, an apostle of nonviolence, speak at ours?"

I think the word you are looking for, Professor Davidov, is �pussies.� Everyone who had a hand in this decision should hold their heads high, for they have stopped the evil Desmond Tutu from speaking.

83 Comments

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mysweetisrael

Pensacola, FL

November 2005

OCT 04, 2007 09:11 AM

While I think it's stupid that he's not allowed to speak, your quote does indeed show that he compared the "Jewish lobby" to some rather bad people. Whether or not you think the comparison is appropriate doesn't negate the fact that he made it.

People are scared in this country [the U.S.] to say wrong is wrong because the Jewish lobby is powerful - very powerful. Well, so what? This is God's world. For goodness sake, this is God's world! We live in a moral universe. The apartheid government was very powerful, but today it no longer exists. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Pinochet, Milosovic, and Idi Amin were all powerful, but in the end they bit the dust.

Again, I'm all for him speaking but don't say he didn't make the comparison right after you quote it.

Zarth

Seattle, WA

December 2004

OCT 04, 2007 09:15 AM

The "worst" paragraph in Tutu's speech is:

My heart aches. I say, why are our memories so short? Have our Jewish sisters and brothers forgotten their humiliation? Have they forgotten the collective punishment, the home demolitions, in their own history so soon? Have they turned their backs on their profound and noble religious traditions? Have they forgotten that God cares deeply about the downtrodden?

But there's nothing remotely anti-Semitic in it. He calls all men and women brothers and sisters, and refers very respectfully to Jewish traditions.

It's easy to understand how a people who were nearly obliterated by prejudice - and who remain subject to the same degree of hatred and threat even today - might remain oversensitive. But this specific action crosses the line into absurdity.

Chriztian

Tallahassee, FL

September 2004

OCT 04, 2007 09:15 AM

FearTheReaper said:
Is it possible for the Jewish Lobby and University to be bigger cunts? I submit it is not.

Seriously, the Jewish Lobby is absolutely the largest cunt around in America.

DrStinkypants

Saint Paul, MN

October 2002

OCT 04, 2007 09:30 AM

This is completely hysterical and ridiculous. This isn't about "the Jewish lobby" and it isn't the same thing as the Ahmadinejad Columbia speech. St Thomas is a very small, very catholic school. As such, the administrators are acting like small catholic school administrators and trying to avoid controversy. That's what they do, it's sort of retarded, and frankly, it's their loss. Tutu would have been a great guest. Instead he'll be a great guest at MSU.
OH MY GOD!

ashprintzen

I'm lost

September 2006

OCT 04, 2007 09:35 AM

Umm actually not one single Jewish group protested Tutu's appearance (though his ill-informed opinion vis-a-vis Israel/Palestine certainly is worth attempting to debunk..something that groups like the ADL do when ignorant, mischaracterized apartheid comparisons are made). This was a decision made by St. Thomas, if you have a problem (though every school has a right to invite and disinvite whoever it wants...umm yeah last I checked free speech had to do with the government inhibiting speech, not a private institution) So who is hysterical now? Oh no! The Jewish Lobby! We stifle everything!

Please.

King_Mob

Orchard Park, NY

September 2005

OCT 04, 2007 09:45 AM

King_Mob

Orchard Park, NY

September 2005

OCT 04, 2007 09:56 AM

ashprintzen said:
Umm actually not one single Jewish group protested Tutu's appearance

Actually,

St. Thomas officials made this inference after Hennes talked to Julie Swiler, a spokeswoman for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

"I told him that I'd run across some statements that were of concern to me," says Swiler. "In a 2002 speech in Boston, he made some comments that were especially hurtful."

and...

During that speech, titled "Occupation Is Oppression," Tutu lambasted the Israeli government for its treatment of Palestinians in occupied territories. While a transcription clearly suggests his criticism was aimed at the Israeli government ("We don't criticize the Jewish people," he said during the speech. "We criticize, we will criticize when they need to be criticized, the government of Israel"), pro-Israeli organizations such as the Zionist Organization of America went on the offensive and protested campus appearances by Tutu, accusing him of anti-Semitism.

So, two Jewish Groups 'protested'.

artpie

Winston Salem, NC

December 2003

OCT 04, 2007 09:58 AM

There are Jews in Minnesota?

sorry...

jdmass

Argentina

June 2007

OCT 04, 2007 09:59 AM

If the University chooses to invite a speaker, they will, if they choose to un-invite him they will as well. It's their right to do either. Tutu is allowed to say whatever the hell he pleases, so is the ADL, and so are you. Constantly masking your true sentiments behind a defense of free speech is what makes you a bloody coward. I guess the sight of Jews carrying guns, able and willing to defend themselves makes some people nervous.

King_Mob

Orchard Park, NY

September 2005

OCT 04, 2007 10:03 AM

The sight of anyone carrying guns makes me nervous.

Mostly because they have the power in hand to end my life from a distance arbitrarily.

FunkyPhantom

Chapel Hill, NC

June 2007

OCT 04, 2007 10:16 AM

Oh, those darn jews

ashprintzen

I'm lost

September 2006

OCT 04, 2007 10:17 AM

KM, my point is that the article above made it seem as if this was some giant attempt to stifle speech and protest Tutu's appearance. One person, rightily I would say, expressed concern about Tutu's point of view on a subject that he actually has no expertise in...is that really the sign of the powerful Jewish Lobby? Concern was expressed, that is far different than a concerted attempt to stop his speech by an all-powerful Jewish Lobby.

Reaver

Sneads Ferry, NC

August 2003

OCT 04, 2007 10:17 AM

Ah.

America where everyone can speak their mind.

Unless they're Christian.

Wait, I'm wong because, I think Jimmy Carter is anti-semetic and we can't get him to be quiet. Maybe it's actually a Catholic thing.

Or a black one.

Adroitbeing

I'm lost

September 2003

OCT 04, 2007 10:20 AM

Roll out the commentary from the oppressed Jews throughout America who seem unwilling and unable to face any form of constructive criticism, especially from someone who might have a real life experience with oppression.

The defensiveness is so close to the surface it's like a form of leprosy. You want to help them, but you dare not get too close for fear of becoming infected with this indiscriminate disease known as "superfluously taking yourselves too seriously."