A series of articles has been published by Charles C. Johnson at the Claremont Independent and elsewhere decrying Prof. Frangieh’s (alleged) political views. Based on interviews and petitions translated from Arabic, it has been claimed that Frangieh has expressed “great pleasure” at Hamas taking power in the Gaza Strip and that Frangieh said that “without Hamas and Hezbollah,” the Arabs would have “Nothing. Except humiliation.”
We do not know whether these quotes are true or accurately translated. Most of the documents are in Arabic. None of the translated documents have been made public in their entirety. Only a few of these documents are made available in the original Arabic. Many of these are not Prof. Frangieh’s own comments, but instead petitions that he appears to have signed. So, the veracity of Johnson’s claims or of his translations cannot be independently verified.
Academic freedom is of crucial importance when unpopular views are being expressed. It is unlikely that a professor’s job would ever be threatened for saying that Shakespeare is the greatest English-language playwright or for voicing personal support for President Barack Obama. But uncommon or unpopular beliefs, whether they be left or right wing, are the ones that need protection from overzealous politicians, administrators, alumni, trustees – and students.
Prof. Frangieh’s alleged views on Hamas and Hezbollah are particularly unpopular because those groups are designated as “terrorist organizations” by the U.S. government. But opposition to government policy is precisely the type of core political speech that academic freedom should protect – because we recognize that a lively debate on the issues is integral to the functioning of a democracy.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is extremely complex. Disagreeing with the U.S. government’s support for Israeli military actions and its condemnation of violent Palestinian actions does not necessitate opposition to core American values. Further, Hamas and Hezbollah are not purely military groups, but also quasi-governmental organizations in Gaza and Lebanon, respectively. Hezbollah was in fact a member of Lebanon’s parliamentary opposition, until its ministers in the Prime Minister’s cabinet withdrew earlier in January.Whether Hamas and Hezbollah are murderous, religiously-oriented terrorist groups or legitimate resistance groups using violence against Israeli occupation (or some of both) ought to be a topic of debate — despite the U.S. government’s pronouncements.
Whatever Prof. Frangieh’s actual views on Hamas, Hezbollah and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, the Port Side endorses his right to hold those views and to share them in whatever public venues he wishes in accordance with the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure. (The Port Side does not endorse any particular view on the conflict, but we do encourage debate and discussion.)
Academic freedom does not protect poor teaching, or even poor teaching because a professor’s political views destroy his or her credibility. Indeed, teaching effectiveness is probably the single most important attribute of a professor at a liberal arts college like our own. But there is absolutely no evidence that Prof. Frangieh’s political views affect his ability to teach at Claremont McKenna.
In particular, the claim that Frangieh holds anti-Semitic views is particularly disturbing from a journalistic standpoint — because the facts simply do not bear it out.
Sarah Fenn CMC ’12, has studied Arabic and Modern Arab Culture and Thought with Prof. Frangieh. She is Jewish and says that she supports Israel as a country, though not its current government. She says “I’ve always felt comfortable” in Prof. Frangieh’s classes, says she has never been made to “feel alienated or set apart due to [her] political or religious beliefs” — and adds that she has felt that way in other CMC classes. She says that, in his Arabic classes, Prof. Frangieh never brings up his political beliefs “at all,” and that in the more politically-oriented “Modern Arab Culture and Thought,” Prof. Frangieh “never makes you feel like you’re wrong” on politics.
Other students of Prof. Frangieh’s, both Jewish and non-Jewish, have all echoed the sentiments that he is a dedicated, talented and caring professor who treats all of his students with respect, regardless of their religion or political views. All of the individuals quoted in this article were interviewed after the articles about Frangieh were published.
Jennifer Good CMC ‘13 says that “Bassam doesn’t treat me any differently because of my religion.” She is Jewish and has studied with Prof. Frangieh for three semesters. She also praises Prof. Frangieh, saying “Bassam is amazing and cares so much about students.”
Melissa Carlson CMC ‘13 describes Prof. Frangieh as “one of the best teachers that [she has] ever had.” She adds that he “truly cares if students learn the language.” Carlson has studied with Prof. Frangieh for three semesters and is one of his research assistants.
Professor Frangieh is, by all accounts, a skilled educator and a valuable asset to the Claremont McKenna College community. It is important to note that not a single one of Prof. Frangieh’s students, Jewish or not, have publicly denounced his views as anti-Semitic. Prof. Frangieh’s political views, while they may not comport with what is politically correct as judged by the U.S. government, are well within the standards of acceptable discourse in an academic setting. Privately, Dean of Faculty Greg Hess issued a statement that Prof. Frangieh’s alleged viewpoints “fall within the appropriate exercise of his academic freedom.” The Port Side supports Dean Hess’s statement and urges Claremont McKenna College to publicly affirm its support for Prof. Bassam Frangieh.
Update: Charles Johnson has published some of his sources (nine to be precise). These are also the sources he provided the Port Side privately prior to this editorial being published. However, he has promised “several dozen” (and “dozens” in private conversation) sources. Johnson admits “I have not released all of [the material] yet online.” That’s exactly our point: some of his source documents, in Arabic and the translations into English, aren’t publicly available yet. They should be. We’re glad he has posted some of his sources, but we’re still waiting for the remainder.
First off let me say I am glad that you published your article. However I could not disagree more.
1- You refer to the “1940 Statement of…” Did you read it?
It states:
As scholars and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence they should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.[4]
Really! Outright public support of terrorist groups that kills innocent people, profess their desire to wipe out the West and infidels. How many pieces of the above does he violate?
2- Your sycophantic phrase “Further, Hamas and Hezbollah are not purely military groups” is pandering! If you had a son fighting in the Middle East I rather doubt you’d see them as saints and saviors.
3- If the Port Side were really concerned about academic freedom and accuracy, you might actually have taken the time to have these Arabic writings mentioned translated. Perhaps you may have discovered something on your own.
4- Doing a cursory web search on Frangieh one learns that he is educated in Arabic poetry and literature- No more. Does that make you a candidate for a department head or even to teach Middle Eastern Politics? My sister has a degree in English Lit. She taught English as a Second Language at a Junior College. She’s out of work, Is CMC looking for someone to head their Governmental Affairs Department. Seems she’s equally qualified.
5-As to your argument of the protection Frangieh’s hawking his political views and openly supporting these murderous groups- academic free speech, you call it. If another Prof of say US History, frequently referred to American Indians as “barbaric savages” or Black slaves as “ignorant tribesman” would that fly with you? Much the same as having a pro-terrorist poet pontificate his propaganda to the students.
CMC made a mistake hiring this guy. I find it hard to believe that a school like CMC would have a rough time replacing him with a much more solid candidate. Admitting their error, another story. President Gann has been quite silent on this don’t you think? What leadership!
I would respectfully like to point to the third paragraph as sloppy journalism. The author posits many reasons why Chuck Johnson “might” be wrong, but never once does s/he give evidence that contradicts Johnson’s claims. (The fact that Frangieh signed petitions that he did not author is not evidence, as it it commonly held that if you sign your name to a document, you are responsible for everything in that document.) The final sentence of the paragraph is absolutely false; the veracity of the claims CAN be independently verified, should someone take the time to read through the pertinent documents. Johnson did. If you do not like his interpretation or translation, please give me another interpretation or translation, instead of a place-holder paragraph.
Apparently, the Port Side isn’t allowing me to publish my rebuttal to their factually in accurate piece…
Here’s my response to this piece: You can also go to Claremont Conservative.com to see how factually inaccurate this is.
The Claremont Port Side has done its readers a disservice with a factually-inaccurate article it released today. Nevertheless, I’m grateful that they have decided to write on the subject nearly two months after my second article on Frangieh’s views and some nine months after my first. I salute The Port Side in having a dialogue about an issue that won’t go away. After all, even if it is off-base, it’s at least willing to discuss those views, which is much more than we can say for Richard Rodner, Claremont’s VP of Communications, who censored Bassam Frangieh’s wikipedia page of anything critical. (Curiously, The Port Side omitted that mention in their piece.)
Their first act must be to release a correction:
A series of articles have been published by Charles C. Johnson at the Claremont Independent and elsewhere decrying Prof. Frangieh’s (alleged) political views. Based on interviews and petitions translated from Arabic, it has been claimed that Frangieh has expressed “great pleasure” at Hamas taking power in the Gaza Strip and that Frangieh said that “without Hamas and Hezbollah,” the Arabs would have “Nothing. Except humiliation.”
We do not know whether these quotes are true or accurately translated. Most of the documents are in Arabic. None of the translated documents have been made public in their entirety. Only a few of these documents are made available in the original Arabic. Many of these are not Prof. Frangieh’s own comments, but instead petitions that he appears to have signed. So, the veracity of Johnson’s claims or of his translations cannot be independently verified.
Despite having nearly two months to vet all of sources in their original Arabic, The Port Side shows that it is uninterested in serious journalism. I have reproduced the sources from The Claremont Independent article here in an effort to help the Port Side’s lazy journalism:
Arabic language sources:
http://www.diwanalarab.com/spip.php?article293
http://ya-ashrafe-nnas.blogspot.com/2007/05/world-doesn.html
http://www.jammoul.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4484&langid=1
http://articles.abolkhaseb.net/ar_articles_2007/1007/istnkar_021007.htm
http://alnoha.com/visitor8/la-letqseem.htm
http://www.al-moharer.net/moh262/hussaini262.htm
http://arabnews.ca/joomla/index.php?Itemid=44&id=2666&option=com_content&task=view
an interview
http://aljabha.org/?i=20335
There is nothing “alleged” about the views. They have been translated by three different translators. I offered to make the translations available (with the original Arabic) to The Claremont Port Side’s publisher, Jeremy Merrill CMC ’12 and its editor, Everett “Alex” Heiney CMC ’12 as the transcript of gchat conversations between the two of us will show. As a token of good will, I gave Heiney the entire interview and more documents on January 18th, 2011. I know he received this email because he thanked me for it.
The offer to work with anyone interested in this topic still stands, as does giving everyone the material whenever they want it, but I have not released all of it yet online because I want the stories many dimensions to become clear to the campus. The Port Side owes its readers a correction given those conversations between me and its staff that offered, repeatedly, to share the translations with the Port Side. Moreover, the Port Side is incorrect. In an article I wrote nearly two months ago, I released all of the documents in their original Arabic here.
The Port Side is correct that many of the source material is petitions, though the most damning bits – where he praises Hezbollah and Hamas – are, in fact, in his own words and from a May 26, 2006 interview with Al Jabha. Heiney, at the very least, should know this, as I sent him that interview translated in English with relevant sections highlighted on January 18th. Does the editor of The Port Side not talk to its publisher?
Had the Port Side’s editor taken me up on my offer and read the interviews and petitions I sent him (and sent them to the publisher as I requested), he would know that Frangieh views petitions as something that “stem[s] from the heart, and are cast onto paper.” That makes us wonder if his view that there is a “Zionist plot” behind America’s Iraq war policy, that he supports a boycott against Israel and Israeli academics, that he condones violence against Israelis, that he considers the terrorist group Hezbollah the legitimate government of Lebanon, and on and on. Then we could move along to a more serious question: whether someone with these horrible views can credibly teach on what the Port Side calls a “complex” area?
I’ll go through the rest of The Port Side story later, but this dishonesty on the part of the editor and publisher of this magazine shows loud and clear and should make anyone question what The Port Side has written here. How terribly disappointing for a newspaper that was so recently proving itself to be beyond its libelous past. I’ve asked The Port Side’s Jeremy Merrill for a correction, but he has thus far refused. Let’s hope he reconsiders.
–Charles C. Johnson
Editor of The Claremont Conservative
Editor Emeritus of The Claremont Independent
[Ed. This comment was caught in our automated spam filter.]
Charles, if you want us to believe you, then you need to release the names of the people who translated the documents for you. They’re not “sources,” so don’t pretend that you need to protect them. They are a critical part of your entire accusation that need to be brought to light in order for you to be credible.
For those interested in seeing my rebuttal to this inaccurate, dishonest, and lazy piece of “journalism” please visit The Claremont Conservative. Of course, I expect them to post my full response later as it is likely in their spam folder.
Thank you for responding to this issue and supporting a fantastic teacher. I find the articles over at the Claremont Conservative to be hateful, not to mention libelous, so I’m glad to see a positive and realistic public portrayal of Bassam.
Keep up the good work!
I’m dismayed that a “supportive student” calls my work “hateful” when it has been vetted by half a dozen scholars on the Middle East and the real hate is that of Bassam Frangieh who condones suicide bombing and violence against Israelis. I have a proposal for him/her, though: If my work is libelous, why doesn’t Frangieh sue me? I’ll meet him in court any day of the week — and I’ll win because the truth is the best defense. Why is his approach — and that of the College — to repeatedly say, “no comment”? The only reason that the world even knows of Dean Hess’s statement to the faculty, by the way, Claremont Portside, is because I had a source leak it to me.
His being a “fantastic teacher” has nothing to do with his harboring of support for anti-Semitic terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas.(You left out grade inflating…)
I notice that you don’t have the courage to put your name to your comment. That is, unfortunately, to be expected — the Claremont Independent can’t find a single Arabic student to write a letter to the editor — but should you decide to come out publicly as a “supportive” student for a professor whose views are now so widely known and increasingly so, I’ll glad debate you on this topic in front of the entire school.
In fact, I am so sure of my sources that I’ll debate any, or all, member(s) of the Arabic program, though I ask that they select their best debaters if only to make it easier on the audience.
Charles,
I don’t think that the Arabic students are aware of the Claremont Independent’s request for letters to the editor. Maybe you should look harder. I know Rio Fisher wrote a great response, as an Arabic student, and I’d personally have been happy to write a response if anyone had asked me.
And really, “…I ask that they select their best debaters if only to make it easier on the audience.” I actually laughed when I read this. I assume you’re trying to rile people up so that they take your bait and attract more attention to all of this. However, your attack on the intellect of the Arabic students is ridiculous to the point of being innocuous. It only succeeds in demonstrating a tiny smudge of conceitedness.
Jennifer
Jennifer,
Please send that off to our editor, Hannah Burak. I’m sure she’d be happy to feature it. Yes, I know Rio wrote a response, which I critiqued on my website.
I’m not “attack[ing]” the Arabic students and I still challenge any, and all, of them to a public debate. I’m pointing out that there are a lot of nameless attacks going on against my work. As I explained to Rio, I understand why you are defending your professor who you have a personal relationship with. His being nice to you and maybe even a good professor of Arabic doesn’t negate the fact that he has views that are in favor of terrorist groups that want to kill Jews everywhere.
We’ve just discovered that someone who is used as a fund raiser on our campus is a supporter of Hezbollah and Hamas, which are two terrorist organizations. Doesn’t that bother you that he and the college has said absolutely nothing about this?
@Supportive Student who said “I’m glad to see a positive and realistic public portrayal of Bassam.” I noticed you left out the term accurate. Was that intentional?
I would say that “realistic” and “accurate” have similar meanings in this context.
@supportive student. Similar. But not the same.
@PortSide Staff. Who wrote this article? It says the PortSide. Is this view unilaterally endorsed by the staff or did somebody overstep their authority here? The guy’s a problem for the CMC Community and Pam Gann seems awfully gutless saying nothing.
@Concerned. The guy doesn’t seem to be a problem for the CMC community at all. In fact, he seems to be much loved and respected. Charles Johnson, however, has been a problem for the CMC community for some time, albeit a minor and irritating one that very few people take seriously. This is just another case of his redundant antics, only he’s adopted a more obsessive Andrew Shirvell type approach this time. Just pat him on his head and smile!
Andrew Shirvell? Really? You are comparing someone who details Professor Frangieh’s views — views that you haven’t negated — to someone who harassed a gay student body president? Too bad some people can’t put their hate aside and evaluate the stuff on its own terms.
I’m not comparing the specific details, just his obsessive and paranoid behavior.
“Too bad some people can’t put their hate aside and evaluate the stuff on its own terms.”
I totally agree, and I think that’s why nobody has ever taken the CC even remotely seriously.
This. Because Charles hatefully and spitefully goes after everybody, such as someone sitting next to him in a computer lab (true story, from reading the CC), he loses credibility.
False story.
You’re a liar, Chuck-O. I vividly remember you writing an article attacking student Eric Van Oss before you changed it and edited it. Good game.
I don’t even know who that is. Want to tell another lie?
http://www.claremontconservative.com/2010/10/big-money-backs-proposition-to-increase.html
WAIT. WAIT. WHATS THAT CHARLES? A LIE?
The only liar here is you. I guess you roast so many of your fellow students that you forget their names.
No, it’s not a lie. I’m mistaken. Read the post. I mentioned Eric Van Oss after he tried to cause a scene in the computer lab when I was present. I just wanted to do my work.
lol. truth.
@ SS#2 It’s good to have pains-in-asses as journalist. They often stir up pots that need to be stirred. Despite your opinion of Johnson and your apparent “love and respect” for Frangieh, I stand by my opinion. If the guys outwardly supports the Hamas and Hezbollah, signs petitions for the slaughter of Jews and other non-believers- he’s a terrorist himself. With that said, send him to teach at Pitzer! If as this rag the PortSide claims, Johnson’s allegations are lies, WHY ON GOD’S GREEN EARTH DOESN’T SOMEBODY PROVE HIM WRONG! Frangieh’s a coward. Granted a “loved and respected” one by some, but a coward non the less. Otherwise he’d come out himself and answer to these claims. If he actually thinks supporting terrorist group is a noble thing than he should come out and say why. He won’t He’s a coward- just like Pam Gann. They should both be replaced. Let’s hope the alumni hold back their million in donations. Maybe Gann will do something besides her pander to her Middle Eastern benefactors.
No, that won’t happen. You know why? Because alumni know Charles Johnson’s name. He is rather infamous, and has few friends amongst the majority of the CMC population. Probably because he tries and goes after everything and anything that moves.
There’s really no reason to spend administrative time with the bullshit that comes through Charles Johnson’s blog.
Responding to him gives him power. Truth be told, alot of us students dismiss him as a nut and leave it at that.
Most alums who have heard of him despise him. In his narcissistic drive for self aggrandizement, he’s willing to destroy anybody and anything. He fantasizes about having an impact on the administration (they find him laugable) and fundraising (the school will have one of its biggest years ever). It’s fairly obvious that he is bought and paid for by the one side of the issue. Most assume he’s got a job lined up to work for these folks upon graduation – they love zealots that will stop at nothing to destroy academics with whom they disagree.
Bottom line, what goes around comes around. He’ll get his sooner rather than later.
Wow, that’s really disturbing that you would libel me, Old Alum. I’m not “bought and paid for” by anyone and I have multiple job offers in multiple industries, none of which have anything to do with the Middle East or Israel. I ask that the Port Side remove that rumor from this website.
Shame on you, Old Alum, for parroting the usual anti-Semitic slur that anyone who cares about the truth in the Middle East must somehow be part of a Zionist conspiracy. Did the Jooos put me up to it? If so, I haven’t seen one thin cent from my Zionist masters. They can send a check anytime they like to my mailbox.
I kid, of course, because I don’t know how to respond to something that is so obviously a lie. Nothing you wrote up there is true. Do you know most “alums”? Of course not, because I have heard from loads of alumni — from the right, the left, and the center — who are concerned with how the college is handling this story. I’m already having an impact on the administration and they’ll be something to report shortly on that.
I ask, in all seriousness, Is it “zealotry” to want the college to explain itself? Certainly not. It is, actually, in comporting with academic standards as expressing in the 1940 statement on academic freedom that the Port Side miscites. As a scholarship student, I certainly don’t want to hurt the college in its fundraising goals, but I do want the college to represent the values that it once held.
Oh, and I don’t “fantasize” about anything other than the usual things that 22 year old heterosexual males do — and let me tell you, that isn’t whether or not the school meets its donation targets. Have some decorum, okay?
If Old Alum meant jews when he said “these folks,” I agree that it is incredibly anti-semetic and offensive. I, however, thought he might have been referring to hate bloggers. Old Alum could clear that up though.
Who are “hate bloggers”? He should also apologize for saying I’m bought and paid for by anyone.
I think Old Alum was insinuating that you may have a position secured at some sort of right wing (or libertarian) organization/company.
Even if his/her comment isn’t predicated on inside knowledge, I’d still place bets that it’s true. I mean, seriously, it’s like your entire stint at CC has been executed in the hopes that you’ll be the next Beck or Limbaugh
Don’t waste your valuable time trying to talk sense to them, Charles.
The folks at Port Side don’t wish to hear anything that is at odds with their cosy little relativist world, and when they can’t shut you down with falsehoods, insult and innuendo, they’ll attempt to diminish whatever you say by ascribing unfounded and unsavoury ulterior motives.
Not worth the effort, I say. Keep fighting for what you believe and let them stew in their cognitive dissonance.
This is a staff editorial, so it represents the view of the Port Side‘s editorial board. It is typical that staff editorials be unbylined.
Well, it was written by Jeremy Merrill. I think you should just own up and admit to writing it.
Its good someone finally defended prof Frangieh!
but cant everyone mind their own business
I don’t see professor frangieh writing daily articles on a subject he knows little about
I guarantee prof frangieh knows more about the middle east then anyone on campus
for 1 he lived their most of his life (as a refugee)
2 his wife worked their during times of war (defending america by the way)
and 3 his whole family is still out their, living that life
he seen with his own eyes things some people only read about or watch on tv
his life is arabic and the arab people
and thats a better life then behind a computer blogging
hate all you want, but frangieh is more qualified then anyone else in southern california
he is the definition of a proud arab and his views support that of the arab people
if you want a completely pro israeli teacher then you are missing out on what the real arabs think
and by the way don’t forget, the palestinians and lebanese VOTED for hezballah and hamas
its called democracy…. not all arab leaders are pro american DICTATORS like hosni mubarak
everyone MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND GET OUT HIS LIFE
finally an article that defends him!!!
if you want a hands down 100% pro israeli teacher go learn hebrew. I mean its like DUH!
you guys are freaking out about an arabic teacher who doesn’t support israel, like its impossible
either the haters are stupid or they just hate
I am SO THANKFUL that a Claremont publication has finally published a rebuke of Johnson’s smear campaign and defended Professor Frangieh’s character.
I’ve attempted to post comments defending Frangieh (at least 5 times) and they’ve ALL been removed from the Claremont Conservative. THAT is why Charles Johnson is an effing joker. Every time he criticizes the journalistic integrity of another publication (with scare quotes, of course) or ~*calls people out*~ for not using their real names, I want to throw my laptop out the window. He is the definition of “triflin.”
You can’t even respectfully disagree with him without being censored. I hope it’s now common knowledge that Charles Johnson will remove any comment on his blog which either…
a) “attacks” him** …or, more commonly,
b) disagrees with him (especially if the counter-argument is good).
**”Attack” in this case having the fairly loose definition of any post showing the tiniest hint of snark.
————————————————————
TO CJ:
I’ve tried to play by your rules Charlie, really I have.
I constrained myself against taking any mean-spirited personal jabs.
Yet you continued to delete my posts.
I tried toning down the angry rhetoric.
Yet you continued to delete my posts.
I tried losing the sarcasm and entirely avoiding humor.
Yet you continued to delete my posts.
I have tried to address my comments toward nothing but the substance of your arguments.
Yet you continued to delete my posts!
—It has become quite clear that there is no satisfactory approach to contradicting you. This makes you a tyrant, no better than the evil terrorists that you so utterly despise. It also makes you a HIPPOCLIT.
In case anyone is interested, this is one of my comments that was deleted over at the Conservative:
******************
Has anyone yet engaged with you over the last few months to debate the categorization of Hamas as a terrorist organization? You wouldn’t know it from your posts, but I’d like to hope that someone has already pointed out that Hamas is only a terrorist organization to those who define it as such.
Given that the organization’s terrorist status is so hotly debated, are you really all that surprised that not everyone is as up-in-arms as you are about Prof. Frangieh’s support of the organization? And have you considered that this might be why CMC administrators haven’t dropped everything just so they can answer to the almighty Charles Johnson.
You stated a few posts back: “Nor can it be claimed that the reason the administrators are ignoring this story is that they defend Frangieh’s academic freedom. If they do, why are they silent now? Surely someone making a principled appeal on defense of academic freedom would continue to make it.”
—You make almost no sense. Yes they CAN ignore the story, because they HAVE. The mere fact of their silence doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about what specific reasons they have for disengaging with your campaign to have the guy sacked/silenced.
Perhaps to them there’s no point in continually underscoring academic freedom when, if the people you’re engaging with consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization, this argument won’t make any headway. The point of academic freedom only appeals to those who either reject, or are ambivalent about, Hamas’ terrorist status.
RELEVANT READS:
Is Hamas only a terrorist group?
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS:
“No. In addition to its military wing, the so-called Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigade, Hamas devotes much of its estimated $70-million annual budget to an extensive social services network. Indeed, the extensive social and political work done by Hamas – and its reputation among Palestinians as averse to corruption – partly explain its defeat of the Fatah old guard in the 2006 legislative vote. Hamas funds schools, orphanages, mosques, healthcare clinics, soup kitchens, and sports leagues. “Approximately 90 percent of its work is in social, welfare, cultural, and educational activities,” writes the Israeli scholar Reuven Paz. The Palestinian Authority often fails to provide such services, and Hamas’s efforts in this area—as well as a reputation for honesty, in contrast to the many Fatah officials accused of corruption—help to explain the broad popularity it summoned to defeat Fatah in the PA’s recent elections.”
http://www.cfr.org/publication/8968/hamas.html#p5
FROM ‘I HATE HATE’ BLOG:
“Although the USA, the EU, Israel, Canada, Japan and others call Hamas a terrorist organization, there is not an international consensus on this matter. The United Kingdom and Australia consider Hamas’ independent military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, to be terroristic, but accept that Hamas does have legitimacy. Norway is resolute in its position of recognizing Hamas as a legitimate party, and Russia also refuse to regard Hamas as terroristic because Hamas was elected democratically.”
http://ihatehate.wordpress.com/2010/03/31/is-hamas-a-terrorist-organization-funnily-enough-no/
That comment was NEVER sent to the Claremont Conservative.
Yes, Charles, it was.
Maybe it was that damn spam filter of your’s that seems to be acting up any time someone challenges you.
“In addition to its military wing,…”
Nice qualifier. Something akin to: “Although he was an axe murderer, he was really nice to his cat.”
Hitler, Mao & Stalin funded schools, sports leagues and healthcare clinics, too. Have you ever considered that Hamas uses its humanitarian aid arm as a means to ingratiate themselves with the community at large, and as a cynical recruiting tool to blunt opposition and further their military aims?
This speaks for itself, but the person here is lying. I never deleted any posts unless they attacked me personally or used profanity. I’ve been letting pretty much anything fly over at the CC. As for “smears,” that’s a baseless charge — unlike my own, which have been vetted.
Since no one can actually rebut what I have uncovered, it must stand.
Charles,
I believe you that you never delete comments, but I did have similar problems. I tried to post comments to your website repetitively and they kept disappearing. It was only after I emailed you my comments that my post would show up. Maybe you should check out your programming. It seems like something isn’t working right.
Jennifer
Yeah, my website has been the target of phishing attacks, so my security, which the owner of the CC (which isn’t, curiously enough me) set up to protect the site often bounces comments. The best way to ensure that it gets posted is to email me or facebook message me.
While I know that you *do* delete certain comments (because I’ve seen mine disappear from the pages), I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and entertain the possibility that you have horrendously faulty security measures in place and this is why my above comment never appeared.
And although I know compassion isn’t your strong point…
I hope you can admit that, by being aware of this hyper-vigilant security, labeling me an outright liar was a bit heavy handed, if not dishonest.
FYI:
I have dozens of comments like the one above (date + time stamped) that I’ve saved on my personal computer and in an online archive.
Aside from Frangieh being a “well respected and loved” professor, and aside from CJ being the “biggest self-promoting piece of crap” at CMC, can anyone dispute the facts that he presented in his original article on Frangieh?
Maybe I am to conclude that CMC’ers don’t care about the facts anymore. Maybe our emotions are crowding out our ability to be rational analyzers.
The issue can be put to rest in one very simple way: Frangieh himself issues a satisfactory explanation for those beliefs and/or Pam Gann “sacks” up and takes a stand. At some point all of this moral relativism BS needs to stop. We can decipher right from wrong. In this case, Frangieh’s statements were wrong, and are totally unacceptable. I’m all for a diversity of views on the Middle East, but his statements in support of terror are morally reprehensible.
Scott’s got this absolutely correct.
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t agree with Charles on a lot of issues. In fact, I disagree with his views a lot. But, in this case, he is asking Professor Frangieh a reasonable request: To explain the petitions and documents he signed as well as the comments that he made. If Hamas is not a terrorist organization, or if he does not support such an organization, why doesn’t Professor Frangieh say this? If Professor Frangieh supports the existence of Israel, why doesn’t he say this? And that is what Charles is addressing. Because Frangieh is both representing CMC and potentially overseeing research of future students, his public views should have been heavily scrutinized by CMC. When I read what Charles wrote, I wondered if this could be true and if CMC knew about it when they hired him. I have no doubt that Prof. Frangieh is a great and beloved professor of Arabic, however I am alarmed by his support of terrorism. All I ask is for Professor Frangieh to explain what he said, wrote, and signed.
In response to Much Appreciated:
Now, I have been following the conflict in the Middle East for a long time and I have not heard Hamas called a non-terrorist organization for a while. But perhaps that is just me. Yes, Hamas is now leading the Palestinian government. Yes, they do plenty of social work. However, they fund, support, and train militants and terrorists. They claim responsibility for terrorist attacks. Are we to say that it is okay to not just condone, but actively support these attacks? Is it okay for an organization to be 95% peaceful but only 5% terrorist (I would argue that Hamas is much more than 5% terrorist, but it is irrelevant here)? Hamas took over the government through less than peaceful means (many Fatah leaders were forced to flee or be arrested or killed). I find support for such an organization to be unacceptable. I eagerly await for Professor Frangieh to address the issue.
Scott asked “can anyone dispute the facts that [Charles] presented in his original article on Frangieh?”
The answer is yes, many people can dispute the facts he presented, if you want to call them facts (I view them as opinions, or as conclusions that Charles drew from his interpretation of the petition). There are many comments on his original article that dispute the facts, quite a few of them which are mine. Instead of rewriting them, I will put the links to the original articles and comments below.
Here is the original article from April 2010: http://www.claremontconservative.com/2010/04/head-of-middle-east-studies-supports.html
Here is the petition: http://www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=297
If you search through all of his other posts related to Frangieh, you will see many comments that provide a view supportive of Frangieh.
This article has quite extensive comments, one of them from a (Jewish) student of Bassam: http://www.claremontconservative.com/2010/12/professor-bassam-frangieh-views.html
Here is yet another article: http://www.claremontconservative.com/2010/12/no-administrative-response-to-bassam.html
These other links are all articles that provide rebuttals to the accusations:
http://www.claremontconservative.com/2011/01/moral-cowardice-of-bassam-frangieh-and.html
http://www.claremontconservative.com/2011/01/bassam-frangiehs-syrian-ties-and.html
http://www.claremontconservative.com/2011/01/expert-on-mid-east-discusses-frangieh.html
http://www.claremontconservative.com/2011/01/frontpagemag-story-on-bassam-frangieh.html
http://www.claremontconservative.com/2011/01/standwithus-releases-statement-gravely.html
And here is a response written by Bassam’s research assistant:
http://www.claremontconservative.com/2010/12/response-to-bassam-frangiehs-research.html
I think it’s important to also realize that Charles is unhappy with the college’s support of Bassam’s wife, Aleta Wenger, who served as a US diplomat in the Middle East for years. She also advocates for a Free Palestine and an end to the blockade of Gaza, and this apparently makes her a Jew-hating witch (an “anti-Israel bigot”), incapable of doing her job. She is clearly an expert in the field of Middle Eastern politics, with an understanding of the situation that Charles is nowhere near matching. Does her expertise not lend any credence to the discussion?
For anyone interested in learning more about the academic and cultural boycott of Israel, check out the PACBI website: http://www.pacbi.org/ as well as the website on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction movement. http://bdsmovement.net/
The boycotts are in response to the apartheid rule of Israel, and is similar to the actions taken against apartheid South Africa.
@ Scott Thank you for finally bringing up the big point here, that many people are overlooking Charles sources and facts just because its CJ
@Lowell: A few points here. First, you reference all of the articles and mention how they are filled with opinions. I agree however if you look at his linked sources, it is easily apparent that there is clear evidence the Frangieh openly support Hezbollah and Hamas and makes clear references not just to their so called “peacefull” government wings but also to their terrorist arms. Believe me I hate CJ as much as the next guy, and have met both Frangieh and Wenger personally and find to be very nice people, yet that is no excuse for supporting a terrorist group. Despite some members of the international political arena pandering for power by questioning their status as a terrorist organization, they HAVE CLAIMED RESPONIBILITY for terrorist attacks.
If there is a terrorist attack on innocent civillians on a bus, and a group takes responisibilty for the attack, then they are a terrorist group by definition. Does it really matter what any government labels them? they blew up a bus!
Is it great that Hamas provides social services to an underserved population? sure. But does that excuse their actions? NO!!!
Look past your hatred at the FACTS and supprting evidence in this case and you will see that Frangieh has openly supported two terrorist organizations (Regardless of international labels). He is a nice person and seems like a good person ,but is that an excuse? no. Either he needs to come out and recant his support for two terrorist organizations or CMC must take some actions. The issue is not his being pro-Palestinian or pro-Lebanon (he is of course entitled to his own opinions) but public support for a terrorist group, even if only in his academic writing and not in the classroom is not something that we should tolerate on our campus.
@Ari
I’m really not in a position to gauge the tide of discourse on the Middle East or, specifically, whether there’s a large consensus that Hamas is a terrorist organization. (Although as I’ve ben trying to educate myself, I’ve gotten the impression that Hamas’ terrorist status is still fairly contentious *shrugs*)
My intended purpose in pointing out Hamas’ ambivalent status was to address Johnson’s unceasing incredulity that–*gasp!*–the CMC administration feels Frangieh’s support of the organization falls with in the purveys of academic freedom.
I happen to agree almost wholeheartedly with Ari from CMC’s statement. Thank you, Ari, for taking the time to share your thoughts. I think that Charles’s campaign is valid; however, considering the state of affairs our world is in I can’t help but wonder why he does not use his curiosity and investigative skill to drive some other project that has more significant impact on what’s going on in society today.
I’m bothered by the amount of time that is spent by scholars on frivolous matters that have no bearing on the real challenges that we have before us. Forget what’s going on with the petitions, let’s find out what’s really going on in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt.. and how this rippling effect is going to impact future IR. It would be nice to hear from Frangieh in response to Charles’s inquiries; but, being someone who would like to study more about the language and region I’d rather hear from him on where the Middle East goes from here and engage in some discourse that has real, significant implications for people in the world who in in pain and poverty.
As future leaders, I hope that we can free ourselves from self-serving interests and personal attacks in order to move forward together to maximize our potential with real passion and purpose.
Charles’ articles were very well written and thoroughly researched. Just because someone is competent at teaching doesn’t make one any less anti-Semitic. It isn’t hard to hide anti-Semitic views and act friendly to students if one is being paid tons of money to do it. Facts are facts. Charles should be commended for exposing this. If Frangieh is not guilty, then he should hurry up and prove it.
Just because one opposes the policies of the Israel does not make one anti-Semitic. Also, you can’t seriously believe that a CMC Arabic professor is “being paid tons of money.” Finally, this tenured professor doesn’t have to prove to anybody that he is “not guilty” in this witch hunt.
Fact check: Frangieh says he views Hezbollah and Hamas with great pleasure. Hezbollah’s head, Hassan Nasrallah has said that he hopes all of the Jews gather in Israel so that his organization won’t have to go through the trouble of wiping them out worldwide. Isnt’ that anti-Semitic?
Frangieh himself signed a petition that blames a Zionist conspiracy for America’s Iraq war policy. Isn’t it anti-Semitic to think the Zionists (read: the Jews) control America’s foreign policy?
Apparently, at least one “Old Alum” lost his critical reasoning faculties…
CJ
how can you call him anti Semitic when Palestinians are part of the Semitic people?
thats like calling an african american guy anti-black
and the claim is not a strong one….
he signed ONE petition supporting hezballah during the 2006 war
ONE petition
and hezballah has a leader who hates jews
so by frangieh signing this ONE petition frangieh obviously hates jews too?
I mean be reasonable
your connecting some imaginary dots together
just because you first voted for bush doesnt mean you agreed on the iraq war
WOW, maybe you should actually look at Charles’ sources instead of trolling these comments and forming responses based on other peoples biased statements. Its not just one petition, but a whole host of his PUBLISHED academic writings. I hate CJ too but you are obviouley blinded by your dislike.
Well said, Recent Alum. A pretty accurate analysis of the situation.
Wow this thing has grown legs! @Scott. @Ari. Well put! What Johnson has once again done is unearth newsworthy issues affect the campus. Hate him, love him, or threaten to kick his ass, your call . As a parent, who lives out of town, I thank him for making me aware that some of the tuition I pay or the donations I will no longer be sending go to support a guy who supports murderers.
To all you supporters of the terrorist Prof: none have you have proven Johnson’s claims as incorrect. Facts all appear to be in check and well vetted . What seems to be lacking as Scott puts it, are Frangieh or Gann’s ability to “sack up” and defend and address the real issue. DOES THIS GUY SUPPORT AND ENDORSE THESE TERRORIST GROUPS? IF SO SHOULD A PENNY OF CMC’S MONEY GO IN HIS POCKET? As I expressed before Frangieh is a coward. Gann is a pawn.
@Jeremy. I’m puzzled! In your original article you mentioned you folks were unable to translate the Arabic articles. I just clicked on your linked name above and got your bio. You claim in it to be proficient in Arabic. Puzzling? Are you really proficient or just bloating your abilities?
CJ took this apart on his website. Looks like Merrill doesn’t know Arabic after all.
@concerned parent:
I wrote a response that likely was caught in the spam filters; it included many links to articles Charles wrote. I attached links that contained comments that did dispute the ‘facts’ that Charles has been writing about (the reason I put ‘facts’ in quotations is because I would consider them Charles’ own interpretations). I will provide a summary of sorts of what the comment said, minus all the links.
He goes from a petition (http://www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=297) supporting a boycott of Israel to concluding that Frangieh is a Jew-hater that wants to see all Jews killed. It is utter nonsense to say that Frangieh is dislikes Jews, as many of his own JEWISH students have stated. As an illustration: I boycott Israeli products, I do not support having Israeli academics come to campus, and I do not want my school investing in Israeli corporations or companies that benefit from Israel’s illegal (apartheid) occupation of the Palestinian territories. However, I do not dislike Jews. I dislike Israel’s uncalled for and illegal actions, and their Zionist expansion. Of course, I can not speak for Bassam, but it is faulty logic to go from the petition bearing his name to a conclusion that he hates Jews.
Don’t forget that Charles is also challenging the legitimacy of Bassam’s wife’s position at CMC. She is a former US diplomat, who served many years in the Middle East. She voiced her support for a flotilla sailing to Gaza this past summer that was trying to break the blockade on the Gaza strip. The boats were carrying humanitarian aid and several hundred civilians from all over the world. Nine people were killed when the Israeli Defense Forces boarded the ship in international waters. One of those people was a 19 year old American. Mrs. Wenger built her career studying these issues. She has seen what goes on behind the scenes, her time as a diplomat depended on a keen understanding of the ins and outs of the situation. She is supporting human rights in her endorsement of the flotilla! Who does Charles think he is, labeling her as an ‘anti-Israeli bigot??’
Charles whines that Bassam is teaching the future diplomats of America, and that he is not providing them with the full story. The irony is that his wife was a diplomat for years, and she most likely has the full story, and look what she thinks! The irony is that many diplomats realize what is wrong with the blockade and Israeli aggression!
But @concerned parent, I admit that I haven’t exactly responded to your question: “DOES THIS GUY SUPPORT AND ENDORSE THESE TERRORIST GROUPS?”
My response is that yes, Hamas is bad. Yes, Hezbollah is bad. But they are the resistance movements of their respective countries. They are freedom fighters, and while their tactics are inappropriate, the Israeli military is no better. When you put dogs in a cage, and keep making the cage smaller and smaller and smaller, the dogs are eventually going to start biting. Bassam, in my opinion and interpretation, supports a free Palestine, where people live with dignity and humanity. He shows his solidarity through support of a peaceful boycott, as do I. Charles needs to respect Frangieh’s freedom to hold his own political opinions.
I won’t address all of this but pick the most salient points.
You call Hezbollah and Hamas “bad”. You left out that they deny the Holocaust and Hezbollah’s head says he wants all of the Jews to gather in Israel so he doesn’t have to go through the trouble of wiping them out worldwide. That’s not “bad,” that’s genocidal. That’s not “resistance,” that’s genocide. Asking Professor Frangieh to come out and say he denounces that terrorist organization isn’t asking too much.
@Lowell R. Thank you for taking the time to respond.
Isn’t the “Zionist Expansion” self-preservation when surrounded by groups outwardly striving to exterminate Israel?
Really Lowell, boycotting Israel and its products? Do you also boycott Chinese good for their treatment of children? African companies who use slave labor? Canada just because you can! I’m sure the things your parents provided for your dorm room prove otherwise. It’s must be nice to be young.
If Frangieh supports a free Palestine as you suggest. That’s great. I support Israel’s right to exist. So be it. Would I sign a document supporting a group that openly calls for the extermination of all Palestinians. Hell no. Extermination, that’s inhuman, ask the Kurds oh yeah , and the Jews. The Jews have been through that already. I wouldn’t be stupid enough to sign such a petition. You’re Professor- not that bright!
Charles, what Israel is doing to the Palestinians is much more akin to genocide than what Hamas or Hezbollah is doing. In the 3-week war that occured two years ago in the Gaza strip, 13 Israelis were killled: 10 soldiers, 3 civilians. In the same time span, 1166 Palestinians were killed according to the IDF, many hundreds of whom were civilians (926 according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, 295 according to the IDF). Something isn’t right about this picture…..
Concerned parent, the Zionist expansion is not self-preservation, it is an effort to wipe out a people. Expanding on land that is not theirs is not self-preservation, it is self-propogation.
I also support Israel’s right to exist, but I support their right to exist per UN resolutions, their right to legally exist. If you want to find out what inhumanity is, ask the Palestinians!
I hope that this appeal from Bishop Desmond Tutu, who likely understands apartheid as well as anyone possibly could, will make you think again about Bassam’s support of Palestinian freedom and rights.
http://columbiadivest.org/tutu.html
He writes, among other things:
“To criticize the occupation is not to overlook Israel’s unique strengths, just as protesting the Vietnam War did not imply ignoring the distinct freedoms and humanitarian accomplishments of the United States. In a region where repressive governments and unjust policies are the norm, Israel is certainly more democratic than most of its neighbors. This does not make dismantling the settlements any less of a priority.”
And:
“The occupation represents a dangerous and selective amnesia of the persecution from which these traditions were born.”
In the coming year, Claremont Students for Justice in Palestine will be working to organize a divestment campaign at the Claremont Colleges. If I were a parent, I would be much more concerned about my tuition going towards supporting Israeli corporations that benefit and/or directly enable the occupation than I would be about a professor’s political views.
Lowell, I was listening until I read the last paragraph. As what appears to label you a member of Claremont Students for Justice in Palestine- you are not longer impartial and I can begin to see the blinders you wear. Sorry.
On a similar token, I will disregard the posts of anyone who is openly Zionist as being biased.
Also, I am concerned that someone would be AGAINST justice in Palestine; does that imply you support injustice?
I was not aware of a Claremont Students for Justice in Palestine group even existing. Is there a website or contact person?
Yes, our email address is sjpclaremont@gmail.com
I’m just another parent who’s been made aware of all this debate via an email floating around. It’s tremendously hard to read all of the items about this Professor scattered on the internet. However I have read quite a bit. It is alarming to me, as like Concerned Parent,I am a tuition payer and victim of the Campaign for Claremont McKenna fundfaising- a donor- that my money might be supporting a person that outwardly supports these terrorist groups. But from an outsider’s perspective, it seems very unprofessional, almost embarrassing that despite what appears to be several invitations neither the Professor himself nor President Gann has come to the defense of the school’s honor.
The PortSide too seems all too quick to defend the man as a “nice man.” Perhaps on the surface he is. However his failure to denounce these claims and or these groups make me believe that behind the veil he’s a hateful man. Hamas and Hezbollah have killed thousands of people. To support them, my faith tells me is unconscionable. The longer it takes for President Gann to publicly deal with this issue, the greater the harm done to the 5 C schools.
Well, let’s just say if Charles didn’t build the reputation of attacking anyone and anyone’s character, he might draw a little more attention from higher up.
Dear I win,
What does your response have to do with my letter? You act as if Mr Johnson was the only person writing or calling the administration. Judging from what I’ve seen here and on other websites as well there are many others contacting President Gann asking for leadership. Yet as mentioned in above posts, she’s failed to “sack up.” So again I ask, what does your post have to do with mine above?
@I Win. Trust me, it is getting attention from “higher up” — in fact, as high as it can possibly go on campus.
@Just another parent It is standard practice for some on this campus to go after me personally rather than to weigh the evidence. College students, even at the best universities, are increasingly unable to think for themselves.
As long as they don’t affect how he conducts his classes and treats his students, Professor Frangieh’s political views seem irrelevant to me. I don’t support Hezbollah or Hamas, but I certainly support the right of other people to do so. Good people (and good professors) can still have bad ideas, and vice versa. The ability to draw that distinction is a fundamental part of academia.
Derek,
It has affected the speakers he has brought to campus. There’s certainly no denying that. When an Israeli professor wanted to rebut the Syrian ambassador, Frangieh gave him the cold shoulder.
And who, might I ask, did you hear that from?
Hear, Hear.
Umm we all heard/saw it when the Syrian amabassador came to speak…
This whole debate is a straw man. Anybody who has bothered talking with Prof. Frangieh would know he doesn’t support terrorism; he is a staunch supporter of democracy in the Middle East and has heaped criticism on the dictators of the region, both Islamic extremists and secularists. To counter one of Charles’s examples I am familiar with, in 2006 Prof. Frangieh praised Hamas in a very limited context: after it won a democratic election in Palestine against the notoriously corrupt Fatah party, not because it was blowing people up. I personally haven’t heard Prof. Frangieh say anything positive about Hamas since I’ve known him. Prof. Frangieh may not be a fan of Israel, but would an anti-Semite really publicly support a two-state solution? Interesting Charles fails to mention this, probably because he didn’t bother trying to find out what Prof. Frangieh ACTUALLY believes.
Prof. Frangieh is a talented poet and scholar, a patriot, and an invaluable resource to his students. His wife, a Foreign Service Officer, has served her country honorably, and it is shameful Charles has implicated her in this. In addition, now Charles is trying to publicly defame members of the Port Side who oppose his ultimate goal: getting an “evil” Middle Eastern professor fired, and establishing his credentials in the conservative journalistic community.
Why doesn’t Prof. Frangieh respond? Why doesn’t the CMC’s administration respond? Are you really too stupid to figure it out? Charles Johnson is a self-serving McCarthyist on a witch-hunt, and nobody wants to validate his manipulative claims with a response. I pity the Port Side for involving itself with this nonsense. Shame on Charles Johnson for trying to ruin a great teacher’s life, and shame on the people who rally around him with no other source besides his poison.
Take heed! THIS is what REALITY looks like.
QFT x2
“I personally haven’t heard Prof. Frangieh say anything positive about Hamas since I’ve known him… Interesting Charles fails to mention this, probably because he didn’t bother trying to find out what Prof. Frangieh ACTUALLY believes.”
“Why doesn’t Prof. Frangieh respond? Why doesn’t the CMC’s administration respond? Are you really too stupid to figure it out? Charles Johnson is a self-serving McCarthyist on a witch-hunt, and nobody wants to validate his manipulative claims with a response.”
Read some history. In the years following his investigations, McCarthy was proven right.
(Oops! Inconvenient truth)
Proven right in what aspect? He was also wrong in many other ways. The ends do not justify the means, i.e in this case, his paranoia. I would assume all of Hollywood was also a commie plot, then too, since he was “proven right”.
@Just Disappointed- Nicely debated. But drop dead for calling me “too stupid.” If it is in deed a “witch hunt” then the college & Frangieh should have nipped it in the bud before it was left to fester and leave a scar. Now that seems stupid!
On another note- Why is Charles Johnson the only one of you students to man-up by showing their names? (Jeremy exclude but it’s his blog) You folks can rip him apart behind aliases but to be taken seriously man-up. Very cowardly. Before you jump on me for being Concerned Parent- my kid has a few years left at the 5Cs. She/he will take the fallout, not me.
Lowell isn’t an alias….
Kudos to Lowell!!! Anyone else got the Lowell’s courage?
It may be hard for someone who hasn’t been a student alongside Charles Johnson to understand this, but we have good reason for not revealing our real names. When you openly disagree with CJ, you become the news. If you post something on your Facebook that CJ doesn’t like (doesn’t have to be directed at him necessarily), you become the news. Hell, if you shoot him a dirty look in the library, you’re in danger of becoming the “news.”
Most of us would like to get jobs when we graduate. We’d prefer not to have the first page of Google results that appears when you search our names (that a potential employer might see) be some vitriolic tirade ripping apart our character.
agree with the last comment on anonymity…
I am not pleased with the “We” pronoun representing the entire “claremont port side”….
@ Jeremy,
The thread where I mentioned that I saw you claimed on your resume to be proficient in Arabic etc seems to have been removed. The response of Charles Johnson gone too! The Port Side should stop throwing stones at Charles Johnson when you, yourselves like CMC’s Mr. Rodner like to delete material from the web and forums that suits your needs. Jeremy it seems you too are a coward and a fraud! If you can read this-يبدو تماما مثل أستاذ كنت خائفا للدفاع عن المطالبات الخاصة بك.
@Concerned Parent: I would advise you to consult an optometrist, as age seems to have weakened your vision; your earlier comment which “seems to have been removed” certainly doesn’t seem that way to me.
http://www.claremontportside.com/?p=3889&cpage=1#comment-12281
So, no, Jeremy isn’t a “coward”; you’re just an idiot, though your clear taste for juvenile, catty ad hominem attacks has made that obvious enough on its own. Troll somewhere else.
Old and blind indeed. My Bad
Lemme see here. I’ve finished reading the comments and can’t see the answer to the question I really want to ask. Has anyone debunked anything Johnson has written? No? Why not if they are false?
Because they have no response to the truth other than whitewashing, obfuscation and denial.
It tells you everything you need to know about this “newspaper” that the most commented stories are ones that CJ broke. The Port Side hates on CJ, but they certainly seem to need him to get people on their website.
The Port Side says,
Then pony up the money to help him translate them all. Sheesh. I don’t get it though. He gives you all of the translations for the first story and you ignore them? CJ, how do you put up with this crap?
I’ve been following the Claremont Conservative for a while now. Whenever you see CJ Fan or CJ Supporter, it’s Charles.
I think that might explain the plural pronoun stuff he does ie. “We at the CC are narcissistic and delusional, and have reason to believe that we are victims of everything and everyone is out to get us, and therefore we will spout insulting nonsense at people.”
But just in case, to the above “CJ Fan,” you have to understand that this guy has 3+ years of spitting venom, conspiracy theories, hatred, and general irrational nonsense at people — most of which has been contested to the point where people just don’t care anymore. He has no credibility with anyone at the school — and that’s why this doesn’t get challenged. It’d be like taking Fox “News” seriously and believing Beck when he says the end is nigh and we must buy his gold before it’s too late.
For the record, the personal pronoun is something of a joke that draws on John Derbyshire’s podcast, but there are other people involved with the project as anyone can see why they look at the site.
But hey, think what you want. You will anyways, even when the evidence is overwhelming.
I’m afraid my comments will soon be deleted from the Claremont Conservative. I’ve written comments on his website before and if I seem to win the argument, the entire exchange disappears. I usually don’t care but I find his current witch hunt damaging to CMC. Yes, Bassam’s statements, if true, are controversial and merit a response or statement from him, but this has been an unnecessarily public and hateful campaign. I might be naive in expecting better from Charles Johnson, but I hold fellow CMCers in high regard and do not wish to make exceptions, however appealing it may seem.
Here is a copy of our useful and short exchange:
1) https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8000540157798486294&postID=2400537507590059217
2) https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8000540157798486294&postID=6735010016190309165
I’m not very good at these things, but someone should save this exchange before he deletes it.
First one ——————————————————————————————————————————————
Meme said…
Post PDFs to your blog or it didn’t happen.
January 31, 2011 5:24 PM
Charles Johnson said…
I’m going to give the Board of Trustees a full week to contact me or issue a statement and then I will.
January 31, 2011 5:27 PM
Yehud said…
yo’ mama Israeli?
January 31, 2011 11:55 PM
Anonymous said…
why cant you respect someones views?
but instead you attack them
and im pretty sure if israel was to be “driven into the sea” arabs wouldnt attack america next
why would they
america is not the holy land?
and they are not originally from america.
that cant be your only reason to hate palestinians
like seriously, thats your reason?
cuz you think people with no army will invade america after israel?
really? wow
and im pretty sure many palestinian christians support frangieh views, the holy land christians.
mind your own business
like for real
February 2, 2011 7:02 PM
Anonymous said…
How is this for principle? Reveal to us your translators and (attempted) correspondence with Frangeigh to verify that he ever gave those interviews and/or was misquoted.
February 2, 2011 11:42 PM
Charles Johnson said…
I’m releasing all of the material from that story next week.
February 2, 2011 11:50 PM
Anonymous said…
Including the ‘translators’? (i guess in this case, releasing the source of the translators would be pages of algorithm)
What about your attempts to get a statement or clarification from Bassam? Or any attempts to make sure the arab sources or petitions weren’t putting his name on something he didn’t say (or something you think he said).
February 3, 2011 12:01 AM
Charles Johnson said…
I’m not releasing the names of translators. You can pay for your own translations, but given the smear campaign against me by the administration, I’m not subjecting someone else to it. You can make your own translations. I’ve gotten three different translators. That’s good enough for me — and for reasonable people on this issue.
Stop playing games and respond to what has been said and written.
February 3, 2011 12:05 AM
Anonymous said…
I don’t need to respond to anything. If the ‘Administration’ launched a smear campaign against you, then your readers can conclude what you did to Bassam. By the way, how did the college smear you? As i recall, there was nothing directed at you personally; they only discussed the allegations made by a student blogger. They chose to dismiss and reject them. How is that a smear campaign?
So you won’t reveal to us: 1) who actually translated or vetted these documents and 2) evidence that you asked Bassam to comment or clarify/or generally did anything to make sure this wasn’t some crazy blog like yours in Arabic that just makes things up.
Second —————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Har har said…
Journalist? Thanks…that’s the hardest I’ve laughed all day
February 1, 2011 12:12 AM
Anonymous said…
Awesome. You got what you wanted — A lot of publicity for yourself. Now will you stop? Also, I work in the alumni office and, unsurprisingly, you lie. 5 alums wrote to us. 5. No one else cared. And these 5 were all recent alums and presumably your type. I blame the admissions office.
February 2, 2011 11:41 PM
Charles Johnson said…
Actually, it is true. I’ve heard from quite a few alumni.
I’m also not interested in publicity; I’m interested in using publicity to get the college to do the right thing.
February 2, 2011 11:44 PM
Anonymous said…
You might have. But clearly they don’t care enough — or aren’t important enough — to make sure their views are heard. You are the only source on this. No mainstream organization has reported this (not even right-leaning sources, except for a National Review blog, i.e. not even the actual magazine). You’re the only source and your reputation is sketchy and untrustworthy to the say the least. If this is such a big issue and if your professional translators and middle eastern experts have vetted the story, then why hasn’t the LAtimes or the WSJ or even the Claremont Courier picked it up? I spoke to a CI writer, and even they’re hesitant to let you have another go at Bassam at the next issue. The Portside regrets giving you the attention, and I’m pretty sure Dean Hess shouldn’t have indulged your smear campaign. I’m sure you desperately sent it to everyone, but only the crazies like YAF and RighWingNews seem interested. Charles, we know what you’re doing and it isn’t going to work.
February 2, 2011 11:56 PM
Charles Johnson said…
You write a lot of silliness. The editor asked me to write about it at the last meeting. The Claremont Courier has picked it up and I can’t talk about the rest of the people I have talked to about this, but more is coming.
–Charles
February 3, 2011 12:03 AM
Anonymous said…
No, the Claremont Courier has not written anything about this issue, and I doubt they will. They may report your campaign, but no one apart from you seems to think this is an explosive story. You’ve been writing about this for a few months now, and if anyone at a serious news organizations thought it was worth the bandwidth it occupied, then we would see it in their publications. And it’s not some media cover up or anti-Israeli bias. You won’t find anything on this at National Review (except two or three blog posts by two guys, neither of whom are as vitriolic about this as you are), or Weekly Standard, or WSJ, Atlantic Monthly, Washington Times (which has pretty low standards to begin with), NY Post.
Bassam’s name is all over the internet because of you, but most people don’t realize that everything traces back to you (which is probably what you wanted and why you did all this in the first place). And that’s why neither the alums nor the administration care about this. They are, however, disgusted by your behavior and complete disregard for CMC and faculty and students.
February 3, 2011 12:48 AM
Thanks for posting this. I’ve had a number of CC comments removed as well. He states that he removes them if they attack him personally, but I think that really means if they challenge his argument. Usually he’ll just blast you with insults, say you’re a moron, a left-wing liberal, and then delete them. Probably wise to just keep track.
It is reassuring to see that his weird obsession is getting ignored, people should have figured out a long time ago not to pay any attention to him — that way, he’ll just go away. It’ll just be the conspiracy folk and the religious crazies who have any interest in this.
Again, I don’t delete comments unless they attack me. Why do anonymous commentators feel the need to lie?
By the way, I never post an email unless I have first asked for a comment or if it is a public email. So, tell another lie, why dontcha.
That’s great, but unfortunately not true as documented above. And as that poster demonstrated, the best thing to do is take screen shots that document the continual removal of comments that don’t attack you personally, just your arguments and paranoid agenda. Anonymous has shown proof of your removal of comments, you have shown no proof that you don’t remove them. Who do you think is feeling the need to lie here?
As I proved, the spam filter picks up quite a bit, but I’m not going to get back in forth in what is so obviously a lie designed to go after me. This is a pattern of spin that doesn’t want to address the real problem of a Hamas and Hezbollah supporter on campus.
I’m sure I’m behind here, but what exactly is the problem with having a supporter of Hamas or Hezollah on campus? (leaving aside the broad spectrum of views denoted by ‘supporter’) One may also find, on college campuses, sympathetic historians of violent political revolutions ranging from the French to the American to the Bolshevik. Since when is it legitimate to apply an ideological or ethnocentric litmus test to professors? It’ll be a sad day when academia is stripped of anyone whose views are insufficiently politically correct or aligned with US foreign policy to be accepted by the censors.
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio/Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
As an external observer (not a CMC student), this all seems completely ridiculous to me. You have a Palestinian professor who’s anti-Israel; how utterly shocking. Good thing we don’t penalize academics for having diverse views on justice and international politics…oh wait. Mounting a one-man crusade to evict and censor people who don’t support your side in a conflict is rather puerile and anti-intellectual, isn’t it? If the man has some interesting and potentially justifiable academic point of view and does his job as a professor, namely to teach students, buzz off.
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