The coverage by the Rocky Mountain News of Hanan Ashrawi's controvestial appearance at yesterday's 9-11 symposium at Colorado College is disappointing, to say the least. RMN actively participated in a nationwide campaign of outrage directed at the invitation of this Arafat stooge as keynote speaker for an event commemorating the atrocities her former boss celebrated. Today, RMN saves its criticism for those who showed up to protest while having nothing but praise for the "moderate" Ms. Ashrawi. Sub-headline: Former Arafat aide says, 'I do not believe that God takes sides' Excerpts: COLORADO SPRINGS - Palestinian activist Hanan Ashrawi on Thursday drew cheers and jeers as she told protesters they were being hoodwinked by those who seek to pervert peace in the Middle East. "Don't you find that demeaning?" she asked the handful of sign-waving protesters who were given seats inside the packed Armstrong Hall on the campus of Colorado College. * * * A crowd of several hundred others, including Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar and Denver City Councilwoman Joyce Foster, protested Ashrawi's appearance. Salazar said Ashrawi's appearance at the symposium was inappropriate, given the Sept. 11 anniversary timing. Rabbi Bruce Dollin, president of the Rocky Mountain Rabbinical Council of Denver, was more direct as he protested outside. "If it were not for Ashrawi and her terrorist boss, the Palestinians would now be citizens of a newly formed Palestinian state," he said. Ashrawi urged those attending to think for themselves and to defend the free exchange of ideas. * * * Afterward, students who heard Ashrawi's remarks and the protests and counterprotests outside Armstrong Hall were irate that protesters appeared to be grinding their political axes at their campus event. "She's all about having freedom of speech and not being intimidated," said Ryan Segal, 19, a student from Salt Lake City. "I ran into a lot of people today who came here with closed minds. There are people that are here to just totally push their own ideas." Other students said they didn't know enough about the Middle East conflicts to take sides. But they didn't like the protest signs they saw, and they didn't like the name-calling they heard. "I was just dumbfounded when one of the protesters said it's typical of colleges to bring in a speaker that would promote terrorism," said Candy Rodriguez, 19, of Houston. "He's turning her entire presentation into something negative," said Brian Edstrom, 21, from Wisconsin, as he listened to counterspeaker Daniel Pipes, author of several books on militant Islam. Pipes was recounting for protesters who had not heard Ashrawi's address what she said. "It's not very professional," Edstrom said. "He's twisting her words."Headline: "Ashrawi: I just ask you to listen"
A companion piece entitled "Palestinian's appearance brings out demonstrators" expresses similar sentiments. But this quote from one of the students stood out:"Suicide bombing is an act of desperation. We're not giving them any other options," said Ryan Segal, a sophomore from Salt Lake City. "Yes, they've caused us damage and harm, but if you don't have any family left and you don't have any place to live, you don't know what to do except strike back at the people who put you there."
Right. They don't have any family left and they don't have any place to live. That's why we see their parents and brothers and sisters celebrating and handing out candy after their "martyrdom operations." That's why we see their mothers posing with them for photos as they leave to blow innocent people into itty bitty pieces. That's why we get treated to interviews with proud moms and photos of the homes from which these murderers set out to do their evil deeds. Because they have no family and no home. Once upon a time you needed to have at least 2 functioning brain cells to get into college. I guess that's no longer an acceptable entrance requirement.
Shame on Colorado College, and shame on the Rocky Mountain News.
