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| Fifth Column |
| 9/11 'revisionist' allowed to teach |
| 2006-07-11 |
| An instructor at the University of Wisconsin who has said he believes US officials orchestrated the September 11, 2001 attacks, will be allowed to teach a course on Islam. Some state politicians had called for the University of Wisconsin-Madison to fire Kevin Barrett, a part-time instructor, after he spoke about his theories on a radio talk show last month. The university provost, Patrick Farrell, said in a statement late on Monday: "We cannot allow political pressure from critics of unpopular ideas to inhibit the free exchange of ideas. "To the extent that his views are discussed, Mr Barrett has assured me that students will be free and encouraged to challenge his viewpoint." Barrett can present his view as one of many perspectives on the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington DC when he teaches Islam: Religion and Culture this fall, Farrell said. Farrell began a review after Barrett said he believed the attacks were the result of a conspiracy designed to cause war in the Middle East. Barrett said he was happy the school "did the right thing". "This university is a pretty professional organisation that is not going to buckle from political pressure from politicians," he said. Politicians who had called for Barrett's dismissal criticised the decision. Matt Canter, a spokesman for the governor, Jim Doyle, said: "The governor would have come to a different conclusion about this." Steve Nass, a state representative, said he would push next year for cuts to the university's budget. The university does not endorse Barrett's theories, Farrell said, noting that they are widely believed in parts of the Muslim world. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #27 Hey Provost, don't you have an University ROTC bombing to attend, a nice fat-boy to smoke, or some gay lads to hang out with down on WI Ave? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-07-11 20:54 |
| #26 *happy sigh* I do love a pretty bit of sarcasm, mac. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-07-11 20:50 |
| #25 Darrell, my boy, you're stuck in the past. For enlightened postmodernist types such as the professorate here at UW Madison, there is no such thing as "truth." It's all just one's individual point of view, you see, and those are all equal. Only benighted Philistines like engineers or deluded, semi-coherent "religionists" think that there are actually things that are "right" or "wrong." From your post it's quite obvious that you're one of those "absolutist" types who sees everything in black and white and who doesn't understand the subtle nuances of existence that sculpt and inflect every meme and paradigm. Why, I suspect you would even categorize running your auto's engine without oil as "wrong" or "stupid" rather than seeing it for what it truly is, an "alternative operating method." Don't trouble your mind about such things though. Frankly speaking, they're too deep for you. Just sit back, drink your Budweiser and watch your NASCAR, and keep paying the taxes which support those of us who truly understand the world. It's the least you can do. Oh, and try standing a bit straighter, as well. Having one's knuckles drag the ground is prole to the point of Neanderthalism... Sincerely, Patrick Farrell Provost, UM-Madison /sarcasm off |
| Posted by: mac 2006-07-11 18:38 |
| #24 What's the issue here? If they're going to blame Bush for everything, then they might as well blame him for 9/11. It doesn't make them any crazier -- just more consistent. As for university provost Patrick Farrell, somebody needs to fill him in: the free exchange of ideas should not be the ultimate goal -- truth should be the ultimate goal. He needs to decide whether he wants to run a university or an asylum. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2006-07-11 17:31 |
| #23 LOL, Angie! |
| Posted by: Wheang Spavirong9833 2006-07-11 16:19 |
| #22 On one hand its good that he's a moonbat teaching what Muslims think, it'll give the students first hand knowledge of how batshit some folks are. On the other hand I hope the students have enough critical thinking skills to see batshit nonsense when it's put in front of them. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2006-07-11 15:27 |
| #21 Ok. I offically apologise to any teachers and professors out there. Some teachers and professors are very good - some (like this guy) use their profession as a soapbox. I am still wondering if there is an Intro to Christianity or Judism course out there.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-07-11 12:34 |
| #20 TW is correct. There are a lot of wingnut professors in universities but there are also the kind that spend a lot of time at Rantburg. I taught at a university. I taught a lot of military members over 25 years who were in our live program as well as our distance education engineering program. Some were test pilots, some were operational pilots, some were helicopter pilots, some went on to become astronauts. Some were in the Canadian airforce. I really enjoyed these students. They were the cream of the crop of students. A great bunch of men and women. Serious students--no BS. Personally, I think the guy, Barrett, at Wisconsin is a self-indulgent asshole who thinks someone gives a shit about his sel-important opinions. Sounds like he likes the spotlight--has sh*t for brains. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2006-07-11 12:28 |
| #19 I'm really excited about this Wisconsin thing. I'm thinking I could get a job there teaching astrology, or the caloric theory of heat. Or the Phenomenological Theory of Unicorn Invisibility (PTUI), which holds that current theories of gravity are rubbish. In reality, the effect we perceive as gravity is actually due to the mediation of tiny invisible pink unicorns. My outstanding work in these fields should get me a job in the Physics or Astronomy Dept. I need to get that cv out today. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2006-07-11 12:02 |
| #18 Well, I guess our special ops guys were busy blowing up trains in Bombay a few hours ago. What amazes me is that the same people who cannot plan and execute a second rate invasion and occupation, are able to secretly bomb various buildings and trains and ships around the world without getting caught by local authorities. Also, this worldwide terror campaign is against innocent bystanders, rather than against those with whom we are at war. When one's logic is so twisted, he displays the fact that he has no basis for his beliefs. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-07-11 11:30 |
| #17 Careful with that, CrazyFool. Lots of teachers hang out here, including Dr. Steve, Pappy and lotp. ;-) The teaching profession does seem, however, to attract the extremes of capability -- both ends of the bell curve are well represented. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-07-11 11:14 |
| #16 Those who can do, Those who can't teach. those who canot teach - teach English or 'Ethnic studies' such as Intro to Islam.... (BTW: Is there an intro to Christianity at that school? Judism?) |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-07-11 11:00 |
| #15 To the extent that his views are discussed, Mr Barrett has assured me that students will be free and encouraged to challenge his viewpoint. I remember doing that, once, in college. Had a whackjob English instructor at ASU with a bug up her ass for PETA. I made a point of going to class wearing my leather jacket and Reeboks and a Mickey D's hamburger for a in-class snack. (I was a senior, and didn't care...that helped. ASU required me to take a English 101 class, but couldn't get into one until my last semester....go figure.) I "challenged" the viewpoint that animal testing wasn't necessary. I also "challenged" the viewpoint that vegetarians were better human beings than the rest of us (she didn't appreciate my reference to Adolph Hitler, for some reason....) I was rewarded with a D in composition. Considering that the sickly-looking ho-bag could barely write a coherent sentence in her native language, while I could do it in four, I found that pretty damn rich. She was quite proud of herself for it, too, when she let me know what the grade was. I asked her if she could go back and change it, and she refused. She gleefully told me that there was absolutely no way she could do that. I figured, what the hell....and let her know that even though I too was in the liberal arts, at least I could get a job offer outside of academia. I'm sure if she could have she would have changed it to an "E" right then.... ;) |
| Posted by: Swamp Blondie 2006-07-11 10:54 |
| #14 Barrett also said that Madrid, Bali, and several of Zarky boy's ops in Iraq probably were "Black bag" operations carried out by US intel and SF. The guy's a complete idiot. I watched his facial gestures and I thought he reminded me of somebody. Then it dawned on me... President Logan of 24! Watch H&C and then compare Barrett to Logan. Cut from the same cloth save for the fact that Logan's a fictional character while Barrett lives in a fictional world. |
| Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden 2006-07-11 10:38 |
| #13 Well, the whole town is known locally as PROM, Peoples Republic of Madison . The really sad fact is far too many students get an education find a job with the state and stay. |
| Posted by: Cheaderhead 2006-07-11 10:37 |
| #12 On last night's Hannity and Colmes, "Professor" Kevin Barrett denounced FOX NEWS CHANNEL as extreme. Okay, that's his opinion and he's entitled to it. But then he revealed his true totalitarian nature when he added "...and you guys should be banned." Ah yes, censor FOX, take it off the air. "Within the Revolution, everything! Outside the revolution, nothing!"--Fidel Castro, 1974 |
| Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden 2006-07-11 10:35 |
| #11 Barrett also said that 60% of Madison believes that 9/11 was an inside job So 40% are able to resist group-think? Presumably a good many of those are in the hard sciences and engineering, but even so that's better than I would have expected at Berkley/Wisconsin. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-07-11 10:23 |
| #10 Tu, youÂ’re on a good point. If there was a professor at UoW that believed all Muslims are terrorists do you think they would keep him on staff? This is just another shining example of when moonbattery meats education. Unfortunately Professor moonbat is in a position to shape minds to his way of thinking. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-07-11 10:14 |
| #9 How long would an instructor work at a university if he publicly said slavery didn't exist and its all a bunch of propaganda created by the left? That statistical studies show that race 'x' is consistently 10 points below the norm for others? That females exercising free choice do not pursue advanced degrees in engineering or math, generally speaking? Don't think we'd have to wait long, would we? Once again, Elitism - one set of rules for us and a separate set of rules for everyone else. |
| Posted by: Glogum Thaviling3232 2006-07-11 09:14 |
| #8 It always amuses me when we on the right get our panties in a wad over some moonbat teacher. American universities are full of them! We act surprised. This guy was on Hannity and Colmes last night and Sean tore him a new one. I can't see the benefit of giving them airtime, unless you hold to the theory that the more people see the left for the psychopaths they are, the more they will gravitate to the right. I'm not convinced. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-07-11 09:12 |
| #7 I saw this dude last night on H&C. He believes 9/11 was an inside job. He's scary sincere about that. Also says he has credible evidence that the WTC was imploded w/demo gear - supposedly has debris/dust from said demo explosives - imho, prolly more likely the angel dust he's been sniffing since the 60's. Colmes asked him if students had to buy into his conspiracy theories to get a good grade - of course this guy said no. Barrett also said that 60% of Madison believes that 9/11 was an inside job - frightening if true. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2006-07-11 09:09 |
| #6 The university provost, Patrick Farrell, said in a statement late on Monday: "We cannot allow political pressure from critics of unpopular ideas to inhibit the free exchange of ideas. I wonder if Kevin Baby believed that, say, university provosts had tendencies towards pedophilia and espoused that belief, if his "free exchange of ideas" would be tolerated. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-07-11 09:04 |
| #5 I have a theory that models with eating disorders can be cured by having sex with me. Maybe Dr. Steve can recommend me for a clinical position at the university. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-07-11 08:43 |
| #4 This actually gives me yet another out when the University calls me (usually during dinner) to make an alumni donation. Go Badgers! But not with my money. |
| Posted by: JDB 2006-07-11 08:34 |
| #3 I keep saying that when you fund universitiies with taxpayers money all you grow is socialists and other parasites, not education. LOAN students the money, but not ONE cent of taxpayers money should be forced from them to fund this "education". You could also cut taxes and therefore have more jobs for graudates and enable graduates to pay the loans off much faster. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2006-07-11 08:04 |
| #2 "This university is a pretty professional organisation that is not going to buckle from political pressure from politicians," he said Thank heaven he's not teaching English. All his "students of islam" will be thrilled to hear their delusions given force through Barrett. Well done! Will he teach the "moon landing was faked" course this term as well? |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-07-11 07:57 |
| #1 This teacher believes it because were he in power that is what he would do... |
| Posted by: badanov 2006-07-11 07:03 |