Here is a viewpoint I wrote for the Kalamazoo Gazette last month:
http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/columns-5/123216961878710.xml&coll=7
Here is a published response (with online comments) from today's Gazette:
http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/01/in_response_to_hussain_turks.html
Last night I was forcibly detained, arrested, and escorted off of campus by white WMU Police Officers when I quietly brought a sign (that read: AmeriKKKa Funds Israeli Terrorism) to WMU's presentation of "Israel 101." Supposedly my "organized protest" (which consisted of me, a sign, and absolutely no speaking) was "offensive and disruptive."
When an older veteran (who happened to be black) told the white police officer who was holding me up against a wall (and who did not witness me carrying any sign, because my sign was stolen by a white WMU student) that I had done nothing wrong, the black man was given 5-seconds to leave or be arrested as well.
I am now officially banned from any WMU campus facility. As I was being escorted/forced off of campus (the bruise on my arm speaks for itself) I had a brief but interesting exchange with a white officer, sergeant Brian Alofs.
I told him "You know its racist bigots like you that make America full of hate."
The white sergeant replied "You're mildly retarded."
I think this exposes the intellectual caliber of the American social justice system.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
As a first generation college student,immigrant and a naturally curious individual, I have always pondered about this double standard that existed in many facets of American culture. I have been awarded a fortunate opportunity to listen and discuss some of the controversial views expressed by several New Yorkers. From the Public Affairs professor at Baruch to the construction workers who seem to pervade every block, their differences are united by two commonalities. They are very opinionated and angry.
ReplyDeleteUnless you own a car, there is little escape from the information that constantly bombard the streets of this city. At the risk of making a sweeping statement, I am of the opinion that much of these qualities are absent within Kalamazoo. Political correctness and passive observation that resonates even within an intellectual institution like Kalamazoo has lead to many- in some ways myself- to not challenge the status quo in this environment for fear of alienation. Their eyes never seem to be incapable of looking deeply,if at all, upon their reflection in the mirror.
Kalamazoo college has been my first experience living in an easily identifiable white dominated environment. It came as a shock to the system when my natural curiosity concerning the white lifestyle in the Mid-West seemed to stir an air, that till recently was very unfamiliar. For a certain period I thought I was just paranoid.
I admire your boldness Hussain. However, could we truly expect an officer to sympathies with such a rarely discussed issue when it still seems taboo in our 'liberal' school? I have personally questioned my civil war professor about this issue and I still feel that now familiar air when my question was introduced. In the end, personally speaking out is the stone that will cause the ripple. That story makes me want to throw some stones.
Unrelated: The name Brian Alofs' sounds very familiar. I think he was the same officer attempted to extort $600 from me a years back.
what i find most interesting about this story is the response from the person who spoke of what is anti-American. As he claims, the ability to verbally dissent is one of the greatest attributes of this country and freedom of speech is held in high esteem.
ReplyDeleteYet immediately following that statement he claims that because this is a given right, it should not be enacted in a way that may be critical because such an action is a 'slap in the face.' This makes freedom of speech an empty right, instead of the healthy political discourse it was meant to be.
while disturbing as your story is hussain im not particularly shocked by the response you recv... coming from a white conservative christian i believe the police officer had convictions within his own mind of what he believes in, moreover that these strong beliefs were directly challenged by your poster this inevitably led to the response you were given
ReplyDeleteWhile that doesnt really anwser the question concering the fundamental contradiction of the white officer' actions it does at least hopefully provide a base of understanding that maybe someone else can expand on...
Reading the comments on the response to your view point is infuriating. The gentlemen, "daveinkazoo" keeps trying to assign credit for centuries of Muslim scholarship to Christians or saying Muslims have added anything of value to human history. His claims are ludicrous, yet I don't doubt many will find them appealing. Dave claims to get his information from books, I have one to suggest to him. It's an autobiography written by a German man who thought that all great historical achievements were due to the Aryan race. It's called Mein Kampf, he might have some trouble finding it though.
ReplyDeleteBy making that sign and carrying it you made a preemptive, conscious decision to take action on a subject you felt passionate about. By taking action you must therefore be prepared for the responses people have towards your view--positive and negative consequences--whether it was the unconscious response you were looking for or not. Your actions didn't go unnoticed because clearly you received passionate responses back; ulitmately resulting in your arrest and escort of the premisses. You are an ordinary citizen making a conscious decision to act on something you feel passionate about hoping for a chain reaction that will result in change. Rosa Parks was an ordinary citizen who was chosen to not give up her seat on the bus, giving rise to bus boycott under Martin Luther King Jrs leadership; which ultimately lead to the Civil Rights movement. Whether people back you cause or not will determine the length of which your sign's message will carry.
ReplyDeleteI read this last night, and I couldn't respond because I was so angry. The sergeant's response of: "You're mildly retarded" is particularly infuriating. He obviously didn't see anything wrong with what he was doing. There is no way that you and a sign could be classified as an "organized protest" and the disruption was caused by other people. Of course you were looking for a reaction... someone to take notice and strike up a conversation, just being there so that people could acknowledge the other side of the situation, sure even to start controversy. Regardless of your motive, it is your prerogative as an American citizen to be able to partake in such actions, as long as they do not cause disruption. (which you certainly didn't.)
ReplyDeleteOne person is not an organized protest. That's rubbish.