Liberals are the most sensitive people on the face of the planet. So we must – absolutely must – do everything we can to assure that these delicate lovers of peace are not offended by any of our words or actions.
The Daily Illini carried this editorial by a pointy-headed academic and we break our normal rules by carrying it in full in hopes that you can learn the error of your jingoistic ways:
The vast majority of 9/11 observances in this country cannot be seen as politically neutral events. Implicit in their nature are the notions that lives lost at the World Trade Center are more valuable than lives lost in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and elsewhere; that the motives of the 9/11 attackers had nothing to do with genuine grievances in the Islamic world regarding American imperialism; and that the U.S. has been justified in the subsequent killing of hundreds of thousands in so-called retaliation.
The vast majority of 9/11 observances in this country cannot be seen as politically neutral events. Implicit in their nature are the notions that lives lost at the World Trade Center are more valuable than lives lost in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and elsewhere; that the motives of the 9/11 attackers had nothing to do with genuine grievances in the Islamic world regarding American imperialism; and that the U.S. has been justified in the subsequent killing of hundreds of thousands in so-called retaliation.
The observance at Saturday’s football game was no different. A moment of silence was followed by a military airplane flyover; in between, Block-I students chanted “USA, USA.” This was neither patriotism nor remembrance in any justifiable sense, but politicization, militarism, propaganda and bellicosity. The University is a public institution that encompasses the political views of all, not just the most (falsely) “patriotic.” Athletic planners should cease such exploitation for political purposes. They might at least consider how most Muslim students, American or otherwise, would respond to this nativist display; or better, Muslims and others that live their lives under the threat of our planes, drones and soldiers.
The overwhelmingly white, privileged, Block-I students should be ashamed of their obnoxious, fake-macho, chicken-hawk chant, while poverty-drafted members of their cohort fight and die in illegal and immoral wars for the control of oil. University administrators need to eliminate from all events such “patriotic” observances, which in this country cannot be separated from implicit justifications for state-sponsored killing.
David Green,
University Academic Professional
Yes, indeed, David Green is a University Academic Professional. With capital letters. He is also a Major League Ass. With even larger capital letters.
H/T: Weasel Zippers
This post was last modified on January 26, 2021
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you know re-reading this letter... I have to wonder if he found himself a muslim boyfriend or something... he is too... defensive of something that he doesn't practice himself (it seems for what I read he doesn't right?) So... uhm weird. I say he has a new boyfriend and wants to protect him from a perceived insult on his boyfriend's culture. what do you guys think?
(ahh I guess it could be a girlfriend, but it is much more fun the other way...)
Football is an AMERICAN SPORT. To say that any chanting in the stand is offensive would seem to be a much smaller issue than the actual playing of an AMERICAN sport. But thats just me and my good diet, plenty of sunshine, healthy moral character and decent education talking so what do I know.
WHAT AN ASS!!!!!! I say we deport his ungrateful butt to a country where there IS no freedom, so he can be a little more appreciative of the ones that protect it here. Why is he even IN America if we are so evil, and ruin and plunder other countries. Even easier--OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!!!!
I like your idea Deb. He's a pussy, pussy's like that have never been in any kind of physical altercation, he'd run crying and screaming for the police if someone came at him, then talk crap about the cops when it was over. Really don't know where morons like that get thier train of thought from, like they are a different species or something.
Yes sir. I should have included my email so you can see what he was responding to. This is what I sent him with my name redacted.
I read your published article on chanting USA during a football game. I'd like you to know I am a war Veteran and sat in those very seats many, many times. You are a disgrace to the university, thank God you're not a tenured faculty. You should apologize to all our Veterans, not just the the Illini vets.
SSG (redacted) USA (retired)
Law 1992
I hope you're living well on all that plunder.
Green, David L Instit of Govt & Pub Affs -- University Administration
dlgreen@illinois.edu RESEARCH AND POLICY SPEC, Instit of Govt & Pub Affs -- University Administration
You have his email. Why not send him a friendly note.
Thanks. I sent him a message and used my real name and when I graduated from U of I and what college. He can look it up. He would have a hard time looking-up my military experience, after all, my last overseas deployment was Guantanamo Bay, and you know what that means!
Here is David Green's reply: (VERY predictable!)
You haven't fought for anyone's freedom. You've fought to oppress, enslave, and murder. It's the people who send people like you around the world to plunder other countries that are the disgrace.
That guy is an idiot of the worst kind.
That mtrfkr needs a rope. Thank you redabogado for your service.
Is that legit? Verbatim? Did he really send you that response?
As a war veteran and U of I Alum who used to sit in those very stands, I can say some of us are called Fighting Illini and others are the Fighting Illiterates. Green is obviously the latter.
What the hell is a "University Academic Professional"? Sounds like what our sister school (University of Chicago) would call a lecturer, you know, like Dear Leader Dufus Obama was. Seems like they have a lot in common. I'm glad I'm just a college professor, with nothing in common with the afore mentioned idiots.
So you will be upping your annual donation to the U of I athletic dept?
Bummer. Guess they'll just have to leave if they don't like it, free speech and all.
Even if this guy were a Muslim himself I would give his argument some credibility (meaning at least one Muslim is offended, but somehow I don't think Mr. David Green is in any way a follower of Islam, I'll check with my few Conservative Muslim friends at school, but given the fact we were all chanting USA during the World Cup makes me think somehow the Illinois paper should at least fact-check their editorials.
Look, As I said earlier in this thread, the USA chant has been around for 30 years, it is part of America's international sports scene, & it ain't going away. It is not offensive to anyone, despite what some may say. It can be annoying, but it is not offensive, & those who claim to be offended are usually looking to be offened ALL THE TIME.
I will add this, even the biggest jingoist can be respectful of others at events. I will say that I have stood out of respect for the national anthems of Canada, Sweden, Soviet Union, & Puerto Rico at sporting events. Plus I get along with fans from all over the world at those sporting events & at concerts. I enjoy talking to folks from all over the world. You can root for your nation out of patriotic national pride & be respectful of others feelings, & chanting USA is about the USA & nobody else. So it's hard to see where it actually would be offensive.
I am American born, American bred, & I'm gonna die American dead. As long as my passport is American, I will chant USA when I want.
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Thank you kindly.
What's next, ban the Pledge of Aligiance.
For gods sake, if you are offended by an American in America, then feel free to leave.