Politics from the Palouse to Puget Sound

Monday, October 15, 2007

Does Elson Floyd Believe That All Muslims Are Fascists?

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the deep thinkers reminded us all to distinguish between the monsters who committed these crimes and the great majority of peaceful Muslims who reject such barbarism.

It would seem that by specifying Islamo-fascists, WSU's College Republicans are making that distinction quite clearly. However WSU president Elson Floyd just released a statement that seems to imply that Islamo-fascism awareness week targets all Muslims.


Elson S. Floyd, Ph.D. - 10/12/07

A Call for Civility


Universities must be places where the free exchange of ideas is not just protected, but encouraged. At the same time, we do not want individuals on our campuses to feel threatened because of their ethnicity or their religious beliefs.


Sometimes these two principles appear to be in conflict. At those times, we must rely on the good-faith efforts of all members of the university community to assure that the resulting dialog is both constructive and civil.


Controversies are arising on campuses nationwide in connection with what some political groups have designated as Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, the week of Oct. 22-26.


In reference to that event, I wish to reiterate the importance of the Muslim community to our university. I fully understand concerns raised, in this post-9/11 era; however, civility and constructive discourse must always prevail. Our university will have no tolerance for overt actions or bigotry directed at members of any group based on their ethnicity or religion.


A world-class university must value both the diversity of people and diversity of ideas. I hope as discussion of this and all other controversial issues goes forward at our university, that those debates can be held in a way that keeps both of those values firmly in mind.


1 comment:

Adam J. Niehenke said...

The college of Republicans need to send this to the national press as a University President trying to silence their free speach rights. He has not basis for these comments. CRs never caused problems at the fence it was liberal facists that caused the problems. But wait, since a claim can be made that CRs were racist it give this group the right to supress any form of speach.