Jim Gregory is the Director of Media Relations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but if that gig doesn’t work out, he really ought to try standup comedy. In defending the university and this nakedly propagandistic course, Gregory says: “Carolina offers academic courses to challenge students — not to advocate one viewpoint over another.”
UNC doesn’t “advocate one viewpoint over another”? Really? Then where is the counterpart course to this one, in which students read accounts by 9/11 victims and the relatives of those who were killed. What courses does UNC offer about the Islamic doctrine of jihad, and the contemporary global jihad? What courses does UNC offer about Sharia and dhimmitude, in which students read the works of Bat Ye’or? What courses does UNC offer about the early origins of Islam, in which students read Alphonse Mingana and Christoph Luxenberg?
The reality is that UNC, like most other universities today, does nothing but advocate one viewpoint over another. Dissenting voices are not welcome. But here’s a chance for Jim Gregory to back up the truth of his claim: I will come to Chapel Hill at my own expense, to address either the 9/11 class or any other class, about the jihad threat. I will debate Carl Ernst or any other professor. How about it, Mr. Gregory? It would show you’re really on the level about allowing for dissenting viewpoints. You can reach me at director[at]jihadwatch.org.
An update on this story. “Literature of 9/11 college class accused of being ‘sympathetic towards terrorism,'” by Michael Schaub, Los Angeles Times, September 1, 2015 (thanks to Darcy):
A student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has raised concerns about the school’s Literature of 9/11 seminar course, claiming the required readings for the class are “sympathetic towards terrorism.”…
The class, taught by UNC associate professor Neel Ahuja, requires students to read books including Mohsin Hamid’s novel “The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” Philip Metres’ poetry collection “Sand Opera” and Art Spiegelman’s graphic memoir “In the Shadow of No Towers.”
Dent criticized the class in an article he wrote for the College Fix, a conservative website. In the article, Dent claimed that the materials on the course’s syllabus “present terrorists in a sympathetic light and American political leaders as greedy, war hungry and corrupt.”…
Some current and former UNC students defended the course. In a comment posted to Dent’s article, Alec Dragelin said he attended the class and, although he is a conservative, enjoyed it. “This article is nothing but gossip about a great course taught by an amazing professor,” Dragelin wrote. “Additionally, through most of the semester and even in my final paper I actively disagreed with some of Neel’s opinions. He in turn welcomed my arguments. As such, this course was amazingly valuable because it challenged my opinions and allowed me to explore what I thought I knew in a deeper way.”
Dent, who said he did’t [sic] want the class removed outright, agreed that it’s “important” for students to be challenged, “[b]ut at the same time, I think you have to give equal showing to both sides of the issue.”…
Jim Gregory, a spokesman for the university, defended the class, noting that it’s not a required course. “The university isn’t forcing a set of beliefs on students; we’re asking them to prepare for and engage in every lesson, debate and conversation, and share what they think,” Gregory said in a statement. “Carolina offers academic courses to challenge students — not to advocate one viewpoint over another.”

Me says
What a clown. Can you imagine Urban II calling the first Crusade on a platform of “tolerance”, or “being open to the views” of bloodthirsty Mohammedans? What a jackass, this guy. He should take his fuzzy, relativist viewpoints on a tour of ISIS headquarters in Iraq (if such a thing exists) to see how his cozy presumptions and PC niceties stack up to reality.
Sam Hawkins says
Robert Spencer (published author with 14 books to his credit) to UNC: I’ll be happy to come speak to your students, no charge. When would be convenient for you?
UNC to Spencer: [crickets]
Jaladhi says
It is proven again and again that our universities along with our leaders and media believe in telling lies and lies only, truth be damned. They think repeating the lies incessantly will convert them the truth. Morons! Centers of higher learning becoming center of higher lies. What kind of students will be coming out of such institutions?
Angemon says
I’ll try to guess the answer, if any happens to come: “Mr. Robert Spencer has been identified as a hatemonger and islamophobe by the SPLC and he’s one of the forefront figures of the anti-muslim network. While the UNC is open to different opinions and debate, we won’t give hate preachers a platform to spread their vitriolic bile.”
His political stance is irrelevant.
Not an argument, and [citation needed].
Which of your opinions were challenged? The ones you and Neel agreed on, or the ones in which you disagreed on and to which Neel (seemingly) backed down?
At best, another example of the “let’s not keep score because everyone is a winner!” mindset. At worse, an apologist for terrorism trying to pretend he’s something else. What’s next, a non-required course explaining why rape is a good thing, that serial rapists are just misunderstood people, all along excusing themselves by saying that the UNC is challenging students and not advocating the viewpoint that rape is not wrong over the viewpoint that rape is wrong?
abad says
The problem with classes like that is that they offer NO explanation of Muslim hostility towards the Chinese, Thai, Burmese (Myanmar), or Europeans. All it keeps parroting is “American policy in the Middle East” ad nauseum.
Davegreybeard says
Once again, one needs to ask the question “Why not a ‘Literature of the Counter Jihad’ course.
The question needs to be asked repeatedly and insistently until an answer is given.
And certainly, if you won’t have a course, you should at least allow Robert Spencer the opportunity to explain it all in a guest lecture.
Is there anyone of courage at UNC to do this?
Davegreybeard says
If we are to survive as a free nation, at some point the students have to take back the institutions from their crazy and corrupt ‘elders.’
Why not start with UNC?
Anyone reading this that knows what’s happening at UNC?
Jay Boo says
The local (NPR) — public radio station is WUNC Chapel Hill.
I often listen to keep tabs on their spiel.
Lately they have been ranting heavily about how the members of the EU should be “doing more” to settle Muslim refugees.
Much of small town North Carolina is very conservative with ‘activist’ liberal pockets around UNC and Duke as well as some areas in Ashville.
underbed cat says
At this critical point in history, I would love to see it be a required class for all congressmen and senators….it really shocks me that factual knowledge is so “missing” from the information base of our leaders.
I have big concerns about the last few comments from Obama, they sound seriously dangerous and threatening, such as saying to get on board with climate change to avert “fires”. Anyone who has seen read the book about “extreme islam”, saw the suggestion to pay attention to weather conditons and start fires when there are droughts so these fires in up state Washington to me have been expanded due to “jihadist”, in my opinion. How much more of this can we ignore.
Martin Vink says
The duplicity is breathtaking. At a time that the military is in harms way, anything that smacks of aiding and abetting the enemy is treason. So lock these academics up until the war is over.
JIMJFOX says
Thanks for the email address- here’s my response
Email 1-
“not to advocate one viewpoint over another.”
There IS no “other viewpoint”, unless you see a
terror attack as something positive.
Please educate me as to this “other viewpoint”
Email 2-
Apologies- there IS another viewpoint- that it was a fully justified
Islamic response against “The Great Satan”… Allahu’akhbar!
LSWCHP says
Among other things, Mr Gregory was the commander of an SF ODA (aka Special Forces A Team aka Green Beret) on active service in Afghanistan. Maybe y’all should take a deep breath and look at your own combat records against the Jihadis before dumping on him too much. And then there’s the Olympic and national athlete bit….
Having said that….I’m sure Mr Spencer’s offer is genuine, and it would reflect well on UNC if they took him up on it.
Me says
Actually, your point shines the light directly on the intensity of the impetus of contemporary PC-speak, and the demand for it in the public sphere. Though Gregory was a battlefield badass and physical phenom, these fine traits have been relegated swiftly and duly in accord with the public policy of what seems to be purposeful inaneness and saltlessness. But it’s actually worse that that, as we know. It’s not as though he is compelled to simply sound “tolerant” and “open-minded”, but instead, were he to exercise badassness in the public sphere in opposition to anything Islamic, the badass he was and/or is, no longer will be. At best, he is toeing the line because he would be otherwise crucified, and he prefers his job and perks over noble, necessary proclamation of truth. Even worse, he may actually believe what has issued from his mouth. His is the Road Most Traveled, sadly.
Mr. Rogers was a badass with 17 confirmed kills in battle before he donned a cardigan and sang off-key kiddie songs like a friggin’ creeper.
Jack Diamond says
The Mr. Rogers story is an urban legend.
gravenimage says
Right you are, Jack:
http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/mrrogers.asp
Me says
Mr. Rogers comment enhanced my point, true or not.
One aside, if you will, Graven and Jack, masters of urban legend and one-upsmanship: have you ever snoped snopes? No – you can’t! Trick question, circular error. It’s a Soros organization. I don’t really care much about me Rogers, mr belvedere or captain kangaroo and their tours of duty, but relying on snopes as a depot for final arbitration is downright silly.
Sam Hawkins says
What is the error rate of Snopes? How many false positives or negatives per 1000? How does it compare to other fact-checking websites?
Oh, you don’t know, “Me”?
GFY.
Me says
Classy, Jack. Such gritty, rhetorical analysis – I’m still reeling from the weight of your wit. Look dude, I’m not here to split hairs or parade knowledge – such is beside the point of opining insofar as we digress from topic…which you have done indeed. Un-bunch your tousled tail feathers and get back to the business of reading from the font of relevancy rather than chasing down side comments with an air of intellectual ascendancy. See, now we’ve accomplished nothing toward the ends of de-turbanizing mankind, instead choosing to have a pissing contest out of bounds.
Meeee says
Apologies Jack – I didn’t realize that someone named Sam was standing in as your proxy. My retort is for Sam, not you, Jack (unless you agree with Sam, in which case you it can fit the both of you equally). Peace.
Jack Diamond says
I think you mean “Sam” not “Jack.” My comment was meant as a friendly aside in case you weren’t aware the story is made up. That’s all.
Jack Diamond says
lol, missed your comment first. I don’t have proxies.
Me says
We’re friends, Jack. I was just being snarky for no good reason – apologies and no ill will intended. As for Sam, though, I do think he is actually a weirdo ;). The jury is still out on Graven (and for that matter, me too, I suppose).
William says
Mr. Gregory’s addendum:
Btw, I served 22 years in the Army and have five tours down range. I wouldn’t defend terrorists. I hunted them.
is a fallacy of irrelevance. Has nothing to do with the argument.
JawsV says
It’s patently obvious that the course syllabus is pro-Islam and America’s the bad guy.
mortimer says
In a similar vein, how about morally-neutral, no-blame history classes on the following topics:
-The Holocaust
-Pol Pot
-The Gulag
-Tamerlane
-Genghis Khan
Me says
Good point mort. Those Ukranian peasants had it coming, as we’ll see from a thoughtful, even-sided discussion regarding the proven wisdom of Communism and the strategic genius of the Gulag camps. All we need is a tenured professor of intellectual quality and a “neutral” academic venue from whence said wisdom can be presented to formative young minds.
Absent adherence to objective Truth, man can swirl downward (counter-clockwise if in the Southern Hemisphere) into wholesale acceptance of just about any absurd suggestion (ex men can be women if they want, and other such un-paradoxed paradoxes of contemporary woe).
Walter Sieruk says
That outlandish and absurd statement by Mr Gregory the the U.N.C. doesn’t “advocate one viewpoint over another.” exposes a total lack of value’s in the U.N.C. It shows that this place of “higher education” must be really infected the the PC mindset of cultural relativity. This warped philosophy holds that there is no right and wrong and that everything is nothing more then opinion according to that person cultural view. This “new think” does much harm to individuals and nations because it breeds the multiculturalism that is an erosion of the very foundation of good solid Jewish/Christian values. that make a person good and a country great.
gravenimage says
Dent, who said he did’t [sic] want the class removed outright, agreed that it’s “important” for students to be challenged, “[b]ut at the same time, I think you have to give equal showing to both sides of the issue.”…
………………………
*This* is what we have come to–where the comparative voice of reason is asking that equal showing be given to the point of view that murdering 3000 innocent civilians just might have been a bad thing. Good God.
Rikki Kane says
Jim Gregory is not going to invite Robert Spencer to the UNC, because he knows full well that it would divert all the attention and focus to where it’s needed most, and that people might just actually learn something about the enemy. This is exactly why all lefties and liberals avoid Robert Spencer. The UK have banned him for the same reason. Plain and simple.
gravenimage says
Neel Ahuja is an Associate Professor of “Post-Colonial Studies”, which probably says a lot in and of itself as to his point of view. He studied transnational cultural studies at the University of California, San Diego and gender studies at Northwestern University, where he was a student organizer and labor solidarity activist–this is what passes for a well-rounded student these days.
This is from the course’s online description, “following an introduction to the concept of terrorism and to the production of knowledge about political violence in the fields of law, politics, religious studies, and terrorism studies, we will explore a diverse array of themes related to the 9/11 attacks and the ‘war on terror’ as depicted in memoirs, poetry, novels, public art, graphic novels, film, and music: explanations of the causes and consequences of political violence; the role of religion in public culture and state institutions; national security discourse; mourning, trauma, and public memorials; depictions of the US military in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan; and the perspectives of detainees and minority communities on the attacks and their aftermath.”
But it seems that all of his sample work is pretty pro-JIhad.
His class features such work as “Sand Opera”, “Stuff Happens”, ” Sirens of Baghdad”, “The Reluctant Fundamentalist”, and–no joke–“Poems from Guantánamo”.
Sand Opera talks about “torture” at Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo as being “near unspeakable”. What is apparently *actually* unspeakable for the author is any mention of the victims of violent Jihad. “Stuff Happens” blames America and the rest of the West for Muslim savagery.
In “Sirens of Baghdad”, from the book’s blurb, “A young Iraqi student, unable to attend college because of the war, sees American soldiers leave a trail of humiliation and grief in his small village”. He is then “bent on revenge”–more grotesque apologia for violent Jihad, and more blaming of Americans for its existence.
In “The Reluctant Fundamentalist”–a novel later made into a film–our “hero”, formally a mild-mannered individual, is “radicalized” by being searched at an airport post-9/11. Later, he was ‘betrayed’ by his artist girlfriend who featured a bit too much information about their personal relationship in her work. Later, he gets pissed off at the American publishing firm he works for for not buying and funding a small Turkish poetry publisher.
How could such horrors help but propel this fine fellow into sympathizing with violent Jihad? After all, how much can one man take? sarc/off
On “Poems from Guantánamo”, Gore Vidal said, “At last Guantánamo has found its voice.” Adrienne Rich said, “Poems from Guantánamo brings to light figures of concrete, individual humanity, against the fabric of cruelty woven by the ‘war on terror.”. Note that she wasn’t referring to Jihad attacks on innocent people, but about the “cruelty” of any attempts to protect from such attacks.
Here’s a typical piece:
Death Poem
by Jumah al Dossari
Take my blood.
Take my death shroud and
The remnants of my body.
Take photographs of my corpse at the grave, lonely.
Send them to the world,
To the judges and
To the people of conscience,
Send them to the principled men and the fair-minded.
And let them bear the guilty burden before the world,
Of this innocent soul.
Let them bear the burden before their children and before history,
Of this wasted, sinless soul,
Of this soul which has suffered at the hands of the “protectors of peace.”
In other words, it is those trying to protect against Jihad terror that are to blame. But despite the histrionic tone of this piece, this Imam was released, and is now living openly in Saudi Arabia.
He has claimed he has no ties to terrorism. In reality, though, al Dossari is a pretty nasty piece of work who called Osama bin Laden “my sheikh”:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/falling-spin-gitmo-bar?page=1
In fact, Art Speigelman’s “In the Shadow of No Towers” is *by far* the least pro-Jihad of these books–and even here, the author (whose work I otherwise respect) ludicrously describes himself as “equally terrorized by Al-Qaeda and by his own government”.
Apologia for Jihad terrorism–right in the heart of our universities. And Neel Ahuja is not the only purveyor of this apologia for evil–here’s another sickening example:
“Professor Describes al-Qaeda As Freedom Fighters”
http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/16052/
How can we ever defend ourselves and our society against Jihad if our young people are being taught that our being enslaved and murdered is right and just? Of course, we won’t be able to–which is, of course, the whole point…
Sam Hawkins says
Outstanding research, graven. Thank you very much.
Enfant Terrible says
“Media Relations” and similar titles unerringly identify a organization/function responsible for spewing PC bulls**t .
gravenimage says
Here are some of the comments from Neel Ahuja’s student evaluations:
“Had good ole Neel for 9/11 FYS. TALK IN CLASS because he actually takes the participation seriously. Sorda a hard paper grader and readings are assigned almost every class. I agree with everything the above posters said, especially about agreeing with his opinions. AGREE WITH HIS STANCE IN YOUR PAPERS!!!!!”
“Portray yourself as a socialist who views USA as a horrible imperialist country squashing other countries–support illegal immigration and radical islam. Then you will get an easy A.”
http://unc.blinkness.com/professor/unc-ahuja-neel-kum
Sounds like another obvious case where that ‘diversity’ of viewpoint is actually just one-sided–unless, of course, you want to ruin your GPA, or even wind up being accused of “racism”…