While I appreciate the College Republicans for writing this article (notably anonymous, given the increasing thuggery of the Left) and the Stanford Review for publishing it, it is noteworthy that it had to be written at all, and that students had to be reminded that a “free exchange of ideas” is important. Universities and colleges all over the United States have become such radioactive wastelands of Leftist indoctrination that it is “controversial” to bring in to Stanford a speaker who opposes jihad terror and Sharia oppression, while there is no doubt whatsoever that a Guantanamo inmate screaming “Death to America” would be welcomed at Stanford and hailed as a hero.
Here are some questions for Stanford students who are enraged that I am coming to their campus:
I’m against throwing gays off tall buildings. You’re for that?
I’m against mowing down bike riders with a truck on a Manhattan bicycle path. Islamophobic?
I’m against mutilating girls’ genitals and justifying it by quoting Muhammad. Bigotry?
I’m against stabbing people while screaming “Allahu akbar.” And you’re against my speaking on campus?
I’m against murdering people enjoying a quiet dinner just because they’re Jewish. That murder is okay with you?
How did it come to this? Find out in my book Confessions of an Islamophobe, a full exposé of how the public discourse has become so morally inverted as to stigmatize opposition to jihad terror. Preorder your copy here now.
“Exclusive from the College Republicans: Why We Invited Robert Spencer,” Stanford Review, November 6, 2017:
…It is against this backdrop that the Stanford College Republicans have decided to invite Robert Spencer to campus. Mr. Spencer’s professional credentials are stellar. He has authored 16 books, including two New York Times best-sellers, and has led training seminars for the FBI, the US Army, and the Justice Department’s Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council. Mr. Spencer is the vice-president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative, and has been tracking radical Islamic terrorism on his website, Jihad Watch, since 2003.
Mr. Spencer’s central assertion is that jihadist groups are inspired to commit acts of violence against unbelievers by passages in the Quran and Hadiths that exhort believers to do so. Time and time again, Mr. Spencer has made his theological arguments thoughtfully, backing them up with plenty of evidence from Islamic texts, history, and the actions of modern-day radical Islamic terrorists.
We have invited Robert Spencer to campus to add a sorely needed perspective to an important conversation about international security. Moreover, our hope is, above all, to ignite a spirited discussion. Those who take issue with the views Mr. Spencer espouses should feel free to confront him pointedly, but respectfully. Our event has an hour of built-in time solely for Q & A. We anticipate that event attendees will use this time productively.
Lastly, we firmly reject any and all attempts to undermine this event. We reject all attempts to curtail freedom of speech on this campus, especially with respect to an issue as salient as international security. Furthermore, we will not let the fact that some students take exception to Mr. Spencer’s views stop us from providing an important educational experience to the Stanford community, while also starting an important discussion. Throughout the years, the Stanford College Republicans have witnessed a parade of campus events with speakers invited by other political student organizations, paid for with student funds. On more than one occasion, some of these speakers have made claims that many Stanford students find repugnant and offensive. Nevertheless, we have never once taken any action to disrupt these events. We expect fair and reciprocal treatment. We also expect that Stanford will live up to its reputation as an intellectually challenging institution open to a free exchange of ideas.
Mickey says
“Knock ’em dead!” Uh, “break a leg!” I’m just kidding, Robert. (: Good luck with your speech. The questions to the students are fantastic. I am very interested in seeing how they reply. Thank you for all your work.
jihad3tracker says
******** OFF TOPIC BUT IMPORTANT ********
Robert’s colleague in the counter-jihad fight, and the bravest civilian in America — Pamela Geller — has this item up on her blog:
https://pamelageller.com/2017/11/san-diego-cair.html/
Please read it. CAIR has deceived the San Diego leftist municipal council members into giving those Hamas lovers some sort of formal approving merit declaration.
TAKE A FEW MINUTES TODAY TO EMAIL SOME OF THE PATHS SHE LISTS AND TELL WHOEVER ABOUT THE TRUTH REGARDING CAIR. AND ISLAM’S JIHAD AGENDA TOO !
gravenimage says
Thanks for the link, jihad3tracker.
And great to see you posting again. Hope you are well.
Linde Barrera says
So glad this has been documented and that the College Republicans at Stanford eagerly await Robert Spencer. I can’t wait to learn of Robert Spencer’s assessment about the reaction of all attendees at his visit. (Hopefully there will be many who exclaim him, and just a pitiful few who dislike his presence there.)
Begonejihadi says
I’m against Jihad that wages war against all infidels. Stanford students are Jihad supporters ?
mortimer says
The Leftards are actually supporting jihad, whether knowingly or not. They think they can gain control over the Muslims when that time comes. They do not realize they can only do so by being more savage and more barbaric than the jihadists!
Infidel says
Great development.. Just like the swamp needs to drained at Washington, so also the swamp needs to be drained from the IVY LEAGUES… They are fast morphing into POISON IVIES..
Budvarakbar says
All ‘Universities’
WorkingClassPost says
It’s great that some in Stanford are making a stand, and they sure do need education.
There statement still carries the telltale terms of Western ignorance, for when they write about ” … acts of violence against unbelievers” carried out by “believers”, they are unwittingly falling into the trap of dhimmified stupidity.
Why don’t they ask themselves:- Unbelievers, and believers, in what?
I, for example, am not an unbeliever when it comes to religiion.
I believe in God, and I also believe that mohamed was the antiChrist, so if the throat-slitting starts, at least allow me the dignity of dying for my beliefs, and not as some kind of delinquent ‘unbeliever’.
And it’s an important point, because throughout history, islam has sought to kill true believers while sparing those unbelievers who quickly drop down on all fours to pray doggy-style to the vicious fiction of mohamedism.
mortimer says
Not only will the brave students at Stanford be punished by their fellow students, but their Leftarded, uninformed profs will penalize them as well to prevent them from graduating.
The emotional subtext of the Left is sadomasochism. That is why they feel an affinity with Islam which has the same emotional subtext.
Voytek Gagalka says
Robert, the point is that according to their leftist doctrine even asking such questions are subject to instant condemnation with various name-calling and even brutal repression against person asking them. Nowadays “liberals” are not unlike Mohammedans: on pain of death one is absolutely forbidden to question them and their doctrine or to suggest by any means that they are wrong. Logic and reason does not apply to irrational mindset.
rubiconcrest says
‘… some of these speakers have made claims that many Stanford students find repugnant and offensive.’, ok but what do those speakers have to do with Robert Spencer? There is no equivalency. Robert Spencer never has engaged in speech that could be described that way and so he should not be lumped in with them. Get a backbone college Republicans.
JawsV says
When did Stanford students become morons?
Bloggerd says
I think at Oxford in the UK there have been vigorous debates on Islam See Youtube. Maybe American universities are not so great.
Frank Anderson says
Please help me understand why an off-campus venue where campus administration biases are avoided is not being used more often? The free exchange of ideas requires something that does not appear to exist in many “campi” (campuses): minds that are ready to at least consider that the view presently held may be in error. Open minds, which have not made some kind of decision, indicate total withdrawal from reality, that to me is unlikely to leave the safety of indecision. Closed minds have shut down to all analytical or comparative thought in favor of blind commitment. How can a publicly funded institution deny access to the public when a speaker is presented?
Matthieu Baudin says
“… we firmly reject any and all attempts to undermine this event. We reject all attempts to curtail freedom of speech on this campus, especially with respect to an issue as salient as international security…”
Good. They’re holding their ground. There ought to be more of this open discussion on other campuses; who knows, this may start a trend.
C T says
I’m so proud of them!
Arthur says
And Slavery! You’re against slavery too.
William M. Buffton says
It is time to put the leftist spoiled brats in their place and tell them LOUD and CLEAR that THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EVERYONE HAS FREEDOM OF SPEECH WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, AND THAT RIGHT WILL BE PRACTICED AND RESPECTED EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT!!
LR says
^^^ I think at Oxford in the UK there have been vigorous debates on Islam See Youtube. Maybe American universities are not so great.
Yes, there are many ‘debates’ coming from UK, and Europe…Maybe, the student Republicans can remind the others about that.
gravenimage says
LR, Robert Spencer has been banned from so much as entering the UK–I’m afraid the idea that freedom of speech is in less peril there than in America is mistaken.
LR says
Dang…Why the heck is it closed to the public?…What a bummer!…
gravenimage says
The university closed the event to the public.
gravenimage says
Stanford College Republicans explain why they invited Robert Spencer
………………….
Good for them!