Tuesday, May 6th 2008
Palestinian Party Poopers and Prager
Because celebrating Israel’s 60th Birthday is so unacceptable at Berkeley, some people decided to fly the Palestinian Flag on the university flag pole, located between VLSB and California Hall. I’m celebrating with alliteration.
All this week, the pro-Zionist student group Tikvah will be celebrating Israel’s 60th year of sovereignty. So it was no coincidence that the Palestinian flag was hoisted above campus. I also recognized some members of the Students for Justice in Palestine on sproul today wearing keffiyehs around their necks, which was probably not in recognition of Cinco de Mayo.
The Patriot’s own Ben Chapman took these photos of the Palestinian flag raised at half mast:
According to Chapman, UCPD took down the flag at around 2:40 pm because the flag was flown without the university’s permission.
Tikvah’s first event of the week, a special lecture from talk radio host Dennis Prager, drew no protesters. The topic of Prager’s talk was “Why Berkeley should be celebrating Israel’s 60th birthday.” Nearly all of the seats in 145 Dwinelle were filled for tonight’s presentation. Prager came with his usual on-air wit, straight-forward wisdom, and a few good stories.
He argued that universities, Berkeley included, are teaching students to hate Israel. One particular example came from a female UCLA student, whom Prager confronted on his radio show. The student had written an op-ed in the Daily Bruin that Prager described as “venomously anti-Israel.” She told Prager that her family was strongly pro-Israel, and so was she…until she got to her university.
Colleges have little reason to hate Israel, Prager contended, since the values of Israel are the same values cherished by our colleges. Israel, unlike its neighbors, is egalitarian, democratic, supportive of liberty, free speech, women’s rights, equal treatment of gays, and overall the type of society a school like Berkeley should be celebrating.
One of the most important points that Prager made was during the Q&A session. When asked if he was further polarizing the opposing sides by ignoring the alleged wrong-doings of Israel, Prager said, “Ask yourself this question: If Palestinians announced that they will put down their weapons today, what would the Israeli response be? And if Israel announced that they will put down their weapons today, what would the Palestinian response be? If Palestinians put their arms down, there will be peace. If Israelis put their arms down, there will be Holocaust.”
Celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday with Tikvah this Thursday at noon on Sproul Plaza. There will be free food, dancing, and music. Check out their Facebook group for info on other events taking place this week.
normally, i find many of the bcr stances to be against my own beliefs/inclinations. this one, however, i really appreciated… so thanks, patriot people.
Comment by anon — 5/6/2008 @ 1:14 am
Yeah, you’re right, it wasn’t in recognition of Cinco de Mayo, it was in recognition of the Nakba. Nice beating around the bush there.
I hear colleges teach students to hate America too. Can you verify or confirm that?
Comment by yaman — 5/7/2008 @ 3:04 pm
Yaman, do you admit to putting the flag up?
Comment by ucpd — 5/7/2008 @ 3:20 pm
Maybe after 8 years of Bush that counts as an admission. Send me to Guantanamo!
Comment by yaman — 5/7/2008 @ 4:18 pm
we are dispatching someone to arrest you right now.
Comment by ucpd — 5/7/2008 @ 4:23 pm
Bring a taser?
Comment by yaman — 5/7/2008 @ 4:27 pm
We will be using our weapon of choice, the weapon SJP used at the checkpoint today: the Phaser.
Comment by ucpd — 5/7/2008 @ 4:30 pm
Checkpoints are indeed the weapon of choice for your favorite military.
Comment by yaman — 5/7/2008 @ 4:45 pm
The UCPD doesn’t have a favorite military. However it does appreciate the gay porn you just linked.
Comment by ucpd — 5/7/2008 @ 4:49 pm
I think we’ve found what Yaman stares at in his free time!
Comment by LMFAO — 5/7/2008 @ 8:38 pm
Happy Birthday Israel!
Comment by Anonymous — 5/9/2008 @ 9:49 am
That is definitely the most awkward renegade flag-flying I’ve seen.
Comment by Madbrick — 5/11/2008 @ 10:08 am
“I hear colleges teach students to hate America too.” - yaman
If true, than they are racists. America was made up of 20% blacks, a percentage of native Americans and other non-euro ethnicities including Muslims during its founding. Whites represent more numbers now than back then. Now it is diverse as well. So they must be racists ehhh?
So Muslims are here too, so they must be racists against Muslims too as well as whites? Muslims were in Boston at the founding dork. They are as much a part of the US as anyone. So by your ignorance, the Colleges are against Muslims. You are about as dumb as dirt. I did not mean to put dirk down so low. Sorry dirt!
So I guess they advocate racism toward these groups, eh Yaman?
“Send me to Guantanamo!”
You know the US sends no terrorists there!
Why is Hamas a shiite racist group? It has nothing to do with anti-American. Do you obviously support a racist group? How nice. Do you put this admittance on your resumes too?
Why not put whites, blacks and Asians in Hamas’ top government positions. I do not see you advocating that – ha ha… You are so transparent.
I do not mind anyone putting up a pali flag, I mean it is like a swastika flag of one-race-symbolism. The university minds because they know it is a racist group. Yaman start advocating inclusionist of colored people, including whiteys, without religion as definition to the pali movement. You fool no-one.
Comment by Anonymous — 5/11/2008 @ 9:31 pm
That didn’t make any sense.
Comment by yaman — 5/12/2008 @ 3:35 pm
Not a day goes by that a Palestinian is not killed, maimed, or tortured. Something to celebrate, huh?
Comment by Anonymous — 6/2/2008 @ 11:17 pm