A letter to a colleague
The following is a response I crafted to an attack a colleauge of mine made on Obama associating with "TERRORISTS" in Chicago. I will not post the colleagues original email, however it was inflammatory and made the implication that Obama is a terrorist or terrorist-sympathizer for meeting with these people.
see this link for the background
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=3FC289D8-3048-5C12-009AD5180C22FF0B
I finally got fed up with his unsubstantiated attacks, did some further research and got back to him:
Hi ,
So, I have taken the time to educate myself on these figures and the current buzz going around concerning Obama’s alleged 1995 meeting with the couple (Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn). While I abhor these people’s violent tactics and heinous intentions, I don’t see this as a major issue (how it is or is not *spun* in the media is a different matter) My rational for why is as follows:
1. Obama was not part of their organization in the late 60’s-70’s
2. As far as we know, Obama is not part of any organization concerning these people
3. Also, as far as we know Obama does not condone their tactics or their beliefs.
4. From what I can tell these people are part of the Chicago political machine in some role (they are both professors at UIC)
5. No matter what people think, the Chicago political machine is part of Obama’s skyrocketing, in that they have *at least* helped him raise money and go to center stage.
6. Furthermore, there is no proof that this was nothing more than an Obama in Chicago politics meeting with people involved with “the machine”
7. Until there is more proof, I can’t get anything logical or rational out of this.
From the website you sent to me:
Obama’s campaign dismisses the notion that his relationship with Ayers should be seen through the lens of the latter’s violent past, or his present lack of regret for the bombings.
“Sen. Obama strongly condemns the violent actions of the Weathermen group, as he does all acts of violence,” said Obama’s press secretary, Bill Burton. “But he was an 8-year-old child when Ayers and the Weathermen were active, and any attempt to connect Obama with events of almost 40 years ago is ridiculous.”
If this shows me anything it is that Obama will meet with people that are generally unpopular as president. It is time for us to get out of the myopic, archaic, Cold-war mindset that because a world leader is “bad” our leaders can’t talk to him; in global politics today, that attitude does not engender a sense of strength, rather one of inflexibility and arrogance. On the other hand, we should not be like Chamberlain in the 1930’s dealing with Hitler with kid gloves. Talk to your enemies and see what can be resolved, if nothing, then at least the effort was made. I heard on NPR yesterday that the New York Philharmonic is traveling to North Korea to perform, and their music will be transmitted on state media. There are some who are arguing that because the regime in North Korea is so bad, that we they should not be allowed to do this, I disagree, this is an historic opportunity to make an impression, maybe it will do nothing, but isn’t the chance, no matter how small, worth the effort if it can effect real change for the millions who suffer under the North Korean regime? And what does it cost us in the big scheme? Nothing.
This issue appears to serve the same function of the recent postings of Obama dressed in traditional Somali garb at a political function, to smear him with unsubstantiated claims and capitalize on fear and stereotypes, ie Obama is a radical Muslim terrorist that will destroy baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie! Oh, and don’t forget he has NO experience whatsoever! He’ll be like a 5yr old at the helm of a nuclear ballistic submarine!! How can you support such a radical?!. It’s nothing new in politics, but we will see how much of a stomach the American people have for it this in this election.
see this link for the background
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=3FC289D8-3048-5C12-009AD5180C22FF0B
I finally got fed up with his unsubstantiated attacks, did some further research and got back to him:
Hi ,
So, I have taken the time to educate myself on these figures and the current buzz going around concerning Obama’s alleged 1995 meeting with the couple (Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn). While I abhor these people’s violent tactics and heinous intentions, I don’t see this as a major issue (how it is or is not *spun* in the media is a different matter) My rational for why is as follows:
1. Obama was not part of their organization in the late 60’s-70’s
2. As far as we know, Obama is not part of any organization concerning these people
3. Also, as far as we know Obama does not condone their tactics or their beliefs.
4. From what I can tell these people are part of the Chicago political machine in some role (they are both professors at UIC)
5. No matter what people think, the Chicago political machine is part of Obama’s skyrocketing, in that they have *at least* helped him raise money and go to center stage.
6. Furthermore, there is no proof that this was nothing more than an Obama in Chicago politics meeting with people involved with “the machine”
7. Until there is more proof, I can’t get anything logical or rational out of this.
From the website you sent to me:
Obama’s campaign dismisses the notion that his relationship with Ayers should be seen through the lens of the latter’s violent past, or his present lack of regret for the bombings.
“Sen. Obama strongly condemns the violent actions of the Weathermen group, as he does all acts of violence,” said Obama’s press secretary, Bill Burton. “But he was an 8-year-old child when Ayers and the Weathermen were active, and any attempt to connect Obama with events of almost 40 years ago is ridiculous.”
If this shows me anything it is that Obama will meet with people that are generally unpopular as president. It is time for us to get out of the myopic, archaic, Cold-war mindset that because a world leader is “bad” our leaders can’t talk to him; in global politics today, that attitude does not engender a sense of strength, rather one of inflexibility and arrogance. On the other hand, we should not be like Chamberlain in the 1930’s dealing with Hitler with kid gloves. Talk to your enemies and see what can be resolved, if nothing, then at least the effort was made. I heard on NPR yesterday that the New York Philharmonic is traveling to North Korea to perform, and their music will be transmitted on state media. There are some who are arguing that because the regime in North Korea is so bad, that we they should not be allowed to do this, I disagree, this is an historic opportunity to make an impression, maybe it will do nothing, but isn’t the chance, no matter how small, worth the effort if it can effect real change for the millions who suffer under the North Korean regime? And what does it cost us in the big scheme? Nothing.
This issue appears to serve the same function of the recent postings of Obama dressed in traditional Somali garb at a political function, to smear him with unsubstantiated claims and capitalize on fear and stereotypes, ie Obama is a radical Muslim terrorist that will destroy baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie! Oh, and don’t forget he has NO experience whatsoever! He’ll be like a 5yr old at the helm of a nuclear ballistic submarine!! How can you support such a radical?!. It’s nothing new in politics, but we will see how much of a stomach the American people have for it this in this election.