Isla Vista’s Embarcadero Theater was packed on Monday night, although not everyone was there in support of David Horowitz, the evening’s featured speaker. Hosted by the UCSB College Republicans, the event brought to campus a man who just recently made waves at UCSB by taking out an ad in the university’s newspaper, the Daily Nexus, stating that the Muslim Student Association (MSA) was originated by the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization accused by some of committing and perpetuating violence and having associations with Osama bin Laden and other extremist followers of Islam. Wearing green shirts, about 50 people in the audience were there in support of UCSB’s chapter of the Muslim Student Association.
“Most speakers don’t have to have this much security,” said Horowitz of the 10 or so security staff-composed of sheriff’s deputies, campus police, and campus safety officers. “You should think about what this means on your campus. It creates a climate where it’s difficult to discuss things in a rational manner.” Horowitz, a one-time Marxist, further maintained that UCSB and other campuses around the country are suffering from limitations of free speech imposed by the far left.
Horowitz also discussed Islamo-fascism Awareness week, which he brought to UCSB last October, saying it focused on the oppression of women by the Taliban in Afghanistan. “Yes, [Islamo-fascism] is a movement within Islam,” he said. “No, it is not all of Islam. It has nothing to do with American policy in the Middle East or elsewhere. It has to do with a reading of the Koran that calls for a world-wide Muslim Empire with a caliphate based in Iran.” Part of his concern, he said, was the desire of Hamas and Hezbollah-terrorist organizations he said are aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood and the MSA -to erase the state of Israel.
Horowitz, stating very flatly his opinion that Arab states are “all racist and exclude Jews,” made accusations that green is the color of Hamas and that the keffiyah-a traditional Arab head covering which many students were wearing-is a symbol of terrorism that honors Yassir Arafat. At that point, Walid Afifi-a UCSB communications professor who had thanked Horowitz for coming to offer a diverse point of view and had invited him to participate in a level discussion forum at a later date-exploded in fury at what he considered an offensive smear of Arab culture. “You’re preaching hate!” he yelled. The student at which the keffiyah comment was aimed could be seen wiping tears from his face. Other remarks also drew explosive responses. “There is a movement for a second Holocaust of the Jews that is being supported on this campus by the Muslim Student Association!” Horowitz said, eliciting shouts from the audience that included “You’re a liar!” and “This is bullshit!”
“His trying to link the Muslim Student Association with international terrorist organizations is off the wall,” said Juan Campo, the Muslim Student Association’s faculty adviser. “They’ve been involved in interfaith activities with Jewish student groups, and they’ve been involved in charity work for national disaster relief. Horowitz has a reputation for stirring up trouble, and that’s what he seems to be doing.” During his speech, he promised to retract his statement about the Muslim Student Association if one of them would denounce Hamas and Hezbollah. “He does bring up a good point-and we don’t support those organizations-but I’m not going to denounce them just because Horowitz says to,” said Faheem Ahmad, the president of MSA. “Our work in the community shows what we support.”
After Horowitz spoke, audience members practically ran up to the podium during the question-and-answer period, seemingly anxious to get a verbal shot at the man who had stirred up so much tension in the room. The discussion degenerated quickly from there, and not much productive dialogue occurred. Several people were removed by security.



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Comments
Sounds like fun. Wish I was there.
DonJosedelaGuerra (anonymous profile)
May 15, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He was actively and deservedly heckled. Conservative political views are fine, but is this even a mediocre offering of what the College Republicans can offer??
One guy in the crowd answered a fake wireless phone call and loudly said he could not talk right then because he was at a comedy show!!
For the full effect despite this nice article by Ben Preston, see the nicely-produced video by Daily Nexus for this phreak show:
http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php...
David_Pritchett (David Pritchett)
May 15, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This guy is scum.
I'm surprised they didn't taser anybody.
loonpt (anonymous profile)
May 15, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I totally disagree with the implication of Mr. Pritchett's first comment.
This IS Conservative commentary exemplified - hate & hyperbole. And for the most part they are NOT fine. Horowitz is an excellent standard bearer, let's not pretend otherwise.
cj138 (anonymous profile)
May 16, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The fact that the Muslim Student Association was unable to denounce Hamas and Hezbollah speaks volumes. Looks like Horowitz was right about them.
Kratatoa (anonymous profile)
May 16, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What kind of "denouncement" do you have in mind, Kratatoa?
The denouncement due to the democratically elected majority party in the Palestinian Authority, or the resistance movement regarded as legitimate throughout much of Lebanese society and the Arab and Muslim world, and has seats in the Lebanese government?
binky (anonymous profile)
May 16, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I guess that speaks volumes about the Arab and Muslim world too, doesn't it?
Kratatoa (anonymous profile)
May 16, 2008 at 11:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's a world in which the simplistic, broad-brush approach of Horowitz offers no understanding and inflames rather than addresses the problems we face.
For example, attempting to homogenize the mid-East into "the Arab and Muslim world" is akin to calling my country, the USA, part of "the Christian World."
binky (anonymous profile)
May 17, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If there is one example that shows the utter ignorance of this man here it is--
"It has to do with a reading of the Koran that calls for a world-wide Muslim Empire with a caliphate based in Iran."
If Mr. Horowitz had taken the time to learn a bit about Islam he would discover that the Persian Shia of Iran do not follow the Wahabbiest plea for a restoration of a Islamic Caliphate. Furthermore, it was Iran's President Khatami who helped the US overthrow the Taliban after 9/11 vis-a-vis their connections to the Northern Alliance.
But is all of this really the point? No--but, it clearly shows that a man who wants to preach division will find himself blinded by his own disregard for facts and peace.
Perhaps we should ask what alternative motives he might have? Horowitz?
Shalom/Salam
jesseaiz (anonymous profile)
May 17, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm NOT a big fan of Horowitz however, he has a right to his views and in many ways makes some excellent points. The fact that so much security is needed for events such as his and people like Ward Connerly says much about the state of free speech on college campuses.
I highly recommend that you take at look at the film Indoctrinate U
http://indoctrinate-u.com/pages/welco... for a better idea of what I am talking about.
I also find it troublesome that when a Chicano or Feminist activist comes to campus, often spewing their own version of hatred towards Anglos or Men, or whomever they perceive as their oppressor, publications such as yours refrain from pointing to this fact. To me this suggests a one sided stance with regard to diversity of ideas and thought.
yendopostal (anonymous profile)
May 19, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
from yendopostal:
"I also find it troublesome that when a Chicano or Feminist activist comes to campus, often spewing their own version of hatred towards Anglos or Men, or whomever they perceive as their oppressor, publications such as yours refrain from pointing to this fact."
Example?
Feel free to Google the Independent, and make sure the speaker is "spewing" hatred. Interesting also that you picked Chicanos & Women.
binky (anonymous profile)
May 19, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So binky, are you saying that all Chicano and Feminist activists are motivated by their common love for all of humanity?
Hatred crosses all demographics, and often hatred is mixed in with valid points. It's been that way from the beginning of time.
Of course in the minds of those indocrinated in Leftist thought, the only bad people are White straigh Christian males. To those on the right, since racism and sexism are against the law, in their minds it means racism and sexism doesn't exist.
billclausen (anonymous profile)
May 24, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)