Treatment of Santorum Speech Sparks Debate (ii)
Last October, former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Ann Coulter participated in a campaign called Islamofascism Awareness Week. That week, I expressed pride at the fact that no Georgetown student groups agreed to play host to the bigotry espoused by that campaign (“Hijacking September 11th,” THE HOYA, Oct. 23, 2007, A3).
But after reading Brad Pollina’s recent article (“Santorum Blasts Radical Islamists,” THE HOYA Mar. 23, 2008, A1), I realized it was only a matter of time, five months, in fact, for the College Republicans to invite someone to declare war against Islam. I admit that I wasn’t at the Santorum speech, but my absence and the absence of many other students who strongly disagree with Santorum’s views only underscore the College Republicans’ unwillingness to engage the campus on the ignorance and bigotry of their guest.
What disturbs me is that the Georgetown University College Republicans didn’t seem to advertise this event. Had they done so beyond their own listserve, there would have been more than the same choir members of the GUCR. By not advertising this event, the College Republicans implicitly admitted their embarrassment at having invited a man who equates homosexuality with bestiality.
How would the GUCR react if an organization brought a speaker who advocated a war against Christianity?
I was not surprised that Santorum said that the United States is at war with Islam and called for war against Muslims. I was surprised, though, that given the high regard GUCR has for Santorum’s views on Islam, the Muslim Students Association wasn’t extended an official invitation to learn the truth about our faith from such a scholarly source as the former senator of Pennsylvania.
If Santorum’s position on Islam mirrors that of GUCR, the organization should feel comfortable to express its views to the rest of campus and not shrink from a debate behind closed doors in Reiss. Not inviting the entire campus community allowed Santorum’s ignorance and hateful speech to stand unchallenged, a result unworthy of any self-respecting campus group dedicated to the open and free exchange of ideas.
Abed Z Bhuyan (SFS ’08) Chair, Muslim Students Association Public Affairs Committee April 2, 2008
Apr 11 2008 at 7:39 a.m.
ASA, Brother Abed.
I think that before we as Muslims participate in efforts to censor opinions we disagree with, we should have the decency to go and hear what the speakers say. We also need to realize that as long as our activities consist of censoring opinions we don't like that more people will become suspicious of the deen, and all who profess it. We need to expose people to what Islam really teaches instead of appearing to defend those who kill non-combatants - which as you and I both know is considered haram by the four major Sunni schools. (I believe the Shia agree with us in this; but I am not Shia and so cannot speak on the matter.)
Sr. Nadja