lol. Is he about to give the crowd the finger?

Extremisms? That’s almost as funny as referring to Muslims as “Islamics”. Nice job.

So, it’s ridiculous to for Muslim students to be pissed off because this bigot is equating their faith and culture with fascism? I had little respect for you, Sara, and now I have absolutely no respect.

“It’s one thing to ask a question. I mean, that’s perfectly legitimate — that’s why we open it up to Q-and-A,” Mikolajczak said. “But it’s a completely different thing to talk over a speaker and not to adhere to the rules.”

…isn’t that what the College Republicans did at the John Kerry event? Oh SNAP!

First of all, Sara Mikolajczak is one of the most extreme right-wing lunatics that I have ever encountered, so it is impossible to take her seriously…what a joke, really.

Second of all, this guy is insane. While I agree that radical Muslims do practice Jihad and democracy is impossible with Shariah law, I totally disagree that these types of Muslims want to take over America and the western world…that is just a ludicrous conspiracy theory with no hard evidence behind it. So kudos to you, College Republicans, for putting on an extremely shitty event. I’d expect nothing more from you guys.

Maybe the Republican Party can integrate itself with the people of America once it learns how to be more mainstream and not put on these types of events with people preaching hatred, xenophobia, racism, and sexism, all while they call Democrats “elitists”.

The reaction of the MSA is typical of the sort of irrational response to debate that I often see from Muslim groups. We should not be too surprised as democracy, free speech and Islam frequently mix as well as oil and water. Why should non-Muslim organisers of debates that oppose Islam face hate mail, insults and abuse at a level that would merit a police investigation if roles were reversed? I had not really heard of Robert Spencer but he does not come across as bigoted, racist or even aggressive. I could not say as much for his opposition. Well done Sara Mikolajczak for representing free speech in a country where the fear of causing offence is killing free speech day by day.

I really make an effort to try not to judge (too much) any person I have never met. But every time Sara Mikolajczak opens her mouth, I have to try THAT MUCH HARDER.

uh clearly you were not at either event, because the john mccain campaigners at the john kerry event were in fact commended for their respect personally by the president of the democratic party of wisconsin. the stubbornness in hiding certain truths about radical islam were blatantly obvious at this event. we can’t solve a problem until we can talk about it. radical islam exists and you are a fool to claim that it does not or that trying to discuss it is somehow insulting or bigoted towards muslim students that have nothing to do with these extreme people and their extreme agendas.
again, the behavior of the MSA last night and the behavior of McCain students tuesday could not have been any different. i was at both, you were clearly at neither. oh SNAP!

the herald completely took out of context Mr Spencer’s words in this paragraph:

The Muslim brotherhood must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad on eliminating and destroying Western civilization from within … so that it is eliminated and Allah’s religion is made victorious over all other religions,” Spencer said.

In that moment, Mr. Spencer was quoting a document released in 1991, mentioned in the beginning of the paragraph. However, if you weren’t at the lecture, you would think that he is the one saying this, when in fact, he is simply quoting a factual document

Once again, shotty reporting by the Badger Herald. Your agenda is showing… again

Robert Spencer clearly handed MSA Jihad apologists (and their Leftist dhimmis) a bitter defeat. Readers can read his take on the event here; http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/023119.php

BRAVO to Robert Spencer!

lan astaslem!

The Badger Herald misquoted Dar

As an attendee to the lecture, I was throughly impressed by Robert Spencer. I thank the College Republicans for bringing him and refusing to shrink in reaction to the horrific disrespect and ignorance portrayed by the MSA students who protested the event. A little piece of advise to those flippant questioners - make sure to actually listen to the speakers argument before jumping to the defensive. It seems that all of you missed 95% of what Spencer said and only listened to the phrases that suited your protest.

I too am against hate. But its time that you stood up to members of your own community that preach hatred instead of attacking those that are attempting to educate the public that such people exist. You are protesting the wrong people.

Wow, this article is one of the most poorly written articles I’ve seen in quite some time. Kevin, for the sake of the BH and your own reputation, take a comp lit class. Please.

Well this goes out t 8:11 and 4:36….

It is clear neither of you were at this event. Perhaps you should decide if you have any knowledge of the topic at hand before you convey your regurgitated arguments.

It is a shame that this article is not representative of a)the speakers message and b) what actually occurred at the event.

Spencer actually said it would be ridiculous to hold the view all Muslims are radicals or share all the same beliefs as extremists. His entire thesis was distorted by this poorly written article. Not only this, Spencer effectively answered questions posed by MSA students, leaving them nothing to argue.

And 8:11, it is also apparent you were not at the Kerry rally either. If you had been, you would know that the McCain supporters were nothing but polite and were actually thanked by certain people affiliated with the dem party for conducting themselves so.

It’s sad you devote so much time to hating one individual. Maybe you should focus on the issues instead of pointless name calling.

Do you have any idea how much of a minority the extremists are in the Muslim community? Good thing everybody focuses on them, because otherwise people might actually learn something relevant…

I think you’ve misquoted Dar. Also, the MSA did not ridicule him for not being affluent in Arabic, they just raised the point that his deductions could not be completely accurate because he was not affluent in Arabic. Moreover, Mikolajczak is wrong in calling the behavior of the MSA “absolutely ridiculous” because they only posed questions and in a very moderate manner if i may say so. If Spencer talked so fondly of freedom of speech, then why is it that the students were not allowed to speak freely in asking him questions. Something to think about.

Te problem with this gentleman’s argument—by which I mean the logical fallacy—is that to equate the views of a small group of Muslims with the edifice of Islam, or to claim that this small, extreme minority represents the “true” meaning of the Islamic revelation requires a sort of evidence he does not have. When some one like Mr. Spencer talks about the “true” meaning of jihad in Islam, he’s claiming to have some special knowledge about what Mohammed (and God) meant, and claiming equally that out of all the Muslims in history, only 20th and 21st century Muslim fundamentalists have this same knowledge.

To make a comparison, a writer who hates apocalyptic, evangelical Christianity might point to those Christians who believe very strong in a “rapture” that will whisk the elect up to heaven in a flash, leaving the sinners on earth (like in the “left behind” novels). He might then claim that in his study, he has discovered that this is the “true” message of Christianity, that that because this is a scary, crazy belief that is dangerous for people to be out walking around believing, that Christianity is bad. Of course, this ignores the fact that people who believe this particular thing are a minority of Christians in the world, and that historically, most people who are deemed as “speaking” for Christianity (like Calvin, Luther, all Popes I’m aware of, St. Augustine, St. Paul, Jesus, etc) didn’t see to believe this particular thing, either. Most people who had a passing knowledge of Christianity would find this man’s assertion about what Christianity “is,” and thus, his claims about the looming Christian “threat” to our society, nonsensical. And even if some of these rapture-believing Christians had become terrorists and blown up themselves and innocent people, most folks would still not be able to be convinced that this particular group of people spoke for the “true” Christianity.

This is the story Mr. Spencer and his ilk pass off about Islam. It’s not inaccurate to say that there are extremist Muslims in the world, and that they have done terrible things, and even that they need to be stopped from killing. It is, however, logically invalid (and factually incorrect—based on surveys conducted in Muslim countries by social scientists from the US, using US gov’t money) to claim that this group is actually correctly interpreting Islam’s message, and that Islam is therefore a dangerous religion of hate.

Given that, in America, it remains socially acceptable for people to act and speak in obviously biased and racist ways towards Muslims, we should all be impressed by how calmly the MSA conducted themselves.

Robert Spencer “stood up” to a few Muslim university students - while the West is being dominated by Jews to the point that no one can even criticize them.

http://www.honestmediatoday.com/cartoonistwhojokedaboutjews.htm

Yeah, the guy is a real hero.

I’m surprised he survived the ordeal.

This was not debate. This was one man in front of a large group of people and calling a major, peaceful world religion “propaganda.”

And “if the roles were reversed,” and a Muslim writer had talked about Christians as “intent on destroying…civilization,” most certainly Tim Evans, Sara Mikolacjak, and their brainless cronies would not be heralding the event as “free speech.” They would be outraged that anyone came to see someone who is clearly a “terrorist.”

really Tim Evans? 1. Thank you for being stereotypical. Could their reaction not be spawned by a gross misrepresentation of their culture as put forth by Spencer? 2. As far as your claim of Islam and democracy/free speech mixing as well as oil and water perhaps it doesn’t mix well because its being imposed. Perhaps it doesn’t mix well because individuals are being denied access to clean fresh water, electricity, and various other necessities. Perhaps it doesn’t mix well because individuals are enclaved and forced to associate as us or them and not as an Iraqi or otherwise. Perhaps democracy isn’t working because we’re not allowing it to take root.
3. Not bigoted, racist, or even aggressive? Speaking against a whole group of people under strong generalizations? Well … that kind of reminds me of our good old friend Adolf.
4. Sarah is representing free speech. She has every right to bring any speaker she wants to campus. But we have just as much right to speak our opposition to what he/she has. And that is the beauty of democracy.

Freedom of speech eroding day by day? Just because you’re not hearing what YOU want to hear doesn’t mean that the freedom of speech is eroding, it just means that times, they are a changin’ And its about time.

“Robert Spencer but he does not come across as bigoted, racist or even aggressive. I could not say as much for his opposition. Well done Sara Mikolajczak for representing free speech in a country where the fear of causing offence is killing free speech day by day.”

If you invert each logical statement in that paragraph, you arrive at reality. This is a continuation of the circus the CR’s put on last year with Horowitz, at least Spencer didn’t blatantly insult the crowd. I agree, Sara is a lunatic.

Dear - Anonymous (October 17, 2008 @ 1:28am)

1. What you perceive as a gross misrepresentation may be perceived by someone else as perfect representation. That is the point of free debate. Live with it.
2. The imposition of democracy is not something I agree with. However, I do not CLAIM that democracy and Islam frequently mix as well as oil and water I STATE it as fact clearly demonstrated in Islamic history and in the the majority of Muslim countries (Note the use of the word frequently). I note the comments about poverty; however, Muslims do not have a Monopoly on being poor. In fact there are far more non-Muslims in poverty in the World. You really need to broaden your horizons beyond Iraq when thinking about Islamic countries and democracy.
3. Speaking against a whole culture or group or belief system or culture or political system is most definitely not necessarily bigoted, racist, or even aggressive if the arguments are put forward peacefully and with supporting structure. It is up to you to answer those arguments in the same way. By the way, comparing opponents to your point of view to Hitler is childish.
4. SO, we do agree that Sarah is representing free speech and that she has every right to bring any speaker she wants to campus. We also agree that people have as much right to speak our opposition to what he/she has. And that is the beauty of democracy. I just wish that critics of Islam could put their views forward without fear of violence, increased security, threats and mindless shouting.

Anonymous (October 17, 2008 @ 10:38am): “Robert Spencer but he does not come across as bigoted, racist or even aggressive. I could not say as much for his opposition. Well done Sara Mikolajczak for representing free speech in a country where the fear of causing offence is killing free speech day by day.”

Anonymous says - “If you invert each logical statement in that paragraph, you arrive at reality. This is a continuation of the circus the CR’s put on last year with Horowitz, at least Spencer didn’t blatantly insult the crowd. I agree, Sara is a lunatic.”

So your view is fact then? - no supporting argument to back it up? Why is someone with a different point of view to you a lunatic? Why so aggressive?

Dear Anonymous (October 17, 2008 @ 1:14am):

You say - Tim Evans, Sara Mikolacjak, and their brainless cronies blah blah blah…

You make my point by insulting me as a brainless crony when all I do is defend free speech and oppose those trying to take away that freedom. I do not know Sara Mikolacjak but I defend her right to take on bullies like you.

I must correct you on a major point - when you mentioned ‘one man in front of a large group of people calling a major, peaceful world religion “propaganda.” He actually pointed out that radical Islamists use propaganda.

In addition, he also points out that the teachings of Islam guide Muslims on how to fight war (including propaganda war) as well as engage in peace. As a result, Islam is as happy to spread their word by the sword as well as the book. The evidence is there for all to see where violent Muslims celebrate their acts of violence in the name of Allah. This is unacceptable in a modern world and cannot be good for Islam.