OPINION & EDITORIAL
Barrett defends course, teaching at UW
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by Letters to the Editor
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
On Monday, September 4th, 2006 — the first day of the fall semester, exactly one week before the fifth anniversary of the demolition of the World Trade Center — The Badger Herald published an editorial entitled "Stay Classy, Barrett." That editorial voiced the not-unreasonable hope that I would teach my Islam course in a balanced and professional manner. It also sensibly noted that "academic freedom heeds (sic) respect, so it is imperative to consider Mr. Barrett's questionable theories in the marketplace of ideas."
Taking the Herald editorial staff's advice to heart, I did my best to offer a first-rate class on Islam that would not get bogged down in political controversy. By most accounts I succeeded.
Going the extra mile to keep the Herald editorialists happy, I tried to help my fellow academicians weigh my views on 9/11 in the marketplace of ideas. Alongside Jim Fetzer and other members of Scholars for 9/11 Truth (st911.org) I offered to debate any professor on campus — indeed, any professor from any campus — who dared support the 9/11 Commission Report. When the U.W. History Club asked me to defend my views in a debate or panel discussion with members of the U.W. History and Political Science faculty, I agreed enthusiastically. (Please, somebody prove me wrong!) Unfortunately, the History Club discovered that not one U.W. faculty member was willing to defend the official version of 9/11 in a free and open debate. Professor Fetzer and I wound up debating two empty chairs representing the U.W. History and Political Science departments respectively.
Take a look at patriotsquestion911.com. Why are there 100 professors, alongside another 100 or so former military, intelligence, and administration officials — the brave tip of a massive iceberg of under-the-radar truth supporters — who are willing to put their reputations on the line by publicly speaking out for 9/11 truth…whereas not a single UW professor can be found who is willing to defend the official fairy tale? The answer is obvious: The official story is indefensible. According to a recent New York Times poll, only 16 percent of the American people believe it, while a Scripps-Howard poll tells us that 36 percent (about 100 million Americans) say top government officials committed high treason and conspiracy to mass murder on September 11, 2001 as a pretext to wage war in the Middle East. A recent letters page in The Nation conceded that their unfriendly article on 9/11 truth triggered the biggest flood of letters in recent memory — and not one letter supported the official story! "Mr. Barrett's questionable theories" have indeed been tested in the marketplace of ideas — and they have won. The opposition has surrendered without a fight.
So let's get this straight: I taught a fine class on Islam, took my 9/11 critique to the marketplace of ideas and won, published two books, and treated dogs and little children kindly. How classy can you get?
And yet the Herald isn't satisfied. Conceding that "he emerged from the entire episode with bragging rights, thanks to glowing reviews from his students," and "fought a good fight and conducted himself professionally," editorialist Emily Friedman (2/15/07) says that re-hiring me would be "too risky." The administration did indeed take a risk last summer by defending my right to voice my political opinions on the radio. They could not have been sure how I would conduct myself in the classroom.
But now — as the 9/11 mythologists never tire of repeating —"everything has changed." Given my teaching performance during the fall semester, and the sea-change in public opinion toward 9/11 truth, any attempt to bar me from future teaching opportunities at UW would represent a cowardly and foolish squandering of hard-earned integrity chips. Thanks to its brave choice last fall, the U.W. will continue to have "sifting and winnowing" bragging rights when future history books are written. As a fairly ordinary individual who has had a footnote in those history books thrust upon me, I have to agree with Emily: I am one "lucky, lucky guy"— as are all of us with the good fortune to be associated with this great university, which may yet live up to its motto: The truth will set you free.
Kevin Barrett (khidria@merr.com)
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 2:26am):
The Herald will do anything for coverage.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 7:22am):
All US citizens should learn more about Islam. Barrett just isn't the person to do the teaching.
***
How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.
A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.
Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities -- but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.
-Sir Winston Churchill (The River War, first edition,
Vol. II, pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899)."
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 7:33am):
Barrett, these children know nothing other than Clinton getting a BJ and the subsequent Bush heroics of 9/11. When you question their only instance of a politician acting with class, you destabilize their small, fragile world.
Everything you claim is debatable and probably can never be proven, but at least there is someone out there taking the history book writers to task.
The past 6 years have been a sad time in America's history.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 11:22am):
Anyone with more than half their brain can debunk Kevin Barrett and his "brave" Truthers.
http://www.debunking911.com/index.html
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 11:33am):
anyone that think 9/11 was an inside job is not worth talking to.
they are beyond any sane conversation.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 11:53am):
"Mr. Barrett's questionable theories" have indeed been tested in the marketplace of ideas
I didn't realize that science and engineering were a marketplace of ideas.
I thought they depended on the observable, repeatable collection of data.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 12:19pm):
You got some sick excuse for a school there.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 12:43pm):
11:53, maybe you need to look up the word "theory."
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 2:43pm):
maybe mr. barrett can explain why islam has a problem with its neighbors or itself whereever it's located on the globe.
check:
chechnya
afghanistan
pakistan
india
horn of africa
darfur
nyc
wash dc
israel
iraq
thailand
indochina
beslan and the russian border states
spain
england
bali
all of the above locales represent a diverse mixture of religions and ethnicities ranging from christians, to buddhists, to hindus, to athiests, to jews, to tribal africans, to sects within islam.
so much for the religion of peace.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 2:46pm):
Why does this nutjob still have a job?
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 3:06pm):
Translation: "Anyone who disagrees with me is a moron."
Mr. Barrett, you give liberals like me a bad name.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 3:07pm):
Nicely put Dr. Barrett.
And it was good of the Herald to print it.
Let's hope the University of Wisconsin can continue to put truth seeking above profit.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 3:29pm):
Wow... Anyone who is so set on a "theory" that is now proved should not be considered "academia" as there is no proof of his assertion.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 3:57pm):
Why should respected academics legitimize your loony ideas by debating you? I could argue that gravity doesn't exist, but that doesn't make it true, and I don't have the extraordinary evidence needed to make the claim. Your extraordinary claims aren't backed up by the extraordinary evidence you need to support them.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 4:13pm):
Let's not forget that Mr. Barret is a muslim convert.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 5:04pm):
Gravity is only true in a vacuum.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 7:49pm):
2:43-
does it occur to you that the muslim populations in those countries have been systematically repressed by Christian, colonialist, and imperialist governments?
7:22-
way to cite a 108 year old text by Winston Churcill. Just go for broke and quote Ayn Rand next time.
should we also talk about Christian Germany's attempt to wipe out the Jewish population of the world? Maybe they could have gone further east to exterminate the Muslims... then we wouldn't have to SUBMIT OR DIE.
Or the repression of protestants, remember why the pilgrims sailed to America? And Luther?
Or the CIA-sponsored murders of priests and nuns in Latin America for practicing a "leftist" strain of Christianity, liberation theology?
Or the attempts at eradicating indigenous religion in the Americas, by building cathedrals on top of ancient temples and banning all "heathen" practices?
If these articles are going to illicit an anti-Muslim foaming at the mouth, it should be mentioned all the terrible things done in the name of our ideals, too.
Anonymous (February 20, 2007 @ 8:34pm):
Barrett,
I may disagree with you, but I will say this: Half of the kids who posted on this message board wouldn't have the balls to say their comments to your face.
Keep on doing your thing.
Anonymous (February 21, 2007 @ 8:48am):
7:49
You are correct that terrible things have been done in the name of Christian and Western ideals (some of your instances may be a bit off - for instance, Muslim governments are perfectly happy to repress their own people, with our without our help).
However, the difference you are ignoring is that the Western and Christian ideals believe in the human diginity of all people, of whatever land and faith. This ideal is clearly visible in the teachings of Jesus.
The holy writings at the foundation of Islam, by contrast, refer to outsiders as subhuman, and encourage their murder and enslavement whenever the Muslims have the power to do so. Unfortunately, there is very little sign of a widespread movement to disavow that aspect of Islam; it is still widely taught. And it hasn't changed much in centuries; the main variation is in how much power Muslims have to spread their faith by force at any given time and place.
In other words: Your claim that Churchill's evaluation is no longer relevant shows a woeful ignorance. Western society has changed significantly in the past century, but Islam's goals and ideals have not. Shari'a is shari'a, and slavery will persist as long as shari'a does.
Anonymous (February 21, 2007 @ 7:42pm):
Barrett, since you weren't born and raised into the Muslim culture, you have no right to speak on behalf of Muslims. You are nothing more than a convert.
Anonymous (February 22, 2007 @ 11:36pm):
Barrett is one of several catastrophic mistakes made by John Wiley and Patrick Farrell. Others include the marching band disaster, Barrows, and the new admissions policy. We need new leadership at UW-Madison, and soon.
Anonymous (April 3, 2007 @ 11:29pm):
Agreed. Morale here is low and no one at Bascom has done anything about it.
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