Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["Shea Tisdale" <shea AT sheatisdale.com>]

"Student Omar Sharif, who was wearing one of the stoles..."

Just about as accurate as the Bill O'Reilly subject...lol.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:internetworkers-
> bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Alan MacHett
> Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 2:09 PM
> To: internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: Re: [internetworkers] Bill O'Reilly admits he is a NAZI
> 
> >
> >> http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,123274,00.html
> >>
> >> "Say I show up at U.C. Irvine graduation, I'm a student.  I've got a
> >> swastika on my arm..."
> >>
> >> "...No, no, it would be me and I'd be giving you the big con to get
> >> the swastika up there."
> >
> > Did you even read the article?
> >
> 
> Hmmmm...  again, there are so many more important things to worry about.
> But for anyone who cares, here's one article of many:
> 
> http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ucigrad20jun20,1,2757153.story
> THE REGION
> A Political Yet Peaceful Graduation at UC Irvine
> About 30 Muslim students wear green garments that carry Arabic writing
> praising God. They show unity with Hamas, critics say.
> By Stanley Allison
> Times Staff Writer
> 
> June 20, 2004
> 
> Students, friends and family members celebrated graduation at UC Irvine on
> Saturday amid heightened security and moments of disagreement about the
> meaning of stoles worn over the robes of a handful of Muslim graduates.
> 
> The broad strips of green cloth have been the focus of a heated debate
> between Muslim and Jewish students for several days.
> 
> Muslim student leaders said about 30 graduates wore the stoles - double
> the number predicted on Friday - as an expression of their faith.
> 
> Each stole bore Arabic lettering on one side reading, "There is no God but
> Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger," and on the other was a symbol
> meaning, "God, increase my knowledge."
> 
> Critics say the stoles signify support for the militant Hamas movement and
> are part of a campus campaign to intimidate Jewish students.
> 
> On Saturday, five members of the American Jewish Congress from off campus
> spent part of the day at UC Irvine to show support for the Jewish
> students. They accused the university's administration of ignoring Muslim
> students' threats and speeches that incite violence toward Jews.
> 
> "We acknowledge it [lettering on the stoles] is a call to God," said
> Allyson Rowen Taylor, associate director of the group. "However, we also
> acknowledge that the symbol and expression has been used to glorify the
> act of suicide bombing."
> 
> At the graduation ceremony Saturday for the School of Social Ecology, one
> of seven commencement exercises held during the day, she and several
> others in the group confronted members of the Muslim Student Union.
> 
> "Just as other organizations wear sashes for honors awards or clubs, so
> the same way [Muslim students] show their club and religious affiliation
> by wearing" the stoles, said Osman Umarji, president of the group. "It's
> completely a nonissue," he said.
> 
> Student Omar Sharif, who was wearing one of the stoles, said it was merely
> an expression of his faith and suggested that critics are appealing to
> unfair stereotypes.
> 
> "The Muslim community here is nothing but doctors and lawyers and
> engineers. They're living the American dream," said Sharif, who said he
> was qualified to participate in the ceremony although he will not complete
> his course work until this summer.
> 
> Security was tight Saturday as police prepared to head off any clashes
> over the stoles.
> 
> Campus Police Sgt. Steve Monsanto said nearly every campus officer was on
> duty, reinforced by the Irvine Police Department and some private security
> guards.
> 
> The day passed without incident, he said.
> 
> copyright 2004 Los Angeles Times
> 
> ---
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