First . . . re-read her words: “Barbara Bush was a generous and smart and amazing racist who, along with her husband, raised a war criminal. I’m happy the witch is dead. Can’t wait for the rest of her family to fall to their demise the way 1.5 million Iraqis have. Byyyeeeeeee.”
Did you see it? “Raised a war criminal.” “Fall to their demise the way 1.5 million Iraqis have.” Apparently, the Bush family is solely responsible for all the deaths in Iraq (I presume due to the Gulf War and the War on Terrorism). But why just Iraq? Why isn’t she just as mad at Clinton for all the deaths in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and the Sudan? This appears to be nothing more than a person - who teaches CREATIVE WRITING - having an opinion based on the belief that we should “just leave certain countries alone.” In other words: “I don’t LIKE what I see happening . . . I don’t want to hear your explanation of why it’s happening . . . I simply need to BLAME someone for it.” Granted, freedom of speech is the right of every American citizen. But the freedom to say anything you want in public does NOT mean you are automatically protected from the CONSEQUENCES of the dumb things you choose to say. If a white man stands on a street corner in Watts and yells “White lives matter!” he stands a good chance of getting punched (or worse). And most people would agree that he set himself up for that.
So . . . does she back up her hateful remarks with any “facts” about why those 1.5 million Iraqis are dead? Does she openly discuss the atrocities brought upon the Iraqi people by their own leaders since it became a Republic 60 years ago? Does she cite the requests for help issued to Western governments by Egypt, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia building up to the Gulf war? Is there any acknowledgement of the culpability of the Iraqi leadership that preceded both invasions? Of course not. And all she cites is ONE (albeit stupid) remark made by Barbara Bush in defense of her son’s handling of the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. But who needs ALL the facts, when you can simply cherry-pick the ones that will justify you throwing around the racist card, and calling people “war criminals?”
She, obviously, has convinced herself that the entire Bush family is responsible for all the horrors that have occurred in a country that isn’t even her own. And emboldened with this (misguided) righteous indignation – and the confidence that “tenured” professors cannot be fired – she uses her freedom of speech (something she would NEVER be afforded in any of the Middle Eastern countries she’s so quick to defend) to vomit hateful words about someone AFTER they have died. It’s the epitome of bully tactics – picking on someone who can’t defend themselves. It’s cowardice at its height.
The Fresno State website says that she grew up in Kuwait and Egypt, and moved to the U.S. after the Gulf War. Would she be just as hateful toward the Bush family if we HADN’T stopped Iraq from invading the country she grew up in? If she grew up under the oppressive rule of Saddam Hussein instead, would she be happier with her world? Would she even be here in the U.S. (earning her 6-figure salary) if we hadn't come to the aid of her home country? Or would it simply be something else to blame the American government for? Would the Bush family be “cowards” instead of “war criminals?”
I have no doubt that this is the same type of person who claims the “freedom of speech” when they want to share their opinion in public, but willingly denies their opposition the same right when they openly disagree. And when someone starts using personal slurs to discredit those who oppose their own opinions, you can rest assured that all the facts are not “in play.” It’s really just tantamount to your two-year-old throwing a tantrum because things aren’t going the way they want them to – regardless of whether or not they even understand all the circumstances. It’s the belief that “passion” is more important than facts and dialogue. Except it’s not. Many people were passionate about the earth being flat, but their passion was reflective only of their ignorance.
So, what do you do about adult(?) professors – who are responsible for teaching our children – when they throw public temper-tantrums that include personal slurs? Do you give them their “15 minutes of fame” and look the other way? Do you chide them publically and demand an apology? Do you pretend that saying hateful things about others in public has no consequences? Will you give her leniency because she’s not W.A.S.P.? Will you risk her lawyer denouncing you as "racists" if she’s removed, or put on leave? I know how I treated my two-year-olds when they tried those tactics. So, it will be interesting to see how you - the leadership at Fresno State University - respond to a professor behaving like an adolescent bully in public.
