http://jonathanturley.org/2008/05/24/norman-finkelstein-denied-entry-into-israel/ Res ipsa loquitur ("The thing itself speaks") Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:51:32 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://jonathanturley.org/2008/05/24/norman-finkelstein-denied-entry-into-israel/#comment-19529 michael brookfield Sun, 03 Aug 2008 07:28:05 +0000 http://jonathanturley.wordpress.com/?p=1917#comment-19529 Israel is not the only, or worse, country in this regard. As a Bahai I do not state the fact when I visit Moslem countries (if you know anything about the persecution and killing of Bahai's in Iran in the last 30 years you will know why). Also, a few years ago, around 2000, I had a Moslem Libyan student in Canada who was denied a visa to enter the USA to give a talk at a scientific conference. He had to go to the US consulate in Toronto, Canada, at least 4 times and was told they do not have to give a reason (fair enough - though they could have told him the 1st time). I looked into the matter and found that many nationalities (Libyan, Nigerians, Vietnamese, etc) were being arbirtarily denied Visas for the USA to give talks at scientific confences, for no good reason. Accordingly I wrote to various heads of scientific institutes (or which I was a member), as well as senators,and then president Clinton and his wife for clarification. The only people who replied (and in fact got me an explanation - simply that his scientific work was funded by Libya) were various Republican senators (including the then minority leader), CEO's of oil companies and institutes who still valued the American values of freedom of the individual and expression: the so-called academic and democratic people (both institute CEOs, e.g. that of the Geological Society of America, and slick willie and his wife) were not interested. As I wrote at the time I will myself not attend any other scientific conferences in the USA until their government lives up the the promises of its constitution. The USA which was once,'the hope of the world'(a sentiment I once agreed with) is now sinking back into another miserable, arbitrary despotism (especially under its current President Moron). Tolerance and freedom apply to everyone - not just those who agree with you. Israel is not the only, or worse, country in this regard. As a Bahai I do not state the fact when I visit Moslem countries (if you know anything about the persecution and killing of Bahai’s in Iran in the last 30 years you will know why). Also, a few years ago, around 2000, I had a Moslem Libyan student in Canada who was denied a visa to enter the USA to give a talk at a scientific conference. He had to go to the US consulate in Toronto, Canada, at least 4 times and was told they do not have to give a reason (fair enough – though they could have told him the 1st time). I looked into the matter and found that many nationalities (Libyan, Nigerians, Vietnamese, etc) were being arbirtarily denied Visas for the USA to give talks at scientific confences, for no good reason. Accordingly I wrote to various heads of scientific institutes (or which I was a member), as well as senators,and then president Clinton and his wife for clarification. The only people who replied (and in fact got me an explanation – simply that his scientific work was funded by Libya) were various Republican senators (including the then minority leader), CEO’s of oil companies and institutes who still valued the American values of freedom of the individual and expression: the so-called academic and democratic people (both institute CEOs, e.g. that of the Geological Society of America, and slick willie and his wife) were not interested. As I wrote at the time I will myself not attend any other scientific conferences in the USA until their government lives up the the promises of its constitution. The USA which was once,’the hope of the world’(a sentiment I once agreed with) is now sinking back into another miserable, arbitrary despotism (especially under its current President Moron). Tolerance and freedom apply to everyone – not just those who agree with you.

]]> http://jonathanturley.org/2008/05/24/norman-finkelstein-denied-entry-into-israel/#comment-13754 very concerned Sat, 24 May 2008 13:59:40 +0000 http://jonathanturley.wordpress.com/?p=1917#comment-13754 Well, i'm shocked. Shocked. That the Blight Unto The Nations, the "beacon of democracy in the Middle East", would stoop to this. Well, i’m shocked. Shocked. That the Blight Unto The Nations, the “beacon of democracy in the Middle East”, would stoop to this.

]]>