The Irvine 11 Convicted!
Ten of the Arab protestors who disrupted a speech by the Israeli Ambassador were convicted. There was very little either logic or justice to charging the Irvine 11 with criminal misdemeanor for disrupting the Israeli Ambassador. The first logical problem is trivial and that is there are only ten people in the Irvine 11. One pled before the trial.
Now, let's agree that it is rude to disrupt people. It is selfish to prevent those who wanted to listen from hearing. I'm willing to stipulate that it is even wrong. I don't have any problem in charging people for disruptive behavior, but going to the expense of a trial for a misdemeanor on disruption and conspiracy to disrupt is a waste of time and money. Clearly, they disrupted, and clearly they planned. Hence the guilty verdict is technically correct.
The Irvine 11 were a part of a toxic culture on the Irvine campus, a culture that harassed Jewish students and pro-Israeli opinion. Obviously I do not endorse rude and thuggish actions. As a Jew I am offended and concerned. However, I think this is a matter for the school and not the law. The university should be involved in making sure the campus does not become a hostile environment for any religion, ethnicity or political view.
As a survivor of Berkeley in the 60s and a participant in some number of actions that involved civil disobedience--that were not always civil--I have a certain tolerance for bad behavior. With many of my youthful certainties now subject to review, I am willing to give greater latitude to protestors--even when I passionately disagree with their point of view.
I still have strong political convictions, but, despite occasional arrests and harassment by the police, I don't have any criminal convictions. I hope they receive suspended sentences and that the university tries to bring the sides together--not in search of agreement but for exercises in Compassionate Listening. Rage is easy. Listening is difficult.
©2011 Jonathan Dobrer
www.Dobrer.com
The north face store expedition to explore the leading pace never stop, it is set in the world of professional sports teams, signing players in THE cheap north face under the protection of professional equipment, in the Himalayas, the poles, Seven Summits, and endurance marathon, rock climbing other outdoor ultimate dream to continue to create new records, open up new areas of exploration, and challenges to conquer a new human limits. THE discount north face jackets signing players for the world proud leave footprints leading global outdoor adventure direction. cheap north face most expensive most professional small backpack! Melting of the technology in one! Outer layer waterproof zipper pockets on both sides of an independent water bottle bags ergonomically curved back, north face outlet locations back to bear the whole structure of the two-way adjustable waterproof material the use of bag side pocket with key sub-master and multi-storage pockets hang back buckle chest strap and waist belt designed for comfort even if the sex is also durable shoulder strap also has a sense of carrying heavy loads easy to pack the sides and bottom of the package adds a special plug you can plug the tent rope and other moisture-proof pad hanging bag on the front ring buckle hanging water bottle and other items can be like this brand of authentic backpack Beijing friends can go to look for north face jackets on sale feel like the counter again photographed!