GWU reacts to Kokesh’s latest theater

The George Washington University newspaper “The Hatchet“, less than an hour ago has posted their reaction to the Adam Kokesh-led “free speech exercise” on GWU campus last Monday. Anyone hoping that a bit of outrage from students was warranted will be sorely disappointed;

While the sponsors of the poster said they wanted to help the Islamic community by exposing the extremism of YAF, their actions ultimately defeated their well-intentioned goal. The central issues both sides want to debate – hate, racism and the threat terrorism poses to America today – were lost in a blame game.

So it was the reaction of people opposed to Kokesh and his merry band of haters who muddied the message not that the message was muddied from the start. Hyperbole is never a good tool for communication.

Many critics are calling for the expulsion of these students but the only technical offenses they are guilty of is the improper use of the University logo and of not obtaining permission to post the materials. Such an extreme act as expulsion would be inappropriate and only further exacerbate the situation.

I wonder what the “editorial staff” of the The Hatchet would think if the message had actually been from an extemist Conservative student group – as most of the world thought from Monday morning until the culprits admitted their guilt that evening – in an email. Â

The Hatchet also published some background on Kokesh little band of pseudo-illectual weinies;

Freshmen Yong Kwon and Ned Goodwin and graduate student Amal Rammah were not available for comment Wednesday. Group members would not comment on when the group was founded, or why it was founded. It is not registered with the University.

Though many students said they missed the satirical message, the group said the responses their fliers received are what they had hoped for.

“I think we are pleased by how the students reacted to it,” Masri said. “The main point was to raise awareness and that is exactly what we’ve done,”

Graduate student Adam Kokesh is the de-facto leader of the group. A veteran of the Iraq War and a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Kokesh was arrested by U.S. Park Police in September for hanging fliers advertising an anti-war protest.

Kokesh said he and other members of Students for Conservativo-Facism Awareness said the misunderstanding about the intent of their fliers arose because many people heard rumors of the flyers but did not read them.

“The intent was to raise awareness of (Isamo-Facism Awareness) Week,” Kokesh said. “We understood that at first glance, the flier would be offensive.”

So they’re pleased that their false depiction of YAF caused such a furor. I wonder what their reaction would be if I started passing out fliers depicting them as child abusers – just to make a point, of course.

GWU students saved their real anger for Horowitz’ Islamo-Facism Awareness Week;

“We’re only asking for dialogue and awareness,” Kokesh said.

“I feel like it is plain human decency to be anti-racist, anti-bigotry,” said Maxine Nwigwe, a graduate student. “As soon as I heard about this week, I was outraged.”

Senior Brian Tierney said, “We don’t believe that this kind of racist hate speech should come to campus unopposed.”

I’ll bet Little Brian Tierney hasn’t even heard David Horowitz speak or read his writings – yet automatically it’s “racist hate speech”.

The Hatchet also posted letters from students;

While University officials are investigating the situation, there was no serious crime committed. These posters are not a hate crime or an expression of hate because all they do is bringing attention to the appalling campaign by the ultra-right youth. The only offense committed by the author(s) of the materials is impersonation and possible violation of the University’s postering regulations. Thus, University officials should concentrate their efforts on investigating “Terrorism Awareness Week” sponsored by YAF, which openly and loudly calls to fight Muslims.

Denis Baranov, Junior

And;

Authors of posters still guaranteed free speech

The “anti-Muslim” posters around campus Monday were ignorant, hateful and offensive. They were also free speech. The seven students responsible for the posters should be reprimanded for illegal posting on private property and using the University logo without permission. However, they should not be punished for the constitutionally protected content of their message.

If anyone has a right to free speecxh, certainly a combat veteran like Adam Kokesh does. Justice Louis Brandeis wrote, “Rather than stifle ‘bad’ or unpopular speech, the remedy is more speech, and the result will be an informed citizenry and a vibrant democratic society.” The GW Peace Forum, Tuesday night’s SA resolution and the plethora of student organization statements condemning the posters are appropriate responses to this “bad” speech. These satirical posters did exactly what free speech is supposed to do: encourage debate.

Ironically, if posters such as these satirized a more-or-less government position in an “Islamo-fascist” state like Iran, the individuals responsible would likely be imprisoned, beaten or worse. GW should lead by example by not punishing people for free speech, no matter how ignorant that speech may be.

Joshua Sacks, Sophomore

So, like I said, anyone hoping for a little outrage from these minds of mush will be disappointed. It seems some of us are more equal than others. The writers and editors are obviously giving the Kokesh Klowns a pass because they’re well-credentialed Leftists – that’s a little sad, but not surprising. Before the leftists admitted their guilt, evey news program, every interviewee was calling for the heads of the conservatives that wrote the posters.

I’d remind these very forgiving students at GWU that every writer of satire believes a portion of what they write to be true to some degree – that’s what makes it satire and not fiction. Â

Kokesh is a criminal – a sociopathic, spoiled rich child with too much time on his hands. Chickenhawk Express ferrets out his background and digs up his father;

Charles Kokesh, a Santa Fe venture capitalist, founder of a firm called Technology Funding and owner of the Santa Fe Horse Park….

Typical of the 60s rich kids who protested that war. In fact, while his son is playing at being a hippie protester, Daddy is trying to organize a polo tournament at poloblogs.com.

Michele Malkin has the letter from YAF to the GWU administration. The Sniper takes a few well-placed and well-deserved shots at Kokesh. Hot Air has the audio of his defense of his actions. Johnny Dollar’s Place has the video. Liberal D.C. Universe even sees the hypocrisy.

Chickenhawk Express emailed me last night and told me that Kokesh is due for trial on his previous poster offense. (WTOP Radio)

Adam Kokesh, Tina Richards and Ian Thompson appeared in court Thursday. The antiwar ANSWER Coalition says they could face up to six months in jail if convicted of the charge.

The D.C. Department of Public Works fined the group for pasting hundreds of signs with an adhesive that city officials say makes them difficult to remove. Protesters have said the adhesive was water-soluble.

The ANSWER Coalition has responded by suing the city, alleging their constitutional rights were violated.

Their constitutional right to litter DC with garish yellow posters – as I said yesterday, those posters still litter the city, as well as some posters I saw in Bethesda from the March protest. For the story of his arrest, go to this previous post.

Kokesh is a nuisance that no one holds responsible for his actions. In fact, he still calls himself Sergeant Kokesh at his blog – even though he was busted from the rank three years ago for smuggling an Iraqi pistol back to the States – I think that qualifies him as a phony soldier. Wonkette can barely control her drooling as she reports another Kokesh arrest at the Capitol back in April, while Kokesh himself admits to an arrest at Fort Benning in July.

Since apparently someone else is paying for his misbehavior, I think it’s time GWU and the DC district courts teach his little punk-ass a lesson. GWU should suspend him for anti-social behavior (that’s three arrests on Federal property since he became a GWU student) and the District should toss him in cell for 6-months until he learns that when a cop tells him not to do something, he won’t just go ahead and do it anyway.

Kokesh is double-dog daring – someone should take him up on it.

Category: Antiwar crowd, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Politics, Society