Not Everyone at Berkeley is Wacko

[blues008]

This is in response to the other thread started here. Here's an email a lot of Berkeleyans received from the Chancellor:

--------
Statement of Chancellor Robert M. Berdahl
Press Conference
September 5, 2002


I have called this press conference to set the record straight in
response to the outrageous allegations published by The California
Patriot, a student journal, and picked up by the wire services around
the country.
The central allegation of The California Patriot is that the
University of California, Berkeley is unpatriotic in commemorating the
events of September 11. This allegation is wrong. This allegation is
an insult to everyone at this University. More importantly, this
allegation is disrespectful to the thousands who lost their lives and
disrespectful to the countless heroes who worked valiantly to save
lives on that day. These American heroes inspired all of us and
renewed our faith in the American spirit.
We planned next week's memorial service to be consistent with the
spirit and substance of the memorial service we organized last year on
September 17. At that service 15,000 people joined in thoughtful
reflection. No one suggested that event was unpatriotic or
un-American. In fact, quite the opposite was true.
The noon events planned for this September 11 are to be a
memorial, also marked by contemplative music and prayerful thought to
honor those murdered a year ago. We believe it would be a disservice
to those who died to allow this memorial to become a political rally
of any kind, for any purpose. This is where we differ with The
California Patriot. The California Patriot, not the University, is
trying to turn this into a political event.
I will not allow the quiet moments from noon until 12:30 PM --
moments of prayer, grief, mourning, and reflection -- I will not
allow these sacred moments to be misused for political purposes. And I
deeply resent the implication that by planning this service in this
way, we are unpatriotic. There is nothing more patriotic and American
than honoring those lost in this horror.
After the memorial service is completed, at 12:30 PM, the
microphone on Sproul Plaza will be open to people who wish to express
their thoughts. An open microphone will also be available on Sproul
Plaza for two hours later that afternoon. There will be ample
opportunity for all to express their grief, their mourning, or their
political sentiments, as was the case on Sproul Plaza a year ago.

Thank you,
Robert M. Berdahl

 

[ThePresence]

While thats very nice, it didnt rebutt a single point made by The Patriot.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
While thats very nice, it didnt rebutt a single point made by The Patriot.

yeah really. i like dr berdahl though. did nice things here at UT. but he didn't address that the girl in charge of the thing seems to hate america.

 

[Shantanu]

So, are you - like - the one person at Berkeley who voted for Socialist Ralph Nader, instead of that black guy that the U.S. Communist Party ran, who I'm assuming everyone else at Berkely voted for? Ralph Nader, he's like, dangerously right of center, man.

 

[dfi]

I know plenty of people at UC Berkeley that are normal and sane. Then again, all the UC Berkeley people I know actually like money! Maybe we're in the minority, or we're the silent majority, in the shadows of the vocal (crazy) minority.

Oh well, I hope I get into my blackjack course.

dfi

 

[gopunk]

yes, there are many asians there

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: dfi
I know plenty of people at UC Berkeley that are normal and sane. Then again, all the UC Berkeley people I know actually like money! Maybe we're in the minority, or we're the silent majority, in the shadows of the vocal (crazy) minority.

Oh well, I hope I get into my blackjack course.

dfi

normal is a relative term

 

[777php]

I'm sitting in a Berkeley computer lab right as I type this message and, as I look around me I see 22 people in here, out of those 22 people 18 are Asian.

It is a statistically know fact that UC Berkeley has an overwhelming Asian majority among the minorities and the school itselft.

With that being said, knowing asian culture and having many Asian friends, I can say with confidence that the majority of Asians are conservative in thinking. Of course you are going to have your liberals, left wing, right wing extremist but for the most part are opinions coincide with what the majority of America, regardless of location or ethnicity.

Don't get me wrong, there are tons of wierdo's here, and even more that express opinions and views that I find absolutely ridiculous, but to label all of UC Berkeley's populace as communistic, socialistic, Ralph Nader loving is just unfair and without just cause.

I know why I am here and, its for a good education, not due to my political and social beliefs. I'll wager a fair amount of money that most of the students here will agree with my last statement.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Ameesh

Originally posted by: dfi
I know plenty of people at UC Berkeley that are normal and sane. Then again, all the UC Berkeley people I know actually like money! Maybe we're in the minority, or we're the silent majority, in the shadows of the vocal (crazy) minority.

Oh well, I hope I get into my blackjack course.

dfi

normal is a relative term

normal is perpendicular to the surface

 

[RudeBoie]

Sometimes I think, people like to start stuff @ Berkeley just because they know the rep the school has, and they feel the need to rise above the norm.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: RudeBoie
Sometimes I think, people like to start stuff @ Berkeley just because they know the rep the school has, and they feel the need to rise above the norm.

*Sink below* would fit in there better than "rise above".

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: 777php
I'm sitting in a Berkeley computer lab right as I type this message and, as I look around me I see 22 people in here, out of those 22 people 18 are Asian.

It is a statistically know fact that UC Berkeley has an overwhelming Asian majority among the minorities and the school itselft.

With that being said, knowing asian culture and having many Asian friends, I can say with confidence that the majority of Asians are conservative in thinking. Of course you are going to have your liberals, left wing, right wing extremist but for the most part are opinions coincide with what the majority of America, regardless of location or ethnicity.

Don't get me wrong, there are tons of wierdo's here, and even more that express opinions and views that I find absolutely ridiculous, but to label all of UC Berkeley's populace as communistic, socialistic, Ralph Nader loving is just unfair and without just cause.

I know why I am here and, its for a good education, not due to my political and social beliefs. I'll wager a fair amount of money that most of the students here will agree with my last statement.

Why is it then, that the radical liberal group over there is so much more vocal than in other schools? I'm not arguing with you, just curious.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Why is there another thread on this? Save bandwidth and post in the original thread. :|

my $.02:
If you attend Berkeley knowing what they advocate, you're just as guilty as the people who are openly advocating the Berkeley issues. You don't want to be patriotic? Fine; don't be. If Berkeley wants to restrict the rights of other people by refusing symbols that are perfectly acceptable (some of them downright WORSHIPED for what they stand for) in today's society, then fsck Berkeley. They can all burn in hell.

nik

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Why is there another thread on this? Save bandwidth and post in the original thread. :|

my $.02:
If you attend Berkeley knowing what they advocate, you're just as guilty as the people who are openly advocating the Berkeley issues. You don't want to be patriotic? Fine; don't be. If Berkeley wants to restrict the rights of other people by refusing symbols that are perfectly acceptable (some of them downright WORSHIPED for what they stand for) in today's society, then fsck Berkeley. They can all burn in hell.

nik

i disagree, some people place academics higher than such trivial matters.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Why is there another thread on this? Save bandwidth and post in the original thread. :|

my $.02:
If you attend Berkeley knowing what they advocate, you're just as guilty as the people who are openly advocating the Berkeley issues. You don't want to be patriotic? Fine; don't be. If Berkeley wants to restrict the rights of other people by refusing symbols that are perfectly acceptable (some of them downright WORSHIPED for what they stand for) in today's society, then fsck Berkeley. They can all burn in hell.

nik

i disagree, some people place academics higher than such trivial matters.

Thats you opinion, obviously. However, many people dont consider these matters "trivial".

 

[Lucky]

Not Everyone at Berkeley is Wacko

I must have missed in your post who (and where) they are.

 

[Fausto]

Sometimes I think, people like to start threads about Berkeley just because they know that all the knee-jerk reactionaries on these forums will be so outraged as to suggest that we nuke them prior to starting a war with Iraq. I swear, I could power a small town for a year with the amount of energy some of you spend worrying about what UCB students are up to this week. Here are some more relevant articles for you all to focus your righeous indignation upon:

Millions are HIV+ in China and their government has its head in the sand.

The former CEO of G.E. is wasting amazing amazing amounts of money, on GE's tab, every year even though they no longer employ him.

Our professional basketball players are chumps.

Our government effectively terminated Steven Hatfill's position at LSU despite a lack of any concrete evidence he had anything to do with the anthrax attacks.

CryoLife, after being ordered to recall contaminated tissues and cutting 105 from their work force, paid top executives $300,000 in bonuses anyway.

There. Go nuts.:disgust:

 

[ThePresence]

As posted in the other thread, they reversed the decision.
You may have to refresh the link.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Why is there another thread on this? Save bandwidth and post in the original thread. :|

my $.02:
If you attend Berkeley knowing what they advocate, you're just as guilty as the people who are openly advocating the Berkeley issues. You don't want to be patriotic? Fine; don't be. If Berkeley wants to restrict the rights of other people by refusing symbols that are perfectly acceptable (some of them downright WORSHIPED for what they stand for) in today's society, then fsck Berkeley. They can all burn in hell.

nik

i disagree, some people place academics higher than such trivial matters.

Yeah, I would LOVE to get taught by people who would refuse my rights. Yeah, they're GREAT mentors/teachers, aren't they.

nik

 

[777php]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: 777php
I'm sitting in a Berkeley computer lab right as I type this message and, as I look around me I see 22 people in here, out of those 22 people 18 are Asian.

It is a statistically know fact that UC Berkeley has an overwhelming Asian majority among the minorities and the school itselft.

With that being said, knowing asian culture and having many Asian friends, I can say with confidence that the majority of Asians are conservative in thinking. Of course you are going to have your liberals, left wing, right wing extremist but for the most part are opinions coincide with what the majority of America, regardless of location or ethnicity.

Don't get me wrong, there are tons of wierdo's here, and even more that express opinions and views that I find absolutely ridiculous, but to label all of UC Berkeley's populace as communistic, socialistic, Ralph Nader loving is just unfair and without just cause.

I know why I am here and, its for a good education, not due to my political and social beliefs. I'll wager a fair amount of money that most of the students here will agree with my last statement.

Why is it then, that the radical liberal group over there is so much more vocal than in other schools? I'm not arguing with you, just curious.

I don't think that they are more vocal but, they get much more media attention than other groups because they are so radical.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Umm please, some of the most brilliant minds have been developed and created in Berkeley. Condemning their teachers is something only ignorance can produce. Unless you have visited the campus and interacted with a good portion of the students, don't comment on Berkeley because you dont know.

Nobody is refusing rights, if you want to sing the anthem and hold your own service you could do it at Berkeley, but the event that these students are organizing doesn't include it. Presence, FFMCobalt, the more you speak the dumber and far more ignorant you sound compared to these Berkeley whackos.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
Umm please, some of the most brilliant minds have been developed and created in Berkeley. Condemning their teachers is something only ignorance can produce. Unless you have visited the campus and interacted with a good portion of the students, don't comment on Berkeley because you dont know.

Nobody is refusing rights, if you want to sing the anthem and hold your own service you could do it at Berkeley, but the event that these students are organizing doesn't include it. Presence, FFMCobalt, the more you speak the dumber and far more ignorant you sound compared to these Berkeley whackos.

Atleast I'm not advocating the removal of your constitutional rights by not allowing those things at the officially hosted service. And besides... we've seen loads of your crap in other threads. You can stop now while you're not too far behind.

nik

 

[flavio]

They don't remove your rights in Berkeley. You must be delusional.

 

[glenn1]

i disagree, some people place academics higher than such trivial matters.

I agree. That's why institutions like Berkeley will continue to lose standing among those who actually have the authority to hire, in terms of the perceived quality of the education it provides. IMHO, you're tossing your money away attending an institution like that, you're being indoctrinated, and paying heavily for the priviledge. In fact, you're subsidizing it.

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
Umm please, some of the most brilliant minds have been developed and created in Berkeley. Condemning their teachers is something only ignorance can produce. Unless you have visited the campus and interacted with a good portion of the students, don't comment on Berkeley because you dont know.

Nobody is refusing rights, if you want to sing the anthem and hold your own service you could do it at Berkeley, but the event that these students are organizing doesn't include it. Presence, FFMCobalt, the more you speak the dumber and far more ignorant you sound compared to these Berkeley whackos.

Who, exactly, is paying for this "event"?
Is it not the University, that is financed with tax dollars?

If I am mistaken, please feel free to correct me.