Hate and Awareness at U of T

This month at the University of Toronto, the Zionist group Betar-Tagar is launching "Know Radical Islam Week" while the Arab Student’s Collective pops open another can of "Israel Apartheid Week". The widely read campus paper "The Varsity" has drawn an equivalency between the two, not just in their printed words, but also in pictures. What you see here is the image that graces the cover of their latest issue. A Jew and a Muslim stand behind opposite sides of a red line which divides the campus.

What frustrates me is that the headline that accompanies Bruce Harpham’s article includes the text "Just what are 'Know Radical Islam Week' and 'Israeli Apartheid Week' fighting for? Zionist group kicks off a two-week ideological faceoff". Do they not understand? There is no ideological face-off! There can’t be when there is only one ideology.

The ASC’s "Israel Apartheid Week" promotes Islamic Fundamentalism while Betar’s "Know Radical Islam Week" explores it.

It’s one ideology – Islamic Fundamentalism/Islamo-Fascism/Abuse of the ‘Religion of Peace’/Whatever else you want to call it – but it is being explored through the lens of two very different philosophies.

The ASC’s "Israel Apartheid Week" philosophy upholds the belief that Israel should be wiped off the map (sound familiar?). Last year, in Sidney Smith Hall, as part of their demonstration, there was a mock refugee camp. Inside the hut I saw a glorious map of Palestine. No sign of them pesky Jews anywhere to be seen. On the outside of the hut, there were Islamic Jihad posters. This is in Sidney Smith Hall. At the University of Toronto. Is it a crime in Canada to promote terrorist activity? Yes. Is that the purpose of those posters? Yes. Are you as outraged as I am? I would assume so.

What is Betar’s philosophy concerning "Know Radical Islam Week"? Judging by their planned speakers and events, Betar seeks to spread awareness about the perversion of a noble faith. Speakers will include a former Sudanese slave, a gay rights activist, a women’s rights activist, as well as the Palestinian affairs correspondent for the Jerusalem Post. The "Israel Apartheid Week" speakers will include Jaggi Singh, who has been arrested for violent behaviour in the past, Ahmed Motiar, an individual who has been known to defend Holy War, as well as Professor Ward Churchill, who was quoted as calling 9/11 victims ‘little Eichmann’s’.

So, as you can see, there is one ideology that will be debated – not two. The ideology is Radical Islam, and the question is, are you for it or against it? Betar-Tagar wants to make the issues known, and the ASC seeks to wash over it with false accusations of ‘apartheid’ while promoting a hateful agenda. One can only hope that soon the day will come when "Know Radical Islam Week" won’t be necessary.