University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
Every now and then, reason emanates from the most unlikely places. In this case the setting is the University of Illinois, which today declined to bestow emeritus status to retiring professor William Ayers, co-founder of the domestic terrorist group Weather Underground, domestic bomber, and not coincidentally a friend of President Obama.
In a speech by trustees chairman Christopher Kennedy, son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, it was noted that in his 1974 book, "Prairie Fire: The Politics of Revolutionary Anti-Imperialism," Ayers dedicated his his work to, among others, Sirhan Sirhan, his father's assassin.
"There is nothing more antithetical to the hopes for a university that is lively and yet civil, or to the hopes of our founding fathers for their great experiment of a self-governing people, than to permanently seal off debate with one's opponents by killing them," Kennedy said, adding that, "There can be no place in a democracy to celebrate political assassinations or to honor those who do so."
The nine voting trustees denied Ayers his emeritus title which, while unpaid, nevertheless witholds a measure of esteem from the aging terrorist. While there were others who received the honor from the university today, Ayers was not among them. It's a small victory, yes, but even the most haphazard outbreaks of moral equilibrium should be recognized and encouraged.
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Jul '10
Re: University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
If he had dedicated the book to John W. Hinckley, the outcome would have been otherwise.
May '10
Re: University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
Thank God for small favors.
May it be only the beginning of a long descent into a richly deserved ignominy.
May '10
Re: University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
I guess the didn't give him credit for writing BO's book and getting him elected.
May '10
Re: University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
Come to think of it, Dave, shouldn't it be "refudiates?"
Jul '10
Re: University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
A rare showing of common sense in academia. Good for them!
May '10
Re: University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
My thoughts, exactly. It sure takes a lot to slap the hand of someone who applauded your father's death.
I'd rather the university had given him emeritus status and thereby immortalized its shame in hiring him.
May '10
Re: University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
Maybe he'll bomb the joint to get even.
Jul '10
Re: University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
Plot to murder US servicemen, and possibly murder a cop: OK.
Offend a Kennedy: Bad.
I don't begrudge Christopher Kennedy his ire, I'd feel the same way, but of all the sins of Bill Ayers, this is pretty small beer.
Jun '10
Re: University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
My Alma Mater can't take anymore bad press after the attempted firing of Catholic professor Ken Howell ... basically for teaching Catholicism in a class on Catholicism... or letting in rich Chicago liberals' kids who don't have any business at University.
Good to see them upholding the value of my degree....
Jul '10
Re: University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
Samwise Gamgee: My Alma Mater can't take anymore bad press after the attempted firing of Catholic professor Ken Howell ... basically for teaching Catholicism in a class on Catholicism... or letting in rich Chicago liberals' kids who don't have any business at University.
Good to see them upholding the value of my degree.... · Sep 23 at 8:45pm
Nice website.
Jun '10
Re: University of Illinois Repudiates Bill Ayers
Well, at least they stuck it too him. What a dispicable man who dedicates his book to a murderer.
As for the Kennedy's, ya know as messed up as that family was I still think of a family that gave three sons for our country. Hanging Teddy Kennedy with loads of personal sin, including manslaughter, along with some political damage is correct. But Joe, Jack, and Bobby, politically/personally like em or not, shouldn't be the target of any ire. I would guess that given her choice of famous dead son's or live bankers on Wall Street, Rose would probably had chosen the later.