Opinion: Don't use religion to shift focus in the Al-Arian case

This Sept. 14 story promoted a thesis: that Sami Al-Arian is the victim of a Jewish conspiracy. The thesis is as ugly as it is false. Indeed, your article makes clear that even Al-Arian and his supporters rejected that notion, until your reporter pressed upon them the "evidence" that the Genshaft Family Foundation had made a purchase of $10,000 in Israel bonds before Judy Genshaft became a member of its board of directors.

The article is an attempt to shift the spotlight away from what Al-Arian did and whether his actions deserve the protection of the university, an issue that is now before the courts. Al-Arian made no secret of what he did, and continues to be proud of his actions: He organized a "think tank" at the university in a subject that had nothing to do with his academic discipline, computer science. This "think tank" brought advocates of terrorism to the USF campus. Al-Arian appeared at rallies and demonstrations in which he led the participants in cries of "death to Israel," a cry which he now characterizes as innocent metaphor.

For years, despite the expressed concerns of Jewish and non-Jewish supporters of USF, the university did nothing about this. It was only when Al-Arian went on the public airwaves and the American public was exposed to his noxious views that the university took action to protect its community and its reputation. Yes, thousands of Jews supported that action. But that action was supported by thousands of non-Jews, and even Muslims, as a review by your reporter of the 15,000-plus messages of support received on the PRIMER Web site would have demonstrated.

Terrorism is a threat to all Americans, Jews and non-Jews. Terrorism on the USF campus is a threat to all Floridians, and all who care about the safety and reputation of our universities. Your article was unworthy of an institution that aspires to the role of a great newspaper.
-- Bruce Epstein, Barry Augenbraun, co-chairs, Pinellas; Jack Ross, Herb Swarzman, co-chairs, Tampa; Tampa Bay Jewish Community Relations Councils

Offensive innuendo

Re: Genshaft allies cite religion in Al-Arian case.

I am greatly offended with this headline and leading article in the Metro & State section on Sept. 14. To include in your newspaper an innuendo that a leading official may make decisions based on her religious affiliation is a scandalous accusation not worthy of publication in a newspaper that professes to uphold the highest standards of journalism. It amounts to an anti-Semitic incitement, and I suggest that the St. Petersburg Times owes an apology to USF president Judy Genshaft and to its Jewish readers for publishing such garbage.
-- Francis N. Dukes-Dobos, Clearwater

More religious bigotry

Religious bigotry is still alive and well in America. We saw it in the presidential election for John F. Kennedy. Then we saw it in the confirmation hearings for Attorney General John Ashcroft, and again we saw it in the appointment of Jerry Regier to head the Department of Children and Families. Now we see it in the case involving University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft and professor Sami Al-Arian.

Al-Arian's religious beliefs have nothing to do with this discussion; the question is: Is he a terrorist? Genshaft's religious beliefs likewise have nothing to do with this discussion.

The last sentence of Article VI of the U.S. Constitution reads, in part: "... but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the United States."
-- Dave Mitchell, Seminole

USF president is defamed

As the chairperson of the Greater Florida B'nai B'rith Anti-Hate Committee, I must condemn what appears to be an outrageous defamation of University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft by Sami Al-Arian and his supporters. Once again Al-Arian's words have double meaning.

While Al-Arian professes that he doesn't want to "make baseless accusations that someone's religion or ideology is influencing their actions," his reaction to the detailed revelations of Dr. Genshaft's Family Foundation does just that: In his usual doublespeak Al-Arian questions "whether her judgment is tainted by her ideology or affiliations."

This from a man who claims that his use of "death" did not mean "death" and "jihad" did not mean "jihad." This from a man who has been denied citizenship by our court because of "poor moral character."

An examination of Dr. Genshaft's Family Foundation is in order. Contributions to Jewish Federations are highly regarded in American Jewish communities. They are, no doubt, akin to the good works of Catholic Charities and other Christian efforts. In our Tampa Bay area, the highly regarded Jewish Family Services and Menorah Manor are examples of programs supported by the federations. It should be noted that beneficiaries of these programs include both non-Jews and Jews. Yet when I appeared on a WEDU television panel in the mid-'90s with Al-Arian and two of his supporters, they attempted to equate this Jewish fundraising with contributions to Hamas.

As for Dr. Genshaft's small investment in Israel bonds, many non-Jews and American unions have found them to be a good, safe investment.

As the president of the not-for-profit media watch group PRIMER (Promoting Responsibility in Middle East Reporting), I am concerned regarding the misunderstanding of the objective of our petition. Our petition was aimed at our fellow citizens, especially Floridians who pay Al-Arian's salary as taxpayers. Our petition was not addressed exclusively to Jews. Our Web site made no reference to Dr. Genshaft as 'the Jewish president of the University of South Florida." As was reported, however, several well meaning Jewish groups may well have called on their fellow Jews to support Dr. Genshaft. We suspect that a number of Christian groups did the same.

We wish to make crystal clear that PRIMER is a nondenominational group which has many non-Jewish supporters. We are proud that thousands of our fellow citizens, non-Jews and Jews alike, responded to our call for the dismissal of Sami Al-Arian who remains under investigation for his links to terrorist groups.
-- Norman N. Gross, chairperson, Anti-Hate Committee, Greater Florida B'nai B'rith, and president, PRIMER, Palm Harbor

Genshaft's allies have done her no favors

Re: Genshaft allies cite religion in Al-Arian case.

Web sites run by synagogues and Jewish advocacy groups are calling for their members to support "the Jewish president of the University of South Florida, Dr. Judy Genshaft" in her attempt to fire Muslim professor Sami Al-Arian. Genshaft insists that religion has absolutely nothing to do with the dispute.

Dr. Genshaft may be free of religious bias, but it is undeniable that Jewish interests have played a major role in initiating and carrying on this battle at USF. In June 1995, a group of Jewish community leaders demanded and got a closed-door meeting with then USF president Betty Castor to air their concerns about terrorist connections on the USF campus.

At Betty Castor's request, attorney William Reece Smith Jr. interviewed 60 people, including members of the complaining groups and found no evidence of ties to terrorism on the USF campus. His report did indicate that the Jewish leaders' main complaint was that the Israeli point of view was not being given enough emphasis in the Middle East studies program at USF. They claimed the program lacked balance.

Secret evidence was used to keep Al-Arian's brother-in-law, Mazen Al-Najjar in jail for 3 1/2 years. In testimony before Congress in May 2000, professor David Cole of Georgetown University and the American Civil Liberties Union spoke against the use of secret evidence. The president of the American Jewish Committee and a spokesman for the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith spoke in favor of its use.

Earlier this year, John Loftus, president of the St. Petersburg Holocaust Museum, filed a lawsuit against Al-Arian alleging misuse of charitable donations. Also this year, Israel has been reported as the source of allegations against Al-Arian in the New York Times and by Tampa reporter Michael Fechter, although no verifiable evidence was provided.

Genshaft's allies have done her no favor by bringing religion into the issue. It is clear that American Jewish and Israeli interests have been waging an aggressive campaign to get Al-Arian fired.
-- Joseph A. Mahon, St. Petersburg

Security too often erodes dignity

Re: Put security first, editorial, Sept. 16.

Your concern about "resisting the temptation to let vigilance lapse in the name of cost or convenience to the American public" in the context of airport security is admirable. However, the present knee-jerk reaction to airport screening appears to be one of "let's do something -- anything."

The current policy of personal screening is not an "inconvenience" to the American flying public. Inconvenience is standing in long lines at the ticket counter and at the security checkpoints; inconvenience is having some stranger rummage through your personal belongings; inconvenience is having to be at the airport two hours before flight time.

But having some stranger poke and prod your person to convince him or her that you're wearing an underwire bra, being required to lift blouses so that the screener can see your pants zipper, being "wanded" up between one's legs, all in full view of people milling around, is not an inconvenience. That activity is embarrassing, humiliating, demeaning and stressful to the flying public. People no longer fear flying -- they fear the security system.

Do we want airline security? By all means, but with intelligence and not at the expense of human dignity.
-- Kathleen Martin, Tampa

Law puts our freedom in jeopardy

As a smoker I am used to having my civil liberties curtailed unwillingly. Now that people are actually reading the USA Patriot Act, which was passed by Congress in the wake of 9/11, I am happy to say that other people are now standing up for the personal freedom and liberties only America has.

I am also very sorry to say that the very freedom they are now standing up for is greatly in jeopardy. I cannot go into detail here, but let me ask you and your readers to become familiar with the provisions of the Patriot Act and make your own decision about it. Many diverse authorities from varied organizations and some elected officials have come out for amending the act to protect our civil liberties, but it will take the outcry of the citizenry to make Congress act.
-- Cliff Meyers, Madeira Beach

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