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UW Instructor 9/11 Conspiracy Views
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T O P I C
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Discussion Started: 06-29-2006, 10:09 PM
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A Wisconsin lawmaker says that a part-time UW instructor Kevin Barrett should be fired for his views that 9/11 was a conspiracy.
What do you think of Barrett's claims? What should happen?
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View Messages: [newest first] | [oldest first]
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Tymergnath
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06-30-2006, 2:59 AM
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9/11 was a conspiracy. A conspiracy is any agreement between two or more people to commit a crime.
On 9/11/01, everyone wanted to know who those conspirators were. Every American has the duty to ask questions about the events of that day.
If there is proof that Kevin Barrett's claims are false, perhaps he should be fired. Taxpayers may not want to pay the salary of someone that teaches his students incorrect information.
However, here we have a state representative who has sworn to uphold our constitution. Stephen Nass should suggest peer review for Mr. Barrett. If there is such a strong case against Kevin Barrett's ideas, Rep. Nass should enlighten us all. Instead, Stephen Nass is demanding that Keven Barrett should be fired immediately, without giving him the chance to defend his beliefs.
Mr. Nass seems to think that people that disagree with his beliefs should be punished. Stephen Nass' ideology is extremely un-American. I don't want my tax dollars paying the salary of someone with such views.
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dusan
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06-30-2006, 10:14 AM
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As I understand with the union representing instructors one can't just "be fired" for a controversial opinion. And, years after other disasters, beginning of World Wars, etc. we have discovered at times that our government has in fact been either very aware of the dangers and not warned ahead (Pearl Harbor) or even initiated some of them with undercover personel. When my father was an economic major in the 1930's at Lawrence College, his professor was a visiting Harry Dexter White (a very controversal communist). However he also was a good economic teacher and those in his classes learned to use their own judgement on "the man" and on his views, when they differed from their own. I went into college life assuming that all kinds of ideas would be thrown my direction as a part of the learning and growing process.
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socram
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06-30-2006, 11:22 AM
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Of coure it was a conspiracy! A conspiracy between Al Qaeda members. You don't have to be a TA to know that and I am surprise he'll be teaching that in college. Every layman knows this! If he has definite proof that the US government conspired in 911, make it public. I definitely wanna see it. If there's no proof, then its dismissed as mere speculation and as such he shouldn't be allowed to "teach" such unproven facts in the classroom. Then again, UW Madison academics is plagued by the same.
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lovesmarvi
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06-30-2006, 12:03 PM
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What happened to free speech? Everyone is entitled to their opinion. As far as I'm concerned he's allowed to say what he likes, whenever. The only time I would have an issue with a comment such as this is if he were presenting this as curriculum in a history class or such.
There is too much we don't know about 9/11. I've read a bunch about the "conspiracy" theories and frankly much of it is quite believable. I don't think we're going to know the full extent of responsibility for this heinous act for many many years.
But let's not act like the the U.S. Government has not EVER done anything similar...some of what has been done is unreal and seemed unbelievable too when the incidents were first brought to light.
College campuses are where these thoughts/statements SHOULD be discussed!
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lovesmarvi
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06-30-2006, 12:43 PM
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Mr. Barrett said this on a talk show...not in the classroom. He is entitled to his opinion, the same as we are expressing ours right now.
How would you like to be fired over it?
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migs21
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06-30-2006, 12:54 PM
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There is absolutely no proof that any United States Government Department nor member within that government committed any act of conspiracy leading to the 9/11 attack.
Mr. Barrett's claims are nothing but "wishful thinking" and his stories debunked time and time again. Also, since he will not supply the data he so gladly spouts in the class, which has been requested many times and yet he balks.
As we all know, he does have a right to say what he wishes, however, he does not have a right to spout this rubbish in a class where he has a responsibility to speak the truth or back up his stories with documentation.
Mr. Barrett is not tenured from what I know, therefore he can and frankly should be released. If he wishes to spread more of these false statements, without providing the proof, then let him do it on someone else's dime and not the taxpayers of Wisconsin.
Based on conversations with some students, he admonishes them for arguing the case (I must admit, I have not seen this, but go by the students words). I suggest before going any further those of you who are intelligent above a gnat review this person's affiliates and his background history. You will find that his words are those of an agenda filled with hate for anything American.
Freedom Always Lars
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Z-Man
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06-30-2006, 12:59 PM
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I could not agree more with 'Tymergnath'. I also do not want one penny of my tax dollars going to pay the salary of someone with the un-American ideology of this crackpot Stephen Nass.
For the rest of you ? keep on believing the most ridiculous 9/11 conspiracy theory of all. You know, the one proclaiming that 19 Arabs who couldn't fly Cessna's and led by some old fart holed up in a cave half a world away, commandeered (using box cutters, no less) four jumbo jets and flew them around the skies of the East Coast for an hour or so while the greatest Air Force in history twiddled its thumbs. Oh, and then using spectacular piloting techniques, crashed three of them with perfect precision into important U.S. buildings, one of which was the most heavily-defended on the face of the planet. All while your glorious leader read a book to a bunch of grade-school kids and then scurried around the country like a scared rat while thousands of Americans perished. And don?t forget to add in two 110-story buildings crumbling at free-fall speed about an hour after being hit because of ? er, what is it again? ? oh yeah, jet fuel fires. Oh, and how about this one ? another 47-story building not even hit by a plane dropped like a rock that day, too. Man, that?s one doozy of a conspiracy theory.
Yeah, denial is a great way to not worry and be happy. But it won?t work too well without suppressing the non-deniers, right Nass? You got to keep the loonies on the path. Someone might listen and actually start thinking.
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djsragnar7
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06-30-2006, 1:16 PM
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This country was founded by people who were not afraid to challenge the oppressive government which held stranglehold on it's subjects. It is the right and duty of every American to question his/her government's actions. This man is being treated as a criminal for thinking and speaking out against a crime which will have profound implications for all Americans and further all human beings throughout the world. Political powers and "special interest" groups that want to keep the general populous in the dark. There are grass roots movements dedicated to one purpose, the truth, have you ever heard of loosechange911? how about Farenheit911? We all must question what has happened in this country. Our freedoms are being stripped away by those who would use fear tactics. Ask yourself why people on almost every other country on earth hate Americans... it's our complacant attitude that allows people like this professor to be persecuted, allows crimes against innocent people to occur. This man is hero, not a criminal. We live in America not communist China. My father didn't take a bullet in WWII so his children would have to live under facism. I did not serve in the Army to have my son live in a world where his words alone would have him admonished.
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jonnylv
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06-30-2006, 4:18 PM
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I don't really think it's important whether his the guy is right or wrong, he expressed an opinion on his free time. He has every right to do that. As far as I know he hasn't been teaching that idea in his classes. There are only people accusing him of that in this forum and - I assume - in the legislature, in both cases seeming to lack the same factual basis for their assertions that they claim he lacks in his. Rep. Stephen Nass no doubt feels he can garner votes through fear tactics and scapegoating. Mr. Nass seems to be among those pure politicians (not one speck of of statesmanship) who eagerly wrap themselves in the flag without hesitation, but apparently don't care too much for the principals it's supposed to stand for. Mr. Barrett's beliefs may be a little flakey, but Mr. Nass's, I believe, are far more dangerous. He dishonors the flag he wraps himself up in.
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nickspinne
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06-30-2006, 8:02 PM
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I have researched 9/11 for hours and hours and I'm 100% convinced it was an inside job. Not one strand of the official story fits with another. The timeline is impossible, the collapses have been proven to be controlled demolition, there was only a 16 foot hole in the pentagon, the neo-cons said they needed "a new pearl harbor" and the leasholder admitted that they brought down wtc7 in a controlled demolition. anybody who isn't convinced can email me and im happy to show you this evidence. there is no reasonable way to aruge against it.
Nick
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