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Wednesday, June 12, 2002

He titles his talk "American Kampf," purposefully echoing the title of Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" – "My Struggle" – to show the positive side of "Kampf."

'Justice and Understanding'

The talk prompts protests, but a Harvard dean defends the planned talk as a "thoughtful oration" that defines the concept of Kampf as a personal struggle "to promote justice and understanding in ourselves and in our society." The dean promises "the audience will find his oration, as did all the Harvard judges, a light of hope and reason in a world often darkened by distrust and conflict."

When it turns out that the student is past president of Harvard German Society, a group with a pro-Nazi taint, the university administration is still not bothered. Nor is it perturbed that he praised a Nazi front group – one shut down by the U.S. president, no less – for its "incredible work" as well as its "professionalism, compassion and dedication to helping people in dire need," then raised money for it.

Sound far-fetched? It sure is. But exactly this scenario unfolded within the past month at Harvard. Just replace "German," "Nazi" and "Kampf" with "Islamic," "militant Islamic" and "jihad."

Ties to Terrorists

Faculty members chose Zayed Yasin, 22, past president of the Harvard Islamic Society, to deliver a commencement address. Yasin earlier had sung the praises of and raised money for Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, a militant Islamic organization closed down by President Bush as a terrorist front.

Yasin titled his talk "American Jihad," echoing Osama bin Laden's jihad against the United States. Curiously, "Kampf" and "jihad" translate as "a struggle." Yasin declared an intention to convince his audience of 32,000 into believing that "jihad is not something that should make someone feel uncomfortable."

Oh no? The authoritative "Encyclopedia of Islam" begs to differ. It defines jihad as "military action with the object of the expansion of Islam" and finds that it "has principally an offensive character." The scholar Bat Ye'or explains that for non-Muslims this has meant through history "war, dispossession, dhimmitude, slavery, and death."

Jihad does indeed sound like "something that should make someone feel uncomfortable."

Harvard Abets Terrorists

Sadly, this commencement episode is not an aberration but is indicative of two important developments at Harvard.

1. Apologizing for militant Islam. Hiding jihad's awful legacy is standard operating procedure. A professor of Islamic history portrays jihad as "a struggle without arms." Harvard Islamic Society's faculty adviser defines jihad as no more fearsome than "to do good in society."

This is all part of a pattern of pretending that Islam had nothing to do with Sept. 11.

2. Being neutral in wartime. Harvard appears neutral in the current war, as Pat Collins points out. Take the example of Hamas: While Bush has called it "one of the deadliest terrorist organizations in the world today," a Harvard spokesman replies "no comment" when asked if the group is a terrorist organization, and the university has allowed fund raising on its premises on behalf of Hamas.

Even today, militant Islamic groups have full access to university facilities and the right to advertise their activities.

Oh, and Harvard has two fellowships endowed by Osama bin Laden's family, each worth $1 million.

ROTC Banned and Censored

Contrarily, the Reserve Officers Training Corps, a training program for the U.S. armed forces, is the only student group at Harvard to be prohibited access to university facilities. Students enrolled in ROTC must travel to another university for classes. It is disallowed from advertising its activities.

Unfortunately, Harvard's stance is typical of nearly all North America universities. Almost every Middle East specialist hides the truth about jihad.

'Look in the Mirror'

As shown by a chilling report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, "Defending Civilization," almost every campus drips contempt for the U.S. war effort. One typical statement reads: "The best way to begin a war on terrorism might be to look in the mirror."

"You are with us, or you are against us": Harvard and other universities need to look hard into their souls and decide on which side they stand.

Commentary by Daniel Pipes, director of Middle East Forum in Philadelphia. He received his A.B. and Ph.D. from Harvard and taught history there. This article is reprinted by permission.

Copyright 2002 by United Press International.

All rights reserved.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
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