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Posted by Joan O'Callaghan on 14:39:48 2004/05/18
In Reply to: Re: More on Palestinian & Iraqi loudmouths posted by Howard Rotberg
I am very impressed by the spirited defence mounted by both B. Boland and N. Wolynsky of the young woman, neither of whom claim to actually have been present and witnessed what transpired. Never mind that two people who WERE in fact present in the audience have validated Mr. Rotberg's observations and are prepared to sign affidavits to that effect.
How very Canadian to rush in and defend the poor beleaguered young woman who had the misfortune to be wearing a head scarf and to support the erroneous view that Mr. Rotberg must have said equally offensive things.
Sorry B. Boland and N. Wolynsky, your assumptions about Mr Rotberg's role are WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. He said and did nothing offensive. He was invited to read from his new novel and sign copies.
Mr. Rotberg has the misfortune to be a successful author who has written a novel based on the Sbarro Pizzaria suicide bombing in Jerusalem a couple of years ago. The two gentlemen in question came to the reading for the purpose of shutting him down. As one of them shouted at him, "If you back Israel, you have no right to be heard." And then called him a "fucking Jew."
The store management mishandled the incident and are now trying to exculpate themselves by insinuating that Mr. Rotberg must have done something to antagonize them.
I find it curious that in your rush to defend the honour (sic) of the poor beleaguered young woman who may or may not have been a party to what transpired, you have no words of concern to spare for what Mr. Rotberg endured. Are we to assume that in your view there is nothing wrong with calling someone a "fucking Jew" and hijacking his right to free expression? But wow - try to suggest that a Muslim may have behaved inappropriately, and all the self-righteous, oh-so-politically correct Canadians come crawling out of the woodwork.
We support you, Howard. Your right to freedom of expression in a democratic society were gratuitously violated and you were subjected to the worst kind of harrassment, bullying and hate speech. There is no excuse for what happened whatsoever. Chapters/Indigo must investigate the matter thoroughly, deal with the local managment, and take steps to ensure that authors and other invited guests are protected from this kind of appalling behaviour.
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