[Peace-discuss] Charles Schumer

[David Green]

Article from Counterpunch, letter from New York Times:

December 23, 2004
A Very Dangerous Democrat
An Encounter with Senator Charles Schumer
By ALAN SINGER
On Sunday, December 19, 2004, I had a startling
exchange with New York Senator Charles Schumer at the
Hofstra University graduation. Schumer has a habit of
appearing at graduation at the last minute uninvited,
speaking to the audience about his experience as a
recent college graduate, and then immediately escaping
from the podium. I hoped to speak with him on a number
of occasions but have never had the opportunity. This
year he arrived while faculty were lining up to enter
the arena. I approached him and asked, "Are you
reconsidering your position on the war in Iraq now
that the justifications presented by the Bush
administration have all proved to be false?" He
immediately became agitated and starting shouting
aggressively. I will paraphrase the exchange as best
as I can. 
At first, Senator Schumer demanded to know what I
would do. I replied, "The Bush administration policies
have destabilized that entire region of the world. I
would work with European allies to find a way to leave
immediately." 
He accused me of being a "fool," and stated that if
the United States withdrew from Iraq it would be
subject to a terrorist attack worse than 9/11 during
the next three years. 
I responded that I thought the country was at even
greater risk because of the occupation and wanted to
know if he would resign his Senate seat if the United
States was attacked anyway. 
Now Schumer shouted "I know people like you." He
accused me of being responsible for the destruction of
the Democrat Party and said "with your ideas you
should not be allowed to be a teacher" (He really said
this!).
When I replied that he didn't know who I was or what I
thought , he kept on shouting, "I know your type." 
At this point security guards started to come between
us, but Schumer signaled them to back away. Now he
kept on repeating, "I was in the anti-war movement
during Vietnam." 
I said, "That was because you didn't want to be
drafted. Is your daughter going to join the National
Guard so she can serve in Iraq?" At that point he
turned and walked away.
I confess, I did not anticipate Schumer's
aggressiveness, arrogance, level of nastiness,
impulsiveness and closed mindedness. This is a man
considered a liberal and he has Presidential
ambitions. Anti-war groups have tried to meet with him
hoping to sway his views. There is nothing to sway
here. He is a dangerous man.
Alan Singer teaches at Hofstra University. He can be
reached at: CATAJS at Hofstra.edu 
Israeli Checkpoints

 
Published: December 24, 2004
To the Editor:
One sentence in your Dec. 18 editorial "Timely Help
for the Palestinians" betrays the subtle and inherent
bias against Israel that pervades too much of Western
thought. When supporting the removal of Israeli
checkpoints in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, you
write, "While those checkpoints have undoubtedly
reduced the number of attacks by suicide bombers, they
have made it virtually impossible for average
Palestinians to move freely, whether going to the
polls or simply trying to go to work."
Doesn't it make sense that Palestinians should be
required to eliminate the suicide bombers in their
midst before Israel is forced to open checkpoints?
What other nation would be asked to put the ability of
its adversaries to move freely over the need to
protect the lives of its people? 
Charles E. Schumer
U.S. Senator from New York
Brooklyn, Dec. 21, 2004