Reading the article gives just a bit more information -
In 2001, Ayers published Fugitive Days: A Memoir. Much of the controversy about Ayers during the decade since the year 2000 stems from an interview he gave to the New York Times on the occasion of the memoir's publication.[4] The reporter quoted him as saying "I don't regret setting bombs" and "I feel we didn't do enough", and, when asked if he would "do it all again" as saying "I don't want to discount the possibility."[3] Ayers has not denied the quotes, but he protested the interviewer's characterizations in a Letter to the Editor published September 15, 2001: "This is not a question of being misunderstood or 'taken out of context', but of deliberate distortion."[5] In the ensuing years, Ayers has repeatedly avowed that when he said he had "no regrets" and that "we didn't do enough" he was speaking only in reference to his efforts to stop the United States from waging the Vietnam War, efforts which he has described as ". . . inadequate [as] the war dragged on for a decade."[6] Ayers has maintained that the two statements were not intended to imply a wish they had set more bombs.[6][7] The interviewer also quoted some of Ayers' own criticism of Weatherman in the foreword to the memoir, whereby Ayers reacts to having watched Emile de Antonio's 1976 documentary film about Weatherman, Underground: "[Ayers] was 'embarrassed by the arrogance, the solipsism, the absolute certainty that we and we alone knew the way. The rigidity and the narcissism.' "[3]
Posts: 16173 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
An unrepentant terrorist can also be a distinguished professor..."
I suspect that for the first 25 or so years of its existence, Israel had unrepentant terrorists who were also distinguished professors. One former terrorist, Menachem Begin, became Prime Minister (1977-1983) and won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1978.
Whether one is known to history as a terrorist or a Freedom Fighter or a Founding Father often depends on the final outcome of the battle and who is writing the history.
History will be kind to me for I intend to write it. ~ Winston Churchill
Posts: 16173 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
Don't forget the former Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam. He was denied entry to the US in 2004.
Ironic because he was awarded a Man of Peace award from the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Committee. Thanks for posting my favourite Cat Stevens video, DG. It always brings tears to my eyes to watch this one. I see how much older he is now, yet he still has that same wonderful voice.
As for Bill Ayers statements being taken out of context, I would have to ask this...Has he ever expressed any regrets or remorse about his activities as a weatherman???
As for Israel, I thought everyone there served in the military at one time or another. So could the case be made that the whole state of Israel is nothing but terrorists??? Especially since they've had to defend their country since day one.
Nelson Mandella a potential terrorist...While I have done no research on this, I wonder if he was pt in this category 30-some years ago when the Apartheid Government looked at him as a troublemaker. The U.S. being on friendly terms with Apartheid, they listed Nelson Mandella as a terrorist threat. Over the years, the list was never updated by removing Mandella's name from it.
Cat Stevens...I'd always wondered if he was still active since his conversion to Islam. Thanks for sharing.
Posts: 2047 | Location: Martinsville, IL | Registered: 06-03-02
Originally posted by newnickname: Is Afghanistan Day - celebrating the 'valiant and courageous Afghan freedom fighters [The Taliban]' - still observed in the US?
Why not? They still celebrate the 'freedom fighters' who fought the 'tyranny' of the British
