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Tuesday, June 24th -- Pacifica Forum hosts a lecture, "Homo americanus vs. Homo sovieticus; Twin Brothers?", by a guest from Croatia, Dr. Tomislav Sunic. One of the foremost European intellectuals and a former Croatian diplomat, Dr. Sunic for a time was also a professor of political science at several U.S. universities. He will present his most recent book, Homo Americanus; Child of the Postmodern Age.
EMU June 24, 2008
Brian Davies/The Register-Guard
George Beres (left) and Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin debate the merits of free speech during a protest of an appearance by Tomislav Sunic.
More than 40 people attended a vigil at the University of Oregon Tuesday to protest local discussion group Pacifica Forum�s latest controversial speaker, Tomislav Sunic.
Connecting a recent rash of unrelated hate crimes to Pacifica Forum�s slate of invited speakers, the protest brought together members of several peace activist groups and was organized by Community Alliance of Lane County.
Sunic�s speech, �Homo Americanus vs. Homo Sovieticus: Twin Brothers?,� drew about 30 listeners. He promoted views put forth in his recent book, �Homo Americanus: Child of the Post-Modern Age.�
In a September 2007 blog post on Intellectual Conservative, Troy University history professor Nathan Alexander said Sunic�s book criticizes U.S. democracy and multiculturalism and suggests that many of America�s actions are a form of religious crusade.
An anti-Jewish thread runs throughout the book, Alexander said.
In the amphitheater outside the UO�s student union building, protesters held signs reading �Shame on you Pac. Forum� and �Hate Hurts.�
They also distributed literature that connected recent racist and anti-Semitic graffiti and actions to speakers hosted by the forum, including Holocaust revisionist David Irving on June 9 and Sunic.
Recent incidents include anti-Semitic graffiti on a bike bridge, and a rock with a racist message attached thrown through the window of a black man�s storefront.
Community Alliance member Sally Sheklow spoke to the crowd, explaining the motivation for organizing the peaceful gathering.
There seems to be an �escalating message of hate,� she said. �We don�t want that in our town.�
The incidents have emerged just days before Eugene hosts the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, which begin Friday. At a press conference earlier Tuesday, Angel Jones, Eugene�s assistant city manager and a member of the Trials� steering committee, spoke about the recent incidents.
The Trials are �a great example of how a community can come together and overcome obstacles and focus on the positive,� she said. �I think those events have signaled to this community that we need to be together and send a message that this is not OK in this community, and that is happening.�
Michael Williams, a CALC member, said he doesn�t believe there�s a direct connection among the recent spate of hate crimes � and that bothers him even more.
�That�s more disturbing,� he said, �that there�s this many individuals who are susceptible to this message of hate.�
Williams said he believes it�s important to speak out against the Pacifica Forum because it creates �an environment that is warm and welcoming to those kinds of sentiments.�
Pacifica Forum leaders have said activists� protests have helped fuel the string of hate crimes. But Jewish community leader Irwin Noparstak said activists feel they have to speak up.
�We just feel we cannot be silent,� he said. �I don�t mean Jews, I mean a broad coalition of people.�
Protesters see link to recent hate crimes
Tuesday, June 24, 2008