What Ward Churchill didn’t say

What Ward Churchill Didn’t Say (It’s the singer…not the song)

My sources tell me that U.S. intelligence has just uncovered a chilling pre-9/11 edict from Osama bin Laden on the topic of striking the infidels where it hurts:

“What is necessary is cruel and strong reactions. We need precision in time, place, and casualties…we must strike mercilessly, women and children included. Otherwise, the reaction is inefficient. At the place of action, there is no need to distinguish between guilty and innocent.”

Actually, not only do I not have any “sources”, but that quote does not come courtesy of the reigning bogeyman…it’s a January 1, 1948 diary entry by one of Israel’s founding fathers, David Ben-Gurion (talking about the Palestinians, of course). It’s the singer, not the song…and when those crooning are Israeli, the tune they carry is never panned by the American corporate media. Golda Meir can declare, “There was no such thing as Palestinians; they never existed” while Menachem Begin can conversely admit the existence of Palestinians but paradoxically call them “beasts walking on two legs” and “cockroaches” but the H Word isn’t uttered. Thanks to Ward Churchill, we have a good idea of what provokes the H Word in today’s McSociety. But is he really guilty of hate speech for what he said? In the end, that’s a matter of opinion…but I do know what Churchill didn’t say. Ward Churchill didn’t say this: “God told me to strike at al Qaeda and I struck them. And then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did.” That was George W. Bush, president of the United States of Advertisement. Ward Churchill didn’t say this: “There are all kinds of atrocities, and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire.” That was John F. Kerry and he was still considered soft (he just didn’t hate enough, I guess). Ward Churchill didn’t say this: “My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building” or this: “We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.” That was the noted humanitarian Ann Coulter. Ward Churchill didn’t say this: “Covert action should not be confused with missionary work.” That was Nobel Peace Laureate, Henry Kissinger Ward Churchill didn’t say this: “Every immigrant who comes here should be required within five years to learn English or leave the country” or this: “Democracy has justified itself by keeping for the white race the best portions of the earth’s surface.” That was Mount Rushmore’s own Teddy Roosevelt. Ward Churchill didn’t say this: “The Antichrist is probably a Jew alive in Israel today,” or this: “Communism was the brainchild of German-Jewish intellectuals,” or this: “The Almighty does not hear the prayer of a Jew.” That was political power broker and God’s best friend, Pat Robertson. Ward Churchill didn’t say this: “I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you…Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a biblical duty; we are called by God to conquer this country. We don’t want equal time. We don’t want pluralism.” That was the very holy Randall Terry, founder of “Operation Rescue,” speaking to a like-minded audience. Ward Churchill didn’t say this: “Racism isn’t holding blacks back, it’s their own laziness!” That was Bill Cosby (net worth: $540 million). And here’s one more thing Ward Churchill didn’t say: “Freedom of speech…just watch what you say.” That was Ice T (before he started playing a cop on network TV). One last note: The last time I checked, Ward Churchill’s most recent book, On the Justice of Roosting Chickens: Reflections on the Consequences of U.S. Imperial Arrogance and Criminality, is ranked #365 at Amazon…thus proving yet again that hate sells.

Mickey Z. can be found on the Web at www.mickeyz.net . If you buy his books, he’ll promise to hate you forever.