Monday, November 20, 2006

A Duke student misses

Duke senior Shadee Malaklou, a double major in women’s studies and cultural anthropology, has just published an op-ed in the Durham Herald Sun, “Lacrosse players far from innocent." (Her Nov. 19 op-ed is not yet online. I'll link when and if it becomes available. – JinC).

Malaklou begins:

Joseph B. Cheshire’s Nov. 11 angry words did not go unnoticed. For every smug remark by a smug, white attorney representing a smug, white lacrosse player, there is a woman cringing. This time that woman was me.

Not only was Cheshire’s guest column unprofessional, but it was also completely insensitive to the multitudes of women who have been victim, in one way or another, to the lacrosse players actions. […]
Folks, I hope you appreciate what you’ve just read. Look at all Ms. Malaklou did in two brief paragraphs.

She told readers she’s a victim (“woman cringing”) of an “angry …smug, white attorney representing a smug, white lacrosse player.” What's more Attorney Cheshire is “unprofessional (and) completely insensitive to ... multitudes of women.”

O horrors! Cheshire not only victimized Malaklou but he's also been insensitive to “multitudes of [other] women.”

Imagine that! Until now I’d thought the worst thing Cheshire did was wear a goatee.

If you read Cheshire’s Nov. 11 op-ed, you’re probably wondering how anyone could see what he said as “victimizing” a woman. “It’s just not there,” you say.

No it's not, but in the "PC world" it doesn't have to be. What matters is that you cast yourself as a victim and call whomever you disagree with a victimizer. Make charges; avoid facts. If the other person introduces facts, they're further victimizing you. Highlight that.

Remember, if you live in the “PC world" you are able to see things others don't see. Duke’s Professor Wahneema Lubiano, a signer of the "Group of 88’s" “listening” statement, explains :
” In everyday life, people are unable to easily see structural racism, sexism and class divisions.”
So, folks, we shouldn’t feel badly about not seeing what Lubiano and Malaklou see. We don't have the specialized training Duke’s faculty "Group of 88" provides its devoted students.

Malaklou goes on to say:
Much of the emphasis on this “innocence” has ignored the gender and racial prejudice of the March 13 party. If nothing else, Nifong is holding the lacrosse players accountable for that; and as a woman at Duke who knows just how much these men get away with, I’m thankful.
Let's wind it up here, folks.

Are there any of you “in everyday life” who can’t easily see in those two sentences Malaklou’s sexism, major factual error, smugness and her willingness to embrace a DA who will ignore innocence and act instead to satisfy her prejudices?

It's sad to think Malaklou is no doubt sincere and unaware of her actual thought processes and values.

Sadder still is the fact that many Duke faculty, such as the "Group of 88", will reinforce Malaklou instead of trying to educate her.

Liestoppers has an excellent, extensive post on Malaklou's op-ed.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

John,

I will make this real easy for your readers. In the "real world" of companies that generate a profit and pay taxes we hire folks who are bright, who can articulate themselves and who can get along with other employees. If I read this young lady's resume I would note that she graduated from Duke and was obviously bright. But if I looked at her chosen course of study and extracurriculars I would have to think what-the-F***! Anyone with her perspective, or should I say "attitude" would simply be an EEOC complaint waiting to happen. Better that she pursue a graduate degree in "women's studies" or law school than be unleashed on the real world.

Anonymous said...

So, this displays an unsurprising ignorance of the real world of what lawyers do and what the law is for.

Cheshire is doing his job - it's to defend his client. Two words honey: OJ.

Also, the law is not in place to punish inequality. That's what the Democrats are here to punish, er, tax us to death to do.

-AC

Anonymous said...

racism, sexism, and elitist bigotry are most definitely on display. I have seen not much to compare with the level of bigotry. And the Shadee lady is the one practicing it.

Anonymous said...

My hunch is that Shadee is black. Wow, just goes to show no matter how much affirmative action, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

WINDBAG

Anonymous said...

My father, uncles, brothers, husband and son are all, GASP, white males. None are particularly wealthy but live comfortable lives. Guess what, Shadee? They are to a man incredibly fine human beings for whom I hold the utmost respect and love. My hope has always been that my son follow in their footsteps as a man of integrity who cares about his fellow human beings.

I have no idea what "evils" have befallen you, but believe that you would be far better served dealing with them in a good therapist's office rather than by following the strange Women's Studies curriculum at Duke. I paid tuition there for more than one student but would have not parted with a dime for the tripe put forth by you and your department.

One of my daughters was wise enough at 14 to label a women's studies class required by her school as "Overthrow the Males 101". I hope you catch up to her.

tlxcross said...

OK! OK! Shadee. What do you want? More money. Perhaps more help in navigating that incredibly difficult course load in the Women's Studies curriculum? Did the University not accomodate sufficiently by making the courses easy for you? Come on now. Something has upset you. Is it that the nasty white man only let you into Duke ahead of more qualified candidates, but then didn't tell you that you had to actually study and become educated. OK, Sweetums. We'll talk to them about just printing up a diploma so that you can go get a job at a place that will also have to accomodate ignoramuses like you. A lot of competent people will have to work around you because you will be so incredibly inept, yes stupid. But that's okay, Shadee. Hush now. It's all better.

Anonymous said...

WINDBAG @ 9:21-
Your hunch is dead *wrong*
you can decide for yourself what THAT goes to show.

Anonymous said...

If only one of the Duke boys had asked her for a date.
The DNA does not lie - what is Is and what aint Aint.

tlxcross said...

Indeed, Windbag, you are not correct here. Shadee is of Arab descent. She is an anti-Semite, who makes her views clearly known. The destruction of Israel and Jews is even more important to her than the evisceration of innocent white males. But your point about affirmative action is no less valid. Shadee is a minority who obviously receives special treatment because of her status, not because of any superior qualities. I'm sure that at an institution like Duke, others are afraid to even question her values or motives for fear of being condemned as being politically incorrect. Shadee is simply a privileged little girl with no world experience. Perhaps if anyone has a spare coloring book and a box of Crayolas, we might be able to divert her attention long enough for her to reach maturity.

Anonymous said...

Are you saying Shadee lady is anti-Arab? After all, arabs are semites. Whereas, most Jews worldwide are not. Most are descendant from middle Europeans who converted to the religion of Judaism. It is much easier to change your religion than your geneaology. FYI.

I suspect she is a Jew-hater is what you meant to say. Yeah, I know anti-semitism is the term everybody uses. Just shows how ignorant haters are, doesn't it? All arabs are semites, a minority of Jews are today. The dumb bastards don't even know who they hate, just that they hate.

tlxcross said...

Straightbarrow,
Don't want to get in a p**sing contest with you, as I think we agree on this girl's substance. However, this is what I've gleened from a little research:

Semites are peoples who speak Semitic languages; the group includes Arabs, Aramaeans, Jews, and many Ethiopians. In a Biblical sense, Semites are peoples whose ancestry can be traced back to Shem, Noah's eldest son. The ancient Semitic populations were pastoral Nomads who several centuries before the Christian Era were migrating in large numbers from Arabia to Mesopotamia, the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, and the Nile River delta. Jews and other Semites settled in villages in Judea, southern Palestine.

Present day speakers of Semitic languages are as diverse in physical, psychological, cultural, and sociological characteristics as are speakers of Indo European languages. The most prominent Semites today are Arabs and Jews. They are different in many ways, and they have absorbed a variety of European traits through centuries of migration and trade. The origin of Semitic languages, however, and many similarities in the stories of Islam and Judaism reflect a common ancient history.

Anonymous said...

CORRECTIONS: Shadee is a fine PERSIAN woman, she is not an Arab. But, she is much braver than all of you, to speak up and stand up for what is RIGHT...
You people, all surprise me...and still call it democracy?!

Anonymous said...

tlxcross, we are not in disagreement. Most Jews today are descendants of Middle European lineage. As a racial subset, they are not really semites, being neither the genetic descendants of Ham or.....ah Hell, you know where I'm going.

I am not Jewish, but i will say that some of my favorite people are, and one I revere. None of my favorite people are Arab or Persian (Iranian), and I have known many of them.

tlxcross said...

So courageous? Give me a break! What is so courageous about a young woman in a comfortable, protected environment casting hateful messages against any target that happens to drift into her sights? Shadee attacks Christianity, Israel, men in general, and specifically the men's lacrosse team. What is courageous here? Her writings are simply the sad meanderings of a girl who needs attention. She states that she is a "radical". What has she done that is so radical? She has copied so many women who have gone before who have tried to shock us by using the word "vagina". Actually, she capitalizes it so I guess this is new. This is just another sad girl shouting out for help.
Let's have Shadee go to the home of her heritage, Iraq, or Iran, Sudan, Egypt, or any other Middle Eastern country and be "courageous". Now, that would indeed be a sign of incredible bravery. Of course, she wouldn't be around long as the only place, the only real democracy in the Middle East where she could speak freely is , well, the Jewish state which she so readily despises.

Anonymous said...

Aside form her intellectual shortcomings,someone might teach her some grammar."That woman was ME?"

Anonymous said...

Charming girl from a charming family. Her little brother (13-going-on-21, apparently) heads his myspace page with "Every girls a virgin till they f___ THIS Persian" and claims his hometown is the Vatican.

Sensitive tyke. Maybe he needs to go to Duke, take a workshop or two.

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