Deconstructing Sami

Lance Goldenberg,
Weekly Planet Film Critic
It’s unclear at this point if the Sami Al-Arian incident is more tragedy or fiasco, but I suspect it may be a little of both. The scariest thing in all of this may be those voices among us who admit to the possibility of the man’s guilt but seek somehow to excuse it in terms of some “just cause” that fueled his actions.

Al-Arian is a Palestinian, and Palestinians have been given a raw deal. Agreed.

What is obscene is to suggest this in some way “justifies” a decision to cozy up to Palestinian terrorists responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of innocent civilians, including American teenagers.

I have read the indictment, something I fear that far too few of us have done. It is thorough and it is damning, and if even a fraction of it is true, Al-Arian has been lying to us for years. Al-Arian’s supporters appear far more concerned with damage control than getting to the bottom of things.

In Tampa Bay, as elsewhere, the Arab Muslim community appears to be in denial about the whole thing, casting blame everywhere but within and lapping up Al-Arian’s absurd comparisons of himself to Jesus and Patrick Henry. This kind of continued evasiveness and self-deception does not bode well for any of us. Al-Arian has played the media like a champ. We are all his suckers, and this paper goes right to the top of that list. Al-Arian has successfully molded himself as a poster boy for the disenfranchised, for civil rights and academic freedom, even as he secretly made life easier for monsters who drove rusty nails through the soft skulls of Israeli babies.

Even if Al-Arian is not convicted in a court of law, he remains morally guilty. That is the bottom line. There is blood on his hands, and on the hands of every one of us who explicitly or implicitly condones his actions.

Maura Barrios
Weekly Planet “Best of the Bay”
best community activist (2000)
The Al-Arian case has had a profound effect in my world because I live in Tampa and work at the University of South Florida. I’ve found it a positive in terms of the issue of Palestine/Israel getting attention. However, the attention was always slanted, as it tends to be in the U.S. media.

I work for the folks in international affairs at USF. I really respected the group of academics and students who wanted to study the Mid East — before it blew up in our face. I want this scholarly study to continue. I never felt frightened by Sami Al-Arian’s presence on this campus. I think that was created drama or fiction. I’ve been around him. There was no fear factor because of his presence here. I’ve been more outraged and perplexed by the university’s behavior.

I have been very interested in the faculty’s response because I do believe there is a risk for all of us who work in the academic environment — and all of us who have alternative viewpoints. I could understand why the faculty felt insecure, silenced and at risk. To me, the most outrageous and frightening part of all this is that people on campus became silent. The insecurity here is a terrible price to pay.

I’m curious as to why the university took a position before law enforcement did. Then we found out about allegations of things that took place in the past. I’m wondering why, if this was such a danger to our community, why did it take law enforcement so long? They had that information back in ’95.

With regard to the press coverage of Al-Arian, I have a bias that I need to put out there. Having grown up in Tampa in the Latino community, we have a negative bias against The Tampa Tribune. That’s been present for generations. So many of us tend to read the St. Petersburg Times. Because I’m an activist and more liberal, I have been pleased with the Weekly Planet doing analysis of the issue that’s been needed. I wish that all of the (newspapers) would cover more of the climate change in the community that this case has caused. Especially for academics. I don’t think our folks downtown — outside the university — understand how bad this is.

Askia Muhammad Aquil
Member of Muslim Community; former head of Believer's Mosque in St. Petersburg; activist in African-American community
Except for a small, visible, and vocal sector of the community, whether religious, ethnic or political, the majority of people I find are either neutral or apathetic. I’m not sure how to take that except it’s always disappointing to me that people don’t feel moved to take a position on any major issue. And I think this is a major issue.

The over-arching political question is whether or not our country really stands on the side of freedom, justice and equality for everybody, particularly oppressed people whose freedoms are denied. The indication is that we give lip service to it. If you look at the pattern over history, when Third World parties were fighting for independence, such as the fight against South African apartheid, our country was siding with the status quo or the people not seeking freedom. Now the blind eye we’re turning is toward the Palestinian cause, which Sami Al-Arian represents, whether or not you agree with his methods.

Someone wrote a letter to the editor of one of the papers. They said, “In your editorial, you said that even though in America everyone is presumed not guilty, you say that (Al-Arian) must be guilty because of all the charges.” I think that summarizes the coverage. It vacillated back and forth in trying to portray that there are some people who think he should not be arrested, or he’s not a terrorist or what he did should not be held against him in context of the suffering of the Palestinian people. But he is being tried in the court of public opinion by the media. By the time he gets to the courtroom, it really won’t matter.

I’ve known Sami for years. I’ve prayed in their mosque and I’ve led prayers there. It saddens me to see what’s happened to (the members of the mosque) and their families. Is it justice? Only time will tell. It concerns me that there are things our government does in the (pursuit) of justice that in time we may not be so proud of.

Bruce A. Epstein, M.D.
Retired St. Petersburg pediatrician
Before 9/11, it was frustrating, as a Jewish-American, to think that a non-citizen could freely call for my death and for the death of my relatives and friends living in Israel, and continue to raise money for terrorist activities directed against the Jewish State. He had every right as a citizen of the world to promote the Palestinian cause just as I do in promoting Israel’s position. However, I do not call for the death of one Palestinian nor do I raise money to fund terrorist activities directed against the Palestinians.

His recent arrest is a mixed blessing for law-abiding citizens. On the one hand, the wheels of justice turn very slowly in the United States. This issue was first raised years ago and it has taken a long time for the government to finally present its case. On the other hand, our system of justice is still the finest in the world and indictments and/or arrests are not made on the flimsiest of evidence.

I do not feel that Sami Al-Arian’s political opinions should enter into the criminality of his conduct. When someone yells “fire” in a theater, it does not matter what his motives are — these actions are wrong and must be condemned. Sami Al-Arian raised money to fund terrorists and murderers, and it does not (matter) who the terrorist activities were directed against.

It has been apparent to me since the onset of this issue that The Tampa Tribune has felt that there was a problem with Sami Al-Arian and has done much to expose his anti-American activities. On the other hand, the St. Petersburg Times has been very sympathetic to Al-Arian’s plight, often defending him in the court of public opinion. I do not know of a third newspaper in the area. (Editor’s note: Ouch.)

David Caton
Executive Director, Florida Family Association, Tampa
Our concern is that our government went beyond the due process that was deserved. If Al-Arian had been a Christian doctor who was pro-life and advocated Operation Rescue-style civil disobedience, he would have been fired without the extended due process given Al-Arian.

The FBI, in enforcing the Patriot Act, will likely succeed in protecting Americans from terrorists on our own soil. The Patriot Act has safeguards of judicial overview, and the degree to which (the government) can investigate somebody is not based on someone’s domestic political views. It’s very clear (that the act is directed at) those offenders — terrorists — who are focused on hurting America. I don’t even know that, realistically speaking, the Patriot Act would pass the purview to allow them to pursue animal activists blowing up meat factories. Pro-life activists, there are a few that go off the deep end and kill doctors. But most of them just want to hold up signs in a right-of-way.

There should be a loyalty question asked of all civil servants. I think Al-Arian was an uncivil servant. I think the question needs to be asked of anybody who receives money from the government, a loyalty oath to uphold and preserve the Constitution of the United States. And with that comes the penalty of losing your job. We’re the United States of America. We’re not the United States of the World. We’re a sovereign nation and there needs to be some loyalty to the country.

I can’t say that I read the Planet. I don’t see it in a lot of New Tampa restaurants. I really liked The Tampa Tribune coverage of Al-Arian. Normally that’s not the case; I enjoy the St. Petersburg Times coverage (of news) because they seem more thorough. But I preferred the coverage in the Tribune because they had more information and the reporting was slanted toward a pro-patriot opinion. The Times was more liberal, (implying) everybody should be able to do what they want.

Wayne Genthner
Independent citizen activist; ran for Congress in District 13, losing to Kathryn Harris; charterboat captain, Sarasota
I’m a Green. And a Conservative. I’ve been watching this as to whether he’ll be given due process. There has been a lot of public interest in this case; a lot of it negative. (Al-Arian) is being partially convicted in the press on something for which we have some proof, but not a lot. I want to make sure he gets a fair day in court. He needs to be given all the information the government has about him; I’m afraid he may not actually get access to it. What happens to him may happen to us.

I think his arrest was timed, politically, to create an awareness that there are Islamic operatives in the community. This could have been done months ago or months in the future. But because we’re getting ready to make war in Iraq, this plays into government efforts to create fear and loathing.

I think that Ashcroft sort of co-opted this idea and praised the Patriotic Act for letting (evidence) be collected and this case created when, actually, most of the case against Al-Arian was done with the RICO Act. I see this as a marketing campaign for the Patriot Act: Scare people about Muslims and create consent to let people’s civil liberties be dissipated through the Patriot Act. I don’t think politics should have anything to do with what happens in the court of law. Whether he advocates for a Palestinian state has nothing to do with this case. If the system works and there is evidence, them I’m going to be really upset with him. I’ve always felt sympathy for the cause. I always thought the Palestinians were doing this for the good of Israel and Palestine. They have so much to offer each other, 6,000 years of civilization. You’d think there would be more common ground.

A lot of people look at him as this Palestinian guy trying to work for his nation, get security for his family. I’ll be upset (if the evidence proves him guilty). It’s going to set back the issue and the people doing legitimate, charitable work.

Wayne Garcia
Partner in Garcia, Mackin & Associates, political consultants, Tampa
The controversy affected the political community before it really came to a head as a legal issue. You saw a lot of politicians gathering around (USF President) Judy Genshaft, supporting her. (Florida university) boards of trustees are more political, on a local level, than they used to be. If (politicians) spoke out at all, they spoke out in favor of suspension. I didn’t see anybody in the mainstream political process, of any power, standing next to Al-Arian.

I think (the indictment) put the nail in the coffin of any opportunity he had to sway political opinion and the judicial process. It vindicated Judy Genshaft and the USF board. People could stand up and feel there was a lot of cover to say, “This guy was a bad guy and they finally got him.”

I’m sure some of his defense will be that he’s a political prisoner. But I don’t see that catching fire. The indictment is so voluminous and comprehensive that even his strongest supporters have had to acknowledge that at the least he was less than forthcoming about his organization and that he misled them. I think the political process will be glad to wash its hands of him.

There was a great deal of robust coverage. All the newspapers did a lot on this. They all came at it from a different angle. This is not one of those cases where the sky is blue and the trees are green. This is a complex case. With their individual biases, I thought the coverage was appropriate. You had a wide, varied scope. From the Tribune, there was strident coverage of someone they believed was a terrorist. The Planet stressed defense of his civil rights. And the St. Petersburg Times was more down the middle with coverage that focused on criticism of USF’s handling of Al-Arian. One reading all of that would get the full spectrum of beliefs: the Tribune hates Sami; the Planet loves Sami; the Times hates USF. No one paper did it all.

Mohammad H. Sultan
Director, Islamic Society of Tampa Bay
Fear. Muslims have now been targeted in everything they do. They’ve been targeted because they are Muslims. I think people are very cautious about talking to the media, talking in public, talking on the phone. Very cautious. You can’t even trust the walls around you any more.

One has to be careful about his activities and what he is doing. You have to be careful about what you do in public. What you say, what you do.

The mood right now — the problem is the media, as far as Muslims are concerned. It is either you are with the media or you are not. It is better to be quiet. Opening your mouth might get you in trouble. Simple as that.

(The media) are biased. Going to court, you’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. But every Muslim is guilty until he goes to court. I’m not defending (Al-Arian). But reading the newspapers, the impression you get is it’s a crime to be associated with Muslims. We shouldn’t trust them. The coverage is biased, not neutral. We get that impression from radio and television as well as newspapers.

I’m giving you an interview, violating my own (personal) laws. We got frustrated because the media came here and twisted our words and what we said. We adopted a policy not to give any interviews to the newspapers. It’s not just frustrating. It is unfortunate.

Linda F. Beekman
Founder, The Sarajevo Project; Author, WarCake (http://www.warcake.com), Clearwater
I just graduated from USF. I think (the Al-Arian case) made some professors uneasy about what they can do in the classroom. I think it’s intimidated some professors. It set the community at odds with itself.

I think the government is really eager to find people responsible for terrorist acts. Sort of like how, a few days after 9/11, they arrested so many people at airports. People then were victims of circumstances; they weren’t terrorists. (Al-Arian has) been arrested. He lost his job. We need to know if he’s guilty or not. If he’s not guilty, he needs to be set free. I think it is political. The government is eager to find some terrorists so they’ll feel better. If they have something on him, they need to prove it in court and not just hold him for years without specific charges. And not just for him. Right now, any of us could be arrested if we said the wrong thing that made us look like we were doing something to help terrorists. It’s a really dangerous situation for our civil rights.

I think he’s guilty of being a Palestinian, of supporting his people, and maybe at times of saying things that were dangerous to say. If anything, I think he’s guilty of that. I don’t think he’s a terrorist. I had a professor at USF who was a Palestinian from Jordan. He was pretty angry. It doesn’t mean he wants to blow something up.

Samar Jarrah
Public speaker; former journalist with Jordan Television (JTV), Port Charlotte
(The Al-Arian case) makes us feel that we are suspicious simply because of who we are, not necessarily because of what we do. I am Palestinan, Muslim and Arab. And if a person is guilty before proven innocent, then any Palestinian, Arab or Muslim is a target. And if everything against you is secret, how do you know what is guilty and what is not?

This incident should not scare people from participating in public life. We have in our area people still speaking out. In Tampa they may be more afraid or hesitant because the whole thing happened in Tampa. But elsewhere in Florida and in the U.S., Muslims are not hiding. We’re speaking out and exercising our rights as citizens.

I was curious how the media were there (when Al-Arian was arrested). It was supposed to be a secret, based on secret evidence. Who took the media there? I hope it was a public relations ploy by the government.

I cannot say whether he is innocent or guilty. There is no way for me as an individual not privy to secret evidence (to decide), but I thought we believed we lived in a country where a person is innocent until proven guilty. Obviously, this case shows the opposite.

The newspapers seem like they are (run by) government people. They remind me of when I lived in Third World countries. They take the government’s view rather than the other party’s or independent point of view. You always hear the official version and maybe a line or two from the other side.

Phil Alessi
CEO, Alessi Bakeries, Tampa
Looking at television and some of the players I know at the university (who are) making judgment calls, I think they’re right on target. I don’t think we need someone of (Al-Arian’s) status involved in the university.

All the things they’ve been saying about him for years have been right on target. When they came out and charged him, I don’t think it was speculation anymore. Until they charged him, a lot was speculation and up in the air. Now a lot of people are convinced (he) was a terrorist, based on the charges against him.

I don’t think politics is the question; I think the facts speak for themselves. If he’s funneling funds to terrorists, he should pay the price. That goes against the grain of every citizen in this country. We don’t put up with people who are inviting or underwriting terrorism. I think everybody is fearful of that today. I think everybody is pretty angry about that. You’ll find fanatics who go along with him, but they’re fanatics. I don’t think the government would fabricate anything like that for political reasons.

I think the (newspapers were) a little standoffish in trying to find the truth. But since he’s been charged, they’re all gung-ho, bringing things out that they were skeptical of before. Now that the government has come out with facts about laundering money and getting it back to terrorists, I don’t think they’re falsely accusing him without ways of backing that up.

Omali Yeshitela
Chairman of the African People’s Socialist Party, St. Petersburg
The indictment and arrest of Al-Arian had a serious impact on the political community that I’m associated with. It addresses the question of self-determination for African people and other oppressed people around the world. I think Al-Arian has been indicted and arrested because of his alleged affiliation with Palestinian self-determination. It has a chilling effect. (U.S. Attorney General John) Ashcroft or anyone can determine that a legitimate struggle for self-determination, any place in the world, is being waged by people (the government) considers terrorists and, by extension, anyone associated with that struggle can therefore be characterized as a terrorist. The U.S. and the entire current world order, which is based on a history of colonial domination and enrichment, is in a severe state of crisis (because) it cannot tolerate self-determination by colonial peoples.

I think the profound political question raised is the legitimacy of an indictment by a (world) power whose wealth and power are based on the expropriation of (other people’s resources). There is a serious question here when a great power can make an indictment like this of somebody struggling against conditions that impoverish and brutalize them, while at the same time enriching the power that’s doing the indicting. That’s the real serious issue that we’re confronted with. It’s the same thing as in a country where people with power were slave owners. They made slavery legal and made criminal anyone who struggled against slavery.

In general I thought that the media conceded to the U.S. and Ashcroft the right to criminalize behavior in the struggle for national liberation. That concession by all the media means Al-Arian is in a no-win situation. There is no way he can come out. He either disdains or is non-responsive to the condition of the oppressions of his own people or he is a terrorist by extension. The media accepting the legitimacy of the indictment doomed him.

Grissim Walker
Attorney, Sarasota
Obviously, from a lot of people, the reaction to the recent indictment was along the lines of “it’s about time.”

But amongst those who had previously been critical of the University of South Florida’s handling of the matter, the recent developments have revealed some tensions amongst people who might be considered Al-Arian supporters in some sense.

There are those who make a clear separation between the due process and academic freedom considerations and the substantial question of whether he is guilty of something. For them, it’s relatively easy to move from the questions of tenure and employment policy to the questions of whether any evidence was obtained illegally, and whether it is appropriate to use RICO to bring in evidence of participation in an organization that was “legal” prior to 1997. Or whether it is even appropriate to make it illegal to provide material support or resources to an organization, rather than to require proof of more direct involvement in the alleged illegal acts of the organization.

I haven’t read the entire indictment, but it certainly seems that the government is prepared to produce evidence that Dr. Al-Arian went beyond fiery rhetoric and took concrete actions to aid and abet the mission of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and that mission did include the use of violent tactics in Israel. And that is troubling. While I would place myself in the camp of those who are mostly interested in whether or not Al-Arian receives due process, you can’t help but hope that someone whom you’re supporting with regard to one issue or matter on principle is somehow “worthy” in some broader sense.

I also take from it that the RICO laws are a very, very powerful tool in the hands of prosecutors, and therefore, also very dangerous.

It seems clear that Al-Arian and (his local organizations) did have some functions and activities that were distinct from the alleged provision of material support and resources to a campaign of murder and bombings in Israel. To the extent that the indictment makes reference to “advocating orally and in writing death to Israel and its supporters” it would seem to be overbroad, and seeks to criminalize political speech.

Merle F. Allshouse
Director of Academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College (ASPEC) from 1994 to 2003; Former president, Bloomfield College, NJ; St. Petersburg
The academic community, nationally, is cautious, but leans toward seeing (Al-Arian) as a classic case of lack of due process and an abrogation of tenure rights of faculty, without knowing the details.

The general community does not understand the differences between “academic freedom” and “freedom of speech.” People not connected with the traditions of higher education are eager to criticize the USF administration for not dismissing Al-Arian sooner.

Genuine academic freedom is more precious, although less understood than ever, both within and without of the academic community. Speaking freely is not necessarily academic freedom. But speaking clearly and honestly from within one’s own academic discipline may take more courage than ever before. We see little exercise of real academic freedom from within the academy. There is much smoke, but very little fire.

Politics is far too involved in the governance of higher education in Florida. The governor has failed to take seriously the will of the electorate, and our individual institutions are being increasingly managed by boards that reflect political ideologies rather than educational missions. The institutional presidents are laboring under the pressures of governance ambiguities and the quality of education will suffer in the long run, as will the state.

The implications of Patriot Acts I and impending II are serious. Information gleaned from secret surveillance, for reasons of suspicion, can now lead to indictment, prosecution and potential conviction for guilt by association. The power of the media and public opinion can provide a momentum for the restrictions of basic freedoms when a national atmosphere of fear is created Unfortunately (Al-Arian’s arrest) only serves to further polarize the pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian factions locally.

There is no way, in principle, that any of the regional commercial newspapers, given their demographics and space limitations, could adequately deal with the complexities of this issue. Perhaps the most useful service for print media would be to direct readers to Web-based resources where primary documents can be secured and to insist we all understand that one is innocent until proven guilty. It is an old tradition in Roman law.

Rev. Nina Burwell
Member, Gulf Coast Coalition for Peace and Justice, Sarasota
I conduct public Islamic forums where we go to different organizations and churches. I feel a division occurring between the Jewish and Muslim community, which is one of the things we’ve been trying to resolve since starting these forums after 9/11. One of the early ones I held was at a Jewish community center. People were flowing out the door. It has not been like that here since. I have a problem with the whole situation, quite frankly. (Al-Arian’s case) is just in the forefront right now. People that tend to be classified as looking and sounding like the “enemy,” through American history, people who are easily identifiable, seem to (always) be the target of people doing things in the name of patriotism.

We did that to the Japanese. And people forget what a terrible thing that is. Who is an American? What does an American look like? We haven’t learned from our mistakes in the past. A high profile case fans the fire of revenge. I feel there is revenge in (the Al-Arian case) for 9/11.

Everything that’s going on here right now has to do with politics, power, control, money and ego. There is nothing that has anything to do with a humanitarian interest. If (the U.S. government) wants to politically justify to people what it does here or abroad, what better way to do it than in a high profile case that will enflame people?

This war (with Iraq) will cost $100-billion. How many millions of children here don’t have health care or live in dilapidated conditions? But you want to spend it to go kill people in the name of liberation and democracy? There was nothing in 2001 that the U.S. could have asked for (from the world) and not gotten. We had the sympathy of the entire world. But a year and a half later, we are the most hated country in the world.

I think that the American people need access to both points of view, in the U.S. and outside the U.S., for us to be an informed society and draw our own conclusions instead of what policymakers want us to conclude. And that goes for both sides.

Bob Andelman is a freelance writer living in St. Petersburg. Staff writer Natasha Del Toro contributed to this report.