Barron: I'm Rubber and You're Glue
The Daily News is wise to point out that former Black Panther and City Councilman Charles Barron believes Thomas Jefferson was a "slave-owning pedophile," so his recent move to [restore a controversial City College sign honoring two fugitives], most notably Assata Shakur, a fellow Black Panther convicted of killing a cop and making terrorist bombs, is not surprising. What is, however, is that Barron has made the sign into an issue of free speech, claiming you can't determine who our heroines and heroes are going to be. You, of course, refers to The Man. Thats very true Barron, The Man cannot choose who we find admirable (no matter what the Prez thinks). But that doesnt discount ones responsibility to have good taste on such matters. The sign was first put up in 1990 but was recently removed on Dec. 13 after many suddenly become offended by the ode to two fugitives: Shakur and bomber Guillermo Morales. Morales built bombs for a Puerto Rican terrorist group and now lives in Cuba.
The Daily News reports:
School officials ordered the sign removed saying trustees never approved it. Students hit back by suing over the decision. Labeling them heroes and freedom fighters, Barron said he would return to City College if the sign is removed again. That shouldn't take long, CCNY officials said.
A wise man once said that whether youre with them or against them, youre letting them define who you are. Better to determine your own principles than to merely adopt those that are the opposite of your enemy's.