Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has joined 103 of his House colleagues in
calling for the immediate firing of a Columbia University professor
who criticized U.S. forces in Iraq.
Nicholas De Genova, an assistant professor of anthropology at the
university, ripped U.S. forces at an antiwar rally, calling for an
American defeat in Iraq. De Genova called for "a million Mogadishus,"
a reference to the 1993 ambush that resulted in the deaths of 18
American servicemen.
"The only true heroes are those who find ways that help defeat the
U.S. military," De Genova is reported to have said. His remarks first
appeared in Newsday.
Surf City's congressman signed his name to an April 4 letter the
lawmakers sent to Columbia's president, Lee Bollinger.
During an April 9 interview, Rohrabacher called De Genova's
comments "crazy enough, malicious enough" to trigger the strongly
worded letter and call for the professor's job.
"Columbia University is a private university, so it was a
suggestion, not a mandate," Rohrabacher said. "We're not advocating
that he be thrown in prison for saying what he said. ... It's just a
kook spouting off."
On Friday, Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) wrote a letter to
Bollinger. In it, Hayworth called De Genova's comments "racist,
hateful, seditious words."
Rohrabacher signed his name to the letter, which called for the
professor's immediate dismissal from Columbia.
University officials have said the remarks "properly invite anger
and sharp rebuke," but that De Genova should not be censored.
In other news, Rohrabacher, on April 2, successfully introduced an
amendment to a House energy proposal to include scholarships for
Americans who pursue graduate and undergraduate degrees in the
sciences.
The amendment to House Resolution 238 would encourage graduates
with scientific and technical expertise to seek employment with the
Department of Energy.
"There's a high level of retirement with very little supply going
in to replace it," said Aaron Lewis, the congressman's press deputy.
-- Paul Clinton
Equestrian center raises $2,100 for riding center
Riders wheeled their horses around a course of barrels in the
barrel race and tried to stay steady while holding water balloons,
balancing eggs on spoons and sitting on dollar bills.
These were some of the events at a competition to raise money for
the Therapeutic Riding Center, a riding program for physically and
mentally challenged riders.
The Spring Fling Gymkhana, held at the Huntington Beach Equestrian
