This going to far? Greek Professor, Detained Shackled & Asked if He is Anti American

[Phoenyx]

This going to far? Greek Professor, Detained Shackled & Asked if He is Anti American

Eugene Angelopoulos is a Professor at the National Technical University of Athens. New York University invited him to speak at a conference on Philosophy and Politics last week.

But when Professor Angelopoulos arrived at John F. Kennedy airport, he was detained, shackled, and asked if he is anti-American and whether he opposes the war against Iraq.

Eugene Angelopoulos, Professor, National Technical University of Athens. Professor Angelopoulos agreed to the FBI's request for a second interview on condition it be held on what he considered neutral ground, at New York University. When he returned to his hotel after leaving the Democracy Now! studios, he found a phone message from the FBI asking him to instead come to the New York Field Office so that they could have an "uninterrupted conversation." He respectfully declined their request.

Eugene Angelopoulos, Professor, National Technical University of Athens, speaking outside the Greek Consulate. Professor Angelopoulos addressed the Philosophy as Politics conference at NYU on Feb. 15. He opened his address with these remarks:
"Many centuries have gone by from the time when Athens was the leading democracy of the world. Being the cradle of democracy and philosophy did not prevent Athens to declare war and slaughter the citizens of Milos for the declared reasons, 'If you are not with us, you are against us and we must make an example,' as reported by Thucydides - an Athenian man.
"Today US troops are preparing to invade Iraq while lots of US citizens demonstrate their opposition to war. Today the leading democracy of the world is the United States. Contradiction is inherent to democracy and every time, one term of the contradiction prevails. I don't know if this is a fight between good and evil: this is for this assembly of philosophers to debate. But it is good for the world to know that America has many choices
and voices, and not only the one of her president. Hope is not dead, and I am sure this conference will help keep hope alive."

Professor Angelopoulos caught the last flight out on Sunday night, just before the snowstorm shut down Kennedy airport. He is spending a week in Paris, France, where he hopes to find a little peace.
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And Shit like this is starting to happen in Canada..

 

[Don K Dyck]

Democracy Rulz, OK!!

. . . and if you post articles on Lit which provide alternative information to the Dubyah Shrub propaganda machine about the U$-Iraq Imperialist War for Control of Undeveloped Middle East Oil Reserves, then they toss you in the darkest dungeon and throw away the key . . .

guess all us anti-war people will just have to re-schedule our visit to the U$ until after the Redneck Republican xenophobic AmeriKKKans have been removed from office in 2004 . . .

Just think . . . an INVITED guest . . . thrown into jail . . . for being SUSPECTED of having an opinion . . . different from the CIA . . .

Xenophobia is the new growth industry in AmeriKKKa!!

 

[RosevilleCAguy]

Re: Democracy Rulz, OK!!

. . . and if you post articles on Lit which provide alternative information to the Dubyah Shrub propaganda machine about the U$-Iraq Imperialist War for Control of Undeveloped Middle East Oil Reserves, then they toss you in the darkest dungeon and throw away the key . . .

guess all us anti-war people will just have to re-schedule our visit to the U$ until after the Redneck Republican xenophobic AmeriKKKans have been removed from office in 2004 . . .

Just think . . . an INVITED guest . . . thrown into jail . . . for being SUSPECTED of having an opinion . . . different from the CIA . . .

Xenophobia is the new growth industry in AmeriKKKa!!

And your point is?

 

[sexy-girl]

its really getting scary i mean if this happened in uk it would be a huge media story (at least i hope it would be)

but as the thread i posted on CNN its not like you can trust the US media to even deliver a complete transcript or show the correct footage from the peace marches

 

[RosevilleCAguy]

its really getting scary i mean if this happened in uk it would be a huge media story (at least i hope it would be)

but as the thread i posted on CNN its not like you can trust the US media to even deliver a complete transcript or show the correct footage from the peace marches

Definitely. I missed all the parts where the peace marchers blamed Iraq for any of what is going on.

 

[sufisaint]

Shackled???? Doubt it....detained and interviewed more like it and unless your an american citizen...you have no rights here just priviledges...

 

[Guest]

unless your an american citizen...you have no rights here just priviledges...

DAMN STRAIGHT!
btw, Don k, are you really that oblivious to reality?
xenophobic Amerikkkans? get a clue.

 

[Comshaw]

posted by sufisaint

Shackled???? Doubt it....detained and interviewed more like it and unless your an american citizen...you have no rights here just priviledges...

The problem with that sweet cheeks is that under the home land security act you as an American citizen don't have those rights either. Read up on it. They can hold ANYONE for up to a year with out charging them, with out telling them what they are being accused of or even telling anyone where that person is, all under the guise of security. Shades of the old USSR!

Who ever it was that said,"I love my country, but I fear my government." had it right. Some of the things being done today scare me spitless.

Comshaw

 

[Ms_Lilith]

Fuck yeah! I'm so proud of that man!


Sorry, I just spent 3 hours immersed in my Greek courses....


What a great comment he made about the choices and voices.

 

[sufisaint]

The problem with that sweet cheeks is that under the home land security act you as an American citizen don't have those rights either. Read up on it. They can hold ANYONE for up to a year with out charging them, with out telling them what they are being accused of or even telling anyone where that person is, all under the guise of security. Shades of the old USSR!

Who ever it was that said,"I love my country, but I fear my government." had it right. Some of the things being done today scare me spitless.

Comshaw

I trust no government...and i am not happy about most of the new laws however this country cannot afford to have open borders anymore...When I travel abroad..I rspect the laws of the country I am in and don't bitch about being asked questions...

 

[Lancecastor]

The USA is a lie.

 

[Bogey77]

The USA is a lie.

I thought it was and acronym for the United States of America.

hmm

 

[Guest]

When I travel abroad..I rspect the laws of the country I am in and don't bitch about being asked questions...

thats the way it should be. Maybe the problem with this country is that we allow too much freedom?

 

[roxanne69]

To play devil's advocate here, if he had been an Arab or Muslim, everyone would be crying "racial profiling". North America is in a high alert situation. Stuff like that is going to happen. Personally, if it was me, I wouldn't care if they stopped me and interrogated me. I have nothing to hide.

 

[Gil_Favor]

Definitely. I missed all the parts where the peace marchers blamed Iraq for any of what is going on.

I missed that one also................

 

[Guest]

To play devil's advocate here, if he had been an Arab or Muslim, everyone would be crying "racial profiling". North America is in a high alert situation. Stuff like that is going to happen. Personally, if it was me, I wouldn't care if they stopped me and interrogated me. I have nothing to hide.

Rox, take your common sense elsewhere j/k

 

[The Heretic]

Shackled???? Doubt it....detained and interviewed more like it and unless your an american citizen...you have no rights here just priviledges...

Really? Where does it say that in the Declaration of Independence?

"WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great- Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World."

Just where in the above paragraph do you see it saying anything supporting the assertion that only citizens have rights. What part of "all men" and unalienable do you not understand??

This country was founded on the principles elucidated above - that all men (all humans) have unalienable rights, that these are natural rights, that therefore governments can't take those rights away or give them back. They don't stop when you step across a national boundary, and they are not granted by citizenship. Citizenship is something you are granted, either by birthright or by permission - rights aren't granted, they exist by our very nature.

Rights aren't just pulled out of thin air and granted or taken away by government, they are part of our very nature. We as humans temporarily grant certain rights to governments, not the other way around.

It is no wonder to me that our country is so fucking messed up with so few people able to understand such a fundamental principle that is the foundation of our country.

 

[sufisaint]

thats the way it should be. Maybe the problem with this country is that we allow too much freedom?

Well if the american public would wake up and vote libertarian...we would have more freedom...instead we get status quo rich rebublicans and two faced lying democrats...

 

[Don K Dyck]

I have nothing to hide.

. . . and you do it very well, my dear . . .

Good point, Heretic . . .

 

[roxanne69]

. . . and you do it very well, my dear . . .

Good point, Heretic . . .

I love it when you agree with me

 

[sufisaint]

Really? Where does it say that in the Declaration of Independence?

"WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great- Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World."

Just where in the above paragraph do you see it saying anything supporting the assertion that only citizens have rights. What part of "all men" and unalienable do you not understand??

This country was founded on the principles elucidated above - that all men (all humans) have unalienable rights, that these are natural rights, that therefore governments can't take those rights away or give them back. They don't stop when you step across a national boundary, and they are not granted by citizenship. Citizenship is something you are granted, either by birthright or by permission - rights aren't granted, they exist by our very nature.

Rights aren't just pulled out of thin air and granted or taken away by government, they are part of our very nature. We as humans temporarily grant certain rights to governments, not the other way around.

It is no wonder to me that our country is so fucking messed up with so few people able to understand such a fundamental principle that is the foundation of our country.

There is a historical context to those words which of course does not live up to these noble principles..."all men" meant land owning emancipated white males... all things are in context. I do believe that those are "human rights", however all rights have costs...if you want freedom..you have to fight for it and protect it..if the rest of he world wants and fight for it, like my ancestors did and died doing so...don't come here and demand what you do not have the balls to have in your own country...ever person has the right to defend themselves against aggressors...freedom is dangerous..it a balancing act..its unknown possibility...it not some eutopic peace filled world...it will never happen...you find peace within yourself and you fight bravely for your own liberation..its not the governments right. Th founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson was not a pacifist..

 

[Don K Dyck]

Well if the american public would wake up and vote libertarian...we would have more freedom...instead we get status quo rich rebublicans and two faced lying democrats...

Yea, sufisaint . . . there is too much freedom in America . . . that's why Dubyah Shrub forced the misnamed Patriot Act and Home Defense Act through Congress . . . to take away all those freedoms which you crow about . . . and no longer have . . .

Yep . . . AmeriKKKa should follow the best principles of freedom and have everybody riding Harleys . . . gotta keep the money in the U$ . . . dressed in black t-shirts and black jeans . . . and read the Little Red Book . . . (Ooops!! sorry . . . the Little Red Book was the Cultural Revolution under Mao in China, not the Fundamentalist Christian Crusade against Saladin Hussein under Dubyah Shrub . . . wrong oppressive regime . . . )

Lance is correct . . . the U$A is a lie . . . about many things in America . . .

<psst!! SS!! . . . sufis are religious persons in the Middle East . . . just in case you want to change your nic for "security reasons" . . . >

 

[sufisaint]

Yea, sufisaint . . . there is too much freedom in America . . . that's why Dubyah Shrub forced the misnamed Patriot Act and Home Defense Act through Congress . . . to take away all those freedoms which you crow about . . . and no longer have . . .

Yep . . . AmeriKKKa should follow the best principles of freedom and have everybody riding Harleys . . . gotta keep the money in the U$ . . . dressed in black t-shirts and black jeans . . . and read the Little Red Book . . . (Ooops!! sorry . . . the Little Red Book was the Cultural Revolution under Mao in China, not the Fundamentalist Christian Crusade against Saladin Hussein under Dubyah Shrub . . . wrong oppressive regime . . . )

Lance is correct . . . the U$A is a lie . . . about many things in America . . .

<psst!! SS!! . . . sufis are religious persons in the Middle East . . . just in case you want to change your nic for "security reasons" . . . >

First off...what do you know about america besides what you read in the media???? Have you worked on Wall street? have you lived in the affluent suburbs, have you lived in a small rural town, have you lived in an urban combat zone, did you go to law school, did you work as public defender, as a criminal defense attorney, did you work for three of the largest corporation in the world? You know nothing except all I see in you is a twisted hate that comes from envy???

As for Sufism??? You know nothing as well...yes some consider me a muslim, and would call me a friend and other muslims would kill me as heretic for my beliefs... All I know is that my beliefs have come from alife long pursuit of devotion...how about you??

 

[Worm]

You got a link for this article?

 

[Phoenyx]

You got a link for this article?

http://www.webactive.com/pacifica/demnow/dn20030218.html