By Jonathan

May 12, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

It is somewhat revealing that all of the more recent stories/editorials on this issue, none allow readers to comment. Guess the AJC wanted to control the content, including w/ their biased 5/10/08 report on Justice Thomas' address (the AJC stumbles all over itself trying to insert negative, editorial statements in what purports to be a news story). Thomas is a class act, which is more than I can say for the academics that are so superficially committed to academic freedom and so easily threatened in their insular culture. The AJC could stand to develop some balance, as well.

By Kim Darnell

Apr 25, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

The opposition to Justice Thomas is absolutely absurd. Anita Hill's historic accusation, which Justice Thomas emphatically and categorically denied, was an obvious desperate, last ditch attempt to derail the appointment of a conservative african american to the supreme court. None of the charges she brought up were ever corroborated nor did anyone else step forward with similar charges. Hill's own past behaviour did not jive with her accusations. Now a sitting SC justice should not speak because 20 years ago baseless and unproven accusations were levied to try and personally destroy a man for purely political reasons?

Using his detractors arguments Justice Thomas should be welcomed more than ever at UGA. The witch hunt he was subjected to ignited the whole debate about sexual harrassment in this country and is why it was able to become the issue it did at UGA this past year.

By Sara Amis

Apr 25, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

It's very revealing that all the defense of Thomas as a choice amounts to 1) calling the people who object to it names, and 2) asserting that they wouldn't object if it were Clinton.

Really? You all are so smart you can READ THE MINDS of the people who are protesting the choice, and divine what they WOULD DO if someone else were asked?...someone who, conveniently enough, was not in fact invited to speak on campus this year. Thus making those airy assertions perfectly safe from any possible facts.

Those are some amazing psychic powers there. Y'all shouldn't be wasting your time making comments on the AJC website, you should be signing contracts to go on TV.

Maybe you should admit that the reason you're trotting out the same old, tired name-calling of "liberals" and "whiners" and stating your prejudices as if they were facts, is that that's the best you can do. In other words, when people rightly describe Clarence Thomas as an idiotic choice in light of what has been going on on campus this year...in response, you've got nothing.

I'm certainly in favor of free speech, but maybe when you've got nothing intelligent to say, you should refrain from saying it.

By PAT

Apr 24, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

My daughter is graduating next month from UGA, and I will have the privilege of hearing Justice Thomas. He has been an asset to the Supreme Court, IMHO. As the article states, the sexual harassment charges during the confirmation hearings were "accusations", not proven facts. As someone who followed the confirmation hearings, it was a definitely a political "high-tech lynching" by Teddy K. and his cronies.
The rationale used by some of some of the UGA profs is really streching it. PAT UGA, '71

By Cele in PTC

Apr 24, 2008 12:04 AM | Link to this

Donald's comments earlier are right on the mark - esp his comparison of the reactions to Justice Thomas' invite and those that would have likely occurred had Bill Clinton been given the nod.

Justice Thomas is an impressive man who succeeded despite seemingly insurmountable odds, yet he was vilified because he did not fit the mold of what a prominent black man should be.

I have been an unabashed admirer of Justice Thomas for years and wish I could be at UGA to cheer him on when he speaks - you Dawgs are very lucky!

By Taxpayer

Apr 23, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this

Janet Frick is just perpetuating the issues that dog faculty...that they are a bunch of liberals trying to brainwash their students. She might as well hand her paycheck over to David Horowitz. Thanks a lot for taking us back about 90 steps on that issue. Why did Frick waste her students' time and class time talking about this issue? Students are independent, free-thinking individuals who can read up on the Thomas-Hill hearings if they want to. Teach what you get paid to teach rather than imposing your political views on everyone else and getting the rest of the profession labeled as liberal in the process. Frick and Cuomo should be ashamed of themselves. How easy it is to be high and mighty when you have tenure.

By roswell dad

Apr 23, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this

What a fine man to speak at UGA'S graduation. Anyone who looks at Anita Hill's charges and the fact those only came when he was ready to be a justice on the Supreme Court sounded like she was looking to gain something from his audition for the Supreme Court. I graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1974, and would have enjoyed having Clarence Thomas to speak at our graduation. If you have a problem with the speaker, keep your liberal fanny at home....

By Big Rube

Apr 23, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

Right on to the real, and death to the fakers!

By mike

Apr 23, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this

Just like the P.C> establishment - charges were never proven, they are assumed to be correct, and a fine man is vilified. What happened to the principles of open-mindedness and free speech that universities used to be about.

By ReggieATL

Apr 23, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

As a UGA grad, let me say I am humbled that Supreme Court justice would speak at our Graduation. I hope my University has the dignity and class to welcome a native son with open arms. The dignity and class the Law School failed to show when Justice Thomas spoke at their graduation just a few years back. (I'll never forget the cabal of professor who refused to stand when he was announced. Truly embarrassing and classless.)

Justice Thomas' decision to speak to the Graduates should not be burdened with wholly unrelated sexual harassment charges that are currently at issue on campus. Large institutions are routinely the settings for sexual harassment claims. Regardless, when a Supreme Court Justice shows up to speak, you show him the dignity his position demands and not try and dovetail your institution's problems into a 15 year old scandal that was as flimsy then as it is now.