Sandy Hook community leader rips Florida professor who doubted massacre

Sandy Hook community leader rips Florida professor who doubted massacre

www.foxnews.com

A Florida college professor who blogged that the Sandy Hook school massacre may have been staged — or didn't happen at all — is an "embarrassment" who should be fired from the public university where he teaches, said the top official in the grief-stricken Connecticut town where 20 children and six adults were gunned down last month.

James Tracy, an associate professor of media history at Florida Atlantic University, made the bizarre claims in a series of posts on his personal blog, memoryholeb

(visit the link for the full news article)

I don't really know how to feel about this exactly.

The ATS'er says this is crazy that this guy is getting fox news coverage for being a conspiracy guy. Is this a way to shut people up like him?

The human being in me says "good for them" to out a guy who has such a ridiculous idea. Those who think this didn't even happen really get under my skin.



www.foxnews.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I don't agree with the sentiment that he should be fired. I am, however, satisfied that someone from the town itself finally spoke up on its own behalf instead of letting non-residents do all the defending for them. It shows fortitude.

Perhaps fired is a bit harsh.....

I'd think a good healthy period of unpaid suspension to consider the concept of responsibility that comes WITH freedoms such as the 1st amendment might be in order. On that score, the Prof absolutely missed the boat and obviously requires time to learn and digest the concept.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


Maybe the responsibility that comes with the first amendment lies with the listener.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


No. If we placed consequences on one person's unpopular views (unpaid suspension is a punishment, and a bad one if he happens to be short on finances), who knows what other "objectionable" ideas might be targeted.
You can't legislate stupidity. It's the price of living in a free society.

Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
Perhaps fired is a bit harsh.....

I'd think a good healthy period of unpaid suspension to consider the concept of responsibility that comes WITH freedoms such as the 1st amendment might be in order. On that score, the Prof absolutely missed the boat and obviously requires time to learn and digest the concept.

Come on Wrabbit...I've seen you use more reason than that...

The guy made his statement on his personal blog, that was in no way affiliated with the School. He's done no more than any one of us have, right here on ATS!

He was simply saying that we should always question everything!

reply to post by greenWeenie

When your words are inflicting emotional or psychological harm on the victims of a tragedy, I beg to differ on whom the responsibility side of free speech falls.

It's not a matter for Government to touch, either way. So says the Constitution and that's 100% absolute. However, the constitution does not say private or non-governmental entities cannot have standards or enforce them how they see fit. Is the University considered Government or not would be the question there.....but I don't see a problem with society helping those who get way out of line to see where the line was behind them occasionally. Suspension would do that nicely ... just not Government regs, laws or anything else. I'd agree with anyone on that last part.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


To me, there hasn't been enough consistent evidence to say what happened. I've seen the clip of the alleged parent of one victim, smiling and then taking a moment to, I guess you could say, de-compose himself when it was time to speak in front of the cameras. A lot of bizarre behavior by the people interviewed. And a whole lotta conflicting evidence and gaping holes in the story. Does that sound familiar?
I wasn't there; I don't know. Neither was this woman attacking the guy in the article, she's from the state, but she wasn't at the school.
Good for him to make people think and wonder about things.
And if this all reallly did happen exactly as advertised and some words written by somebody in a BLOG are what it takes to push a person over the edge and have an emotional breakdown, you're WEAK.

reply to post by greenWeenie

To me, there hasn't been enough consistent evidence to say what happened.

That is where I agree and what's been the whole point in so much of the reporting and bloviating by people in positions of high visibility and high profile on this. There hasn't been evidence to tell much and it's just wild to the point of outlandish for what has passed for fit to fill the void.

I don't agree with the fact there is a black out on information because it is obviously doing more harm than good on the basic things like warrants sought and property actually taken. However, these aren't like Kennedy assassination documents to wait 50 years for. The delays in release would seem to be tied TO the wild reporting and feeding frenzy which will make everyone wait a few months to get all the details..maybe less. I can wait.

it's a shame people like the Prof here can't, is my main thought. It's also true he posted on a private blog, but if he wasn't a Prof at a University, his blog would mean about as much as yours or mine with no one talking about it here. That does carry responsibility all it's own in that profile and connection to the institution, however informal IMO.

I'd like to see a private institution try to penalize one of its employees for something controversial he wrote on his blog. That would create a conspiratorial crapstorm. The official explanation for the suspension might be to give him a slap on the wrist for hurting the university's PR or whatever, but of course people aren't going to believe that. Not after the amount of suspicion that's already being circulating around.

Suppose I want a little attention and pick at random some terrible drunk driving accident where a family lost a couple of children and say ; don't worry , the whole thing was staged by the anti-drunk driving people . If the parents are in on it they ought to be ashamed of themselves , if not then they can find comfort in the fact that their children are probably in the care of the government

Do I have a right to say that ? Maybe . If I have a position of responsibility should I be fired ? Probably .

But one thing I'm sure of is that if their dad beats me with a baseball bat till it breaks I had it coming .

reply to post by Vaedur


I agree with their sentiment of him being fired. Legally he is protected by the constitution to say what he wants however that does not protect his job. If the university finds that they do not wish to have someone like him under their employment the constitution protects them. Ultimately his employment is decided by the employer and depending on if he is under contract or not they can fire him. My state is a right to work state which really means right to fire. His employment may be at risk due to his mouth. It is fair game.

Freedom of speech is one thing, but if you are a professor and say the holocaust never happened, expect to get fired. To those from Sandy Hook is was a holocaust that happened just days ago, so in context his words were beyond insensitive. Who dug up his views though, was it an obscure blog? Can't trust the internet these days, I wouldn't be surprised if he reads ATS. Not saying everyone here is a conspiracy nut but I have read posts from people claiming the exact same thing on here and I disagree 100%.

The only thing I find weak is the motive, other than that, the dead girl's dress was used on her sister, what else is the mom going to dress her daughter in to meet the president? If they aren't rich they can't afford a new dress.

reply to post by Razimus


If I had to guess I would think one of his students probably brought his blog to the MSMs attention possibly a student he gave a bad grade. I would think even his students would find his views distasteful.

That man doesn't believe the same story everyone else does.
He must be punished.