<p>transplanted chip from shoulder to tooth</p>
<p>Here is another good article:<a href="http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110008051%5B/url%5D">http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110008051</a></p>
<p>Hey kids (and parents),
So it's kind of embarassing to post here, but when I returned to my old hangout and noticed this thread, I felt like I had to say something. My roommate wrote the YDN article on Sayed, so I have a unique perspective. The guy is here to learn. He is not a terrorist, he does not have terrorist associations. He made mistakes in his life and apologized for them. We can't expect anything more from him, nor should we deny him any opportunity to atone for the regime he supported. A lot of news outlets have taken this chance to smear Yale, for somewhat obvious reasons; it's very easy to ***** and moan about a "elitist" and "isolated" university. Don't believe the hype, don't believe pretty much anything major news outlets are saying, and certainly don't let this factor into your decision. If it does... go to Harvard, you belong there. just kidding, for those who want to jump down my throat. Good luck to all of you.</p>
<p>When I found out about Yale's latest "figurine", it kind of made me happy- because- hey- if I end up not getting in, clearly, I was not the type of candidate they were looking for. I mean, I could not bring the same 4th grade level education and bombing skills to their cultural diversity melting pot. "It is hard out here for a pimp." :)</p>
<p>i love how people know nothing and like to make asinine comments.
he was a diplomat. not a bomber. it's satisfying that Yale would admit him, despite the 4th grade education, for his promise and perspective versus your smallminded, childish attitude. i'm sure the University will do better with him and with you. hopefully admissions gets it right again and doesn't let you in.</p>
<p>I love how intelligent you are. According to the many news articles on the subject, though you are correct and he was not a "bomber" persay ( and I said that in jest), he still advocated the doctraine of the Taliban, promoted acts of violence against women and homosexuals, and spent some time in jail because he was a criminal. I dont believe in reformed Taliban Officials- sorry.</p>
<p>it's not like he had a choice to not join the Taliban. the party took over and there were no options. i've said this before- it was like the Pope and the Hitler Youth. they just had to go with the flow.
as for the women and gays, he goes to Yale now- very feminist and the Gay Ivy. the guy's gone back on what he used to defend. read the NYT article. i've seen him around, he's ditched the whole look, and doctrine along with it. yay for giving people second chances.</p>
<p>I think if anything he is a great link for people at Yale to understand the middle east and how such doctrinal groups work. Obviously such links are needed because even some people on this thread dont understand that part of the world much; it is not so easy to say "no I refuse the Taliban" when that is all one has ever known and is the only place to get information. The fact that he has come so far is a token to his character.</p>
<p>amarillimiabella, you make me angry.</p>
<p>Go read the article. Please.</p>
<p>
Ah yes, the Nuremberg defense. It didn't work particularly well for the Nazis in Nuremberg. And my guess is that you might have less sympathy for it when it's advanced (as it has been) by the soldiers who abused the Abu Ghraib prisoners. By the way, contrary to your post in another thread, it didn't work for William Calley in the My Lai massacre trial either.</p>
<p>I read the NYT article - before I saw this thread. The writer obviously is sympathetic to Rahmatullah, but that doesn't make it the gospel truth. I'm old enough to remember the pre-9/11 Taliban regime in all its evil glory, and even to remember Rahmatullah as its spokesman in the U.S. I'm not looking to execute him (as some of the Nazis convicted in Nuremberg were), or even to jail him (as Calley and John Walker Lindh were), but that doesn't mean Yale has to open up a spot for him. </p>
<p>I also find Richard Shaw's comment that Yale didn't want to lose him to Harvard to be laughable. As if Larry Summers was about to roll out the red carpet for the Taliban's former spokesman. And why does everything at Yale have to be about beating Harvard anyway?</p>
<p>here is a very interesting article: <a href="http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/ClintonTaylor/2006/03/08/189044.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/ClintonTaylor/2006/03/08/189044.html</a></p>
<p>While I had misgivinings when my son selected Yale over several other equally selective schools, I now understand why he chose Yale. I am proud that he is thriving in a compassionate, open-minded, and embracing community.</p>
<p>The NYTimes article won't work for me.</p>
<p>I want to know when he "officially" left and renounced the Taliban. I think that plays a pretty big role in deciding whether or not Yale was justified.</p>
<p>The Townhall articles are a little extreme, though.</p>
<p>ive heard almost too much about this to make a good judgement, but i thought id weigh in as a current yalie. i personally have no problem with heshemi as a student here. i believe everyone deserves a second chance, and we can show our ability to stand above the fray of fear and prejudice by opening our doors to someone who, in his past, was a less than admirable individual but who clearly wants a chance to reform and make good for himself. in this respect, i wish heshemi the best of luck.
what i cannot condone is if we accept him as a regular student based purely on his history. he barely obtained a high-school degree, and apparently hes not doing great in his classes. if we excluded a truly deserving "regular" kid in exchange for our token taliban, it would be a true shame. but this goes for anyone at yale who doesnt really deserve to be. im not talking about affirmative action or anything like that, but recruiting someone based on their colorful history, rather than their skills, talents, abilities or intelligence is something i just cant condone.</p>