This is misleading. The CIA supported Bin Laden theory, if that’s what you’re implying, has been debunked multiple times.
Nope…more like supporting various dictators who launched themselves into power via military coups from the 1950’s onward and supporting religious extremist factions WITHIN THE PAKISTANI MILITARY AND POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT.
One good example of this is the US/CIA support of the religious extremist factions within the Pakistani ISI during the '80s…their counterpart to our CIA.
That ended up causing serious issues with the US efforts against the Taliban after 9/11 considering the ISI heavily supported the Taliban well into the War on Terror:
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/04/25/why-pakistan-supports-taliban.html
There are valid criticisms of Pakistani policy over the years. However, it doesn’t follow the US brought General Zia into power, kept him in power, or was responsible for his decision to implement Sharia. Such a US centric view of history feeds into the myth of an all powerful CIA. Nor is it true, elected government such as Sharif are more secular than dictators such as Musharraf. Elected governments can be just as, or even more religiously extremist than the military.
The US had no issues continuing to sell weapons to Pakistan during this period which alone…contradicts the part about “keeping him in power”. There’s also a lot of accusations of CIA support of Zia’s coup because the US had issues with some socialistic policies of his predecessor.
Not to mention the Reagan administration were staunch supporters of his regime in the '80s and supported him accordingly…such as those continuing arms sales.
There were also previous coups in Pakistan which contributed to Pakistan’s lack of economic and social development compared with its Indian counterpart.
Umm, folks, the “joke” had nothing to do with Bin Laden, Zia, or US foreign policy. Can we get back on topic?
Here was my exact comment, #30, in quoatations. I would highlight it in a fancy way and include circles and arrrows, but I’m not fluent in CC.
“Yes it is offensive and the prof has no place teaching this passive aggressive hate.
I also don’t think any hate should be allowed, and this includes liberal profs hating on conservatives, or vice versa.
Had this professor made a Donald Trump joke, he would have received tenure.”
I assume you read my other comments #38 and #39.
With regard to your comment #58 in which you tagged me,
First of all, Even though you didn’t find humor in my Trump-tenure-absurdity, I do believe with your vast “Cards Against Humanity” experience, you can get a good joke.
Second, you’ve proven my point re bias on the college campus. You suggest that (the classroom) is not the time and place to tell any political joke, however Trump “can be fairly mocked.”
Third, based on my comments on this thread (or any others anywhere, anytime), why would you feel compelled to tag me and lecture me on offensive jokes and judging an entire group of people? Other than my hint at bias as it relates to Trump on the college campus, I don’t understand what compelled you to believe i deserved your accusatory rebuke.
And why are you bringing the Chinese into this?
There is a big bright line between telling a joke about a politician and making a racist joke, especially at the expense of students in the class
(Neither defending nor attacking the Trump jokes- but they are not the same thing.)
http://www.educationviews.org/pc-police-haul-professor-tribunal-offshoring-joke/
From an article defending Bertrand:
This article slides right over the “You all look the same to me” comment, making me wonder about the nature of the “Bell Curve” and “Female Brain” discussions. If you read the Education News piece it’s clear he was trying to make points about some people being more able than others.
Looking at that website from the article you posted, overall content seems very slanted, @sue22, more so than its benign name “Education Views” would make one suspect. Odd site.
Also, wondering how “Bell Curve” and “Female Brain” fit into the syllabus of a course on international economics.
^ I agree. My thinking is that if this is the best defense that could be mustered on his behalf it doesn’t sound like he had much ground to stand on.
It does insofar as it demonstrates the serious amounts of ignorance that now ex-adjunct demonstrated about a part of the world related to his field of international economics when he made that joke.
@Materof2 I can “get a good joke” when the time and place is correct. And, if I wasn’t clear, I typically wouldn’t consider a classroom lecture the time and place for Trump jokes. My point was, though, that mocking a specific individual over the things that individual has done and said is very, very different from mocking a whole nationality or a whole religion. I brought it up because your post doesn’t make sense. I don’t see how the two can be even close to equivalent. As for China, this professor apparently takes an accusatory attitude with Chinese students when talking about the relevant geopolitics, and it sounds like that had a lot to do with him getting dismissed, too. I get the strong impression that he got dismissed for an established pattern of this sort of behavior, and the Pakistani call center joke was just the last straw.
Well that would mean an arrest.
Really this thread should be called:
Or: “I stupidly and routinely ridiculed students in my class and then got all indignant when the university opted not to invite me back”.
@blossom 's headline would generate more clicks than mine, I think 
All part of the crazy talk conspiracy that PC culture is just ruining everyone’s good old days fun when in actuality it’s called “don’t act like an ignorant idiot already!”
That’s why you should leave jokes to professional comedians. That’s what they get paid for.
@tonymom spot on!
According to Pew polls, about 25% of Pakistanis hold a favorable opinion of the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba. If you looked at who had a favorable opinion of any terrorist organization you would get a number higher still. Then, you have to consider that even a well respected polling organization like Pew has sampling bias when operating in a place like Pakistan, and the FATA is almost certainly going to be excluded. The joke may be offensive, but there’s some truth behind it. All that said, adjuncts are at will and easily replaced, so the university doesn’t need much of a reason to get rid of them.
A few soapboxes here?
This guy should be talking to his peers, engaging in some introspection, and figiring out his next gig (if he can get one.)