Speeches recount childhood memories
Two former terrorists, Walid Shoebat and Kamal Saleem, came to speak on Islamic extremism and their personal reformation to Christianity at the Glenn Miller Ballroom Tuesday night.
The hall began by reciting the pledge of allegiance, and then Kamal Saleem took the stage. After several minutes of microphone trouble, Saleem began to discuss his upbringing.
He spoke of wanting to become a warrior of jihad when he was only six years old. As he paced across the stage, he told of his days as a teenager when he fought a battle against Israeli troops. He carried a friend on his back, and they were the only ones to survive.
At the end of Saleem’s speech, he took the last moments to give thanks to everyone and ended the speech by saying, “God bless America.” Applause broke out, and Saleem received a standing ovation from most of the hall.
Shoebat, a less energetic speaker, took the stage next. He talked of hostility toward his speeches, and suggested, after someone tried to speak out, if anyone was there to heckle, “they should just leave.” He spoke of his upbringing as well and received more resistance from the crowd.
Despite worries of interruption and rude behavior in the crowd, most of the room was enthusiastic about hearing the controversial speakers.
After Shoebat’s speech, a question and answer session was held, without much resistance. According to the Daily Camera, some asked Shoebat what his message was, to which he replied with frustration, “My message is shut up.”
Contact Campus Press Staff Reporter Daniel Clements at Daniel.Clements@colorado.edu.
