On December 11, 2015, 3 days before the third anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting the (Florida) Sun-Sentinel published an op/ed by Lenny and Veronique Pozner, titled “Sandy Hook Massacre 3rd Anniversary: Two parents target FAU conspiracy theorist”.
In their op/ed, the Pozners specifically targeted James Tracy, a tenured professor at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), as “chief among the conspiracy theorists” who have raised many troubling — but unanswered — questions about the massacre.
The Pozners are the parents of Noah, a boy who has the distinction of being killed twice — first at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012; then thousands of miles across the world at the Peshawar Army School shooting in Pakistan 2 years later on December 16, 2014.
Instead of investigating why his son’s visage was included among images of those who were killed at Peshawar, Lenny Pozner aggressively has gone after YouTubers and bloggers in the United States for using images of Noah, over which Lenny claims copy right, although those images are published on a Noah Pozner memorial page on Facebook.
Lenny’s mere assertion of copy right was enough to convince YouTube to take down those videos, and this blog’s server, WordPress, to unilaterally delete those images. WordPress also threatened to shut down this blog if we ever again post an image of Noah.
Lenny did the same to James Tracy, since WordPress is also the server of his Memory Hole Blog. (For Lenny’s complaint to WordPress, see “DMCA_Complaint_Pozner“.) So Tracy asked WordPress and Lenny for proof that he holds copy right over those images. To that end, Tracy also sent a registered letter to Lenny, asking about his claim of copy right over Noah’s photos, and clarification of his relationship with Noah. Contrary to what’s been claimed, Tracy’s letter said nothing about whether Noah is dead or alive, or whether Noah had ever lived as some Sandy Hook skeptics doubt.
For sending that registered letter, Tracy is accused by the Pozners of “harassment” — an accusation that the readers of their op/ed swallowed, while displaying no interest in Tracy’s side of the story. (See “Parents of alleged Sandy Hook victim want Professor James Tracy to lose his job”)
In writing their op/ed, the Pozners evidently wanted to get Tracy fired. They wrote:
Although FAU issued a “reprimand” to Tracy for the irresponsible and insensitive comments he made in late 2012, he has shown no remorse and continues to conceive conspiracy theories out of each new mass shooting . . . . It is time FAU reassess if their priorities properly reflect the best interests of their staff, donors and — most importantly — their students.
On December 16, 2015, five days after the Pozners’ op/ed, Florida Atlantic University issued a statement that Tracy had been served a Notice of Proposed Discipline-Termination. FAU did not give a reason for its termination of Tracy, who has tenure.
James Tracy
FAU’s statement was picked up and published by many media outlets — state, national, and international. (For some examples, see here.) The publicity resulted in Tracy’s university email account being hacked, as well as an obscene post card sent to his home address, with his wife’s name and their home phone number scribbled on the card. (See “Prof. James Tracy harassed with threats, email hack & obscene post card“)
Tracy also received an avalanche of hate emails that are nothing less than stunning and sickening in their venom and viciousness. Tracy is called “insane”, “mentally ill”, “a moron”, “a shit”, “an asshole”, “liar”, “despicable” and “evil”. He is told to “fuck” himself, to “go to hell”, and that he richly deserves to lose his tenured professorship and never again to find employment. His life and the lives of his children are threatened. One email said his mother should have aborted him.
Since Florida Atlantic University is a public university, part of the 12-campus State University System of Florida, any communication received by an employee of FAU is considered public record by Florida law.
So that a full record is available to those who wish to critically review the entire case, this blog, Fellowship of the Minds, is publishing the emails as a public service.
The following emails were sent to Tracy’s university email address and, as such, are public records under Florida State Statute Chapter 119, specifically:
119.01 (1): “It is the policy of this state that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person. Providing access to public records is a duty of each agency.”
119.011 (2): “‘Agency’ means any state, county, district, authority, or municipal officer, department, division, board, bureau, commission, or other separate unit of government created or established by law including, for the purposes of this chapter, the Commission on Ethics, the Public Service Commission, and the Office of Public Counsel, and any other public or private agency, person, partnership, corporation, or business entity acting on behalf of any public agency.”
119.011 (12): “‘Public records’ means all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency.”
Below are the hate emails, in chronological order. Note that the emails began soon after the Sun-Sentinel‘s publication of the Pozners’ op/ed.
From: David Streever
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2015 5:48 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: I’m sorry.
I hope you get the mental health counseling you need. I can’t believe that someone who was fortunate enough to go to college is also unable to differentiate reality from fiction, and lacks a fundamental understanding of conspiracy theories.
_____________________________
From: Steve Wagner
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 11:16 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: say it ain’t so!
Mr. James Tracy:
Do you really believe Sandy Hook was a hoax? Only a fraudster/trickster could be that inanely foolish/evil. How in the world did you become a “Professor” at a University. Is this college funded by Koch Brothers money by chance?
_____________________________
From: hal muskat
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 12:18 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: retire
Retire you dumb fuck cause you don’t deserve to be in front of students. If your white trash ass were on fire across the street, I’d not jaywalk to pee on you.
_____________________________
From: Joel Arnold
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 1:43 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: WOW!
You are one sick puppy–Alex Jones must be so proud! And FAU must be a real high quality school to keep you on staff. And you have a PhD from an actual school? In my travels through Purdue, Notre Dame, Wright St, and the U. of Dayton, I never encountered any fruit cake approaching your magnitude. I just hope the Pozners find some way to destroy your life–it will be much deserved. And I wish there were some way I could contribute to that destruction. If we were in the same room, I don’t think I could keep from kicking your ass–what a joy that would be!
joel
Joel W. Arnold
Dayton, OH
_____________________________
From: Ron Walker
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 1:51 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: In the bushes
Dr. Tracy –
The liberty and benevolence of our nation are under siege by a tiny, but astonishingly vocal, group of people who are so consumed by hatred and cognitive dissonance that they unable, or pathologically unwilling, to accept simple fact. Most of these people have the excuse of lack of education and moral upbringing, as well of, for some, marginal literacy. You, however, have no visible excuse for your behavior, speech, and the damage both are causing. The ability to pull off a Sandy Hook or 9/11 hoax far exceeds the competence of our government. You ascribe to yourself and your ilk much greater stature than you actually possess. You are a lunatic nobody with nothing of value to say. I wish you would stop hurting, over and over, parents grieving for their loss. I’m sure someone would grieve your death, but it’s hard to understand why,
_____________________________
From: Kelly Daugherty
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 2:09 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Love Your Work
Hi, Dr. Tracy –
I want to say that what you are doing is commendable. I would really like to see you continue uncovering the mask of truth that mass media pushes on the public. And now that you have been drawn in, let me tell you that you are a miserable human being. Just simply detestable. You take a tragedy like the Sandy Hook shooting and exploit the victims and their families in order to get your own name out there. What a pathetic attempt at relevance. Look, its okay that as a college professor you will only ever be important to other academics. Its okay that your life’s work means nothing to anyone not in academia. But don’t turn your disgusting little need for attention on the victims of horrible violence because it just makes you look like an asshole. Which is, after all, what you are, but do you need to advertise that fact at the expense of other people? I am sure you can get plenty of feedback from everyone who knows you and they will tell you what a miserable, lying, fear mongering, victim blaming, conspiracy hawking piece of human trash you are. I cannot believe that one university would give you a Ph.D and another a faculty position. But I assume you will not be there for much longer. So to close, fuck you and everything you stand for. And I would love to hear back from you.
Kelly Daugherty
_____________________________
From: Stephanie J. Ciulla
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 2:19 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: POS
Stands for piece of shit, which you are! I hope you lose at least your job. Pig!
_____________________________
From: McDaniel College
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 2:27 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: You’re a worthless f’n bitch
Go fuck yourself you dickless KKKlansmen. America laughs at you and your itty bitty lil impotent tbagger dick
_____________________________
From: Juanita Carson
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 2:49 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Teacher?
If you are harassing the poor parents who lost children three years ago, you are truly a disgrace to the teaching profession. I could understand some uneducated bastard doing this but someone who is supposed to be teaching others? There is a special place in hell for people like you.
_____________________________
From: Lynn Nilson
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 2:51 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: POS
Are you a parent?? Do you really think people would pretend to bury their children? Were you raised by a pack of wolfs?? Shame on you, your common sense has completely left you..to add to someone’s pain because of your lack of insight is horrible..Karma will get you.I hope you lose your job..I have signed the petition.
_____________________________
From: claudia schuster
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 2:57 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: SANDY HOOK
If you’re the guy that made the IDIOTIC REMARKS about the kids from Sandy Hook School……….. MAY GOD FORGIVE YOU. MAYBE YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR BRAINS BLOWN OUT………OR MAYBE YOUR STUDENTS. HOW WOULD THAT MAKE YOU FEEL. ??????
_____________________________
From: Willam Lara
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 3:12 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Re Sandy Hook
Let me start by asking you who gave you the right to bring that horrible tragedy up to remind the parents and family members that lost love one that fateful day. As a human being I don’t have any respect for a low life like you. I’m kind of surprise that with your ignorant mentality you hold a position of higher learning at that university. What you truly lack is a course in sensitivity training you stupid jerk.
_____________________________
From: John Weber
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 3:21 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Voices
Dear James,
How long have you been hearing these voices in your head? Maybe I can recommend someone?
_____________________________
From: Pat F
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 3:33 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Education
And you call yourself an educator… You SHOULD be fired for spreading your ridiculous conspiracy theories concerning the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. To suggest that gun control is NOT needed after such a horrific act of gun violence is irresponsible. Children died . December 14, 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Families are mourning the loss of their babies. Crawl under a rock, you vile waste of air.
_____________________________
From: Rutledge,John A,JR
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 3:46 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Your resignation
You are bringing shame to the profession. Resign.
_____________________________
From: Jennifer Jones
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 4:09 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject:
You are disgusting. I hope fau fires you.
_____________________________
From: carol31359
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 4:35 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Sandy hook
You are one sick person. May God have mercy on your soul.
_____________________________
From: Kelly Halpine
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 5:07 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: DROP DEAD
You’re a monumental piece of shit. A professor at Florida Atlantic University has been attacking the parents of Sandy Hook victims online, saying they faked the shootings to make a profit. Drop dead, fucktard.
_____________________________
From: Michael Morrissey
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 5:09 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Piece if Shit
That is what you are. I hope your 3 kids get shot in the face someday, and we can all talk about it being a big conspiracy. Rot in hell dirtball.
_____________________________
From: Jeff Borden
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 5:46 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject:
Hey professor,
It’s a pity I don’t believe in heaven or hell because hell is certainly where a loathsome and grotesque husk like you belongs. Clutch your pathetic fantasies as tightly as you want, but you have no right to continue to harass those whose lives were forever altered by a lunatic with easy access to powerful firearms. I sincerely hope the people you have hassled and hurt with your tin foil fantasies sue you for every penny you have. A life lived under a bridge eating garbage and fending off other assholes fighting over the same chicken leg seems about right for human flotsam like you. Enjoy your brief moment in the spotlight. You will certainly pay dearly for it.
Jeff Borden
_____________________________
From: Ned Murphy
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 6:31 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Owls!
Tracy:
A quick note here to remind you how despicable you are as well as your actions involving “truthing” a massacre of children and their teachers. Our right to free speech has been perverted by unhinged jerks like you who like to invent “conspiracies” that always have hidden motives. As a parent who has lost a child, I am furious that you would mock those who have suffered the ultimate tragedy to further your baseless agenda. I will be pleased to protest your continued employment at FAU when I visit Delray Beach this winter. Please tell your maniacal pal Wayne LaPierre to go to hell as well for me.
Sincerely,
Ned Murphy
_____________________________
From: smallfamily87@***.net
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 6:37 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: job opening
There’s a job for you in HELL! please apply, you are very well qualified. Actually, no need to apply, your spot has been reserved. I encourage you to visit Connecticut and try and plead your ‘truther’ BS up here, but I’m sure you don’t have the balls to try and spew your moronic rhetoric up here – I dare you big boy. Your PHD should be revoked, but then, you’re not a real doctor anyway. You and those few that follow your conspiracy theories all deserve each other. Speak to those gullible few who will listen, but please leave the families alone, they have been through enough. Let’s hope that you have not procreated and may one day lose a child to senseless violence.
_____________________________
From: Willow Arune
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 7:04 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Sandy Hook
You are such a total idiot – you give academia a bad name…
_____________________________
From: Joanne Klein
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 9:01 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Sandy Hook
You are one fucking sick dick! Lets see your kids get shot up and dead.
_____________________________
From: Fred Grier
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 9:46 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Leave Sandy Hooks parents alone
You should be a shame of yourself tormenting those grieving parents. God does not approve of your disgusting behavior
_____________________________
From: happy hour
To: James Tracy
Sent: Sat, Dec 12, 2015 12:19:45 AM
James Tracy – are you that wacko professor who thinks the Sandy Hook shooting is a conspiracy? So, the student and teacher witnesses, first responders, law enforcement, media, Newtown residents, etc. are all in on it? And not one person has come forward? You’re such an embarrassment to your family. …and you’re a spineless little coward...
_____________________________
From: Fido McCokefiend
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 10:27 PM
To: President; Office of the Provost; Peter Hull; Stacy Volnick; James Tracy
Subject: Is this what you want to be known for?
I would think that someone in the School of Business, probably the Marketing Department understand public relations at Florida Atlantic University. Given that, I would highly recommend that the President and the Provost, go take a visit with the professors of that department and ask them if employing a man that openly and publicly mocks the parents that have lost their children at Sandy Hook and publicly endorsing his messages is the type of thing you’d like your University to be known for. I’m aware of the adage that “all publicity is good publicity”, however making light of the death of 20 children simply to support his paranoid delusions and his adherence to his guns seems beyond the pale. To me at least, but I’m funny in that way that I think mocking the parents of dead children is not cool. So I would ask Dr Kelly one question, and one question only. Why foes FAU endorse the insane ramblings and delusions of this man? He continually signs his name as well as his teaching position at your University to his postings, and has for some time, with no repercussions. Hence, if you have not prevented him from signing his credentials, and he doesn’t even state “My opinions do not reflect those of my employer”, then Dr Kelly, you must be in full support of his message. If James Tracy, private citizen makes insane claims and wants to looks like a heartless monster simply because his messiah Wayne LaPierre tells him to, and he is afraid of the black man in the whitehouse, by all means, that’s his right and I’d never email his employer. But, again, his ramblings and mocking and his lies are all signed as being from Florida Atlantic University. What I don’t understand is how an institution of higher learning can continue enable, employ, and willingly approve of his messages. Were this person in my employ, I would have warned him once that his messages outside of official University business are his, and he cannot bring the University into it or he would be terminated. I can only reason that Dr Kelly, like your mentally deranged employee, you too think that the deaths of 20 small children were faked simply to promote gun control and you feel mocking the parents of those children is legitimate positions to take. Bold position for the University to take, no doubt. But, here we are.
_____________________________
From: cody gillespie-lynch
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 3:43 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: You are a pathetic piece of shit….
Seriously you ammosexual cognitively impaired ammoral dipshit. Go fuck yourself. You’re beyond heartless, you’re beyond brainless. You’re just completely and utterly devoid of redeeming qualities. Hopefully somebody will shoot you, or better yet one of your children. Let’s see how you fucking it like then you fucking waste of resources.
_____________________________
From: Harvey Lewis
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 12:33 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Pathetic
You sir are a pathetic excuse for a human being. With what the families at Sandy Hook have gone through and for you to say it was fake is beyond disgusting. You have no soul. Too bad it wasn’t you. So now hell waits for you. In the meantime, fuck your life.
One Who Cares About Others
_____________________________
From: TJ
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 7:37 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Inquiry
How does a kook like you retain a job teaching young people? FAU admin should be ashamed for continuing to employ you.
_____________________________
From: Susan Valentine
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 7:42 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Really
As an alumni of FAU I’m shocked and outraged by your ignorance.
_____________________________
From: Nancy Schenk
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 8:19 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: simple
I hope you lose your job for what you have done to these parents.
_____________________________
From: David Connolly
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 9:51 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Sandy Hook
You deranged rightwing conspiracy nut asshole! You should be fired.
_____________________________
From: Ken Rosen
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 9:54 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: How dare you!
What hole of hatred and idiocy did you crawl out of? And you teach “democratic communication”? Is this some joke? I pity the individuals that are subjected to your thinking. I ask you these questions instead of railing at you for your insensitivity and damn meanness. How do you sleep at night? You should be ashamed, but I fear, that would take a modicum of awareness of other people’s feelings, which you obviously have none. You are despicable.
_____________________________
From: Diane Lemieux
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 9:55 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Sandy Hook
May your family never be the victims of gun violence. Your attack on Sandy Hook parents is both paranoid and pitiful. Spend some time with them. Hear their stories. Get down in the trenches where real children die every other day from gun violence.
_____________________________
From: John Michael Washe
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 11:03 AM
To: James Tracy; President; Peter Hull; Andrew LaPlant
Subject: Sandy Hook conspiracy theories have no place in real education.
James Tracy
There is a level of stupidity I expect from conspiracy theorists… like ignoring the hundreds, if not thousands of people directly connected to Sandy Hook from those who lost children and loved ones to the first responders and all of the related familys who somehow remain silent in the face of your alleged conspiracy. It takes a special kind of stupid to believe a bunch of clowns on the internet have uncovered some secret truth, while the thousands who were there or were directly affected are all either too stupid or part of your insane conspiracy theory to speak out. But it takes REAL EVIL, to harass the families of those who have lost children. A someone who has studied journalism let me say this loud and clear…. YOU ARE A FRAUD. Basic journalistic practices would allow you to pursue the (REAL) truth while respecting the families of those who were murdered, from researching birth certificates to (politely) interviewing related family members. But you aren’t interested in the truth. You are only interested in promoting your insane and hateful theories. I find it abhorrent that you are charged with the molding (twisting) of young minds. On the basis of pure stupidity you do not deserve your position. And on the basis of morality, you don’t deserve a single ounce of respect. Nor do you deserve your job. To the President and staff of FAU: I have visited your university as part of a hydrogen energy convention some years ago and I was extremely impressed with your commitment to science and your educational responsibilities. To keep a fraud such as James Tracy on staff as an educator simply destroys your credibility. This isn’t a matter of political correctness. It is a matter of following basic journalistic practices and showing ethical responsibility to provide a good example and a sound education to your students. As it stands now with James Tracy on staff, YOU ARE FAILING. With respect to President Kelly and those who work so hard to provide a great education and none to those who abuse their position to push their twisted agenda on the young minds who trust them.
_____________________________
From: Kit
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 11:23 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: I pray to God that you will know the pain and suffering of the Sandy Hook families. May you rot in Hell.
_____________________________
From: J Curtis
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 12:10 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Really?
Is this really true? If so, what is wrong with you?
_____________________________
From: Margaret G. Burke
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 12:21 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Newtown
Professor Tracy,
I just saw an online posting in Facebook that says you are a Newtown denier. Could this possibly be true? As one academic to another, I find it hard to believe that you could take such a position in the face of so many facts. As a librarian, we struggle to teach people to research their topics and come up with accurate findings. Your position is so dangerous and so against anything that is being taught to students. I think that you truly are a disgrace to academia if this posting was true.
Margaret G. Burke
Assistant Professor
Humanities Librarian
Axinn Library
Hofstra University
_____________________________
From: O’Hare, Marianne
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 12:32 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: You HORRIBLE HORRIBLE DISGUSTING EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN
Come to CONNECTICUT and see these families I have seen…see the FUNERALS. the dead babies and teachers. You’re teaching future JOURNALISTS???? You should be FIRED and BARRED from teaching ANYTHING about communications to unsuspecting ill-prepared young minds. As a long time journalist – I find you TRULY APPALLING.
Marianne O’Hare
Producer
CONVERSATIONS on HEALTH CARE
Community Health Center, Inc.
Pacifica Radio Network
_____________________________
From: Kevin Foley
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 1:46 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Really
You are one sick fuck.
_____________________________
From: lmp1967@***.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:07 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject:
What’s the matter not making enough money off the trashy uneducated books you are trying to sell that you got to drum up some media news for yourself, I think your a fake and don’t exist.
_____________________________
From: Bob Moore
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:21 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: what kind of asshole are you?
_____________________________
From: Bill Barry
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:58 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Really
If what I just read about you regarding the Sandy Hook situation is true, you are a real piece of work. I hope Karma is real
_____________________________
From: Andres
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2015 10:32 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Pending termination
I am so proud of FAU to grow a pair and make the decision to terminate you. You are the lowest form of human being.
_____________________________
From: Chuck O’Connor
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2015 11:53 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Hahaha
I can’t wait to see you fired.
_____________________________
From: trevor johnson
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 9:24 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: You ignorant and evil fuck
James,
It is not surprising that someone who is educating the idiots in Florida is stupid and evil enough to harass a family who lost a child to gun violence. Come up here to CT and we will show you what a moron you are. If you are so sure about your conspiracy theory, then make me a promise. If you care proven wrong, I just to beat the crap out of you and you will not press charges. Otherwise shut the fuck up and apologize to these fine people, publicly. If you do not, perhaps you will find yourself in a dangerous situation in the future. Asshole.
_____________________________
From: Brad Harrington
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 9:53 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Time to face up to your actions
Dear Prof. Tracy,
I have read recently about your outrageous comments and blog posts regarding Sandy Hook, the Boston Marathon, and other national tragedies and your completely unfounded assertions that these are hoaxes. As a college professor, you give the profession a very bad name. For you to make such completely unfounded assertions about these tragic events goes beyond the pale of human decency. Your claims have absolutely no basis in fact are are extremely harmful to people who have suffered so much already. Do everyone a favor and resign from a position you do not deserve hold. Then you are free to pursue your conspiracy theories on your own time. And while you’re writing your resignation letter, why don’t you write some apologies to the many people you’ve unjustly harmed in the process. Thank you.
Prof. Brad Harrington
Executive Director
Boston College Center for Work & Family
_____________________________
From: J. Marquiz
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 10:47 AM
To: James Tracy
Cc: President
Subject: To James Tracy
You are a sick individual. You need help and you are a stain on society.
_____________________________
From: JOETHOMANN@*******.net
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 11:25 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: ADIOS, ASSHOLE
_____________________________
From: Aaron Sicherman
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 11:25 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: I support you on Newtown
Not really, I just put that in the subject so you would open the email. Children were gunned down, and you seek to make a name for yourself by issuing wildly radical theories? You are the lowest form of coward; the sort of man who represents everything that is wrong with this country. You seek to incite for the sake of inciting. And you negatively impress upon impressionable students, solely in service of your own twisted ego. In short, you are a real asshole. If you care to discuss the matter further, call me at the number below.
_____________________________
From: Judith Bass
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 11:38 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Shame on you for your insane conspiracy rants
_____________________________
From: TheMikerainey82
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 11:52 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Hey James
James, just wanted to reach out to let you know that you are a horrendous human being. Take care.
_____________________________
From: Kevin K Gainer
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 12:33 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: The Situation
I read, quickly, some of your “stuff” (or what appears to be your “stuff”; I’m assuming it is). That (sample reading) really presents a huge puzzle because on some “technical” (analytical) issues, you are more likely than not completely correct (and, furthermore, on those issues you display remarkable insight and articulateness). But, with regard to these incidents that you claim “didn’t happen” (especially a few recent ones of note) you really seem to lose connection with objective “reality”, for some as yet unknown reason. The crying shame is, as I just noted, you appear to be exceptionally insightful when it comes to some underlying, fundamental issues of great concern and value in the community, but I have to tell you honestly, the stuff “beyond” that you have written about and are advocating does suggest you are detached from reality and thus “possibly” have some underlying mental illness. I am not a psychologist (I am an Economist) but nevertheless would be interested (indeed intrigued) in trying to diagnose you, if only to learn something new about the mental process involved in adoption of, for example, paranoid ideas.
_____________________________
From: Ben Dover
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 1:58 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: hi
Sandy hook truthers are all scumbags. Hope you get fired you freak
_____________________________
From: Paul Josephson
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 2:45 PM
To: James Tracy; Paul Runner
Subject:
Dear Jimmy,
There are many hoaxes in the world. You are foremost among them. A cruel, unfeeling shit, you have decided to take your personal confusions into the realm of an attack on human sensibilities, even to cause people who have suffered the loss of a child to have to revisit their unconsolable loss. I believe in free speech. Thus, honestly, you are a fucking asshole, liar and shit. And may you go to hell when the time comes. Since hell does not exist, however, may you simply curl up with a conscience in a deep hole of self-pity. By the way, I just found on the internet a site that indicates you have a tiny penis (about 1 cm) in the shape of a penis and that your mother disowned you. Are either of these true? Would you please confirm by registered mail?
Best wishes for the holidays,
Paul
_____________________________
From: Charlie Mulholland
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 3:13 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject:
Bye bye slimy scumbag.
—
Charlie Mulholland, Critical Goods Coordinator
Covenant to Care for Children
Hartford, CT 06106
_____________________________
From: Johnson, John
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 3:29 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: awesome news!Florida Atlantic University recommended Wednesday that a professor who insists the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre never happened be terminated after the parents of one of the victims accused him of harassment, according to a CBS affiliate.
good thing you have that NSA/CIA paycheck to fall back for all those years of promoting the ridiculous notion of some uber competent and all powerful “big gummint” that has the wherewithal, in our shitty cult of celebrity society, to keep the kind of secrets you nutters go on about. you can’t keep a job and the National Security State can’t keep secrets. you ever wonder why there is nothing related to all y’all’s stupid conspiracies in all the whistleblower, hacking and data dumping cases (i.e. Snowden et al)? i reckon you dumbfucks think those are all set ups as well. good luck finding a new job after flushing any sense of decency down the fucking toilet Mr. McArthy!
_____________________________
From: joseph quam
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 3:31 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Spring semester
Newtown was staged? You are one idiotic son of a bitch, buddy. I hope they fire your ass and you never work again.You don’t deserve to have anything to do with education, you piece of total filth.
_____________________________
From: Joel Arnold
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 3:35 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Maybe There Really IS a God!
Sayonara, Mother Fucker!!
_____________________________
From: L W
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 4:45 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Sandy
You are a fucking idiot. I think the fact that you are a professor is a hoax. Your mom should have had an abortion
_____________________________
From: Endangered Species
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 4:46 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Hope they fire you ass hole
_____________________________
From: John Cop
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 4:46 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: You are a colossal scumbag
John M. Cop
C&N and Associates, Inc.
Fountain Valley, Ca. 92708
_____________________________
From: Steve Mann
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 5:26 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Have you been deranged for some time?
You academians think you can puke out any kind of vile scum, and stand behind your course ciriculum as a defense. That’s a pretty thin veil in this case.
_____________________________
From: Brian McDonough
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 6:25 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: PROVE you’re not an idiot!!!
You can’t. And you’re going to be fired and never hired again. NEVER!!! Stupid is as stupid says. Stupid is as stupid does. Stupid is Y.O.U. !!!
_____________________________
From: Drew Danielson
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 6:32 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: you are a mentally-disturbed lowlife, and you need to stop harassing parents whose children were murdered who the hell do you think you are, you scumbag.
_____________________________
From: Mini Muffin
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 7:33 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Question re: Sandy Hook
Professor,
I imagine you’re getting a lot of heat about your alleged harassment of Nathan’s family? Are you mentally ill? Because if the news reports are true, there can no other explanation for your behavior. If you have any sense of deceny left and any ability to discern fantasy from reality, you owe it to your students, your university and all of higher education to remove yourself from any teaching position as soon as possible. I would further counsel you to seek immediate psychiatric help.
_____________________________
From: David Kay
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 8:22 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Sandy hook
Keep going on with the crazy Jimmy!!!
_____________________________
From: Christopher Wagner
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 10:01 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: You need psychiatric help immediately!
_____________________________
From: Todd Seidel
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 10:14 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Heard you’re being fired….
Karma is a real bitch. Wanted to offer you a job. I have an opening for Executive Officer of Go Fuck Yourself. You and Alex Jones can go stroke each other full time. Good luck with that. Hope the bank forcloses on your trailer. Eat a bag of dicks.
_____________________________
From: Brian Johnston
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 12:21 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Seek psych help
Sir, having read about your recent claims, I wanted to write you to suggest that you seek psychiatric help. There is zero credible evidence of a super-secret government conspiracy behind this. If I am wrong, I welcome any credible evidence you may possess which supports your claim. Once you are unable to share such evidence, I hope that you step back, analyze the situation rationally, and get the help that you need. Please seriously consider speaking with a licensed psychiatric professional.
_____________________________
From: Kurt Last
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 1:00 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Sandy Hook
Professor Tracy-
I’m sorry that you are either profoundly mental ill or are an imbecile. Fuck you.
_____________________________
From: Steven
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 5:20 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Harassment of innocent people
“Professor” Tracy,
I just recently learned of your burning desire to harass innocent parents who had a child killed in a mass shooting. You Sir, are a byproduct of over protection and privilege given to you by our country. You have had so little personal interaction with violence and the horrible things that can, and do, happen every single day that you have lost all touch with reality. You have lived in a little bubble your entire life where I doubt you have even so much as been in a fist fight, let alone been shot at. You have been soo overly protected and coddled your entire life that you actually believe that horrible things don’t really happen. I guess it’s to be expected, I mean you don’t even have a real job… Have you ever ACTUALLY done anything in the real world besides be a professional student and criticize others? Have you ever produced anything real, at all?? Have you ever truly contributed to society in any meaningful way? Helped anyone? The fact that you would go out of your way to harass people about their DEAD CHILD and DEMAND proof shows how very little you have done with your life. Quite frankly, you make me sick. People like you are the cancer of our country. I truly hope that you lose your job. Perhaps some hard times might give you a different and more true perspective of the world in which you live. I find it hilarious to look at what you “teach” from your title page from the university. Seems you can’t even do that correctly. People like you make me seriously question the value of a college education, at least from that university. I sincerely doubt that you’ll ever read this e-mail; you may have already been cut off from it due to your situation. If by chance you do read it, I hope for your sake you reevaluate your life and what delusions you are allowing yourself to live in.
_____________________________
From: sfarrelly11
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 10:12 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject:
You are a horrible person
_____________________________
From: Tim Conn
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 10:01 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Greetings
Hi James,
I recently came across a story about you in the news. I wanted to let you know that you are a giant piece of shit and I hope you burn in hell. get a fucking life you fucking loser. Glad to hear you are being fired from your job you fucking nutbag.
Sincerely,
Fuck you
_____________________________
From: Kyle Beaulieu
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 11:39 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Important read
You piece of shit, you have the nerve to tell a victims family from sandy hook that their child isn’t real?!? Are you retarded?? I’m glad you got fired and I hope no institution ever hires you again. Your children should be ashamed of you. Everyone in CT hates you.
_____________________________
From: phattyb91@***.com
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 12:09 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: You suck
You fucking piece of shit, have fun finding a new job douche bag
_____________________________
From: MJ Wieloszynski
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 1:22 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: MY GRATITUDE
Mr. Tracy,
I have often made a point with my children and others that neither monetary wealth nor academic degrees are evidence of intelligent, virtue or wisdom. It is most helpful to have examples such as you to prove my point.
Thanks,
MJW
_____________________________
From: Chris Dawson
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 1:49 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Hey!
You are crazy. Just thought you should know.
_____________________________
From: Jason O’Brien
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 3:22 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Karma
Is a bitch. If my son had been murdered at Sandy Hook and you harassed me about it, getting fired would have been the least of your worries. Good luck getting another job in academia, fuckhead.
Jason L. O’Brien, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education
University of Alabama in Huntsville
_____________________________
From: jjudgehix@***.com
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 2:53 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Embarrassed
Moron,
To think that someone actually gave you a job, and for it to be my college, makes me very sad. Your resignation should be immediate. Get a life.
Joseph Judge FAU student.
_____________________________
From: Rick O’Bryan
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 5:47 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: please resign and seek therapy for your rage.
_____________________________
From: Jess Damery
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 7:27 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: URGENT: REQUEST
I demand you send me proof that your mother and father once lived, that they were your parents, and that you are the rightful owner of any photographs that you can provide. I believe that you have benefited financially very well because of your alleged parents. You are descipable, and I will get to the bottom of this hoax you are purporting. If you do not send me this proof, I will inform Alex Jones and the rest of the world of your deceit and betrayal. May your soul burn in hell.
_____________________________
From: Sam Szurek
Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2015 11:54 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Question
Why are you such an ignoranus? Not a misspelling, it means you’re both ignorant and an asshole. And ah yes, go fuck yourself!
_____________________________
From: Ryan Shaw
Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2015 12:17 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Loose Change
Hi James,
When I was in high school I saw Loose Change for the first time — for a few weeks I did not know how to feel. The fact someone would dedicate that much time out of their lives to create such a compelling story had to have some truth to it. That movie taught me an important lesson. There are human beings out there who only feel alive when they are telling people they are wrong. Repercussions and consequences mean nothing to them. They are smarter than every other person in the world and it is their job to let everyone know. Right and wrong mean nothing to them. You are not one of those people, you are worse. At the end of the day you convinced a group of adults to let you spew your insane ideas to anyone who would listen while being paid. Every person you have ever considered yourself close to is terrified to be in public today. Thankfully, I am not one of those people. Please remember, there are 6 year olds that do nothing but make this world a better place for their families. You have lived for over 50 years, spent hundreds of thousands on your education, and have only caused pain. Please change, there is no reason not to.
_____________________________
From: Charles Rockwood
Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2015 4:11 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: A conspiracy, really?
You’re insinuations are disgusting! You are completely crazy and in need of significant mental medical help.
_____________________________
From: Mike Giannangeli
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2015 2:37 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: YOU ARE A SICK PERSON
I hope you seek help for your insidious beliefs. The fact that you attack parents who have lost a loved one makes me sick. I hope you never make another penny you perverted asshole.
_____________________________
From: Bryan Howell
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2015 6:16 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Wow, what a horrid person you are
We start with the given, you are an asshole. But to cause the parents, families and friends of those kids killed at Sandy Hook for what, your “15 minutes,” is just inexcusable. And don’t even try to play the “academic discussion” deal, this is all about you. And you, sir, are a terrible, insensitive, self-centered dickhead. Hope you get fired, hope you never get another positon in “teaching,” hope you live a horrid life. You deserve it. Truly, what is wrong with you?
_____________________________
From: ORourke, Donald
Sent: Monday, December 21, 2015 8:44 AM
To: James Tracy
Subject: FAU and tenure
You have embarrassed all tenured professors at academic institutions. Do the respectable and morally right thing— resign your position immediately. I cannot imagine how I would react to your self-serving words if I were a parent of a six year old victim. But it wouldn’t be a civil as what you’ve faced to date. You are worse than those who deny the Holocaust or the multipole genocides of the twentieth century. I await word of your formal dismissal.
—
Donald M. O’Rourke, M.D
Associate Professor
Department of Neurosurgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
The Abramson Cancer Center
Philadelphia, PA 19104
_____________________________
From: Walker, Christopher J
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 2:17 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: SadSir,
Your comments to the parents of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting are disturbing. I pray that you seek help in developing empathy and stop your harassment. It’s a shame you you have sacrificed your job but I believe you deserve it.
Tracy received only a handful of supportive emails. This one is especially interesting:
From: Matt Mills
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 11:44 PM
To: James Tracy
Subject: Keep your head up
James,
I know they are slandering you in the media right now. Please keep your head up. I know they are slandering you in the media right now. Please keep your head up. I was recently arrested in CT for doing nothing but politely asking a SH family member a question. When I posted bail the bail bondsman told me that a lot of his law enforcement friends don’t believe what happened at SH but are afraid to talk. Decades down the road your children will have the honor of knowing their father fought a noble and tough fight. You are an American hero.
After offering it for sale for about a month, Amazon.com banned Nobody Died at Sandy Hook — a book co-edited by Professor James Fetzer, with contributors who include Professor James Tracy, Dr. Eowyn, and other professionals. In order that Americans know the truth about Sandy Hook, the book is now available for free to anyone to read. To read/download the book in PDF format, click here: NobodyDiedAtSandyHook. If you want a hard copy of the book, click here. The PDF will remain available to the public for free.
Or go to this blog’s “Sandy Hook Massacre” page for the links to the posts we’ve published on Sandy Hook.
~Eowyn
