Proving once again that the only thing that ever leads to "campus discord" anymore is the monthly row over visiting speakers, Brandeis is once again up in arms about an upcoming visit. This time, it's from Norman Finkelstein, the deservedly despised "Holocaust minimizer" who is invited to speak on campus.
At least, he was invited, until the invitation was recently pulled by the Radical Student Alliance and the Arab Culture Club. When not even the Radical Student Alliance (and Arab Culture Club) will have you, that's an indication that maybe you're not welcome at the Non-Sectarian Jewish-Sponsored Home of Social Justice.
Posted by Stephen Silver at March 13, 2007 05:00 PMI just sent this in as a letter to the editor:
In "Finkelstein visit loses club support," Claire Moses lends Norman Finkelstein far too much credibility. His book does not, in fact, "describe" Jewish exploitation of the Holocaust, it alleges such behavior in an offensive, academically dishonest, and thus ultimately antisemitic way. Furthermore, describing him as a "Middle East scholar" is exceedingly generous for a man so inimical to truth and even-handedness.
The article, though, raises a larger issue: when will students start rejecting extremists like Finkelstein outright, rather than hide behind club politics? A "democratic society" certainly demands more of its thinkers, and Brandeisians shouldn't be afraid to say so.
Posted by: jabbett at March 13, 2007 08:24 PMDid you notice in the article that the RSA changed its name to Students for a Democratic Society?
What's next? BOO changing its name to the Weather Underground?