Nonie Darwish was scheduled to speak at two famous American universities. She was invited not by the universities themselves, but by student groups. And it was by student groups that she was dis-invited, groups that were responding to enormous pressure from Muslims on campus. Is this purely a private matter, in which university administrations have no role to play? Are they simply to observe, with disinterest, the spectacle all over the country of those who wish to speak about Islam in terms other than flattering, being hounded, harassed, having pies thrown at them, enduring campaigns of vilification before, during, and after their few appearances, or even -- as in the just-concluded dismal spectacle involving Nonie Darwish, never having a chance to present their views, no matter how well-informed or well-reasoned.
Is there, then, a positive duty to seek to protect free speech by taking a special interest in speakers who, because of the nature of their subject matter, should be heard most of all? Their subject matter, currently, has caused recent American governments to spend between two and three trillion dollars. And if many more people could achieve the right understanding of Islam, I believe that they would sensibly endorse policies that would not require the expenditure of two-three trillion dollars. Surely the presidents of American universities have a stake in helping our benighted rulers to find more effective, cunning, and less expensive ways to deal with the problem of Islam and those of its adherents who take their Islam straight up, not on the rocks, modified by time, custom, perceived present self-interest. Few in the West are willing, right now, to rock the boat too violently, as they may be willing when their numbers, and power, increase.
Yes, there is such a duty. And it is not a duty that is being fulfilled. So, while deploring the decisions of the student groups who uninvited, having previously invited, Nonie Darwish, one understands that they were no doubt affected by the general atmosphere of the universities of this country. Few among the Administrators and the Faculty are openly insisting that those who wish to speak about Islam should be invited, including the "defectors from the Army of Islam" -- that is, such apostates as Nonie Darwish, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Wafa Sultan, and Ibn Warraq. Not only should they be invited, but in their audiences administrators and faculty members should prominently show their faces. And in a hundred other ways they should make sure that the efforts of Muslims and their fellow travellers to keep out all such apostates, and all others who have intelligent and well-prepared observations on Islam, are thwarted. The apostates should be welcomed and well-protected. The university administration should makes clear that anyone at all who interrupts or disrupts such gatherings will be located and punished, if the law permits, and that those who are students will be expelled from the university. End of story.
Unfortunately, this is not the case as of now. But it can be made the case. University presidents can be made, if they haven't yet, to listen, and to do their duty. Not, however, through appeals to morality, to free speech principles, to the threat of Islam that is akin, some believe, to the threats of both Fascism and Communism, but even more insidious because the word "religion" is allowed to disguise the real nature of this Total Belief-System.
The only thing those who now run American universities now understand, or care about, is money, and the possibility of donations or the withholding of donations. Let alumni be properly informed about this. Let them be properly informed about the further scandal of MEALAC program at Columbia, with Joseph Massad (awarded, in violation of the university's own rules, tenure -- about which the university will not publicly say a word), the PLO propagandist Rashid Khalidi, the deplorable Hamid Dabashi (author of the famous "Ode to Edward Said," which google), who is known to ironic Iranians in exile as "Hamid the Arab." (Just imagine what Ms. Nafisi, in this country, or Abbas Kierostami, in Iran, think of the likes of Hamid Dabashi.) They should be properly informed about Princeton too, where the decadence is more likely to be obvious not in the Middle Eastern program (where the restraining effect of Bernard Lewis kept things decent for a long time -- nothing like the Columbia situation could develop), but in other areas. The insensate haste and public gushing when Cornel West was not only "snapped up" by Princeton (see the statements of its Provost at the time) but given, absurdly, a University Professorship, are the kinds of things that those who give should be made aware of. Those donors should not only withhold contributions, but make clear to the Development Office, the beating heart of Columbia, Princeton, tutti quanti, that as long as such appointments are made, no money will be forthcoming.
It's the only way. Beat them down. Take the money away. Do not replenish their endowments on which they took such foolish chances. Let the Presidents themselves of these places be replaced -- by those who come as close as possible to Jacques Barzun in their understanding of "Teaching in America." Don't put up with the massads and the dabashis, the rashid-khalidis and cornel-wests.
And tell the universities why the cancellation of perfectly acceptable talks by Nonie Darwish, because of Muslim pressure, is unacceptable, and is one more nail in the coffin of donations.
Cut off their money. And if the unoffending faculty are hurt? Too bad. Let them, too, see what is going on, and add their voices to the chorus of those enraged at the cravenness, the pusillanimity, the irresponsibility, of those who run these places, and in so doing, as we know all know, do so very well for themselves.
The quest for freedom of speech paved the way for early beginnings of universities and it is the woeful reluctance to allow it that will be the downfall of universities...
Yes, well, look at what happened to Socrates. :s
The MSA likened Ms Darwish's relationship with Muslims to the KKK's relationship with African-Americans...and that was sufficient to provoke her cancellation. How unfortunate that the student groups that invited and then dis-invited her didn't request the MSA expand upon their charges and explain in what way Mrs Darwish resembled the KKK.
The entire culture inside today's Ivory Tower is essentially one gigantic flight from reality and responsibility.
Dr.Wafa Sultan may have hit the nail on the head in her "A God who Hates" Book. Though I have not read the book yet, reading excerpts from it; Dr.Sultan goes onto explain the nature of why so many Muslims yell and our very agressive when they want to get their points out. She saw this in Syria for nearly 30 years of her life and learned to ignore it and pretend it was just normal conversation.
There is a possible learning moment there for those young heads of mush who are attending these Universities and who need to learn how to not be intimidated, to know they have a solemn duty to stand up for freedom of speech and expression, and most of all to defend their right to do so. After all America is not founded on sharia law,or any form of the suppressive nature of the Islamic ideology.
This is why it is so important when MSA Students try to suppress speakers like Nonie Darwish, those representing the historic organizations have a responsibility to not be intimidated. What would the founder James Madison have said in the face of these people? By rejecting Nonie Darwish because of Muslim Pressure they displayed the weakest of Character in defending our First Amendment.
Where were the loud voices at Columbia when the Holocaust denier,the man who wants to annihilate Israel visited and spoke at the Campus?-- What a pitiful and sad display of what should be the American character--
Our military is fighting against radical Islam and our University students cannot muster an ounce of courage to defend their American rights on campuses against loud voices and papers.
l also might add where are these parents of these sudents?
Since they the parents for the most part are footing the bill let them know how far left and loon these universities have become and let them chose other schools.
The students need to be reminded of what their great universities stood for,... once upon a time:
The flag of Princeton University displays the school's shield and motto. An open book is shown inscribed with "Vet. Nov. Testamentum" (Old and New Testament). The motto, "Dei Sub Numine Vi,get" translates as "Under the Sovereignty of God It Flourishes." An old ('37) alumnus says the translation doesn't do justice to the operative word Numine, meaning Divine Sovereignty and goes on to give an idea of what it involves, by offering his translation : LORD, our God, King of the universe, under the awesome, unsearchable riches of your eternal and limitless wisdom, knowledge, power, love, and sovereignty, it (Princeton) lives and grows strong!
Columbia's motto is "In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen"
In English: In Thy light shall we see light (Psalm 36:9)
"The students need to be reminded of what their great universities stood for,... once upon a time..." -- Slamdunk
Great idea, but I think the presidents, provosts, chancellors, deans, and faculties are much more in need of reminding than the students.
Cornelius related "The MSA likened Ms Darwish's relationship with Muslims to the KKK's relationship with African-Americans."
Hmmm, if one follows MSA's comparison to its logical conclusion, there would have to be apostates from "being Black" who are members of the KKK. Now there's a mind-boggling thought.
Cornelius' KKK analogy was right-on. Growing up in the South I experienced their thuggish behavior and our family endured one incident of vandalism just because my Dad attended a black man's funeral. They stayed stealthily behind the scenes until someone challenged them. They them became loud and obnoxious talking over everybody and listening to no one, kinda like a Pallestinian mob. The Jihadis are the ULTIMATE KKK burning people instead crosses, cars, and houses. When will Americans, particularly Black Americams see the stark similarities? Whether it is Farakan's people dressed like Nazi souldiers or Sharia Law permitting slavery. Can we say HYPOCRACY and DOUBLE STANDARD?
It is a real comfort to know that the MSA is in control of our major universities. Muslim "students" dictate who will speak at American universities; what a travesty! I won't hold my breath and wait for someone, somewhere to stand up to their bully censorship tactics and their whining accusations. Today's college students are so blinded by political correctness that they don't even realize what is happening! What dupes they are.
I don't suppose it has ever occurred to the pathetic, indoctrinated group thinkers who consider themselves paragons of tolerance and virtue that the MSA is censoring free speech in THEIR universities. Some day they will wish they had listened to former muslims willing to risk their lives to inform others about islam and in retrospect, maybe they will understand why the MSA was determined to keep the Cassandras away. Since they are such enlightened, tolerant, open-minded genuises, you would think they might be a bit curious now. But alas, they are as brainwashed in moral relativism and cultural Marxism as muslims are in islam.
Conratulations, Robert.
Now write another educational, entertaining and well-documented book--- that for some inexplicably retrograde reason, no one in authority will deign to read.
(Like that word, 'deign' ? I do too. How many of your readers can use a 14th. century intransitive verb? And, use it correctly since it means 'to reluctantly consider as if beneath them'.)
Conratulations, Robert.
Now write another educational, entertaining and well-documented book--- that for some inexplicably retrograde reason, no one in authority will deign to read.
(Like that word, 'deign' ? I do too. How many of your readers can use a 14th. century intransitive verb? And, use it correctly since it means 'to reluctantly consider as if beneath them'.)