Richard Witty sent along this letter he got from Clark President John Bassett today--two weeks after Witty, and countless others, I guess, sent Bassett letters opposing his decision to disinvite Finkelstein. Is this old news? Globe seems to have had it, indirectly, here. I gotta say, I think this is a pretty good letter for such an important person. How many of us admit our mistakes so openly. And yes: the world is changing. Next: As'ad AbuKhalil! Writes Bassett:
I want you to know that the students have arranged for Professor Norman Finkelstein to speak at Clark University on April 27, only four days later than the date originally discussed. Clark is dedicated to full and free inquiry on all controversial issues, especially including the relations between Israel and Palestine. My decisions along the way in this case were made in an attempt to balance two goods—free inquiry and common courtesy to visiting speakers. And, the decisions were always made with my primary concern being what is best for Clark University. I freely admit that the process could have been better. I should have begun by consulting with the leaders of the sponsoring student organization, not by announcing a decision. I also should not have assumed that, because April 20-24 is the last full week of classes, nothing else could happen until fall. That assumption left too many people thinking that free speech was in abeyance for five months. The students involved have conducted themselves in the best “Clark way” and I hope the result shows that one can achieve both goods.
Thank you for being interested enough to send me your concerns.
Sincerely,
John Bassett
President
Clark University
We're having trouble with the comments. This is a test to see if they're working.
Some items relating to Dwork and the Strassler Center:
USHMM: National Thought Control mentions the work of a Strassler grad student and discusses the problems with the ridiculous decontextualized nonsense that Holocaust Studies programs try to peddle as scholarship.
Oh Richard Witty's going to be kicking himself!
I think Bassett needs to acknowledge that he was in fact engaged in, or enabling, a current form of tyranny over the human mind, namely the concerted effort to control and censor the discussion of the role of Jews generally, and Zionists and Neocons in particular, in government, journalism and academia, in America, including denying tenure, denying speaking rights, denying publishing opportunities and related job advancement, and personal smears of Anti-Semitism, or other despicable or deplorable personal qualities, as a way to silence good faith criticism of bad policies and practices.
I see that Google again points to normanfinkelstein.com when searching for norman finkelstein. normanfinkelstien.com seemed to have dropped out of the google index, but I'm glad it has re-appeared.
http://jewssansfrontieres.blogspot.com/2009/04/google-disappears-norman-finkelstein.html
Anyone know the back story on that?
This is very heartening. I never would have believed it possible, if it wasn't happening right in front of me. Let's see what happens this time, but I'm beginning to think the outcome might be good.
Kudos to RWitty for walking the walk. On the other hand, the author's obsequious enthusiasm for the "pretty good letter for such an important person" is nauseating. I really must remember to deliver a fistful of car keys to the groin of the next condescending, pontificating member of academia I run into.
@ Witty,
Thank you for standing up for free speech.
Of course not. You didn't see the letter I wrote to Clark President Bassett?
Nice new layout kinda. Anyone know where there is a listing of all the commands you can use for commenting? Like how to bold/url/img/etc. (some are listed below)
Its great Fink gets to speak again. I kept seeing articles of people protesting and blah blah.
I saw it, but I didn't believe it was sincere.
(And please don't bother responding, because I also don't believe you have the self-awareness to KNOW whether or not you're being sincere.)
@ Witty
Ditto, re free speech
Anybody going. Next Monday at Clark University in Worcester, MA.
Clark University Students for Palestinian Rights invites everyone to come to Clark University to see Norman Finkelstein speak on April 27th, 2009. Doors will open at 7pm and the event will begin at 7:30pm. The event is free and open to the public. Food from two Worcester-area restaurants will be served afterwards.
I'm way too far away and otherwise have a personal situation where I can't go–but I hope any readers here who live in the vicinity and free to go, will do so. I look forward to the comments of anyone who goes.