I have to get this off my chest. I cant tell you how angered I am by the vocal and high-minded opponents of the ASA boycott who have been absolutely silent or AWOL on Steven Salaitas case. Im not talking about the hardcore supporters of Israel: they at least are true to their cause, and will fight it on whatever front, and with whatever means, they have to. I have far more respect for them, frankly. Nor am I talking about university presidents, who do what they do on behalf of the interests for which they do it. Im talking about the academics, the professors and scholars, who claimed last winter, in their thoughtful letters and judicious prose, to be champions of the Palestinians and critics of Israel, but, above all else, to be defenders of academic freedom. Where are they now? They dont think Salaitas is a case of academic freedom? That it doesnt rise to the level of concern that the ASA boycott did? Because, you know, firing someone for his beliefs -- or how he expressed them -- is less potent a threat to academic freedom than refusing to partner with an Israeli academic institution? If they actually believe such nonsense, let them publicly defend it, in statements and broadsides like the ones they wrote in December. I try to engage my critics, and as an organizer, I try not to alienate potential recruits to the cause. I dislike the rhetoric of moral denunciation unless its applied to institutional and systemic evils or to individuals, like Chancellor Wise or the UIUC Trustees, who enact and perpetuate those evils. But I have to say: this sickens me.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:24:49 +0000