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Be careful what you say on campus

The most ominous threat to academic freedom in decades looms in a seemingly innocuous Senate bill expected to come up for vote shortly. A short but critical clause would rob our society of the open exchange of ideas on college campuses that is vital to our democracy.

House Resolution 3077 passed last fall. It included a provision to establish an advisory board to monitor campus international studies centers in order to ensure that they advance the national interest. While the law would apply to all federally funded institutes with an international focus, the target is clearly the nation's 17 centers for Middle East studies. The driving force behind this provision is the same group of conservative ideologues who have long promoted the war on Iraq and who support the extreme right-wing politics of the Sharon government in Israel. Their aim is to defend the foreign policy of this administration by stifling critical and informed discussion on U.S. campuses.

The Senate vote comes at a time in which conservative activists walk the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. They include Education Secretary Rod Paige, who in a moment of failed but revealing levity, recently described the National Education Association, with 2.7 million member teachers, as a terrorist organization.

For professors like me, entrusted with teaching facts as well as critical thinking and the ability to analyze all sides of an issue, the pending legislation must be viewed against the backdrop of other recent and chilling developments.

Be careful what books you buy or check out from the library. You could be monitored under the terms of the U.S. Patriot Act. A further provision of that law threatens criminal prosecution of anyone alerting you to government inspection of your selections.

Be careful what readings you assign. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was sued by the American Family Association Center for Law and Policy for assigning a book on Islam for incoming freshman students. The university held firm, and, fortunately, the court of appeals dismissed the suit.

Be careful what you say in or out of class. Campus Watch and other hawkish, pro-Israeli right-wing organizations have launched campaigns to pressure and discredit professors judged to be un-American for questioning U.S. policy in the Middle East. Some organizations openly recruit students to inform on their teachers.

Students and faculty connected academically or culturally to Muslim and Middle Eastern countries have been especially targeted. Some have been subjected to hate mail blitzes and their institutions pressured to short-circuit their careers. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Penn., announced his intent last April to introduce legislation cutting federal funding to institutions of higher learning where students or faculty criticize Israel, labeling such criticism -- regardless of its content or basis in fact -- as anti-Semitic.

All of this will seem like child's play, though, if the attempt to stifle academic freedom is formalized through Congress.  --BESHARA DOUMANI, PROFESSOR

Read the full Op-ed in the Seattle Post Intelligencer
 http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/167348_academic02.html
Beshara Doumani is associate professor of history at the University of California, Berkeley. He organized a national conference, Academic Freedom After September 11th, which was held at UC Berkeley in February.

Passing a law that says you cannot say something that is true, correct and documented because we don't like it and if you do, we'll take your funding away?  How is that not censorship?  We could have called it blackmail. Is that a better term?

Do you see the distinction? I can say anything I want, but if told my boss he was stupid, he'd probably fire me. Does that mean he's censoring me? Is he violating the constitution?

Yes, Israel is not perfect. Neither is the U.S. But we are strong allies. They are the only democracy in the Middle East. If you don't see the value of that, then this argument is pointless.

Actually, let's address that because that excuse has been over-used and it is a complete lie.

Israel is not a democracy.  Nor is the United States.  The US is a Representative, Socialistic, Republic currently bordering (over the last 3 years and prior to 1964) on Fascism.

Israel is a Republic/Socialistic/Theocratic/Military government if you are white and Jewish. It is a Fascist/Military/Theocracy if you are not Jewish, (Christian or Muslim) or an Arab, (Sephardic) Jew. 

As far as government structures, a democracy requires equal treatment of all and generally is not a good government system because it requires all people be accountable and equally informed, (How many people do you know that are actually informed on everything?  It is impossible).  It rules by majority and history shows this leads to anarchy.  This is why the United States is structured as a Republic, not a democracy which utilizes democratic principles via representation. 

Israel can never be a democracy as long as it uses a faith as its identity. It is impossible for a theocracy and a democracy to co-exist.  By its very nature, a theocracy excludes and a democracy requires inclusion. It can be a republic, but it will always be fascist until all citizens under its control have equal rights and either a free Palestinian and Israeli state are formed, or Israel ceases to be "Jewish" and becomes one state with equal rights for all and no state sanctioned religion as was required in 1948.  Israel violated, the charters of sovereignty creating Israel with full citizenship to the indigent Christian, Arab and Jewish populations from day one, which is why we have the problems in the Middle East today. Israeli historians are finally acknowledging this.  Americans still believe the fairy tale.  It is this fairy tale HR3077 deems to protect.

In actuality, Iraq will be the Middle East's only "democracy"...sort of, (the US is dictating too much for it to be a true republic.  We're already censoring its press and dictating who can run for office).  AND Iraq will have something Israel has never had, a Constitution. 

No, Israel does not, and has never had a Constitution.  Israel is not and has never been a democracy.

Remember the main point - this regulates programs which receive not just standard taxpayer money, but a special fund set up just for international statesmanship. There's no censorship, just a zealous stewardship of taxpayer funds (which many academics resent).

There's a large anti-American bias in today's universities. Congress can't stop that, nor should they. But they can regulate how taxpayer dollars are spent.

Not when that regulation is a violation of the First Amendment and we're dealing with Adults, not children.  You're missing the point:) 

Federal dollars should not be used to destroy rights in colleges.  Children do not attend college; this isn't the same as K-12 where children do need to be protected from some information they are not mature enough to understand.  It should not matter what we say about other countries in this country as long as it is the truth and can be backed up with documentation.

Universities are about debate and learning. When rules are imposed, the learning is skewed. Just because the administration does not like what people are saying does not mean it is anti-American.  This country is about dissention and challenge.  Those they are attacking are not speaking lies.  They teach truth and provide information Israel would prefer remain buried. This time it is Israel.  Next time it could be the US.

The Republican National Committee is currently pressing the Federal Election Commission ("FEC") to issue new rules that will cripple groups that dare to communicate with the public in any way critical of President Bush or members of Congress. Now they want to prevent Americans from criticizing our own government by removing tax-exempt status if an organization dares?  Can you see how letting one little thing like HR3077 get through leads to others? The FEC thing just happened this week.  With the new ruling, non-profits including PBS would be prevented from presenting anything our politicians didn't like.  Without restrictions, you as a citizen have the ability to say, "Hey, this is BS Prof and explain your reasoning!"   In a free society, the people have the power to decide what we believe.  Do you really want the government doing that for you?  Aren't you a better judge of what you should and shouldn't believe?

When we as a people allow the government to dictate anything controversial, we set a precedence for future restrictions.  Laws and restrictions take freedom, they do not protect it.  Each law limits our ability to think and act for ourselves.  This is about getting to the truth so we as a nation can make decisions based on the full story, not just what people want us to know.

Good arguments and great points.  Thanks for your comments EH! 

EH (M) 29
Flint, MI USA

I give you credit for trying. But you are too late. They have got you where they want you - cowering in fear. I think it is significant that in the entire article you don't dare to name Israel by name.
They are already in control, my friends and I fear there is nothing to do now. For now they still let you have this and other forums, just so that you can have your illusion that you are living in a free country. But that's only because it is only an illusion and they know that the real power rests with them and only them.
Good luck.

MP (M) 50 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Actually, the decision not to name Israel in the article was strategic, not fear and there are enough clues in the article for people well educated on both sides of the Middle East issue that the country orchestrating this is clear. 

Most Americans have a knee-jerk reaction to any mention of Israel.  We've been so thoroughly conditioned and brainwashed into believing Israel = good; Arab, Palestinian = bad; Criticize Israel, Zionism (which is fascism in its purist form and needs to be criticized) or Judaism/Talmudic law = anti-Semitic. Whether policies, actions or statements are Anti-Christian, (which the Talmud and Talmudic law are) or Anti-Muslim does not matter. Challenge them and you're anti-Semitic. Today even the New Testament or following the Christian/Islamic values as defined by Jesus Christ (both Christianity and Islam follow the teachings of Christ) are labeled anti-Semitic. These subconscious messages immediately prejudice people and block the real issues, and this is too important for people to tune-out because of effective PR.

This issue is about stripping Americans of our First Amendment rights.  Which country or the faith of that country is irrelevant.  Israel is not mentioned in the article because we wanted people to consider the issue without regards to the specifics of the country lobbying the attack on our Constitution. This would be the same issue if Canada, Germany or France were lobbying for HR3077.

Senators Reed and Chafee, Vote NO on HR 3077 The International Studies in Education Act.

Reader from
Westerly, Rhode Island

We'll verify Reed & Chafee's  voting on this issue with their offices and if this is the case, we'll add them on a list of "First Amendment Heroes"   The American people should know who is looking out for them and we appreciate your heads up on this.

We are still waiting to hear from the office of Senator Lincoln Chafee, (D) Rhode Island

Could you please cite the section of HR 3077 that makes this contingency of "harboring academic critics of this foreign country (Israel)" for funding?

If your claim is true I will gladly voice my disapproval to my congressman who is one of the sponsors of the bill.

Pennsylvania

Response

I AM SHOCKED!!!
Israel and Zionism are not protected by the Constitution of the USA! The OUTRAGEOUS and OUTLANDISH notion that US academic institutions must censor any and all facts critical of Israel is BEYOND THE PALE, utterly un-American, and represents the downfall of this democracy as a free nation!!!!
If this resolution becomes law, all academics must be urged to ignore it: Civil disobedience must and will be broadly engaged, in mutual solidarity with all Americans. Americans must stand together against this usurpation of the basic American right to free discourse, speech, and knowledge, which is the cornerstone of a sound and free democratic educational system. Any foreign nation and its domestic constituents who attempt to undermine this principle should be censured and opposed as enemies of the United States!!!
All alarms should be ringing amongst US citizens who cherish loyalty to the U.S. constitution, without which U.S. citizenship is meaningless.

California

Response:

Zionism and Israel would not be a problem in the United States if the United States acted in its own best interests.  We can't blame Israel for doing what is in its best interests.  That is their right and it is what any nation should be doing.  Besides, blaming and playing the victim are not American values. We allow them to do this; ergo, the fault is with us. The only way their influence and desires will cease to take us in directions not in our best interests, whether it be a House Resolution or a War on Terror, is when we as a nation, starting with our congress, senate and executive offices, begin acting under the premise: What is the best decision for the United States and our people? 

Since 1973 the question has been, "What is in Israel's best interests and how much of it can we get Americans to pay for?"  1.8 Trillion dollars later and at a rate of $10 Million dollars a day of your tax dollars, we are still placing their interests before our own.  If we weren't, HR 3077 would never have been considered and we'd be using that money for a National Healthcare System, extended education or major tax cuts for the average American:

These are the kinds of questions America should be asking and our representatives should be considering. Hating people because of what they are only breeds more hate. The fact is Zionist have the right to be Zionists and if we as a nation are dumb enough to let them use us; that isn't their fault, that is ours.  What we forget is we have the right to say, no thank you and not support it. And frankly if we were not supporting it, the terror wouldn't be happening.  The money to continue it would no longer be there and all parties involved would be forced to find a solution all can live with. The root of this problem starts at home and only Americans have the ability to turn it around.  It's called voting.  Spain voted out their representatives who failed to act in Spain's best interests.  So can we.