Tuesday, August 23, 2011

American Jewish Committee Reverses Stance on Title VI and Berkeley Suit

My friend and colleague Ken Marcus has written a great article on Jewish Daily Forward regarding the split between the American Jewish Committee and the issue of anti-Semitism on college campuses-in this case-UC Berkeley. At issue was a letter written by AJC official Kenneth Stern with Cary Nelson head of the American Association of University Professors that argued that Jews should not enjoy Title VI protection.


http://forward.com/articles/141737/#ixzz1VsiI89vu

I am pleased to see that AJC has awakened from its slumber. From my vantage point here in Orange County, they have been missing in action.
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2 comments:

  1. MiggieAugust 24, 2011 at 1:37 AM

    I'm hoping the Rose Project similarly considers the "considerable criticism" within the Jewish community and follows the AJC's example by ending their support of the Olive Tree Initiative.
    .

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  2. Siarlys JenkinsAugust 25, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    Olive Tree Initiative is a good program. I hope every students signs up for it.

    But on this Title VI matter, what we really need to do is severe the reliance of our Civil Rights law on identification with a "protected group." Anyone who has read appellate court rulings will have noticed that this is a requirement to making any case at all.

    There are many complexities to getting this right, but we need an updated definition of rights that each citizen has, which may not be interfered with, either by individuals or institutions who wield power of retaliation, such as employers, vendors, or government agencies wielding coercive powers, NOR, by individuals retaliating with violence or threat of violence.

    The motive (race, religion, etc.) would then become irrelevant.

    Were they qualified for the job? Yes.
    Was someone else who applied more qualified? (Not by a mile).
    Why didn't you hire them? (Uh.....)

    Case closed.

    Was the student engaged in free speech? (Yes).
    Did you menace them because of their speech? (Yes).
    Why? (Uhhh.....)

    Case closed.

    Because they were a Jew? Not an excuse. Because they were Muslim? Not an excuse. Because she was a wife who did not properly submit to her husband? Not an excuse, even in rural Utah.

    ReplyDelete