"Letters, memos, e-mails. What are you talking about, by Jove?"
On Sunday evening January 8, UC Irvine law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky spoke at Chapman University sponsored by the Jewish Community Forum. Some friends offered me a couple of tickets to attend, but my Steelers were playing and I had my priorities. (No wise-cracks, please). During his appearance, Chemerinsky attacked the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) for using the years-old controversy involving Jewish and Muslim students at UCI to advance their own agenda.
During the Q and A, Jesse Rosenblum (a friend and colleague of mine) introduced himself as the Orange County head of ZOA. He asked Chermerinsky why he had not signed a letter issued by some 70 Jewish faculty in May 2010 complaining about activities on campus that foment hatred against Jews and Israelis. (I also signed the letter.) According to Jesse's account to me, Chemerinsky claimed he had not seen the letter. He then said that he would look at it and decide if he wanted to sign it. Jesse gave a copy of the letter to an usher to give to Chemerinsky.According to another member of the audience, Chemerinsky looked at the letter between questions then set it aside. As far as we know, Chemerinsky has not signed the letter.
This is the same letter that I told the great "independent scholar with a PhD" from Princeton, Norman Finkelstein about during hate-Israel week in May 2010 and asked him to sign. Check this video out.
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2010/05/norm-finklestein-refuses-to-sign-letter.html
Of course, Chemerinsky's stated public position is that there is no anti-Semitism at UCI. He was saying that publicly years before he even came to UCI. He was there during May of 2010, and since he himself is Jewish, it is surprising that he has no recollection of the letter. Similarly, he probably has no recollection of the letter that I wrote to him. (Nobody at UCI reads my letters.)
Oh well. It is possible you know. Look at our attorney general, Eric Holder. He never read any correspondence having to do with ATF's Fast and Furious operation-even though they were directed to him.
Given the above, I would respectfully suggest that Dean Chemerinsky announce whether he will sign the letter or not and explain his reasoning.
UC Irvine law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky is either a dupe or a stup. He may be a dupe, to "blast" ZOA is a refusal to see their logic and perception of the anti-Semitism on the UCI campus. He could be a stup, be allowing himself to believe in the Islamist (read Muslim Brotherhood) tiqiyya of peace, happeness, joy, interfaith understanding.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that he supported the convicted Muslim 11 on civil disobedience for disrupting the Oren presentation. This disruption was a clear violation of Oren's right to express himself. No legal genius can understand violation of First Amendment rights. and this guy teaches law.
Squid