My friends at the AMCHA Initiative have written the below-linked article in which they claim that thre University of California campuses have violated their own regulations when university departments at Riverside, Los Angeles and Davis sponsored speaking appearances by Omar Barghoti, who is one of the leaders of the drive to boycott Israel.
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=0beb330b057061522bbe22a7f&id=9beecb3937&e=b6eadb6292
I have to agree with their assessment. While it is recognized practice for university-recognized student groups to bring in speakers who reflect their point of view, when done by a university department, unless it is a balanced debate, it appears to the students that faculty and the university are putting their imprimatur on a particular point of view. In reality, that is what is happening.
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If pursued, the controversy will only give Barghouti more attention and his supporters will claim that people are trying to silence him.
AMCHA should just attack the false premises he presents. The conflict isn't one state with civil rights issues. If there is going to be peace it is through two states. If he wants to keep dreaming of one state where everyone gets along in harmony, let him. He can continue to live in his fantasy land.
Didn't the self-righteous but confused Irvine students claim that since the Michael Oren talk was sponsored by the university they should have had someone to present their narrative?
Point well taken. I think if Barghouti had been sponsored by the MSA or SJP the only thing to do is go and challenge in the q and a.
I don't think Barghouti really believes Jews and Palestinians will live in harmony together in one state. he just won't admit that the religious obstacle is too big to overcome for the Muslim world. Eventually, the Jews would be outnumbered, fighting would be the norm and the Jews would be driven out.
As for the way the UCI MSU presented their narrative in 2010, that left a lot to be desired.
The main point here is that when a university department sponsors such an event and supports it with their own editorial comment, then the universities have crossed a line. Then it becomes indoctrination at the expense of education.
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