I heard Ms. Darwish on the Mark Belling show in Milwaukee last month. I can't figure out exactly what is "controversial" or "offensive" to non-Muslims about her ideas--maybe pointing out that the Arab Muslim culture is dysfunctional all on its own takes away some of the soothing power of white/American guilt?

Now I understand what happened in Germany in the 1930's. People like Rabbi Eisenberg did not confront the evil that they faced. The Nazis thrived on hatred, largely directed at the Jews.

We can only hope that others wake up to a similar situation today. It is the Islamists against all non-Muslims. What will it take? You would think the WTC would be enough along with countless overseas attacks. I pray it won't require losing a US city, or more.

Typical jewish cowardice and appeasement. Why does this suprise anyone? If jews are culturally suicidal, fine, let them commit "suicide by appeasement", let them enter into the dhimmitude that they seem so determined to surrender to. But for god's sake, don't let them drag the US down as well!!!

Problem is, many Jewish organization started this "fear of speech" factor by seeking to stop all sorts of "hate" speech.

Want to claim there are racial difference? HATE!

Trying to curb immigration? HATE!

Talk about ending affirmative action? HATE!

It seems that the label of "hate" keeps getting bigger and bigger, being applied to things that may just make you uncomfortable.

And yes, even people who wish to "debate" the "undebatable" - the Holocaust.

You have to decide. Do you want real open debate, or just crushing of dissent?

Interesting post.

P.S. "Smarty" above smells like a phony to me.

The fear of ideas that contoversial or different seem to be at many universities. Oddly enough the university which is supposed to be place of free exchange is now becoming the opposite--one of repression. I have the impression that lberal jews ( securlar or otherwise ) just want to hide and avoid any controversy. University administrators have lost the moral courage to stand up for the freedom of speech and academic freedom that they have advocated. One thing that is important is to ask: Exactly what is it they are afraid of ? If it is violence or threats of same ( or whatever the reason ) we in the greater American community should be made aware.

The fear of ideas that contoversial or different seem to be at many universities. Oddly enough the university which is supposed to be place of free exchange is now becoming the opposite--one of repression. I have the impression that lberal jews ( securlar or otherwise ) just want to hide and avoid any controversy. University administrators have lost the moral courage to stand up for the freedom of speech and academic freedom that they have advocated. One thing that is important is to ask: Exactly what is it they are afraid of ? If it is violence or threats of same ( or whatever the reason ) we in the greater American community should be made aware.

First: thank you for highlighting yet another abdication of principles of free speech by an institution that claims to respect free speech.
Second: for those americans or europeans who have not had the "pleasure" or experience of living in a society like Saudi Arabia, let met suggest you have NO idea what religious intolerance, censorship, and quashing of free ideas is like. I lived among the Saudis for a year in 1988-1989; that was an eye-opener for me and I always regarded myself is relatively enlightened, liberal, and tolerant.
I can only suggest that Brown University; and the Rabbi Advisor of Hillel, really have no idea what the stakes really are--they are the epitome of Lenin's "useful idiots."
Nice blog, BTW.

i have a daughter applying to brown university next year and am apalled at the events leading up to a "controversal speaker's" cancellation. i think that those who wished to hear the lady should ask for a partial refund of the $46K tuition as they have been cheated. I am hesitant about showing this to my daughter as i have encouraged her to apply to brown university and expand her universe. she has lived all of her life in arizona and believe me it is somewhat of an intellectual desert. All of you involved in this issue need to resolve something- don't just let it die on the vine. gbest md

Uh...it's not Brown, but the Hillel that did this. Some folks have missed that point.

This is, indeed, an example of Jewish (American)cowardice. There is no dancing around that. It's sickening...as an American, I refuse to fight for people who won't fight for themselves. Israel needs to clean house.

> University administrators have lost the moral courage to stand up for the freedom of speech and academic freedom that they have advocated.

No, they haven't. Their bravery is legendary when it comes to standing up for the freedom of speech of terrorists, anarchists, socialists, communists, radical feminists, advocates of violent secession like MECHA, cop-killers, etc...

If you notice someone not firing at a common enemy, it could be because they are cowards. But it also could be that they're on the other side, firing at YOU.

Plus ca change... When I was a student in Durham (England, not NC) the student debating society had invited Enoch Powell, then a controversial political figure on account of his (frequently misreported but nevertheless pretty extreme) views on immigration and what we would now call multiculturalism, to speak at a dinner. The speech was cancelled after threats of possibly violent protests (not, I have to say, from students but from an assortment of left-wing groups). I had gone to the dinner, not because I agreed with Powell's views but in the hope of hearing a reasonable exposition and discussion of them. It has always seemed to me that the best thing to do with "controversial" speakers is let them speak and challenge them. Or, occasionally, be persuaded by them to change your mind. (Obviously if there are grounds for suspicion that a speaker might be going to incite violence or otherwise behave inappropiately that's a different matter.)

I'm disappointed that the students at Brown didn't even require threats of violence to withdraw the invitation to Darwish. It makes no difference whether I agree with her or not, she should have been allowed to speak.

Reading the various reactions to the Nonie Darwish, it is clear to me that none of the commentators have actually spoken to anyone at who goes to Brown University or was involved in the decision. If they had they would get a very different image of what happened.

As it happens I am a Brown student and an active member of Hillel. I have know about the Nonie Dariwsh for a long time and I was one of the people consulted when the Hillel executive board was making a decision about the issue. The New York Post and other commentators have completely distorted what happened in order to demonize their favorite target—Ivy League Colleges.

In their self righteous manner they’ve demonized Brown Hillel and the Muslim Student Association—turning them into “monsters” that they can easily castigate. But reality is never that simple. Most of the Muslims Student Association did not even know the speaker before it appeared in the media!! Rather than trying to “crush dissent” or “silence protest” the Muslim expressed concerns to Hillel about a speaker. The Hillel executive board obviously though his concerns were valid so decided not to sponsor the speaker. There was no coercion, no strong armed tactics, and no threats. Any other description is simply false.

Right wing commentators like to cite free speech only when it serves their interests. When Tony Judt was supposed to speak at the Polish Consulate, pro-Israel activists intervened and “silenced” him. Left wing radicals are no less guilty—the actions by students at Columbia were certainly despicable. But Nonie Darwish was not an issue of free speech—it was an issue of sponsorship. No one at the University wanted to keep Darwish from speaking at all—rather what people did not want is Hillel to sponsor the speaker. Speakers cost money. Why should Hillel have to spend money on speakers it does not want to bring. Shouldn’t we have control over out own wallets?

I know that most readers of this blog will disagree with me and probably think I am a sell-out to Muslim interests. I have enough self confidence in my Jewish identity and relationship to Israel (my grandfather was in the Haganah, my father was born in Israel) to not be bothered by such mindless attacks. But I will say this—before you attack Brown Hillel and the MSA think about what evidence you have that there some kind of massive clamp down on free speech at Brown. And then we’ll talk.

"before you attack Brown Hillel and the MSA think about what evidence you have that there some kind of massive clamp down on free speech at Brown."

that's a straw man, Josh, because nowhere in this post or the NY Post artilce does anyone say that. We are very specific in our criticisms. I think my five questions are very specific, and since you go to Brown maybe you'd like to tackle them.

But Nonie Darwish was not an issue of free speech—it was an issue of sponsorship. No one at the University wanted to keep Darwish from speaking at all—rather what people did not want is Hillel to sponsor the speaker. Speakers cost money. Why should Hillel have to spend money on speakers it does not want to bring.

Why didn't Hillel want to bring her? Because a Muslim student had concerns. What are the concerns? Read my five questions, they go on from there.

Perhaps Brown is to follow in the footsteps of Britain's Manchester University.... that will twin with Nablus-based An-Najah National University. Oy Vey