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March 25, 2007
Cinnamon Stillwell: N. CA Representative for Campus Watch
Having spent the last five years as a political columnist and more recently, a blogger, I've now decided to further my involvement in the battle of ideas. In particular, the one raging on American college campuses and most especially, Mideast studies. At this critical juncture in history, it's imperative that the next generation receive an accurate, unbiased education in this most crucial of subjects. To that end, I'm happy to announce that starting April 1, I'll be the Northern California Representative for Campus Watch.
Campus Watch is a program of the Middle East Forum, a think tank that aims to improve Middle East studies at North American universities through research and writing. Founded by Mideast scholar Daniel Pipes and based in Philadelphia, Campus Watch will be developing a presence on the West Coast and I'll be assisting those efforts.
As far as columns go, I'll be writing for Campus Watch and continuing to write for SFGate.com (once a month on a freelance basis) and FamilySecurityMatters.org. Along with contributing to the Campus Watch blog, I plan on continuing to maintain my own blog and cross-post at Kesher Talk.
The Middle East Forum press release regarding my appointment, and that of R. John Matthies as assistant director of Islamist Watch, is posted at the MEF website and appears below:
Appointments: R. John Matthies and Cinnamon Stillwell March 22, 2007Philadelphia – The Middle East Forum has appointed R. John Matthies to be assistant director of Islamist Watch and Cinnamon Stillwell to be Northern California representative of Campus Watch.
Mr. Matthies is currently assistant professor of French literature at Brigham Young University. He holds a Ph.D. in romance languages and literatures from the University of Washington (Seattle), where he has also taught, and has a special interest in Islam in France and French imperialism in North Africa. His linguistic expertise includes knowledge of Arabic and Hebrew.
Islamist Watch, a new project of the Middle East Forum, combats the ideas and institutions of nonviolent, radical Islam in the United States and other Western countries.
Ms Stillwell is a contributing political columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle online and a contributing editor to FamilySecurityMatters.org. Her articles have appeared in many other publications, plus she maintains a weblog and writes for other internet sources. She has written about Yale for Campus Watch and about Duke, and UC Berkeley for other publications.
Campus Watch, a program of the Middle East Forum, aims to improve Middle East studies at North American universities through research and writing.
For immediate release
Cross-posted at CinnamonStillwell.blogspot.com.
Cinnamon | 03/25/07 at 01:06 PM | Categories: Liberal hawks and friends
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Comments
Congratulations, Cinnamon. I expect you will do an excellent job in your new position.
Glen H ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keshertalk.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 25, 2007 09:02 PM
Thanks, very much.
Cinnamon | March 25, 2007 10:01 PM
I couldn't help noticing that among the Middle East Forum's aims are "fighting radical Islam, whether terroristic or lawful". As we know from your hero Ayaan Hirsi Ali that there is no meaningful distinction to be drawn between "radical" and "moderate" Islam, this can only mean that you will be attempting to ensure that Americans on Middle Eastern Studies courses are told that the principal religion of every country in the region except one is something to be fought, not because of any links to violence but simply because it is a different religion from your own. And this is supposed to assist their education how exactly?
Another of its aims I note is "working for Palestinian acceptance of Israel", with of course no mention of Israeli acceptance of Palestine (wholly absent to date). I realise balance and fairness are anathema to "9/11 neocons", but even so that seems a little blatant. No need for Israel to accept Palestine because it will be swept away with all the other Islamic countries in the region. Why not simply admit that Campus Watch is a programme for the replacement of Middle Eastern Studies by Zionist Studies in every American university?
However, glass half full and all that: if this means you will be blogging less then American youth's loss will be the blogosphere's gain.
"ou will be attempting to ensure that Americans on Middle Eastern Studies courses are told that the principal religion of every country in the region except one is something to be fought, not because of any links to violence..."
To the extent that it incites violence and attempts to take over the world as part of its theology, it needs to be fought. We all look forward to the day when Islam learns to play well with others. Ali thinks there isn't any moderate Islam - I disagree.
"of course no mention of Israeli acceptance of Palestine (wholly absent to date)."
When there is a Palestine also willing to play well with others, Israel will recognize it.
"No need for Israel to accept Palestine because it will be swept away with all the other Islamic countries in the region. Why not simply admit that Campus Watch is a programme for the replacement of Middle Eastern Studies by Zionist Studies in every American university?"
Cmon Rob - that level of willful misreading and polemicization is egregious even for you.
How about expanding ME Studies to include Zionism? That would be an improvement over most ME Studies Depts as they currently exist.
Judith | March 27, 2007 01:39 AM
++ When there is a Palestine also willing to play well with others, Israel will recognise it. ++
And perhaps when there is an Israel willing to abide by international law, Hamas and everyone else will recognise it. I see no sign of that: indeed, Olmert proudly states that he has no intention of withdrawing Israel's troops and illegal settlers within Israel's borders. Yet strangely, it isn't the Palestinians who claim there is no other side to negotiate with, although that clearly is the case at present.
And I'm sorry Judith: if Islam is to be fought (and presumably defeated, else why fight it?) and Israel is the only non-Muslim country in the region, tell me in a non-misreading, non-polemicized way what will be left in the Middle East if Daniel Pipes, Cinnamon Stillwell and the other hatemongers at the Middle East Forum and its satellites have their way? Could it be the Zionist dream of Eretz Israel from the Jordan to the sea?
I agree, actually, that Zionist Studies would be a useful addition to current ME Studies courses; Zionism has been, for good or ill, a major determinant of the region's recent history. However, so has Islam, and dismissing the latter as something to be fought (maybe not your viewpoint, but certainly Cinnamon's, and it's her and her buddies we were talking about) is akin to teaching biology with Darwin mentioned only as a misguided anti-Christ. A point of view, certainly, but nothing to do with education. Cinnamon has a right to spout anti-Muslim hatred as much as she likes, but when it comes to indoctrinating students with the same hatred ahe can hardly expect the same tolerance. Or if she expects it, she will be disappointed.
