[Peace-discuss] PAW & U. Texas goings-on

[David Green]

Friends, 
   
  It's interesting to contrast the Palestine Awareness Week events with Israel Week. On the one hand, public events well if moderately attended and seriously behaved, addressing the history of the conflict. On the other, an "anti-terrorism" expert one afternoon at Hillel. It should be understood, for whatever it's worth, that pro-Israel students will rarely if ever sponsor speakers away from their home turf, and rarely if ever attend an event that challenges the Zionist perspective.
   
  Obviously, the overwhelming weight of scholarly and historical evidence supports the Palestinian cause, if moral standards are applied to this evidence. Unfortunately, this is not reflected in the academic programs offered on this campus. I feel that the goal of the next year should be to publicize this discrepancy and bring it to the attention of University administrators and the public. I've been told many times that students from Arab and Muslim backgrounds feel silenced and defensive on this campus, and with all due respect to understandable fears, that should be challenged with the help of the larger community. Support for Israel, even among Jewish students, is thin and vulnerable, and expressed in increasingly close-minded and hysterical fashion.
   
  Congratulations to the ASA for organizing these events. It's important to understand that what goes on here reflects, to some extent, campuses around the country. Check out the Zionist angst expressed at U. Texas.
   
  http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1208246577144&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
   
  DG

       
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