[Peace-discuss] reply to message posted to CGS regarding teach-in on Syria

[Carl G. Estabrook]

Ed--

There are many good reasons not to be Harvard - the Kennedy School is one.

I have no objection to what you're advocating - just to what you're excluding.

Your speakers for this session are comfortably within the limits of allowable debate - neoliberal and neoconservative. 

Where are the advocates for paleoconservative or left positions? Which of your panelists agree with Ron Paul or Noam Chomsky's views? It's their exclusion that's objectionable.

Your "teach-in" (you've borrowed - co-opted - that term from objections to regime-supporting academics 40 years ago) fails "to teach about the complexity of the Syrian civil war" if you exclude those voices. 

Regards, 

Carl


On Sep 16, 2013, at 9:44 AM, "Kolodziej, Edward A" <edkoloj at illinois.edu> wrote:

> Thanks for the citation, Carl. Hey, we're not Harvard.
> 
> As a former U of Chicago President once said to an Illinois legislator who
> accused the university of teaching Communism: "We teach it.  We don't
> advocate it."
> 
> The teach-in is to teach about the complexity of the Syrian civil war.  We
> don't advocate it."
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Ed 
> 
> Edward A. Kolodziej
> Director, Center for Global Studies
>  (CGS) & the Program in
>  Arms Control, Disarmament, &
>  International Security (ACDIS)
> University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
> 303 ISB, MC-402
> 910 S. Fifth Street
> Champaign, IL 61820
> (CGS) 217-265-5186
> (ACDIS) 217-333-7086
> FAX: 217-265-7519
> 
> 
> 
> On 9/13/13 7:08 PM, "Carl G. Estabrook" <galliher at illinois.edu> wrote:
> 
>> Here's a shameful model for the local trahison des clercs:
>> 
>> http://harvardmagazine.com/2013/09/kennedy-school-forum-debates-us-militar
>> y-action-in-syria
>> 
>> The Kennedy School has been recognized as a joke since its reconstitution
>> 40 years ago, to support Kennedy-Johnson war policy.
>> 
>> Plus ça change. --CGE
>> 
>> 
>> On Sep 13, 2013, at 9:10 AM, "Hewitt, Karen M" <khewitt at illinois.edu>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Dear Carl Estabrook and Wayne Johnson:
>>> 
>>> This has been designed to be a public forum for learning and debate to
>>> which audience members are welcome to contribute.
>>> 
>>> karen
>>> 
>>> -- 
>>> Karen Hewitt
>>> Outreach Coordinator
>>> Center for Global Studies
>>> University of Illinois
>>> 303 International Studies Bldg.
>>> 910 S. Fifth St.
>>> Champaign, IL 61820
>>> 217-244-0288
>>> http://cgs.illinois.edu
>>> 
>>> E. Wayne Johnson 朱稳森 <ewj at pigsqq.org>
>>> Re: [Peace-discuss] Teach-In on Syria, Sept. 18
>>> September 13, 2013 1:22 AM
>>> 
>>> Since the Goal is Obamize the audience, there is no use
>>> to bring any extraneous influencers.
>>> 
>>> Thank you for your interest in CGS.
>>> 
>>> Do have a nice day.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 09/13/13 5:21, Carl G. Estabrook wrote:
>>>> Karen Hewitt
>>>> Outreach Coordinator
>>>> CGS UIUC
>>>> 
>>>> Ms. Hewitt:
>>>> 
>>>> I'm surprised that a "public forum to discuss the current crisis in
>>>> Syria and the international community's response" should include
>>>> speakers representing only a narrow spectrum of neoliberal and
>>>> neoconservative opinion.
>>>> 
>>>> There are faculty and others on campus who could present
>>>> paleoconservative and left positions; students and others should hear
>>>> those views as well.
>>>> 
>>>> Regards,
>>>> 
>>>> C. G. Estabrook
>>>> Visiting professor, retired
>>>> 109 Observatory
>>>> 217-244-4105
>>> 
>> 
>