Are you being fair to this professor?
Reader comment on item: Backhanded Endorsements of Campus Watch
in response to reader comment: URGENT - COLUMBIA IS ABOUT TO GRANT MASSAD TENURE

Submitted by Valerie Chau (United States), Jun 9, 2008 at 21:30

I have read Professor Massad's website and answers to all of the allegations against him. I have read an article about his situation in The Chronicle of Higher Ed. He seems honest and balanced. I am concerned that people are attacking him personally because they don't share his views and are not allowing him to respond. Please consider how you would feel if you were a professor, writing books and articles, and teaching classes, and then you are attacked with untruths and lies about what you supposedly said and did. Please allow Professor Massad to speak in his own behalf, listen to him and treat him fairly. I support Israel because I want the Jews to have a homeland. However I don't believe we need to shut up everyone who disagrees - why can't we talk to people and disagree courteously and with respect? Can't we hear what the Professor has to say, with fairness? And if his works are scholarly and he is a good teacher, he should receive tenure.

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Daniel Pipes replies:

Neither Campus Watch nor myself has ever made any effort to shut up anyone we disagree with. Period. Your remarks should be directed at those who try to shut me up, for example at university talks.