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Too many leftists books from Cal?
Reader comment on item: California [University Press] vs. Academic Freedom

Submitted by Steven Abrams (United States), Mar 30, 2004 at 16:52

Dr. Pipes -

I don't see how the preponderance of books with leftist themes coming out of the University of California Press endangers academic freedom or undermines the principle that "truth emerges from debate".

Sure, leftists are well-represented and vocal in the academic world - but there is no shortage of well-funded outlets for conservative views in American society. How is it that the publishing of sympathetic portrayals of The Weather Underground and tributes to Allen Ginsberg diminish the abilty for your views to be heard on campuses.

I find your articles and critiques most valuable when they concentrate on the culture and politics of the Middle East, and on the perverse tendency of some academics and people on the left to see Islamism as a sort of third world liberation movement. You are on shakier ground when you suggest that George W. Bush's handling of the "war on terrorism" is better than John Kerry's would be. (Please explain why!)


--Steven Abrams

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

Daniel Pipes replies:

I explained why at http://www.danielpipes.org/article/1430.

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Reader comments (17) on this item

Title By Date
College Campuses: Big Tents for Politics [24 words]D.May 2, 2005 16:41
Bias regarding books being published in California Press [27 words]Robt PollockApr 8, 2004 14:25
Quick to judge? [176 words]Greg WimpeyApr 7, 2004 00:02
it's a trickle-down phenomenon [143 words]William MeyerApr 6, 2004 01:36
Calif.vs.Academic Freedom, Art. No. 1688 [68 words]S.C.PandaApr 4, 2004 06:18
Liberal Bias is Pervasive [162 words]Reuben HorneApr 1, 2004 22:07
Thank you -- from a grateful reader [277 words]Sandy RichardsApr 1, 2004 02:44
California vs. Academic Freedom
[w/response] [158 words]
RichardMar 31, 2004 14:16
College books [3 words]Tom WillisMar 31, 2004 10:09
What is conservative? [229 words]Jake FisherMar 31, 2004 08:50
"Just" a partial meltdown? [233 words]G.Mar 30, 2004 23:47
The connection between book publication and the classroom [185 words]Will SmytheMar 30, 2004 21:05
No surprises [216 words]Darwin BarrettMar 30, 2004 19:28
Paying for college [52 words]Susan FishmanMar 30, 2004 18:47
⇒ Too many leftists books from Cal?
[w/response] [159 words]
Steven AbramsMar 30, 2004 16:52
University publications. [29 words]Lou NewmanMar 30, 2004 15:11
Just a thought [37 words]Jack CaughranMar 30, 2004 12:12

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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