Hmmmm
Reader comment on item: The Rot in Our [Canadian] Universities

Submitted by Sandra (Canada), Jan 31, 2003 at 10:09

It's quite interesting the comments posted on this site in regards to this event.

I understand that some people called Daniel a racist and walked out of the talk. To which Daniel made comments to the effect of how it is interesting that people call names when they don't like what the speaker is saying. I wonder if the name calling and accusations you made in your article, Daniel, were not regarded in the same light as you regarded the comments of those at your talk.

It's interesting that freedom of speech and thought should only be afforded to your points of view. Were not those protestors and people who left your walk entitled to those very same rights? Why do you attack them for expressing their thoughts and views simply because they disagree with yours? You called them "rowdies and barbarians" did you not? Again, what was that about people who resort to name call

You make accusations about the faculty at York and the Centre of International and Security Studies and derogatory statements because they withdrew their support of your talk. You want the freedom of speech and thought and association for yourself but condemn those who wish to exercise their rights to freedom of speech, thought and association by excluding themselves from you and your talk.

Finally, some of the people posting here have made sweeping generalizations about Arabs, Muslims, Christians and the York community simply, it seems, based on your account of the day. I wonder if these same people would condone and/or appreciate such comments being made about Pro-Israelis or Pro-Jews or Daniel Pipes?

A lot of what has been said in some posts is quite reminiscent of comments made by others int he past who were condemned for what they said and thought, and rightfully so. To get an idea of what I mean, simply subsititue every instance of the word Arab with Jew, Muslim with Jew. Hitler would have been proud that his Nazi rhetoric has survived the ages even though he may not have been so pleased that the target is no longer the Jewish people.

Comments of this nature are not acceptable in reference to any people whether they be Arab or Jew. It was disgusting and horrifying from Hitler and the Nazi's back then. It's even more so today, when the previous targets and victims of such filth now see fit to direct it at another group. Semites are all Middle Easterns, not just Jews and Israelis. Interesting to see Anti-Semitic comments coming from a group of Semites themselves! Don't you think?!?!?!

I wonder if my post and freedom of speech and thought will survive the screening process, and show up in it's entirety and unedited, unabridged original form on this site. Will I be afforded the same rights that Daniel so wanted for himself at York, when I am now here, as he was at York, of the minority on this viewpoint?

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Daniel Pipes replies:

Your views appear in their entirety and unedited.

DP