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why defunding?

Reader comment on item: Defund Middle East Studies

Submitted by Donata Bohanec (United Arab Emirates), Feb 25, 2004 at 00:15

I understand your argument Mr. Pipes, though my first thought, though a little cliche, is 'Why the baby with the bathwater?' I appreciate the intent of Congress in adding funding post-sept 11th, mainly because funding should follow interest, and more people are interested in this region. But to end funding because professors may or may not be teaching a fair course is ridiculous, and rather should be solved through academic means - argue back!

...I do not understand your statement regarding choices of study in the Middle East Programs. Students may find interest and knowledge of the Middle East through various means, through architecture, music, archaeology even, and may use those areas to become quite knowledgeable of the region - that can improve government efforts. Who cares how a student gets the interest, but it takes a lot of interest to learn the Arabic language, so we need as many people with as much interest as possible, to learn about what is going on. Then we can have more perspectives of understanding to relate to a part of the world that it going to become increasingly important, not less.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (15) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Civil Discourse Personified [50 words]Huge FannMar 27, 2004 01:5014382
Leftist Historians respond.... [1079 words]Alexis ZMar 22, 2004 16:4014297
Slandering Campus Watch as "McCarthyite" [302 words]Leonard ApplebaumMar 15, 2004 08:4114196
defunding area studies programs [51 words]Susan KriegerMar 13, 2004 14:2014187
Additional reasons Pipes is right about defunding ME studies [437 words]Will SmytheMar 8, 2004 00:2414112
Defund Middle East Studies Art.1581 [66 words]S.C.PandaMar 1, 2004 04:1314029
Yes, as an entre!! [120 words]RPaineFeb 29, 2004 04:4714023
academia and 9/11 [83 words]Dr. L. McClainFeb 25, 2004 19:2713999
why defunding? [189 words]Donata BohanecFeb 25, 2004 00:1513992
Accolades [33 words]PattiFeb 24, 2004 21:5113989
the council on american-islamic relations advisory board. [37 words]joseph cioccaFeb 24, 2004 14:5613984
The Myth of Middle East Programs [699 words]Kaden BryceFeb 24, 2004 12:5113982
Support Defunding Area Studies [280 words]NancyFeb 24, 2004 11:4113980
Accounting for Middle East Studies Bucks [155 words]Tim HunterFeb 24, 2004 11:3913979
Academia: Freedom is spreading too fast [474 words]Jonathan PfefferFeb 24, 2004 11:2313978

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