Brandeis group pursues Carter visit

[Scurrilous]

Professors call debate an insult

<snip>

"President Jimmy Carter may yet come to Brandeis University to speak about his controversial new book about Israel -- and even get the stage to himself.

Some professors are planning to craft a new invitation to Carter to give a lecture without having to debate an opponent.

Last week, the former president told the Globe he declined an invitation to Brandeis because of the string attached. President Jehuda Reinharz, at a trustee's suggestion, invited Carter to campus to debate "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" with a vehement critic of the book, Alan Dershowitz, a professor at Harvard Law School. Carter said Dershowitz knows nothing about the situation in Palestine."

<snip>

"Patricia Johnston, a professor of classics, said she and many colleagues have offered to chip in perhaps $100 each to pay for whatever travel and security costs a Carter visit would entail.

"Who is Alan Dershowitz?" Johnston said. Carter "is the former president of the United States, who has done so much to further the cause of peace in the Middle East and elsewhere. It's an insult to suggest that he should have to defend himself that way."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/12/22/brandeis_group_pursues_carter_visit/

[Jim__]

1. Good for Brandeis! - n/t

[GreenTea]

2. We are NOT allowed to criticize Israel.

[barb162]

3. Who told you that boner

[GreenTea]

4. Try it!

[barb162]

5. try what? this is an open board

moderated with rules, but open

[GreenTea]

6. Israel is perfect, you won't ever catch me slamming them.

I think right-wing ideology is just super.

[Lurking Dem]

7. You are a self-fulfilling prophecy

just waiting to happen.

[Violet_Crumble]

8. You'll find you can criticise Israel in this forum..

There are and have been DUers who think most, if not all criticism of Israel should be censored, but thankfully they aren't among the mods or admin here....

[Scurrilous]

9. Some at Brandeis call for Carter visit

<snip>

"Nearly 100 students, faculty, and alumni of Brandeis University have signed a petition calling for campus officials to bring President Jimmy Carter to Waltham to discuss his controversial new book about Israel without requiring him to debate.

The former president this month told the Globe he declined an invitation from a university trustee to speak at Brandeis, because it came with the suggestion he debate Alan Dershowitz, a professor at Harvard Law School, who criticized Carter's book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid."

A student who started the online petition said the group has already received about $1,000 in pledges from faculty to help sponsor the visit. They plan to invite Carter in a letter by the end of the week.

"I think there’s a basic lack of debate here about Israel and Palestine," said Kevin Montgomery, 22, a senior majoring in politics who started the petition. "My belief is debate doesn’t have to happen face to face. It can happen over time. Most speakers brought to Brandeis are pro-Israel, and I think it feeds a lack of understanding of the other side."

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2006/12/some_at_brandei.html