OPINION: At Brooklyn College, don’t close down presentation—challenge opponents instead!

November 24, 2014 By Raanan Geberer Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Photo courtesy of Students for Justice in Palestine.

Share this:

As the Brooklyn Daily Eagle has recently reported, Brooklyn Assemblymembers Dov Hikind and Steven Cymbrowitz asked Brooklyn College President Karen Gould to cancel an event planned for last Thursday by Students for Justice in Palestine featuring academic Steven Salaita, a critic of Israel who once tweeted that “if you’re defending Israel right now, you’re an awful human being.”

Hikind has been through this before. In 2013, he demanded that Gould cancel a presentation by the same group that advocated boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel. When Gould refused to cancel the program on the grounds of academic freedom, Hikind demanded that she be fired. Famed attorney Alan Dershowitz, an alumnus of the college, took a middle position, saying that the program should be allowed, but that the Political Science Department should withdraw its sponsorship.

At the time, a spokesperson for Brooklyn College told this writer that the department often sponsors programs on controversial topics to spur discussion, and that sponsorship isn’t the same as endorsing the organizers’ views.

This isn’t the time or the place to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its history or my views on it (although I will say that I would probably feel equally uneasy at a meeting of Americans for a Safe Israel, which believes in continuing Israeli control of the West Bank, and at a meeting of Al-Adwa, which views Israel’s existence as illegitimate). I believe that college is a place where all ideas, even unpopular ones, should have a hearing. At the same time, I acknowledge that many of Salaita’s tweets are insensitive, extreme and insulting.

Here’s what I propose. In the future, instead of trying to cancel presentations on campus by those with controversial views, those who object to them should challenge them on the field of ideas. Challenge them to a debate! If they won’t debate, challenge their supporters in classrooms, in study halls, in the lunchroom, or wherever.

To me, someone who says, “Well, I refuse to lower myself and debate such an extremist” defeats his or her own purpose and shows a lack of fighting spirit. If you disagree with someone, do some research, read some books, read up on the facts and prepare to show that person why he or she is wrong. This is not limited to the Arab-Israeli conflict: I would say the same to advocates of any political position, whether right, left, or middle-of-the road.

I personally love to go on message boards, Facebook, Yahoo groups, etc., and challenge and debate those with whom I disagree. That’s what America supposedly represents — the right to speak your mind. If you disagree with what someone is saying politically, don’t be afraid to challenge them — but first get your facts in order.

Many years ago, the Beach Boys recorded a song called “Shut Down” about a drag race, in which the singer vows to “shut down,” or defeat, the other drivers. To college students and politicians, I say this: If you find a particular program on campus to be offensive, don’t try to get it canceled. By doing so, you may bring negative publicity to your cause. Instead, try to “shut ’em down,” in the words of the Beach Boys, on the field of open debate, of academic argument, of ideas!

—

Raanan Geberer, a freelance writer, recently retired as Managing Editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. He had been Managing Editor of the Brooklyn Daily Bulletin until 1996, when the Brooklyn Daily Eagle was revived and merged with the Bulletin.