Poo-Faced Bigots
Whoa, what exactly is it with left-wing academics and unionists? The ivory tower and the blue collar appear to have much in common. They're both belligerently anti-Semitic, although they'd likely go to the ends of the earth to deny it, since it smacks of anti-political-correctness. So then, they really adore Jews, they just detest, abhore and absolutely cannot stand the fact that a country of Jews must defend its very existence by trying to stave off hostile and very effective attacks against its people and its institutions.Seems that British resolution endorsed in May by 150 of the University and College Union's members is still set to roll. Resulting in a veddy-well-deserved freeze on academic ties with Israeli universities, instructors and students. A ban on teacher and student exchanges, conference attendees and research paper publication. So there, all you brilliant-but-morally flawed Jews. Stick that in your Nobel prize cups.
You exist, therefore you are...guilty...of complicity in denying the rights of Palestinians. The tenets of academic freedom be damned.
Thank heavens for sanity prevailing elsewhere. Within the bastions of higher education in a former colony of the British Empire, no less. At this juncture, a growing backlash in Canada and most certainly in the United States and elsewhere; wherever reasonable, self-respecting and honourable minds are wont to dwell, is manifesting its presence.
No fewer than twenty-two Canadian universities, from Dalhousie, to Simon Fraser (from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast) and all other respected institutes of higher learning within this country have made their voices heard. University principals, rectors, chancellors and presidents have been adding their voices to the growing opposition, including also heads of state, scholars and Nobel Prize winners internationally.
"The attempt of one group of scholars to stifle the views of another is an affront to modern society and must be condemned wherever it arises"; the view of University of British Columbia president Stephen Toope. "Those British professors who have brought forward this shameful scheme ought to reflect on the example and consequence of the intolerance they are communicating to their students."
All of Montreal's universities have similarly put forward strong statements: "If you choose to isolate Israeli universities you should add McGill to your boycott list", said Heather Munroe-Blum. "We will stand steadfast against those who seek to undermine academic freedom."
Lest Britain seem to be standing alone in its pariah-righteous state, it should be pointed out that the Ontario wing of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Canada's largest syndicate, also passed a resolution calling for "boycott, divestment and sanctions to end Israel's apartheid practises", in 2006.
The coming academic year promises to be full of unpleasant little scenarios of dissent, since pro-Palestinian groups have already issued their statements of condemnation against those academics who have protested the British resolution.
We can hardly wait for the fireworks to light up again, once again renting asunder campus peace.
Labels: Justice, Political Realities
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, July 26, 2007
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