BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
Louis Dembitz Brandeis, former Associate Supreme Court judge of the United States and the first Jew appointed to this august organization, would not be very happy with the decision made by the president of his namesake university, or so I believe.
When Fred Lawrence president of Brandeis rescinded his offer to give an honorary degree to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a feminist and human rights activist, well known in the world and a supporter of Israel, there were many uncomfortable Jews in the United States. The Jews do not have so many friends that they can insult a friend of such high standing. No other university can be said to be so associated with Jews even though it is completely non-sectarian. The name says it all.
Time magazine, in 2005, named her one of the most influential people in the world. She received a free speech award from the Danish newspaper “Jyllands-Posten” and was honoured by the Swedish Liberal party for her moral courage for commitment to conflict resolution. She is a fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and this weak president of Brandeis sees fit to insult her because of a few unhappy Mulsim students and professors. I am more than certain that a few of those Brandeis professors were Jews.
Wake up Fred Lawrence! We have to support the people who support us. What does the world do when Israel is tarred by an odious comparison to South Africa by Moslem students in American universities with their advocacy of the BDS movement? How many Jews live in Moslem countries? How free are they? What did the other American universities do when Jews are called “apes”, “pigs” and other vile things. NOTHING.
Yes, she said some derogatory things about Islam, but she should know. She lived it. Her statements about homosexuals and women`s status in Islam are not subject for debate. Islam has a long way to go to reach the modern standards of Christianity and Judaism. Banning her from receiving an honourary degree was offensive and completely uncalled for. Allowing her to speak at the Brandeis does not make amends.
