Wednesday, October 10
Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu Banned by Minnesota College
In Post Nine Eleven Amerika, you're no longer allowed to hear viewpoints deemed unsuitable, not even on campus, not even from a Nobel peace prize winner.
On the other hand, here's a sample of what Amerika's Heartland care most to hear: "Martha, change the channel and let's see who's on American Idol tonight?"
The excerpted commentary below by Cecilie Surasky of Jewish Voice for Peace appeared last week in Alternet's alternative news offerings. --editor
Minneapolis/St.Paul's City Pages just reported that members of the St Thomas Justice and Peace Studies program were thrilled when Bishop Tutu agreed to speak at the University" but administrators did a scientific survey of the Jews of Minneapolis, which included querying exactly one spokesperson for Minnesota's Jewish Community Relations Council and several rabbis who taught in a University program" and concluded that Tutu is bad for the Jews and should therefore be barred from campus.
In a move that still has faculty members shaking their heads in disbelief, St. Thomas administrators--concerned that Tutu's appearance might offend local Jews--told organizers that a visit from the archbishop was out of the question..... Read more
On the other hand, here's a sample of what Amerika's Heartland care most to hear: "Martha, change the channel and let's see who's on American Idol tonight?"
The excerpted commentary below by Cecilie Surasky of Jewish Voice for Peace appeared last week in Alternet's alternative news offerings. --editor
Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu Banned From Campus Over Israel Criticism
Rumors have been circulating for some time that Archbishop Desmond Tutu was banned by the University of St Thomas in Minnesota because of statements he made that some consider anti-Semitic. Now it's official: winning the Nobel Peace Prize doesn't protect you from charges of anti-Semitism if you criticize Israeli human rights practices. Neither, apparently, does being one of the most compelling voices for social justice in the world today, or even getting an honorary degree from and giving the commencement address at Brandeis.Minneapolis/St.Paul's City Pages just reported that members of the St Thomas Justice and Peace Studies program were thrilled when Bishop Tutu agreed to speak at the University" but administrators did a scientific survey of the Jews of Minneapolis, which included querying exactly one spokesperson for Minnesota's Jewish Community Relations Council and several rabbis who taught in a University program" and concluded that Tutu is bad for the Jews and should therefore be barred from campus.
In a move that still has faculty members shaking their heads in disbelief, St. Thomas administrators--concerned that Tutu's appearance might offend local Jews--told organizers that a visit from the archbishop was out of the question..... Read more
