Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Finkelstein Denied Tenure
* I missed the class on Tuesday, so apologies if this discusses something already covered in class (or if it offends your politics - though this is a 'blog' after all)
This is a day late, and the news is already a week old, but I think it's really important for us - both as members of academia and as students of popular culture - to consider.
http://www.finkelgate.com/ provides the best overview of the situation. Also, this very long article situates the Finkelstein/Dershowitz debacle within the politics of Israel/Palestine: http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=43&ItemID=13052
I agree with many of the critics of the De Paul decision that this sets a dangerous precedent for academic freedom. More important however, is the silencing of one the most powerful voices of dissent in America at a time when the plight of the Palestinians is only getting worse.
That De Paul would deny Finkelstein tenure in the same week as the collapse of the Palestinian government (pushed to the brink by American funding and pressure) is an ironic and incredibly tragic comment on the oppression of the Palestinians and the role America plays in the area.
This is a day late, and the news is already a week old, but I think it's really important for us - both as members of academia and as students of popular culture - to consider.
http://www.finkelgate.com/ provides the best overview of the situation. Also, this very long article situates the Finkelstein/Dershowitz debacle within the politics of Israel/Palestine: http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=43&ItemID=13052
I agree with many of the critics of the De Paul decision that this sets a dangerous precedent for academic freedom. More important however, is the silencing of one the most powerful voices of dissent in America at a time when the plight of the Palestinians is only getting worse.
That De Paul would deny Finkelstein tenure in the same week as the collapse of the Palestinian government (pushed to the brink by American funding and pressure) is an ironic and incredibly tragic comment on the oppression of the Palestinians and the role America plays in the area.
# posted by Alex Snukal @ 1:31 PM 
