National Post - sept 15 Jonathan Kay

Uncle Tom Kay. Kay's argument is weak. First he says that the professor is Jewish - as if being Jewish means you can't be anti-semitic - a proven false statement. Then he heads his op-ed with the words Bubbie and Zeyda as if again saying - "look guys, I too am Jewish so I can't be supporting an anti-semitic professor. Lastly, what other excuse can the professor and university say other than he was using it as an example? I am not convinced of the professor's lack of anti-semitism. We all know that York has a record of allowing anti-Israel and anti-semitic activities on campus. Surely a reasonable professor would either not have thought of the example he chose or if he did, would have chosen another one. Why didn't he chose a less evil opinion? Why did he go for shock value? Why did he use an anti-semitic example that now relates to the Holocaust? Something is wrong here Mr. Kay! Suppose the same professor had gone to the Toronto Airport and yelled "Don't say, THERE IS A BOMB IN THE AIRPORT?" Would our legal system be lenient and understanding of his intent?

Uncle Tom Jonathan Kay, in an attempt to whitewash antii-semitism, has jumped on the issue without considering the facts. There was anti-semitism involved here - on one level or another - and the professor's and the university's weak excuses should not be accepted.

Investigating York University

An investigation into York University is certainly due. However the emphasis should be on the professors' using their tenure privileges to avoid censure while promoting one sided conferences that extol the virtues of one political or social point of view, and that denigrate and eliminate support for the opposing arguments. At many Canadian universities there are a few professors who protect their reactionary views of certain countries and religions under the guise of freedom of speech or religion. While doing so they promote social actions and values which are contrary to Canadian values, democracy and interests. It is surely their right to do so, but it should be the university's right to fire them for actions which are outside of their professional expertise and which are damaging to the university. These professors encourage the radicalization of students and their attempts, usually by mob rule, to silence all opinions that they find objectionable. At the same time claim the right of free speech for all opinions they support. Yes, it is time for an investigation into York university, and after that Ryerson and then Carleton.

Letter to the Star - August 31st

The conclusion of York University's Panel on Racism is that the students need more social space. It is good that the problem will so quickly be solved as it is expected that some hundreds or perhaps thousands of Jewish students will no longer attend that university.

Ignatieff's great grandfather's solution to the pogroms against Jews in Russia was that the Jews should leave Russia. They did, and it helped the Jews, including my grandfather, but not the Russians. I expect that the result for York and its students will be similar - a good education for Jewish students at other universities and a morally and financially impoverished York University.