February 26, 2003
From the desk of Mindles H. Dreck:Baraka at Yale
Whenever I witness one of these campus debates about controversial guest speakers, I reflect on my time at graduate school at Columbia.
Baraka would certainly have been welcomed. It was Jeane Kirkpatrick the student body apparently couldn't stomach. I can't seem to google up any references to the controversy but I remember it well myself. It was an important milestone in my own disillusionment with what often passed for "liberalism" in some academic environments.
Here's part of the email I just received on Baraka's appearance at Yale:
On Monday, February 24, 2002, Amiri Baraka spoke at the Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale. Before his visit, many expressed concern over the poet's bigoted and Anti-Semitic past, resulting in a Yale Daily News Editorial that criticized Baraka's visit. That afternoon, Mr. Baraka's read aloud his controversial "Somebody Blew up America" and argued point-blank in his subsequent speech that Israel knew about and was complicit in the attacks of September 11th, garnering him wild applause and numerous standing ovations. His vitriolic diatribes were indeed difficult for those of us in attendance to stomach. To make things worse, today, YDN Columnist Sahm Andrangi penned an opinion piece that has scared the heart of every Jewish member of the Yale community.On behalf of Yale Friends of Israel, we strongly urge you to read Mr. Andrangi’s column, in addition to the YDN’s entire coverage of the event. We eagerly anticipate your thoughts, suggestions, and words of wisdom as we as a community attempt to respond to this difficult and painful challenge with strength and dignity.
Since I haven't read all this stuff yet, and since I don't fully understand the origins of the email, I'll hold off on quoting and attributing the whole thing. They offer the following links:
THE NEW'S VIEW, (3/24), "Baraka's hate speech has no place at Yale"
YDN Column (3/24), by MICHAEL ANASTASIO, "A man who deserves no attention at all"
Letter to the Editor (3/24), by FREDERICK STREETS and RABBI JAMES PONET, "With the appearance of Amiri Baraka, a call for dialogue"
YDN Column (3/25), by DEAN PAMELA GEORGE, "In defense of inviting Amiri Baraka"
YDN Article about the event (3/25), by KATHERINE STEVENS, "Baraka refutes criticism"
YDN Column (3/26), by JAMES KIRCHICK, "Applauding falsehoods at a university"
I hope the numbers, as and example, "YDN Column (3/24)", do not represent dates. I'd hate to think I've lost an entire month.
“That afternoon, Mr. Baraka's read aloud his controversial "Somebody Blew up America" and argued point-blank in his subsequent speech that Israel knew about and was complicit in the attacks of September 11th, garnering him wild applause and numerous standing ovations. “
This is further evidence of the dubious degree programs at the so-called elite schools like Yale and harvard. These particular students are incredibly poorly educated and mediocre. Yale should be investigated for fraud. Am I being facetious? Nope, I’m dead serious.
Richard Hofstadterr made a big deal about anti-intellectualism in America. He was right on target in criticizing the hostility toward learning by the red necks and bible thumpers of America’s past. Nonetheless, Hofstadterr ignored the legitimate American “anti-intellectualism” that should be encouraged and treasured. A person who acquired an advanced degree is often nothing more than an intellectual whore. It is very reasonable to presume that everyone with a Ph.D. behind their name is an idiot until proven otherwise.
Copied 'em right out of my email David, didn't even notice. huh.
i'm so happy i didn't end up going ivy... they some crazy loons there! always thought that you'd get rational people thanks to the 1500+ minimum SAT to get in.. guess not..
really love the apologias for baraka... "are the jews controlling the world? no of course not but their prevalence is troubling..."
wtf... have the klukkers taken control at yale? and have they started admitting lots of "unconventional" members??? this is way too weird!
"wtf... have the klukkers taken control at yale? and have they started admitting lots of "unconventional" members??? this is way too weird!"
These so-called elite schools seem to have more than their share of idiots. We rightfully should treat their graduates with suspicion. That simply the prudent conclusion one should reach after examining the evidence. The Ph.D. is often the slut degree--and that’s just the cold reality of the matter.
Oh well, I probably should elaborate further so I don’t unfairly hurt some people’s feelings. Daniel Pipes possesses a Ph.D.---and I have tremendous respect for him. Nonetheless, the Liberals virtually destroyed his academic career. I strongly urge everyone to read Martin Kramer’s “Ivory Towers on Sand: The Failure of Middle Eastern Studies in America.” This splendid work amply supports my contention that the jerks run much of academia. Almost certainly, only the intellectual harlots currently have a realistic opportunity in attaining a Middle Easter studies tenured position.
The Ph.D. is often the slut degree--and that’s just the cold reality of the matter.
I think you're mistaking your observations, valid though they may be, for cold reality. Speaking as someone still in the student-side of academia, I have known many Ph.D.s whose work I respect. Higher education may have a disproportionately large share of bad apples but it is most definitely not one large, bad apple with a few good spots left.
Okay, maybe in liberal arts it is... ;^)
“Okay, maybe in liberal arts it is... ;^)”
My comments were mostly directed toward the Liberal Arts. The hard sciences must deal with empirical data. Alas, the Liberal Arts intrinsically deal with matters far more nebulous and uncertain. An idiot might argue that socialism is a superior economic system and sound half way intelligent doing so. 2+2=4, however, is cut and dried.
Actually I was being very tongue-in-cheek saying that, because I know and respect some Arts Ph.D.s, too.
As for "hard science"...the more I study, the more I become convinced that there is no such thing. Sure, some specializations deal with greater amounts of empirical data and research than others, but when it comes down to interpretation time, there's a LOT of philosophy involved.
Personally, I'm content to test each Ph.D. that comes along on a case-by-case basis, the default position being to trust only tentatively until proven otherwise -- better or worse.
Amiri Baraka is not an untalented man. Anyone who has read his poetry, plays and music history up until about 1985 or so knows that. Indeed, his role as the prime mover of the Beats alone is enough to remember him for. His current persona strikes me as either evidence of disillusionment or a method for grabbing the spotlight after he is a played out old guy.
Nor do I believe he is really anti-Semitic. That strikes me as fallout from having been ill-treated by his first wife's family. I bet he behaves himself with his two Jewish daughters.
On the bright side, at least no one was hit with a 2X4.
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