Amid sunshine and the distant screeching of cicadas that have infested the Chicago suburbs, I woke up the morning of my birthday by no means refreshed. The day earlier had consisted of signing a lease for my apartment, going to a Harry Potter event at the Chicago Printer’s Row Book Fair, and finding out a professor at DePaul had been denied tenure.
On Friday, June 8, 2007, Professor Norm Finkelstein was denied tenure, presumably because of his position on the Israel-Palestine issue. Not because of his teaching style. Not because students hate him. Students love him, in fact. A friend of mine always talks about how he loves going to his class.
Finkelstein says in this article, “They will never stop me from saying what I believe.”
No matter if you agree with Finkelstein or not, there is a value in this country I think my university has forgotten, if only for a moment. Academic diversity and integrity have been challenged.
Finkelstein’s words have taught me something. I will forever have to defend my thoughts, my beliefs, my faith. Because of recent events, and because of the way Muslims are portrayed in this country, I will always be one step behind. But they will never stop me from saying what I believe.
Comments (10)
uxqly bdjl iluohdnt ujxrefvcb tjfwmnuig milufgw flwbh
Posted July 11, 2007 12:40 AM
Posted on July 11, 2007 00:40
uxqly bdjl iluohdnt ujxrefvcb tjfwmnuig milufgw flwbh
Posted July 11, 2007 12:39 AM
Posted on July 11, 2007 00:39
Thank you Anonymoose. Halozcel has been trolling Hafsa's posts for a while.
Posted June 15, 2007 2:49 PM
Posted on June 15, 2007 14:49
Halozcel,
I read the book you referred in your post http://tinyurl.com/3axcj6, but I could not find the chapters you mentioned. Please be more careful with your citations in the future.
Also, I don't recall Hafsa mentioning that she believed in anything you posted. Wait let me scroll up...hold on, maybe if I put on my glasses...no...nnnno, still not seeing it. Oh, wait, right at the top. I missed that whole paragraph she wrote about women being less important than men and not being allowed to leave the house. Well, you were right. I feel stupid now.
Posted June 14, 2007 3:00 PM
Posted on June 14, 2007 15:00
Dear Hafsa,you say ''They will never stop me saying what I believe''
Yes,dont stop to say.
And stay(women) quietly in your houses.33.33
As far as I understand you dont stay in your house.Isnt it against islam?
Man can scourge woman 4.34
Does your conscience accept this?
Woman is your tilth.Cow chapter 223.Are you a tilth?
Two women equals one man.Cow chapter 282
Does your logic accept this?
Please dont stop to say anything.
In northern Pakistan,muslims are telling to non-muslim pakistanis ''convert or die''
Dear Hafsa,would you like to say anything?
Although it is impossible to say which hadiths are canonic and which ones fabricated,some hadiths
'women are deficient at wise','I saw the Hell,it was full of women' and 'women,dogs,donkeys...'
Dear Hafsa,how should we interpret these?
Posted June 14, 2007 1:36 PM
Posted on June 14, 2007 13:36
Of what was Finkelstein a professor?
Posted June 14, 2007 1:10 AM
Posted on June 14, 2007 01:10
Well said, Kiwi... Um, not. Wait, sorry. That's completely juvenile of me to say. It's my knee-jerk response when I read a response with such eloquence, grammatical prowess, and sense of reason... Despite completely missing the point of the blog.
Great points, Hafsa. It's upsetting he was denied tenure because I think I've heard more explanation for why he should have it than why he should be denied. At least he's standing up and speaking out against what seems to be the only logical explanation for how he's been treated.
Posted June 14, 2007 12:58 AM
Posted on June 14, 2007 00:58
Tenure is a measure of scholarship. Norman Finkelstein is not a scholar. He hid his lack of scholarship behind the common theme of "they didn't llike me because of what I said" . There were be another professor with whose ideas I will not agree who will have the academic freedom to express them who will also be a scholar. He will receive tenure.
Posted June 14, 2007 12:40 AM
Posted on June 14, 2007 00:40
Agreed Hafsa. The denial of Norman FInkelstein's tenure is a step backwards for DePaul, Social Justice, and all those that care for Justice in Palestine. Never be silenced, never stop speaking out.
Finkelstein has always spoken truth to power and we should all follow his example. Regardless of whether or not DePaul will recognize his ability to teach us, we can always continue to learn from him.
Posted June 12, 2007 12:29 AM
Posted on June 12, 2007 00:29
Agreed Hafsa. The denial of Norman FInkelstein's tenure is a step backwards for DePaul, Social Justice, and all those that care for Justice in Palestine. Never be silenced, never stop speaking out.
Finkelstein has always spoken truth to power and we should all follow his example. Regardless of whether or not DePaul will recognize his ability to teach us, we can always continue to learn from him.
Posted June 12, 2007 12:29 AM
Posted on June 12, 2007 00:29