You're Fired - Because You're Israelis

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by Tolls
Strangelove:
"If they're financed by sales then a boycott should bring them down and we'll see Prof. Baker in bankruptcy court. "

I'm not sure how they're funded, but they're both sub-1000 circulation.

I don't think you could pay the salary of a professional with circulation of 1000, so the magazines must be subsidized. The government of the UK should investigate who is subsidizing the periodicals. If the government is subsisizing them it should stop.

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by Roland
"In the US a professor making a decision so obviously motivate by racial hatred, even thought the enterprise was not univrsity related, would face expulsion from the university."

You mean, like from Bob Jones University ?

Oxford is a government owned university. BobJones is privately owned and barely qualifies as an institution of higher learning. Let me put it this way. I live in the same town as Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, an institution of the same ilk as Bob Jones, but light years better. Even around here a degree from LU will get you squat when it comes to employment. Everyone knows that a diploma from these institutions is worthless.

[chequita guevara]

I'm ambivalent about this. On the one hand, I believe in academic diversity and keeping politics out of hiring and firing decisions. On the other hand, this fits in with the anti-Apartheid boycotts of the 80s and 90s. Those boycotts blocked people, not just goods. Their soccer (footbal) team wasn't allowed to compete, they were kept out of the Olympics, etc. I'm not sure how this is different, except in that we are extremely uncomfortable doing anything that smacks of anti-Semitism.

[Adalbertus]

Chegitz, one difference, though. In a South African team you would expect Black an White people acting together. I don't expect a joint national team from Israel and Palestine. And basically, I think boycotting people per se is counterproductive. Except they have personally expressed a view which is racist (and in this case it should have been in the article).

[Faboba]

Originally posted by JohnT
You know, I've always suspected the English of quietly harboring an anti-semetic attitude. Interesting that the main protestors in this issue are Americans.

Excuse me! Care to name an examp...

Oh wait... you said English, not British. Oh well, never mind. Damn right - The English are all anti-semetic scumbags. Even the Jewish ones!

[Gatekeeper]

The good professor needs to retrieve her brains and common sense from that alcohol-filled jar she keeps them in.

She basically just gave others who despise Palestinians and/or their policies — instead of Israelis and/or their policies — an opening to get rid of any personnel with such connections, should they feel like it.

So European academics are now officially in a "Cold War" with Israeli academics?

Gatekeeper

[The Mad Monk]

Someone please remind me of the difference, again?

edit: in response to Faboba's post...

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Gatekeeper
So European academics are now officially in a "Cold War" with Israeli academics?

Only if one swallow makes a summer.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Roland
You mean, like from Bob Jones University ?

No, I'm sure he meant a real university.


I can understand why some academics may wish to boycott Israel and Israeli institutions. But these two guys were neither. It would be like someone firing me because the don't like the fact the U.S. still has the death penalty. --Sorry, there's not a whole lot I can do about it.

These two firings are nothing but a manifestation of anti-Semetism. I sure hope there's a Royal Committee for Equal Employment Opportunity, and these two guys can "sue the b*st*ard".

[Gatekeeper]

Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin


Only if one swallow makes a summer.

That means no, right?

Hmm ... I suppose 700 or so academics "fighting" their Cold War against Israeli academics is nothing more than a drop of rain in a lake in terms of effect. Still, it's a bit disconcerting to become aware of such a movement.

If something like that happened nowadays in America ... there'd be hell to pay once the media got wind of it. Even worse if the offending parties were receiving government money, I imagine.

Gatekeeper

[Gatekeeper]

Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin
Only if one swallow makes a summer.

That means no, right?

Hmm ... I suppose 700 or so academics "fighting" their Cold War against Israeli academics is nothing more than a drop of rain in a lake in terms of effect. Still, it's a bit disconcerting to become aware of such a movement.

If something like that happened nowadays in America ... there'd be hell to pay once the media got wind of it. Even worse if the offending parties were receiving government money, I imagine.

Gatekeeper

[Gatekeeper]

Damn database error ...

[Dauphin]

The fact that Eli has picked up this story does not imply that it is indicative of the general population. To extrapolate a single incident in such a manner is more dangerous than the incident itself.

[Gatekeeper]

Sagacious Dolphin:

You're such a geek sometimes, what with that gobblydook above.

Gatekeeper

[Dauphin]

You think I post with a straight face?