Irony Alert, BDS Edition

Although you have to look for it in the small print, today's "We Will Not Be Silenced" teach-in at SF State is sponsored by the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel.

Their version of academic freedom is pretty cramped, however, as it does not exactly extend to everyone. For example, taken from the USACBI website,

PACBI urges academics, academic associations/unions, and academic — as well as other — institutions around the world, where possible and as relevant, to boycott and/or work towards the cancellation or annulment of events, activities, agreements, or projects involving Israeli academic institutions. . . .

In addition, USACBI "calls on all US faculty, administrators, students and staff to uphold the academic boycott of Israel by refusing participation in Study Abroad programs in Israel."

It is one thing to call upon students to refrain from studying in Israel, which is a bad and counterproductive idea, but not a violation of anyone's academic freedom. The call to faculty, administrators, and staff, however, is obviously aimed at depriving non-boycotting students of an opportunity to pursue the studies of their choice (without administrators and staff, there could be no study-abroad programs).

I support the right to engage in a misguided boycott of Israel, but it is rank hypocrisy to claim the mantle of academic freedom while so boldly attempting to deny it to others on the basis of nationality.

 

Comments

[Daniel S McConkie]

Agreed! Well said.

[anon]

Actually, the key irony is the phrase "we will not be silenced."

Needless to say, BDS is all about silencing others. Now, they claim that they are being silenced.

This is an all too familiar tactic: projection.

The irony of commenting on silencing claims is all the more rich here in the FL, is it not, Steve?

[Steve Diamond]

Did I miss your coverage of the University of Toronto law school scandal?