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| 100 Sign Brandeis Petition To Invite Carter To Not Debate |
| 2006-12-26 |
| Almost 100 students, faculty, and alumni of Brandeis University have signed a petition calling for campus officials to bring President Jimmy Carter to Waltham to discuss his controversial new book about Israel without requiring him to debate. Jimmy Carter, back by popular demand! The former president told The Boston Globe this month that he declined an invitation from a university trustee to speak at Brandeis, because it came with the suggestion that he debate Alan Dershowitz , a professor at the Harvard Law School who has criticized Carter's book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid." "How dare anyone criticize a former President! The nerve of you!" A student who started the online petition -- which calls for "neither censoring nor filtering [Carter's] content" -- said the group has received about $1,000 in pledges from faculty to help sponsor the visit. They plan to invite Carter in a letter by the end of the week. Check this paragraph out: "I think there's a basic lack of debate here about Israel and Palestine," said Kevin Montgomery , 22, a senior majoring in politics who started the petition. "My belief is debate doesn't have to happen face to face. It can happen over time. Most speakers brought to Brandeis are pro-Israel, and I think it feeds a lack of understanding of the other side." "So we can have a 'debate' and not actually debate! Ain't I clever?" In response, the Brandeis president, Jehuda Reinharz, sent an e-mail message to Montgomery, saying he had never made Carter's visit conditional on debating Dershowitz. Jehuda Reinharz, you're busted! He added that the former president had made an unrealistic request, saying he would come to Brandeis only if the university sent a plane to pick him up at his home in Georgia. Just raising the stakes, good on ya, Jimmy... "The university does not contract private planes to bring speakers to campus for a book tour," Reinharz wrote. Like the debate was going to happen anyway... "Given the He's dead, Jim! Reinharz could not be reached yesterday. Something to do with Christmas, maybe? Lorna Miles, a university spokeswoman, said the president would not object to additional efforts to bring Carter to Brandeis. "The president has already said that the faculty may invite whomever they wish," said Miles, noting Reinharz wrote to Montgomery that if Carter chooses to accept their invitation, "he would be received with the courtesy we extend to all guests and visitors." Carter could not be reached yesterday. Deanna Conglileo , his spokeswoman, said he has not received a formal invitation from the university, and generally does not comment on speaking engagements until receiving an invitation. Students, faculty, and alumni who signed the petition were miffed that university officials were not doing more to bring the winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize to Brandeis. Petition can be found here. Vote Early and Often! "We're missing an opportunity to have an American president speak to us," said Kenny Fuentes , 20, a junior majoring in history. "It's something I think I can learn a lot from." Invite Clinton instead - learn about the latest blowjob jokes! Among unsigned comments on the petition, someone wrote: "If dissenting voices are blocked from campus, then what is Brandeis worth anymore? Isn't that what we pride ourselves on?" No one's blocking anything, Ace - Carter backed down rather than getting his ass handed to him by Dershowitz. Not big on reading comprehension at Brandeis, are they? Others said student and faculty questions would suffice as a "I would like to see Carter in a long Q & A session with Brandeis students and faculty, rather than bring in an outside opponent," another petitioner wrote. I would like to see Carter and Dershowitz in a steel cage match... Montgomery said he found Reinharz's response to the petition "disappointing, condescending, and almost juvenile." What else would you expect from a university president? |
| Posted by:Raj |
| #8 he's just used to the Saudis paying for everything. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-12-26 20:16 |
| #7 Kevin Montgomery, Senior, Political Science Major, Anti-Semite, Moron. Did I copy that right? |
| Posted by: jds 2006-12-26 20:15 |
| #6 So how many of those brave petition signers are going to pony up even $10 so this poverty stricken ex-president (snicker) doesn't have to cash one of his pension checks to pay for airfare? After all, he's a senior citizen living on a fixed income, kids.....it's not like 180k+ goes very far nowadays.... |
| Posted by: Swamp Blondie 2006-12-26 19:35 |
| #5 Well, if almost 100 signed, how many thosands didn't sign. Nuff said. |
| Posted by: SpecOp35 2006-12-26 18:39 |
| #4 I just have to wonder what drugs the country was on to elect this man (sic) to the office of President. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-12-26 17:11 |
| #3 Head Rabbit: Are you now or have you ever been sentinent? Jimmuah: Um, ah Li um, Ammuah Head Rabbit: I will repeat the question. Are you now or have you ever been sentinent? Jimmuah: Kofi, some of mah best friends used to be joooooooooos. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2006-12-26 16:17 |
| #2 tu - Howza about we use this thread? Hey Jimmuh - FOAD! Love, Barbara |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-12-26 15:45 |
| #1 Any petitions to invite Carter to go fuck himself? I'd sign that one. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-12-26 15:38 |