大象传媒

Paul in Windsor, Ontario, Canada
The essence of university education is that students must learn to argue any position.
Most arguments are just that, claims and points of view and the professor should do whatever they can to engage the students and challenge their beliefs, ideology and presuppositions. Students should also be expected to build arguments that directly oppose their own views.
If the Leeds University professor's intent is to argue that there are "links between the Nazis and Islamic anti-Semitism,". I would expect her/him to not only provide empirical evidence of that link, but to also strongly argue one or more counter position. Otherwise what she/he is doing is propaganda, not education.

Isabelle in Antwerp, Belgium
In Brussels, the opposite happened. The ULB (Universit茅 Libre de Bruxelles), which is a university founded by freethinkers and which firmly defends secularism, banned a meeting in which Tariq Ramadan had to participate, on the grounds that he is not welcome in a secular and democratic academic environment.
Lately, the French journalist Caroline Fourest, editor in chief of the journal "Prochoix" (www.prochoix.org), a fierce defendant of secularism, gave a conference at the ULB. Many people came to disrupt the conference as they accused her of being the one who influenced the decision of banning a debate with Tariq Ramadan, her sworn enemy (on whom she wrote a book, Fr猫re Tariq).
Personally I think the ULB made the proper choice.
Radical islam is interfering in our democratic and secular society.
I consider it as endangering and threatening our freedom of speech and the equal rights for women, homosexuals, freethinkers鈥� that we had to fight so harshly for. On the continent, we are often surprised by the concessions Britain is making to radical islam. I definitively believef that the French approach is much wiser, much more realistic and much more constructive.

Rui in Georgia, USA:
It's not the universities that are stifling debate on the Middle East, it's Muslims that are doing that. If a university were to offend Muslims through the debate, they would open themselves up to protests and worse, violence in the form of suicide bombings, shootings or other methods by radical Muslims. I think universities are looking at the big picture and safety.

Jason in Portland, Oregon, sent this text:
To stifle talks of any kind is censorship, and inspires ignorance. This, in turn, contributes fear.

Adam
My school, Portland Community College, does not sensor or discourage discussion of Islam. In fact diversity is generally encouraged. Im student not a spokesman for the college.

Leland at Indiana University
I am a University Student in Indiana USA, and I would like to say that ONLY open-minded non-violent people should be allowed into University.
Dialog and speech should always be allowed ANYWHERE and ESPECIALLY at University as long as they are not threats of violence or death.
People who show violence during any dialog should be immediately arrested and jailed whether running around the streets in Denmark protesting the destruction of a building or in a classroom at Leeds.

Mark in Vancouver, Canada
I can't believe you are even discussing this...restricting what people can say? When did we throw human rights in the shredder?
When discussion ends, there is only one human resource left- violence.

Stephen in Portland, OR
While attending University in Canada, I was President of the Jewish Student Union. When anti Israel speakers were on campus, there voices were heard. However when I brought a Bedouin speaker to campus, we were shut down because he had served in the Israeli army. Most Universities in Canada I find unbalanced in favor of Muslim people. Security has been used many times to stop people from speaking or the excuse of security.

Leland from Indiana University USA
People may deny the holocaust, but people who deny the holocaust are considered by sane people as total idiots. If you allow terrorists to limit freedom of speech is allowing the terrorists great power. Terrorists are oppressors. Capitalists are also oppressors. If the FREE WORLD gives in to Terror and limits the freedom of speech, then the world must make me the Emperor of everything or else I will kill you all! Okay! THat makes just as much sense as limiting speech!
No points of view are UNACCEPTABLE. Anyone who thinks that is small brained. Perhaps their points of view are incorrect in relation to reality or history or someones religious ideology, but a point of view is always acceptable.

Dave in Oregon
There are many ways to abuse free speech - hate speech is one example. But finally, I agree with Kenneth Burke "the answer to bad rhetoric is more rhetoric." Abuse of free speech should be met with better speech.

Kimberly
The Palestinians have no right to talk about racism given their record vis' a vis' Israel. Too many fanatics are using politically correct rhetoric as a shield.

Adam, Brooklyn, NY USA
It is standard practice in universities as well as every corner of the US, that any mention of Palestine must be "ballanced" with a defense of Israel. However, when Israel is mentioned no one is demanding a Palestinian representation. Look at the aggressive attacks against President Carter when he writes about Palestine. There is a political machine called AIPAC which orchestrates all discussions about the Middle East in the US. There is an organization called CAMERA which attacks any journalist for speaking out against Israel. Any time there is criticism about Israel, you here accusations of being anti-Semitic, decapitating all debate.

Paul in Minnesota, USA
Universities should be allowed to rise or fall based on what kind of speech they promote.

Rachel
I believe that, to a large degree, criticizing the ANTI status-quo is a form of expression that has gone largely out of vogue in the liberal climate of small liberal arts colleges nation wide. While criticizing the popular opinion (which was once considered rebellious) is currently in fashion for both professors and students alike, it is rebellious (in every sense of the word) to "champion" or even examine for merit, the popular opinion.
This comes into play with the criticism of Islam because the mainstream American view is Anti-Islam and the educated, liberal-enclave view of Islam is that it is unjustly persecuted and villainized. Therefore, it is rebellious to decry Islam at all, as it brushes too close to the popular opinion.
However, the best liberal arts colleges encourage a non-binary discussion of Islam, that includes acknowledgment of stereotypes, fundamental Islamic activity, and the fundamental complexity of the situation. I
The best discussions are based on facts and leave emotion out of it--whether it is anti-Islam sentiments stirred by the popular notion of fundamental Islamic terrorists, or a sensitive, knee-jerk reaction to criticism of Islam by Muslims everywhere. This is difficult, but a noble goal worth striving toward.

Vanessa
If the KKK can have a ralley in Detroit, MI, then why shouldn鈥檛 anyone be able to speak their mind about anything? Why do middle eastern people feel that they鈥檙e issues are all off limits?

Mike
As the Russian Radischchev said in 1790: "Leave what is stupid to the judgment of public opinion; stupidity will find a thousand censors. The most vigilant police cannot check worthless ideas as well as a disgusted public."
So more speech is the answer not less. Only those who know their ideas cannot withstand scrutiny would advocate censorship.

Paul
Didn't the Nazis use freedom of speech while prevent others from speaking. If there really is a security threat at Leads, it sort of proves the professor's point.

Steven
Freedom of speech. Freedom of the press. Freedom of religion. We don't get to pick and choose when to follow them or not. What if there were a movement to outlaw Islam, or ban the Quran? If something offends you, don't attend. But that doesn't mean that everyone should lose out just because one group doesn't approve. Talking about issues is how things are resolved.

Susan in Portland, Oregon, USA
I have no problem with a fair debate, but what I've found is that when a speaker is scheduled who has something negative to say about fundamentalist Islam, reactionaries among Muslim students use threats of riots or other violence to get the speaker cancelled. In addition, it should be noted that every so-called religious conflict today--between Muslims and Jews, between Muslims and Hindus, between Muslims and Christians, between Muslims and Buddhists--has fundamentalist Muslims on one side of it. You do not see, for example, Hindus and Buddhists rioting against each other on the streets of India, they live together in peace.

George in Portland, Oregon
Can you have a genuine disagreement with the state of Israel and not be label and anti-Semite? Would the Jews allow someone who does not believe in the Holocaust to talk at a Jewish University?

Eric
Congrats about your program. It's great to hear so many pepole all around the world debating.
I am a French musician who is touring on the West Coast of the USA. I have a dual citizenship French and American.
Hearing the first half hour of your program, it makes me want to say that there are different ways of defining Freedom.
Here in the US, the first amendment is sacred, you can talked about anything. In France for example, there are laws against racism and homophobia, you are not allowed to say anything you want. There is a limit.
In the USA, no limit, in France there are.
I think it is the core of this debate. How do you define Freedom. Are there limits to Freedom ?
Can you say anything you want in a Democracy ?

Danielle in USA
Regardless of what one's views are they have the absolute right to express them. The hinderance of free speech is a danger to the world.

Will in Monterey, CA
I believe that the liberties that allow for freedom of speech should not be infringined upon. It is only through the exchange of ideas and conflicting points of view will the audiences have a platform to perhaps reach an agreement or a compromise. There can never be a compromise or an environment of critical thought without the freedom to convey one's points.

Kiran, a Canadian in the US
In Canada a few years back the problem of confrontation regarding these two groups had forced most universities to halt the debate. It was after the former Isreali Prime Minister visited Concordia University in Montreal. Although i have specific opinions on issues regarding the Middle East, i feel distressed when hostilities comprimises quality of life for students and faculty in general, particularly because the epicentre is so far from Montreal or Toronto or Leeds or where ever.

Leland in Indiana USA
Freedom of Speech is a Fundemental Right for a free society. If a society wants to be thought of as free, then freedom of speech is required. Freedom of speech is limited only if it may intrinsically cause violence, such as screaming fire in a crowded movie theater. If a dialog is a rallying point for others to have violence, then the dialog is not the intrinsic cause, the people who have rallied are the intrinsic cause of violence.

Andy
Freedom of Speech means you can say what you want whether some may like it or not. It was found that to burn the American flag can be an expression of Freedom of Speech although some say it is Treason.

Andy
Everyone is stifling debate. If you have any kind of negative point of view towards Muslims then they come out of the woodwork to stop you. However nobody seems to be stopping them from having an opinion. The Muslim point of view seems to almost always be that they are correct and that nobody else should be allowed to even have a say. That mindset makes me come to the conclusion that they are cowards. I don't agree with everyone's opinion but I agree with letting everyone have an opinion. Excellent program.

Zak, a student at Leeds University
As a student at leeds university i am shocked that Dr Kuntzel was refused permission to speak on campus. Leeds University did not ban the Dr from speaking based on security but based on complaints from a few students who based purely on the title of the talk objected to the academic's assertion. The security concern spoken about by Roger Gair only came about upon receipt of some volatile emails from Muslim students.
We must be careful to distinguish between student politics and societies who invite a wide range of speakers and a respected university department who have invited a bonafide academic to give over a respected paper not accusing muslims of antisemitism but of cataloguing historical trends. it is worrying that the student body have lost faith in Roger Gair and the heads of this university who are not trusted and seem to have taken a ridiculous decision based on certain strong pressure

John in Minnesota USA
My wife and I are former university students here in the USA. Universities are supposed to be for free and complete discussion of all beliefs, whether we agree with them or not. To regulate what can and cannot be said is to mislead others. It leads others into believing their ideas and views are the only valid views, when there are other points of view. Jews and Muslims have their views, but the university is not the place to fight a war. The speech should not have been concealed. We are both Jews and we want to hear all sides of issues and be allowed to learn and make up our own minds. Why not reschedule the speech? We have the same problems not only in the general public but on campus.

Quophi Mensah, from Cape Coast - Ghana
I just completed Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology and there is freedom of speech for all students. I believe that all students of various universities should be allowed to enjoy the liberty in speaking. I think that freedom of speech is freedom of speech, period. Its does not give parameters as to what is within the confines of that right. Let allow all men to enjoy their rights whether they are muslims or christians.

Hamid
I think there is nothing wrong to discuss any issues as long as there is a level of mutual respect. But what really bothers me here, is what is the purpose of this talk? Is to hurt people's feelings? to get them worked up? I have no problem with the dicussion if has a purpose to solve the problem being dicussed or help solve it and come to some understanding between people. Dicussion on University compuses should be geared toward getting people to understand each other and help world peace and not fueling tensions.

Brad in Portland, Oregon
The issue is whether or not you want to have people debating erroneous and discredited conspiracy theories on campus.
鈥淎rab anti-Semitism鈥� is the Zionist鈥檚 equivalent of the of the Anti-Semite鈥檚 Holocaust denial. Anti-Semitism among the Arabs is no different than Israelis and Jews disliking the Arab perspective on the middle east crisis. It would only be equivalent to the racism of the Nazis if the Germans had had a large and powerful Jewish state next door to them and which had occupied parts of their territory, and had based their hateful ideology on that fact. There is no contextual analogy and therefore no connection.
I would be perfectly happy banning a proponent of this erroneous theory from speaking as I would banning a Holocaust-denier from doing the same.

Kim in Portland, Oregon
I have no problem with people having full rights to speak their opinion, but sometimes I wish people would do less speaking, and more listening, respecting, and caring. Not everything needs to come from such anger. Angry people are just hurt people.

Leila in Brooklyn, NY
Thank you for your program - I'm disturbed by the focus on protests against people speaking out against Islam. Everyone should be able to speak their mind, as the rabid caller from teh U.S. indicated in his thinly veiled call. I'm here in New York, US, where all over this country, professors as esteemed as the one he spoke of have not only been intimidated, threatened, and maligned by Campus Watch, a Zionist organization that pays students to monitor their professors and report anything they say about Israel that the group does not approve of - Several professors at Columbia have had their reputations dragged through the mud as a result and several across the country have even been fired as a result of these McCarthy-esque groups. Perhaps the debate and issue in England is more geared to protesting speakers criticizing Islam, but here in teh U.S. it is quite the opposite - anyone wanting to speak about Palestine in a University setting is stifled, intimidated and their jobs are in jeopardy.

AMIN from Sierra Leone says:
Everyone should be free to say what they think, wish and feel

Ken from Kenya writes:
We have a fundamental human right to express what we believe. University must be places at which access to ALL world views is made possible.

Adnan Giliani from Islamabad:.
People studying in a University or any other institutes must concentrate on studies alone.However the religious and cultural feelings of any particular community should not be criticise in any form be that a lecture in the campus or an entitlement to the freedom of expression.

Kaphale in Lusaka, Zambia, writes:
People need to know the clear truth about this sensitive issue. It threatens world peace. Let people debate freely. Those who have something to hide and are wrong will try to stop this.

Uwalaka Val P. Harcot from Nigeria writes:
As far as I am concerned a university is so called because of academic freedom. Where there is censure then the university is no university.

Shivesh in Nepal writes:
Its really surprising how arrogant muslim can be. thinking there is nothing wrong in their religion and anybody points one is a propagandist.

ANON writes:
Muslins think they are conscience of the world.

ANON writes:
I do like the word 'monitoring' YE, humor me I'm fickle, specially when I try to give my thoughts a free rain.No wonder why we are become so overly politically correct

Lubna in Iraq writes:
I'm a student at Baghdad university,i believe we should be too careful when we discuss controversial topics in universities, you should see how would it be like when some students discuss (sectarian) topics,god,we should be more civilized than that.

Kihara from Nairobi, Kenya
Words are more than an indication of character.They have the power to react on the character.The character being the speaker.