Defending the Indefensible - HARVARD CRIMSON

[grassfed]

Less than one year ago, Israel launched its attack on Gaza, in which over 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed. According to the report of the U.N. Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, headed by preeminent South African jurist Justice Richard Goldstone, Israel deliberately targeted civilians during the attack. Among other things, Israeli forces deliberately targeted educational institutions, destroying or damaging at least 280 schools and kindergartens during the war.

The devastating impact on Gaza’s schools should be of special concern to an institution dedicated to education such as Harvard. Instead, on November 23 Harvard extended an invitation to Michael B. Oren—the Israeli ambassador to the United States—to speak at the Kennedy School. Fittingly, he was rejected by students who attended the event. Oren is a former officer and paratrooper who served as an Israeli army spokesperson during the unwarranted and illegal attacks on Lebanon in 2006 and Gaza in 2009.

While the university envisioned a warm reception, it must be recorded that the students took a clear stance against impunity for war crimes. During the question-and-answer session, the vast majority of questions and comments leveled at Oren were critical of his actions and statements on the Gaza invasion and the Goldstone report.

One student read a quote by Oren in which he compared the Goldstone report to the Holocaust. She then asked, “Why do you make such hyperbolic statements? Don’t you think it cheapens the memory of Jews killed?” Oren denied making the statement, which he wrote in an article for The New Republic. Many other questions and statements equally rattled Oren. Students showed that they are unwilling to stay silent when a uniformed spin doctor tries to rewrite recent history.

more http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2009/12/14/oren-harvard-students-crimes

[chandler2]

1. Shouldn't matter whether he's UNinformed or totally INformed. nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. That's 'uniformed' not 'uninformed' - referencing his spinning of the

military adventures he himself participated in.

"Oren is a former officer and paratrooper who served as an Israeli army spokesperson during the unwarranted and illegal attacks on Lebanon in 2006 and Gaza in 2009."

[LeftishBrit]

7. He's both uniformed AND uninformed!

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. he compared the Goldstone report to the Holocaust.

Michael Oren is not credible because of that statement. It does cheapen and demean the loss of so many Jews in the Holocaust. Good for the student that asked that question. Also, if there was any doubt that Oren is not credible, he wouldn't have additionally lied about making the statement.

[snagglepuss]

4. +1

[Liberation Angel]

5. +1

nt

[Sezu]

12. What part of he DENIED it don't YOU

and they get?

Duh-uh!

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Classic "I don't like what they say so they must not be allowed to say it"

Sorry bubba, academic freedom means your desire for censorship is rejected.

[LeftishBrit]

8. I don't like Oren; but free speech cannot be only for some...

Rather than preventing Oren from speaking, it would be better to get a pro-Palestinian spokesman to speak.

[frebrd]

9. K&R

[Kurska]

10. In a article about the Gaza conflict "rocket' wasn't mentioned once.

BULLSHIT

[shira]

11. "de rockets" are nothing but zionist propaganda.....they're little harmless firecrackers

:sarcasm:

[Sezu]

13. But but but Jewish self defense is......

INDEFENSIBLE!!!!!!!!

Didn't get the memo did ya?

[Violet_Crumble]

14. Long live Meir Kahane and Jewish self-defense! n/t

[ProgressiveMuslim]

15. The murder of 300 kids is self-defense? I'll remember that if someone breaks into my home. nt

[shira]

16. there's no such thing as Jewish self-defense, just aggression and deliberate oppression

you didn't get the memo?

:eyes: