WHERE defamatory speech is concerned, hypocrisy runs rampant. Speakers are constantly attacked for statements they make, the veracity of their claims challenged by those whom they speak against. Still, there remains a great deal of ambiguity as to what qualifies as "hate speech" and what does not. In many cases, this determination is made based on which side of the debate the listener falls on: If the speaker's remarks ring true for him, he is unlikely to categorize it as defamatory. Otherwise, there is a good chance that he will. Regardless, we must take care to apply the same standards to all speech deemed offensive, and not ignore its consequences solely because we agree with it.
A recent occurrence ignited a maelstrom of controversy at the University in fall 2005, and will likely do so again this spring. During the week of Oct. 24, the group Students for Peace and Justice in Palestine sponsored "Palestine Week." SPJP's president, Tarek Ismail, explained to The Cavalier Dailythat the week was "aimed at promoting a better understanding of an underrepresented culture, including speakers, political demonstrators and charitable events."
One such speaker was DePaul University history Prof. Norman Finkelstein. Finkelstein is a controversial figure among Jews, as he has alleged that Holocaust survivors misuse and exploit their experiences for financial gain. It is of even more concern that Finkelstein is himself the son of two Holocaust survivors, a fact that he exploits in hopes of lending credibility to his own political opinions. Not surprisingly, the greater Jewish community condemns Finkelstein and his views as anti-Semitic.
Finkelstein's visit to the University in October infuriated a large number of Jewish students, including members of Hoos For Israel, SPJP's pro-Israeli counterpart. The Cavalier Daily quoted Hoos For Israel's former president, Michael Wain, who described Finkelstein's career as "predicated on the demonization of Jewish culture. The speaker is not in line with the values of the University." Wain went on to equate Finkelstein with a member of the Ku Klux Klan, explaining that the University community would not tolerate such a speaker.
Having experienced the anger that Hoos For Israel members felt about Finkelstein's visit, one would hope that Hoos for Israel would be more considerate when inviting its own guests to Grounds.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Originally slated to perform on Feb. 16, Hoos For Israel has invited Israeli rap artist "Subliminal" to Grounds. He will now perform on March 23. A self-proclaimed right-wing nationalist, Subliminal has been condemned by his critics as a fascist. However, Subliminal explained on a BBC radio documentary that, "It's a war of words, and I'm on a mission to let the world know our side of the story."
What exactly is Subliminal's side of the story? In the song "Bottomless Pit," he sings, "Anybody who messes with me ends up on a coffin." Echoing this, he told Palestinians, in an interview with Rolling Stone, "You have half the globe. What the f*** do you want from us? Go live in Saudi Arabia." Certainly, this talk is no more "in line" with the University's values, as Wain put it, than Finkelstein's is.
One of the major problems Hoos For Israel cited with Finkelstein's appearance is that it was funded by the University: both Student Council and the Arts & Sciences Council appropriated money which paid for Finkelstein's visit. Yet, Hoos For Israel was granted funding from both Student Council and the Arts & Sciences Council to help pay for Subliminal's visit. It is likely that the rapper's performance will offend Palestinian and Muslim students just as much as Finkelstein's appearance upset Israeli and Jewish students. But it is unlikely that members of Hoos for Israel will acknowledge that Subliminal's words qualify as hate speech -- after all, some share his political agenda.
Two options are open to us here: Either we can agree not to tolerate speech that is offensive to anyone, or we can acknowledge that controversial speech will remain a reality at such a diverse university. Subliminal has no more of a right to be here than Finkelstein did. If Hoos for Israel wishes to condemn SPJP's guests, it should be prepared to scrutinize its own by the same standards -- and vice versa. Self-righteousness will only compound this problem. If student groups are genuinely concerned about offensive speech on grounds, they should partner together to stop it. Perhaps in this way, all University students can achieve a permanent sense of comfort and belonging in our community.
Todd Rosenbaum's column usually appears Thursdays in the Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at trosenbaum@cavalierdaily.com.
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