— Allow the media in to cover the PSM conference.
— Allow the conference to be taped so that you and others will see what is being said.
— Sponsor a pro-democracy and pro-Israel conference, one which reflects a wide spectrum of opinion, not only that of the left-wing Israeli Oslo and Geneva accordianists. This should be an inter-faith and inter-disciplinary effort. The Jewish community should not be expected to monitor Jew-hatred and educate against it by themselves. In addition, such a conference should feature Arab Christians, as well as Lebanese Maronite Christians who are the descendants of Phoenicians and pre-date the Arab conquest of Arabia.
— Sponsor an international conference on Gender and Religious Apartheid.
— Sponsor a conference on the feminist challenge to and transformation of patriarchal religions. As yet, perhaps due to funding limitations, none of my extensive work as a feminist activist within Judaism and within Israel, especially as a co-leader of the Women of the Wall struggle in Jerusalem, has been made available to scholars or Duke students nor has any of my work as an anti-racist activist — not only on behalf of minorities of color but also on behalf of Jews — been made available.
We live in dangerous times. Keeping a low and “neutral” profile, trying to please and appease all sides — especially the most violent side — is unwise. One must take a stand against radical evil and injustice. I hope and pray that you will do exactly that.
All the best,
Phyllis Chesler, Ph.D.
Update: After I sent this letter, I called both President Brodhead and John Burness, Duke’s Senior Vice President for Public Affairs. I also continued to call the directors of the Freeman Center for Jewish Life at Duke who have not yet returned my calls. (I am told that they are both overwhelmed and limited in what they can do since they are largely funded by Duke.)
Vice President Burness called me back and we had an amiable conversation on speaker. Four days after I first published my letter, I received a written response from VP Burness. According to the letter. the media may indeed register and attend the conference. However, the student group which is sponsoring the conference has prohibited the use of cameras and tape recorders; the administration’s hands are, pro forma, tied.
Although the letter does not refer to it, in our phone conversation VP Burness stated that the university was not banning protestors, that they expected some protest and were making the necessary arrangements for safety and security. However, VP Burness writes that he “cannot dispute (my) point that free speech is not always true speech.” He does quote President Brodhead’s view that “All ideas are not equal, but it is a foundational principle of American life that all ideas should have an equal opportunity to be expressed.” In addition, VP Burness states that the Palestine Solidarity Movement and the International Solidarity Movement are “separate” organizations, albeit with overlapping members and leaders. He also outlines other Freeman Center programming at Duke between October 15-17, and a “year long” series of lectures which might better present the “Israeli” point of view.
