<p>Several years ago Brandeis conferred an honorary degree on Tony Kushner. Tony Kushner had made it clear prior to his honorary degree that he considers the Jewish people undeserving of a homeland. He had called the establishment of Israel to be a “mistake”. My favorite Kushner quote is, “The biggest supporters of Israel are the most repulsive members of the Jewish community. . .Israel is a creation of the U.S., bought and paid for.” Unlike the “Muslims at Brandeis (who) were deeply offended by her blanket characterization of their religion, and others (who) viewed it as negative stereotyping”, no one needed to “liken” his comments to Anti-Semitism. And some might consider calling American Jews who support Israel as “repulsive” to be negative stereotyping.</p>
<p>Many Jewish alumni, students, and supporters of Brandeis were also deeply offended, and complained. I was one of them. At the time, Brandeis stated that they were conferring the honorary degree on Kushner because of his body of work, and that his politics were irrelevant. Kushner got his degree. Ayaan Ali was to receive her honorary degree because of the work that she’s done bringing to light the abuse that women have suffered in the name of Islam. But somehow her political positions are relevant, and what was to be an honor has turned into an insult.</p>
<p>I have no problem labelling those whose politics are founded on victimhood to be ‘whiners’, and for those whose double-standards allow freedom of speech only if it comes from the left as ‘politically-correct’. </p>
<p>So, I guess Brandeis feels that “commencement is a place for all the members of the community to feel respected and safe”, as long as they’re not Jews or Zionists. Don’t lecture me about intolerance.</p>