Professor Fired for Israel Criticism (article)

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If the Saudi prince's donation paid that academic's salary then the University would not be able to keep him on staff.

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"(who has expressed an extremely low opinion of Normbenign)"

I don't know what his opinion of me has to do with the discussion. It might occur to normally intelligent person that twitter posts (tweets) are far more public than are RHP forum posts, and less anonymous.

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...and in other news my cat upchucked on the bathroom floor this morning. 😴

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"Twitter is a place for people to mouth off, often without thinking too carefully."
--Duchess64

What on earth gave you that idea ? This is neither true of Twitter or the internet in general. Although I can see why you believe it to be true.

"Zionists, take responsibility: if your dream of an ethnocratic Israel is worth the murder of children, just *f-word* own it already."
--Steven Salaita

"Oh, you've been such good girls! We might consider hiring another
woman in this department ten years from now."
--Duchess64

The correct level to word your argument in order to get your point across is probably somewhere in the middle. That you cannot see any middle is truly bizarre.

"Thaughbaer seems to prefer that academics be non-controversial and
disinclined to challenge the status quo or confront the more powerful.
I think academics should do more than teach the ideology of those in power."
--Duchess64

I expect academics to be able to do it without "mouthing off" as you put it.

"But that tends to be good for powerful white men, doesn't it?"
--Duchess64

Uhoh. Someone appears to be suffering from the Freddy-Krueger effect again.

Originally posted by normbenign
[b]an extremely low opinion of Normbenign

Isn't that a tautology of sorts?

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"It is my sincere hope that I can – as a member of this academic institution – engage with the entire University community in a constructive conversation about the substance of my viewpoints on Palestinian human rights and about the values of academic freedom. This is, as we say in my profession, a “teaching moment.” We must all strive together to make the most of it."
--Steven Salaita Sept 10th 2014

I wonder if Steven Salaita still agrees with you that he should "mouth off" on Twitter as rather than securing his sincere hope it may well have cost him it.

Originally posted by Sleepyguy
Wait. Was he fired, or did he just have a job offer rescinded because of his stupid online comments? If they guy was a loon I don't blame the university for not wanting to bring him on.

It was more than just an offer. It was an appointment.

I don't know whether he's a "loon" but his Twitter comments don't seem that bad.

I would be fuming if a University professor got fired for ripping Hamas. As such, I have to apply the same standard here.

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You're right. I may disagree with SF's comments and I may disagree with Salaita's comments, but they were not outrageous or hateful. The necklace of teeth remark was the type of rhetorical device that non-politicians get to use to illustrate their points with a bit of hyperbole.

I have no defense for the University's action.

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You continue to refer to pro Israeli people as brainwashed. Are you certain that your brain hasn't been scrubbed a bit?

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"I was not aware that Steven Salaita tweeted what Thaughbaer apparently
claims (I require corroboration for any claim made by Thaughbear) he did."
--Duchess64

Try google.

"Apparently, Thaughbaer regards this tweet as outrageously offensive or hateful."
--Duchess64

I regard it as counter-productive to getting his point across.

"Sarcasm is "a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; a bitter gibe or taunt."Sarcasm may employ ambivalence,although sarcasm is not necessarily ironic."The distinctive quality of sarcasm is present in the spoken word and manifested chiefly by vocal inflections".The sarcastic content of a statement will be dependent upon the context in which it appears"
--Wikipedia

You don't understand sarcasm.

"So Thaughbaer seems to expect academics to submit their private opinions
for pre-approval by the university's board of censorship (eh?) with regard
to their content and taste?"

I expect them to be able to get their point across without using profanity.

"I note that, while he has disclaimed explicitly 'approving'"

Lack of surprise does not constitute approval, or disapproval either.

"Thaughbaer seems to have made various arguments in support of the firing
of Steven Salaita."

Quote one.

"Apparently arguing on behalf of the powerful would be a safe position for Thaughbaer to take."

I argue for nobody except myself.

Apparently Steven Salaita agrees with me not you. The mantra pinned to the top of his Twitter account is:

"I try my best to remember that we don't just stumble into political consciousness; it's better to teach than to berate or shame."
--Steven Salaita

Quite why he abandoned this principle is unknown to me. Perhaps he listened to some internet joker who told him it was better to mouth off.

"So may I expect more misrepresentation, sneering, and insults by Thaughbaer?
--Duchess64

You can expect more sneering. The misrepresentation and insults you can't have more of.