Since this is our last issue of 2019, I had written a light-hearted, end-of-year column that was all set to go to the printer until, that is, an accumulation of hot news items got in the way.
The column was a breezy reflection on the value of dreams. Now all I can dream about is that well have a week quiet enough to publish it. For now, we must deal with the business at hand an avalanche of news, mostly bad, some historic.
Im writing this column early in the morning in the lobby of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem (with a little white cat swirling beneath my chair), having just participated in a four-day Strategic Dialogue between Israeli leaders and officials from Australia and the U.K.
Guess what people were asking me about at the closing gala? Yup, a certain synagogue incident in Beverly Hills. A potential future prime minister, Gideon Saar, had just delivered a candid address, and people couldnt stop talking about the ransacking of a sanctuary in Beverly Hills. Maybe it was the ZIP code.
A few days earlier, we were abuzz about the midnight deadline that had just passed in Israel triggering an unprecedented third election in 12 months. The next day, we were consumed with the election results in the U.K., which are paving the way for Great Britains historic divorce from the European Union.
In the meantime, other news items were intruding, like the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump in the House of Representatives, for only the third time in U.S. history.
Maybe instinctively, thats why I stuck with the free speech cover because Eisgrubers ideal discourse is needed now more than ever.
And did I mention the latest deadly attack against Jews, this one in Jersey City, and the presidents controversial executive order to combat BDS and anti-Semitism? Oh, and I almost forgot: The festival of Hanukkah is coming up!
In the middle of this news tornado, I was still working on a cover story I had planned for several weeks on one of my favorite topics: The state of free speech in America.
So, I had a decision to make: Should I bump the free speech cover for one on the killings in Jersey City? Or the presidential impeachment? Or Brexit and the fall of the anti-Semitic Jeremy Corbyn? Or Trumps controversial executive order? Or the impossible stalemate in Israel? Or the attack at Nessah Synagogue?
While the free speech issue is timeless, the others are timely. Which should go first?
Maybe its because of my intense jet lag, but, as you can see, I decided to stick with the cover story on free speech and deal with the hot issues inside the paper.
For one thing, free speech is the foundation of a free society, not to mention the foundation of my profession, journalism.
But theres something else: Free speech has become timely. Thats because it has come under assault, especially on college campuses, from activists who focus on its microaggression side effects rather than its fundamental value.
In these chaotic times, we need the freedom to rise up against the forces of hate, the wisdom to engage with dignity those with whom we disagree, and the curiosity and humility to constantly search for the truth.
These sentiments should not be casually dismissed by free speech junkies like yours truly. As I write in the story: Our world is changing. As an evolving society, we are becoming more inclusive and sensitive to peoples feelings of alienation. Inclusivity is giving free speech a run for its money.
The thrust of the story is on the innovative thinking of one man in the eye of the storm Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber.
Eisgruber is a man of deep thought, empathy and cautious optimism. He argues that a vigorous free speech can coexist with a noble value like inclusivity. He threads the needle by reframing the free speech debate around truth-seeking, and seeing universities as truth-seeking institutions.
Under this unifying ideal, Eisgruber marries two seemingly opposite values. Indeed, as I write: If the ideal revolves around the search for truth, the greater the inclusion of different voices, the deeper and broader that search will be.
I encourage you to read the entire story. It is based on a remarkable keynote address Eisgruber delivered recently at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, titled Contested Civility: Free Speech and Inclusivity on Campus.
I call the address remarkable because it aspires to a higher level of discourse that honors intellectual rigor and human dignity in equal measure.
Maybe instinctively, thats why I stuck with the free speech cover because Eisgrubers ideal discourse is needed now more than ever.
In these chaotic times, we need the freedom to rise up against the forces of hate, the wisdom to engage with dignity those with whom we disagree, and the curiosity and humility to constantly search for the truth.
If one considers that ideal a ray of light, well, maybe this was a Hanukkah cover story after all.
Happy Hanukkah.
Read the original here:
When the News Gets in the Way - Jewish Journal
- University round table examines challenges to free speech - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- University of Worcester fares well in free speech study - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- A line beyond which one may not go - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Councillor accused of stifling free speech after making complaint against counterparts social media use - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- The French Debate: Free Speech Versus Hate Speech - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Church of England removing vicars right to free speech? - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- FREE SPEECH ZONE s08e06 (2-7-15) - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Charlie Hebdo/The Interview: Free Speech: Free to Murder? - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Free Speech & Liberty Pizza House opening comment 2015 - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- 2015=02-01 Limits of Free Speech - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Health Free Speech Petition and Litigation - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Putin Popularity Rating: Russian President's 80% approval rating may stem from free speech violation - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Steven Pinker's "Why free speech is fundamental" - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- "Islam & Free Speech" - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Free Speech and the Battle for Western Culture - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- (UPDATED) CAIR Officials Nationwide Condemn Charlie Hebdo Attack, Defend Free Speech - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- The Koch Brothers and $889 million free speech dollars - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Mark Zuckerberg Reverses Decision On Free Speech - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Rick Perry: Court ruling imposes chilling effect on free speech - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- TAVIS SMILEY | FREE SPEECH IN AMERICA | January 26-27, 2015 - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Lord Jamar: USA's Only About Free Speech When It's Convenient - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Free Speech vs Politically Correct (Liberal Hypocrisy) - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Sharif Nashashibi, Suzanne Nossel, Munir Pervaiz Saami discusses free speech - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- FREE SPEECH ZONE s08e04 (1-24-15) - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Do I Think #6: Voting, Free Speech & #GamerGate - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Chris Hedges: Roots of Terrorism, Free Speech Hypocrisy & Translating #JeSuisCharlie - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Q&A Banning Haters: What About Free Speech? - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Putin's grip on free speech - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Why Saudi Arabia Is Flogging A Free Speech Activist - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Islamists Deny Media Access at At Muslim Free Speech Conference - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Metallica- Free Speech For The Dumb - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- 1st Peoples, Palestine, and the Crushing of Free Speech - Steven Salaita - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Free Speech Hypocrisy In France - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Pope clarifies position on free speech - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Muslim response to Charlie Hebdo Attack - Free speech or insult? - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Charlie Hebdo, double standards and free speech - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Gays, Islam, Free Speech - Tony Perkins, Bill Maher & MORE! LiberalViewer Sunday Clip Round-Up 91 - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Free Speech: Mercury is Speech, Venus is Values - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- The Pope Supports "Free Speech" (sort of) - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Ring of Fire on Free Speech TV - 01/18/2015 (FULL EPISODE) - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Mad about free speech and North Korea? Hack back, says group - February 14th, 2015 [February 14th, 2015]
- Ring of Fire on Free Speech TV - 02/08/2015 (FULL EPISODE) - Video - February 14th, 2015 [February 14th, 2015]
- Ring of Fire on Free Speech TV - 02/01/2015 (FULL EPISODE) - Video - February 14th, 2015 [February 14th, 2015]
- MP George Galloway on Free Speech Charlatans & Austin Powers Foreign Policy in Syria - Video - February 14th, 2015 [February 14th, 2015]
- Limited Free Speech Isn't Free Speech - Video - February 14th, 2015 [February 14th, 2015]
- Volokh Conspiracy: Murder at Copenhagen debate on free speech attended by Swedish Muhammad cartoonist - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- One dead after shooting at free speech event in Denmark featuring controversial artist - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Gunman kills 1 in attack on free speech event in Denmark - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Deadly shooting at Copenhagen free speech event - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Are Students Free to Speak Their Mind? Well at Southampton, yes. - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Shooting targets free speech event in Denmark, killing one - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Police: 1 dead in shooting at Copenhagen free speech event - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- The Heat debates free speech and assembly in France - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Detroit's Campus Martius: Banning Free Speech in Public Space - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Dr William Lane Craig: The Moral Argument (Proof of God) - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Did Pope Francis Preach Violence? - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Danish police kill gunman believed behind 2 shootings - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Danish shooter had gangland past - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Free speech in Britain: Police tracking people who bought ... - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Copenhagen shooting: Free speech seminar attacked - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Professor Advocates Violence Against White Racist - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Muslim Coward Attempts to Murder Swedish Artist - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Srsly Wrong - 41 - Free Speech Zone, Act 1 - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Free Speech and Charming Ignorance - Video - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Police say Copenhagen gunman had criminal record, gang past - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Police say Copenhagen gunman had criminal record and gang past - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- U.S. Funds The Terrorist To Take Our Freedoms - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- First Copenhagen shooting victim identified as film maker - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Danes react to two fatal shootings - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Danish police doing forensic investigation after islamic terrorist was shot dead, 15/2-2015 - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Denmark: See BULLET-RIDDLED scene of first Copenhagen shooting - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Animatrix - Humans vs Machines HD - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- RickWells.us - General Jerry Boykin on UN Attempt To Prohibit Free Speech Regarding Islam - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Copenhagen Krudttnden Cafe Street View - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Muhammad Cartoonist Targeted! TSA Active Shooter VIDEO, The "Digital Dark Age" and more #TMS - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Copenhagen free speech debate shooting: One dead - Video - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Germany: Copenhagen attacks, Ukraine ceasefire on Merkel's agenda - Video - February 17th, 2015 [February 17th, 2015]
- Copenhagen Denmark Shooting - Lars Vilks - Calling Cards Of Hoax Fake Crap - Video - February 17th, 2015 [February 17th, 2015]
- Danish prime minister visits - Video - February 17th, 2015 [February 17th, 2015]
- Second Person Dead In Separate Suspected Terror Shootings In Copenhagen - Video - February 17th, 2015 [February 17th, 2015]