Will Harvard do the right thing? (Updated)

Posted By Stephen M. Walt Monday, September 13, 2010 - 1:00 PM Share

Writing in yesterday's New York Times, Nicholas Kristof called attention to a recent blog post by New Republic editor Martin Peretz. Here's what Peretz had to say about American Muslims, in the context of the current debate over the Park 51 project and the rising tide of Islamophobia here in the United States:

But, frankly, Muslim life is cheap, most notably to Muslims. And among those Muslims led by the Imam Rauf there is hardly one who has raised a fuss about the routine and random bloodshed that defines their brotherhood.  So, yes, I wonder whether I need honor these people and pretend that they are worthy of the privileges of the First Amendment which I have in my gut the sense that they will abuse.

As Kristof rightly observes: "Is it possible to imagine the same kind of casual slur tossed off about blacks or Jews?" And as Salon's Glenn Greenwald shows here, Peretz' bigotry was not a careless choice of words or an isolated incident. On the contrary, he has a long history of similarly racist or bigoted remarks about Arabs, Muslims, and especially Palestinians.

Here's where it gets interesting. As M.J. Rosenberg of Media Matters for America reported last week, on September 25th Peretz is due to be honored by a group of long-time friends -- including a number of Harvard faculty -- who have raised funds to endow an undergraduate research fund in his name. (The event is apparently tied to the 50th anniversary of Harvard's social studies program, where Peretz used to teach).

Does Harvard University really want to have an undergraduate research fund named after someone who would espouse such hateful views? Would all those people who contributed money and who will presumably show up for the event have done so if Peretz made a similarly grotesque statement about blacks or Catholics?

Please note that this isn't an issue of academic freedom or free speech, as nobody is questioning Peretz's right to say whatever hateful things he wants. But at a moment in our nation's history when religious tolerance is being openly challenged, one would hope that premier academic institutions would be setting a positive example. It will be a sad day for Harvard if it turns a blind eye to Peretz' reprehensible attitudes and pockets the money. And in the absence of a heartfelt public apology by Peretz himself, you'd think all those admirers would be having second thoughts.

(For additional commentary on this incident, see James Fallows, Matt Yglesias, and Emily Hauser, plus this worthy statement by students at Brandeis University (Peretz' alma mater).

Update: No doubt stung by the publicity, Peretz has now issued an apology here. He says he doesn't actually believe the sentence he wrote about American Muslims being ineligible for Constitutional protections, but repeats his belief that "Muslim life is cheap, most notably to Muslims." Readers can judge for themselves how "heartfelt" this apology is.

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:ACADEMIA, NEW REPUBLIC, ARAB WORLD, ISLAM, MEDIA
 

MEGAN54641

10:18 PM ET

September 13, 2010

Do the Right Thing

I feel that Harvard University shouldn’t want this named attached to a program that they had funded. Weather someone is talking about Muslims or Catholics; it should all be the same. Everyone is still a human and she not be disrespected based on their race or religion. Harvard should do the right thing and changed the funds name to something different. Peretz should not be honored for something when he is going to treat someone this way and be disrespected for. If a Muslim stood up and made bigotry remarks about a Catholics, everyone would be going crazy and find that so disrespected full. Do the right thing Harvard University and change the Funds name.

 

KIESELGUHR KID

6:22 PM ET

September 14, 2010

Better than Walt's call...

...would be for the alum community to threaten to withhold contributions, and we should.

 

MARTIN GAK

9:27 PM ET

September 14, 2010

Letting the strange American left look at itself.

Its remarkable the stuff that will come out of the mouth of people once they feel their political credentials have been established. A few years of hard work at defining oneself as a progressive seems to give people like Marty the idea that now they can play the most vicious reactionary card they can find and go unscathed. It is frightening to see the escalation of Islamophobia in the US. More aberrant, however, is the fact that this man along with other 'progressives' and the just as ominous the populist right have become the mainstream and their madness has become acceptable discourse. One has to wonder if all the attacks on the Qu'ran, the mosques and muslims in the US will not eventually result in waves of attacks on muslims. We already had the NY cab. This will be blood in these people's hands.

Martin Gak
TheRadicalSecularist.com

 

SINSEMIILLA

3:59 AM ET

September 15, 2010

Did anyone do that here, Adda?

Some people do that, and they are stupid. I personally feel the occupation is illegal and settlers are thieves. It would just be nonsensical for me to accuse real criticisms of failed Israeli policy as being anti-Semitic when I agree they are unjust. Unless you can find where anyone has done this to you, I can only assume that you are simply trying to make sure your anti-Semitic skeletons are hidden in the closet.

 

MITCH22

4:50 AM ET

September 15, 2010

Marty Peretz vs EU Trade Commissioner

Has anyone who denounced EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht as antisemetic made the same remark against Peretz? WSJ's Bret Stephens went off against De Gucht today for this statement, but I strongly doubt he'll care to mention Peretz. If you substitute 'jews' with 'evangelicals' below, would anyone be offended by that?

"Don't underestimate the opinion … of the average Jew outside Israel," he told the radio station. "There is indeed a belief – it's difficult to describe it otherwise – among most Jews that they are right. And a belief is something that's difficult to counter with rational arguments. And it's not so much whether these are religious Jews or not. Lay Jews also share the same belief that they are right. So it is not easy to have, even with moderate Jews, a rational discussion about what is actually happening in the Middle East."

"Do not underestimate the Jewish lobby on Capitol Hill. That is the best organised lobby, you shouldn't underestimate the grip it has on American politics – no matter whether it's Republicans or Democrats."

 

MITCH22

5:54 AM ET

September 15, 2010

Peretz also called Pakistanis 'Pakis' in the same post

a term which Pakistanis are offended by, similar to the N-word. No apology for that?

Do the right thing and tell anyone you know to cancel their subscription to TNR or at least use AdBlock on Marty's site

 

SILENTNOMORE

4:24 PM ET

September 17, 2010

Recursive contradiction

Harvard is defending Peretz's position on denying free speech to Muslims on the ground of free speech! go figure!

Harvard needs to cancel the celebration and the new fund, for the sake of remaining number 1. Harvard needs to understand that accepting such funds will only weaken its world standing. It does not matter that the people behind this fund are powerful and rich. Pertez's words are not going to go away and very soon these words are going to come back haunt not only Peretz himself but also Harvard.

 

JBKEMBLE

10:36 PM ET

September 20, 2010

Helen Thomas vs. Marty Peretz

Interesting to compare the treatment of Helen Thomas and Marty Peretz. Both had long important careers and many accomplishments and supporters. But when Ms. Thomas made a stupid ethnic slur (against Jews), she was roundly denounced and kicked off the White House press corps (despite her apology).
When Mr. Peretz made an ethnic slur against Muslims, Harvard was quick to accept his apology and there are no repercussions. Is this inconsistent, or am I missing something?

 

Stephen M. Walt is the Robert and Renée Belfer professor of international relations at Harvard University.

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