Why all the hype over Pipes?
I strongly oppose the message Daniel Pipes's speaking engagement makes about Brandeis and the values of this campus. My opposition is not related to policy on Israel or the Middle East, but to the way this country and this community views and treats American-Muslims. Pipes has often purveyed a message of racism, hate, and intolerance, using his two organizations, the Middle East Forum and www.campuswatch.org, to attack public figures, academics, and institutions that support Islam. Pipes's fearful and simplistic view of Muslim beliefs does not help in "the war on terror," but serves to distract policy discussion, focusing attention on individuals and institutions that pose no threat. Pipes does indeed, as many have countered, draw a distinction between radical and moderate Islam, yet the distinction is undermined by his declaration that mainstream Muslim institutions such as the Islamic Society of Boston, are tainted by ties to terrorism.
The manner in which Pipes makes unfounded assertions that various groups are extremist directly parallels the way he ostracizes those academics whom he defines as 'un-American" in their teaching style. Supporters of campuswatch.com have sent thousands of emails, much of it containing threats, to those academics that Pipes listed on his website. The actions of campuswatch supporters have gone so far as to drive one professor to leave the country, and have tormented untold others.
Denise Katz claims that Pipes's detractors have created an "atmosphere of fear" by posting oppositional flyers: but where is concern for the fear Pipes has inspired in millions of American Muslims. Furthermore, the assertion that these actions in some way infringe Pipes's 1st amendment rights is flat-out wrong. None of the groups mobilizing against Daniel Pipes is opposing or limiting his ability to speak on campus. In rebutting his prior statements, and attempting to unite the Brandeis community in opposition to his views, we are simply exercising the same free speech rights as Daniel Pipes's supporters. Secondly, the 1st Amendment applies exclusively to governmental actions, not those of individuals, and thus cannot possibly be involved. Even though Daniel Pipes does not have a definitive legal right to speak on campus, the Brandeis Coalition for Tolerance, in a principled stance, has refrained from attempting to stop his scheduled talk: But we will not stand by silently, for while it is clear that not every word Pipes utters is hateful, he has generally demonstrated a level of racism and intolerance that Brandisians will unite opposing.Albert "button hat" Cahn '07