Do not use litmus test for speakers
To the Editor,
Because I have spoken out recently against personal attacks on Richard Goldstone, and because Michael Oren has criticized the Goldstone Report in extremely harsh terms, some friends and colleagues have suggested that I should logically join some of last week's op-ed contributors and oppose Oren's role as Commencement speaker. But I don't think that this follows. When it comes to speakers on campus-even commencement speakers-I believe in latitude, and I dislike political litmus tests. Oren has a distinguished record as a historian, and I do not believe that ideology, government service or even over-the-top rhetoric disqualifies him. I'll be curious to hear what he has to say.
-Daniel Terris
The writer is director of the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life.Apply moral standards to all sides
In response to your article "Honoring Oren and Ross contradicts University mission" (Forum, April 27):
As an alumnus of the Computer Science department, I was impressed to see one of our own, Prof. Harry Mairson, represented in the pages of the Justice.
Innocent Gazans have every right to safety and dignity. You and I might disagree, however, on which of the Gazans impacted by Operation Cast Lead were truly innocent, but that's a fair argument. I found Asa Kasher's piece in Azure, issue 37, "Operation Cast Lead and the Ethics of Just War," very useful in beginning to sort out this difficult matter.
I have also learned a great deal from the historians you mentioned. Tom Segev's 1967 was a gripping look into the Israeli people's psyche during an unimaginably tense and depressing time. I would suggest, though, that Michael Oren's Six Days of War is a necessary companion to Mr. Segev's work for its detailed analysis of the military and political moves that led to Egypt and Jordan's escalation and Israel's stunning victory.
As for Benny Morris, both 1948 and One State, Two States have served well in shaping my outlook on the Middle East-I am considerably more conflicted since my black & white Brandeis days-but I believe even Mr. Morris would take issue with your characterization of Operation Cast Lead. I point you in particular to Mr. Morris' piece in the London Times on Jan 4, 2009.
All that said, I truly am curious if your activism extends to all innocent parties-including the civilians under attack in Sederot, Beersheba, Haifa, Kiryat Shemona, and elsewhere-since your letter stressed the need for balance on behalf of the University.
-Jonathan Abbett '02, MA '03

Article against Oren misled readers
To the Editor,
Last week's article "Honoring Oren and Ross contradicts University mission" (Forum, April 27) was misguided and misinformed. It seems to have stretched the truth in order to make an unsubstantiated point.
The article claimed that "Oren was designated an Israel Defense Forces spokesman last year and was its apologist during attacks where the IDF dropped white phosphorus on Gazan civilians. ... That's enough discredit to rule out an honorary degree." It claims that during the Gaza war, Israel violated human rights and that Ambassador Oren should not be given an honorary degree because he was the spokesperson for the IDF.
However, as Col. Richard Kemp, a military expert of the British army, said in the UN on Oct 16, 2009 after the Goldstone Report was published, the report off which the op-ed's claims are based, "The IDF did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone, than any other army in the history of warfare." The fact that Oren was a spokesperson for this army, an army, as recognized by military experts, that tried to protect civilians even at risk to its own soldiers, is proof that he helps with the pursuit of social justice and is deserving of a Brandeis University honorary degree.
The op-ed continues to try and discredit Ambassador Oren by claiming that "Oren is not 'a great historian.'" Well then, why did the Washington Post, Newsweek, New York Times Book Review, San Fransisco Chronicle, the Atlanta Monthly Review, and more all give Ambassador Oren the title "historian," due to his having published multiple historical essays and books? Additionally, Oren received degrees both from Columbia and Princeton University and taught at Harvard, Yale and Georgetown University. From an academic perspective, Oren obviously deserves this degree.
Lastly, I take issue with the article's explanation of hasbara. According to Prof. Harry Mairson (COSI), hasbara is "the Hebrew word for political propaganda, used positively by advocates and pejoratively by critics." That is just incorrect; ask any Hebrew professor or student and they will tell you hasbara means explanation. Hasbara has taken on the meaning of advocacy, for the advocates and political propaganda for the undereducated critics because of an Israel advocacy summer program for college-aged students. It is unfair and incorrect to use the language of propaganda in this context of Ambassador Oren's job.
-Tamar Schneck '13

Protest won't mar commencement
In response to your article "Oren is poor choice for address" (Forum, April 27):
In mild defense of the editorial, the Justice is not attacking the choice of Mr. Oren because of his political views. Rather, it attempts to attack the choice of Mr. Oren based on what it presumes the reaction of the student body will be. It does so clumsily and with no small amount of arrogance. I believe this editorial was well intentioned. The Justice obviously wants commencement to be a joyous and unifying occasion. As a graduate whose commencement speaker was equally controversial at the time (President of the World Bank), I assure the Justice that any protests will not take away from the specialness of graduation.
And as someone who has interacted with Mr. Oren in the past, I assure the Justice that he will be a dynamic and engaging speaker who will do justice to the honor of being the keynote speaker.
-Sam Wald '03

Graduation is wrong venue for Oren
In response to your article "Choice of speaker is too divisive" (Forum, April 27):
The problem here is not the Jewish connection to the Israeli political situation, but rather the fact that Brandeis, at first glance, seems to be putting aside the diversity it has worked hard to build by asking the Israeli ambassador to speak at its major nonreligious, otherwise nonpoliticized annual event.
I see no problem with bringing Michael Oren to speak to all those interested at an appropriate forum in the Rapaporte Treasure Hall, brought in by some pro-Israel on-campus group to speak to the questions and concerns about Israel and answer to the challenges very much alive on the Brandeis Campus. But to bring in this figure on a day celebrating the achievements of the academic community-not the religious, political or Jewish community, but rather the whole of the student body, no matter what their background-seems somewhat out of place. Brandeis is asking for a controversy, a publicity stunt, maybe trying to please some donors, but commencement is neither the time nor the place to pull such a stunt. As a graduate of the Class of 2009, I can appreciate the importance of having a speaker who doesn't provoke any kind of upset on the day I'm receiving my diploma, celebrating with friends and family and saying my goodbyes. There is no need for a controversy when all anyone wants is a few inspirational words and maybe a laugh or two. However, who is to say that our expectations might be too high-Oren might tell some personal anecdotes of his own graduation experience, perhaps throw in a few jokes about the language barrier, and call it a day-however unlikely that might seem.
The concerns expressed by Jeremy Sherer are certainly valid, and all you can do is hope for the best.
-Becky Kupchan '09

Univ has evolved over the years
In response to your article "Oren is poor choice for address" (Forum, April 27):
I used to go to Brandeis events to meet Jewish girls when I was a student at Bentley. At that time, Brandeis was actually proud of being a university with some sort of Jewish outlook. I never thought I'd see the day when the Israeli ambassador is the bad guy, and Jimmy Carter, Steven Walt and Desmond Tutu are the good guys. I only hope that the alumni who care about the Jewish people pull their donations and send their kids elsewhere. Whatever Brandeis was, it isn't anymore.
-Bill Pearlman