Support

I appreciate the fact that you included the views of Asma Barlas as one of many analyses of the meaning of the September 11 attacks in the last cover package.

As a faculty member at IC, I believe that freedom of speech is essential to the development of a vibrant intellectual community, and I am grateful for your commitment to this goal. It is disturbing to me that many Americans right now are so fearful of hearing perspectives that are critical of U.S. policy. I wish that we didn’t have to be "courageous" to maintain the intellectual and moral integrity of our colleges and universities, as we face criticism and even threats. Unfortunately, our political leadership has helped establish this climate of fear by branding political criticism as traitorous.

I do believe that these are challenging times, but exciting times, for academic communities. With principled leadership, we can become oases for the "freedom of speech" that is necessary to explore real solutions for serious problems that face our nation and to participate in a global dialogue concerning the resolution of international conflicts and strategies to relieve human suffering.

Beth Harris
Assistant Professor, Department of Politics