Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 3/15/07 Section: News
James Baker: Divisive, or deserving?
Despite controversy, many say Baker remains a good choice
Albert Sun
The University's decision to bring James Baker to speak at this year's Commencement may be raising concerns among pro-Israel and Jewish students, but experts say that Baker's political and personal viewpoints should not have kept the University from inviting him.
The Penn Israel Coalition has taken issue with the decision to bring the former U.S. cabinet member and co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group who famously clashed with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in the past and is alleged to have made anti-Semitic remarks.
PIC President and Wharton and College junior Max Schapiro said it is "inappropriate" for Penn to bring in an individual who is "so offensive to so many in this community."
But officials are saying that Baker's political background and past statements should not affect the University's decision to ask him to address the senior class.
"He's been a long-time public servant; … we don't think it's appropriate to deny him the opportunity to serve as a keynote speaker," said Barry Morrison, director of the Anti-Defamation League, an organization that monitors anti-Semitism.
Baker has been criticized for a quote he allegedly made that was published in a 1992 column in The New York Post. In the article, Ed Koch, the former Democratic mayor of New York City, claimed that Baker said, "Fuck the Jews. They didn't vote for us anyway."
Baker and national pro-Israel groups have long been at odds with each other. In 1989, Baker delivered a speech to AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group, in which he said that there was "no greater obstacle to peace" than Israeli settlements.
Still, some say other figures with similar accomplishments and without a history of such controversy should have been more strongly considered.
"There are plenty of speakers whose records don't stir the kind of feelings that have been stirred in these particular students," said Edward Beck, a 1983 alumnus of Penn's Graduate School of Education. "If such a speaker is offensive to Penn students, then that issue should be reexamined."
The Penn Israel Coalition has taken issue with the decision to bring the former U.S. cabinet member and co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group who famously clashed with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in the past and is alleged to have made anti-Semitic remarks.
PIC President and Wharton and College junior Max Schapiro said it is "inappropriate" for Penn to bring in an individual who is "so offensive to so many in this community."
But officials are saying that Baker's political background and past statements should not affect the University's decision to ask him to address the senior class.
"He's been a long-time public servant; … we don't think it's appropriate to deny him the opportunity to serve as a keynote speaker," said Barry Morrison, director of the Anti-Defamation League, an organization that monitors anti-Semitism.
Baker has been criticized for a quote he allegedly made that was published in a 1992 column in The New York Post. In the article, Ed Koch, the former Democratic mayor of New York City, claimed that Baker said, "Fuck the Jews. They didn't vote for us anyway."
Baker and national pro-Israel groups have long been at odds with each other. In 1989, Baker delivered a speech to AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group, in which he said that there was "no greater obstacle to peace" than Israeli settlements.
Still, some say other figures with similar accomplishments and without a history of such controversy should have been more strongly considered.
"There are plenty of speakers whose records don't stir the kind of feelings that have been stirred in these particular students," said Edward Beck, a 1983 alumnus of Penn's Graduate School of Education. "If such a speaker is offensive to Penn students, then that issue should be reexamined."
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 11
Joe Lucas
posted 3/15/07 @ 9:45 AM EST
Why is a conservative diplomat considered divisive, but a liberal considered deserving? Why do liberals, who presumably believe in free speech, try so hard to squelch the speech of people they don't agree with? Why do we drive on the parkway, and park on the driveway? Perhaps some things are never meant to be understood. (Continued…)
06 Alum
posted 3/15/07 @ 10:44 AM EST
Even though I am a liberal Democrat and James Baker is a prominent Republican, I would have greatly preferred Baker as a commencement speaker to Jodi Foster. (Continued…)
really.....
posted 3/15/07 @ 11:26 AM EST
The pro-Israel and Jewish students who are disappointed in him as a speaker for his beliefs are ridiculous. GROW UP. you don't always get what you want. (Continued…)
Philasteen
posted 3/15/07 @ 12:19 PM EST
I would actually like him to talk about how settlements are an impediment to peace. It would be nice to have some uncomfortable truth in a commencement speech for once. (Continued…)
Michael J. Stevko
posted 3/15/07 @ 3:27 PM EST
I'm happy he's speaking. The fact is that anyone that disagrees with Israel is considered "anti-semetic"-which is a pile of horse dung. The FACT is that the pro-Israel lobby in this country is way to powerful and being a friend of Israel does NOT mean that Israel can do whatever it wants without accountability. (Continued…)
The Worst of Both Worlds
posted 3/15/07 @ 7:33 PM EST
The only thing that makes any of today's uber conservatives even remotely palatable is that they tend to take a rational stance on Israel. Even morons like Bush and Cheney understand that Israel has a right to defend itself against its "palestinian" and Hezbollah neighbors that seek to destroy israel and the Jewish faith. (Continued…)
al
posted 3/17/07 @ 7:32 PM EST
"We had additional meetings because we wanted to ensure that the speaker would appeal to a broad base of people"
I understand the need to cover all bases. (Continued…)
Post a Comment