To the Editor:
In your article on Professor Tony Judt, a stubborn mistruth was repeated ("The Trials of Tony Judt," The Chronicle Review, January 15).
In October 2006, Judt was scheduled to speak at an event hosted by Network 20/20, which rented space from the Polish Consulate in New York. His topic dealt with the Middle East.
Shortly before the event took place, the consulate withdrew its offer. Consul General Krzysztof Kasprzyk, who only learned about the scheduled event at the last minute, stated that his building was not a "catering hall," and that it would not provide a venue to those who opposed the basic tenets of Polish foreign policy. In calling for a one-state solution, Judt advocated Israel's end, which runs contrary to Poland's support for Israel's right to exist.
The article perpetuates the urban legend that the cancellation resulted from pressure exerted by the American Jewish Committee and another Jewish group. The only action taken by AJC was one friendly phone call to inform the Consul General, in case he did not know, that the event was slated to take place, so he would be prepared for any criticism resulting from those who might misconstrue the rental of the space as endorsement of the speaker's message. There was no request to cancel the event.
But the story took on a life of its own, with Judt presenting himself as a target of Jewish agencies trying to silence or intimidate Israel's critics. He quickly found a group of supporters reflexively prepared to believe the worst about pro-Israel organizations. More than three years later, this apocryphal account continues to surface.
While we are totally at odds with advocates of a one-state solution and other virulent critics of Israel, we have never challenged their First Amendment rights. In other words, it is long overdue to put the 2006 canard to rest.
David Harris
Executive Director
American Jewish Committee
New York
Tony Judt is a very courageous writer and scholar. Even when I disagree with his views, I have a great deal of respect for his willingness to tell it as he sees it. Academia would be much better off if there were more scholars like him.
Lairdwilcox
Comment at Chronicle.com
Comments
1. sophieg - February 09, 2010 at 07:42 am
However friendly the call to the Consul General, it could certainly have a chilling effect.
2. wowalker - February 09, 2010 at 10:38 am
To characterize one's own phone call in a politically-charged atmosphere as "friendly" begs the question about what was implied and what was actually said. It does not dispell the so-called urban legend.
3. michaelsantomauro - February 09, 2010 at 02:14 pm
I realize the AJC, is about group interests for jewish-Americans. But for any member of any ethnie who believes Mr. Harris, has to have his head examined and will be a puppet for the American Jewish Committee.
A race or an ethnie without a sense of peoplehood or ethnichood will end up being used to achieve the goals of other ethnies. The above letter is a classic example.
The feelings or thoughts for peoplehood is not a pathology. The European-American will have White ethnic interests and it is not racist to have them. Just as Hispanics, Asians, Jews and Blacks have their own ethnic interests, it should not be a pathology for Whites to have ethnic interests. Become a member of: The American Third Position at A3P.org, a new group European-Americans.
4. michaelsantomauro - February 09, 2010 at 02:58 pm
I realize the AJC, is about group interests for Jewish-Americans. But for any member of any ethnie who believes Mr. Harris, has to have his head examined and will be a puppet for the American Jewish Committee.
A race or an ethnie without a sense of peoplehood or ethnichood will end up being used to achieve the goals of other ethnies. The above letter is a classic example.
The feelings or thoughts for peoplehood is not a pathology. The European-American will have White ethnic interests and it is not racist to have them. Just as Hispanics, Asians, Jews and Blacks have their own ethnic interests, it should not be a pathology for Whites to have ethnic interests. Become a member of: The American Third Position at A3P.org, a new group for European-Americans.
5. soffee - February 12, 2010 at 09:41 am
With refrence to the statement:
[While we are totally at odds with advocates of a one-state solution and other virulent critics of Israel, we have never challenged their First Amendment rights. In other words, it is long overdue to put the 2006 canard to rest.
David Harris
Executive Director
American Jewish Committee
New York ]
In almost 40 years of working in the media arena " we have never challenged their First Amendment rights" is the MOST blantly, outragous lie I have ever read.
Jewish organizations and their media pimps, use every tool at their insidous disposal to block publication or presentation of any media material critical, or even questioning the Jewish agenda. The little "One phone call is all" slogan goes a long way in the never ending agressive campaign to block any event they don't like, silence any critic they want to disrupt, attempt to slander any author who questions or desires to openly examine.
Can you hear the tremendous roar of laughter being emited from a packed stadium over the ludicrous antics of a comedy routine. This is the identical intensity of hysterical laughter that is directed to your statement Mr. Harris by those of us in the media who know your kind far too well.