By Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie
Brandeis University, a Jewish-sponsored university and my alma mater, has withdrawn its offer to give an honorary degree to Ayaan Hirsi Ali. As reported in The New York Times and elsewhere, Brandeis changed its mind eight days after announcing the honor to Ms. Hirsi Ali, who was born in Somalia and served in the Dutch Parliament. The president of Brandeis, Fred Lawrence, said in his announcement of the change that “we cannot overlook certain of her past statements that are inconsistent with Brandeis University’s core values.”
In this case, Brandeis got it right.
Ms. Ali has referred to Islam as “the new fascism” and “a destructive, nihilistic cult of death” and has said that “violence is inherent in Islam.” [Read more…]
