The New Haven Independent reports that Jytte Klausen, whose book The Cartoons That Shook the Worldwas censored by the Yale University Press, spoke at Yale yesterday evening, leading to a worthwhile exchange with one of the individuals responsible for the act of censorship.
Klausen, a Brandeis University professor, is having her book published by the Yale University Press this fall. The book discusses the international fury and violence that took place four years ago after a Danish newspaper published cartoon depictions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed. However, Yale University, in a move demonstrating little regard for academic freedom, decided to remove the cartoons from Klausen’s book under the justification that it feared more violence and controversy might result from their inclusion in the book. The decision rightfully led to widespread criticism of the university from all corners.
In the question-and-answer session following her speech before the Yale community, Klausen had the opportunity to come face-to-face with one of the individuals who advised Yale not to publish the cartoons in her book. The Independent article describes the exchange as follows:
‘I had an instant image of raging mobs in the streets of Kabul, waving my book,’ Klausen joked, and the audience chuckled along with her.
Klausen’s joke prompted Joseph Cumming to stand and speak out. He introduced himself as one of the experts who advised Yale not to publish the cartoons. ‘I’m thinking of people I know who were killed because of the publication of these cartoons,’ he said. ‘And I would appreciate if you would not laugh at those people and what they and their families have suffered.’
Cumming later explained that he used to direct a humanitarian aid agency in North Africa where he had witnessed anti-Christian violence firsthand.
‘Well nice to meet you,’ replied Klausen. ‘This is not a Muslim versus non-Muslim conflict, obviously I disagree profoundly with you.’
‘It wasn’t actually the cartoons that killed people. Al Qaeda is in the bombing business,’ she said. ‘It’s the bombing that comes first, it’s the reasons that come second.’ The audience responded with a round of applause, concluding the talk.
I’m apparently not the only one who feels this way. As the Yale Daily News reports, the Yale Committee for a Free Press, a group of alumni, sent a letter yesterday to President Richard Levin and the Yale Corporation criticizing the decision to remove the cartoons. In pertinent part, the letter states:
Simply stated, Yale must not be the arbiter of what is ‘safe’ to publish. Such censorship corrodes the intellectual freedom that is the foundation of the entire university community. It also violates Yale’s own explicit policy: ‘Above all, every member of the university has an obligation to permit free expression in the university. . . . Every official of the university . . . has a special obligation to foster free expression and to ensure that it is not obstructed.’ (Emphasis added.)