Campus Watch readers are no doubt familiar with the numerous smears, false allegations, and hysterical accusations leveled against us by our opponents. Frequent charges of “McCarthyism,” “censorship,” “silencing professors,” and “threats to academic freedom” are hurled at Campus Watch by those unaccustomed to the rigors of simple criticism. The hermetically sealed world of academia lends itself to this paranoid mindset and its ideologically sympathetic defenders have adopted a similar approach.
This attitude is even more prevalent in the field of Middle East studies, which was thrust into the spotlight after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and, more often than not, found wanting. Middle East studies academics are none too pleased at the justifiable criticism that has resulted. But instead of addressing the politicization, shoddy scholarship, and apologetics at the heart of the matter, those on the receiving end of Campus Watch’s critiques tend to go on the attack, as do their allies. And truth is the first casualty.
Up until now, Campus Watch has responded to mischaracterizations via our blog, where, in the past seven months alone, we have posted a series of rebuttals and corrections. For those who missed the original posts, the links – in no particular order – follow:
Campus Watch Critiques, UC Santa Cruz Paper Cries “Censorship!”
Correcting the Record: Inaccuracies in Bangkok Post’s Portrayal of Campus Watch
David Castle of Pluto Press Discredits Himself While Mischaracterizing Campus Watch
Howard Zinn Gets Campus Watch Wrong in Plugging Pluto Press and Joel Kovel’s “Overcoming Zionism”
National Lawyers Guild President Marjorie Cohn Misrepresents Campus Watch, Others
Pipe Dream at Binghamton, Badger Herald at Wisconsin Misrepresent Campus Watch
In Truth: Richard Silverstein’s Fictions about Campus Watch, Paula Stern, and Nadia Abu El-Haj
Due to this proliferation of misrepresentations and falsehoods, Campus Watch has now set up a website feature to address them on a regular basis: Setting The Record Straight. The section can be accessed by passing one’s mouse over the “About Campus Watch” category in the left-hand tab and clicking on “Setting The Record Straight.” There are a number of items posted thus far, the links for which appear below:
MSU Stands Against Daniel Pipes
Fighting for a Better University
From “Pointless” to Intolerance: Islamofascism Week
Lobby Group Pressure Hinders Academic Freedom
The Culture War Descends on Columbia
The Campaigns to Silence Critics of Israel
Stay tuned for upcoming additions, as, inevitably, there will be plenty of opportunities to set the record straight.
