Letters: National Post, Monday, August 11, 2003

Re: Trent University's Problem Professor, Jonathan Kay, Aug. 9, 2003

by Michael Neumann

Mr. Kay's comments concerning me are misleading in many ways. But I will confine myself to a few points. First, the material on the Jewish Tribal Review Web site was published not only without my consent, but against my express wishes. I therefore refuse to inspect the site's contents or comment on their accuracy. I will say that the statements attributed to me give a distorted impression of my views. As someone who lost many relatives to Hitler's camps, all anti-Semitism bothers me. However, my concern for the Palestinians is paramount at this point, and will remain so until Israel withdraws from the occupied territories. This implies at least two things about anti-Semitism. First, I certainly have no desire to participate in the covertly anti-Semitic project of uncovering the "truth" about Jewish control of North America. Second, I will not self-censor my writings because they may be misused by anti-Semites, and it is only in this very particular and limited sense that I "don't care" about encouraging anti-Semitism. Anti-Semites misuse all sorts of materials, including the statements of committed Zionists and of Mahatma Gandhi. It would be futile and impossible for me to tailor my writings to avoid such misuse. It should go without saying that I do not regard my writings as anti-Semitic. They are at times furiously critical, not only of Israel, but of the North American Jewish community -- which I continue to regard as my own. But I honestly believe furious criticism plays an essential role in resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict, and that promoting such a solution -- as I do -- is probably the greatest service one can render to the Jewish community at this time. And it is only common sense that Israel will not withdraw from the occupied territories unless it realizes how strongly the continued occupation endangers its very existence. As for my teaching, it is not simply that "there have been no complaints" about my classroom behaviour. It is also that I have never expressed my views on the Israel-Palestine conflict or anti-Semitism in the classroom, or indeed on campus. As a philosopher, I do not discuss, in an academic context, issues which depend on facts beyond the scope of my professional competence. Finally, as for my alleged comparisons of Jews to Nazis, I quote a public statement I have made on this matter: "First, a note of caution. In what follows, I will from time to time compare the position of Jews to the position of Germans in the Nazi era and afterwards. This is in no way an attempt to say that the Israelis either are Nazis, or are as bad as the Nazis. I have never at any time made such claims, and never will. But you can be better than the Nazis and still be very harmful or evil. My comparisons will bear on how one incurs or avoids responsibility for the crimes of a group or state with which, perhaps unwillingly, one is associated." Michael Neumann, professor of philosophy, Trent University, Peterborough, Ont.