Kate Taylor, a reporter for the New York Times, just tweeted these.
.@mikebloomberg forcefully defends right of Brooklyn College to organize BDS conference, while noting he’s a strong supporter of Israel.
— Kate Taylor (@katetaylornyt) February 6, 2013
Mayor: “If u want to go to a university where the govt decides what…subjects are fit for discussion, I suggest you apply…in N Korea”
— Kate Taylor (@katetaylornyt) February 6, 2013
Update (12:10 pm)
According to a transcription of Bloomberg’s remarks that was prepared by Emily Stanback, this is the entire statement he made:
Well look, I couldn’t disagree more violently with BDS as they call it, Boycott Divestment and Sanctions. As you know I’m a big supporter of Israel, as big a one as you can find in the city, but I could also not agree more strongly with an academic department’s right to sponsor a forum on any topic that they choose. I mean, if you want to go to a university where the government decides what kind of subjects are fit for discussion, I suggest you apply to a school in North Korea.
The last thing that we need is for members of our City Council or State Legislature to be micromanaging the kinds of programs that our public universities run, and base funding decisions on the political views of professors. I can’t think of anything that would be more destructive to a university and its students.
You know, the freedom to discuss ideas, including ideas that people find repugnant, lies really at the heart of the university system, and take that away and higher education in this country would certainly die.
This is a city that loves and protects freedom—academic freedom, religious religious freedom, sexual freedom, cultural freedom, political freedom. We are the freest city in the world, and that’s why we’re the greatest city in the world.
That’s a very strong endorsement of my department’s position.
I hate that “Stop-And-Frisk”-ing bastard.
But — he’s right, this time.
Agreed, Donald Pruden!
also agree DP
YES. Bloomberg gets his own props for this, but knowing how politicians are – and how humans are – I would bet that this was easier for him to do after President Gould made her strong statement. Unprovable I know…
It’s glorious. With any luck, soon the Jewish State will cease to exist.
Someone, please explain this to me. Isn’t it glaringly obvious that this kind of pointless McCarthyism will backfire and discredit people who are against BDS? Bloomberg just stuck the shiv in Dershowitz and how could he have not seen it coming miles away? This is counter to a sort of deep and complex American fairness.
I somewhat understand what their plan was with Hagel. He’s going to be SecDef. But why burn your waning credibility on (no offense) a campus conference of all things?
Is it just flexing muscle? Are they really just playing checkers and missing the chess? I don’t get it. What is their game? If it was to intimidate academics, that has most certainly (and foreseeably) backfired as well.
Beautiful….just beautiful..Thank you Mayor Bloomberg yet again..and thanks Corey!!
“This is a city that loves and protects freedom—academic freedom, religious religious freedom, sexual freedom, cultural freedom, political freedom. We are the freest city in the world, and that’s why we’re the greatest city in the world.”
Really, Mr. Mayor? For those with short memories, this from the New York Times, followed by an excerpt:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/nyregion/28school.html?_r=0&ei=5070&en=eb31e0ad46ef2191&ex=1210046400&emc=eta1&pagewanted=all
“Randi Weingarten, the head of the teachers’ union, published a letter in The Post criticizing Ms. [Debbie] Almontaser for not denouncing “ideas tied to violence.” On Aug. 9, Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott asked Ms. Almontaser to step down, she said. “The mayor wants your resignation by 8 a.m. tomorrow so he can announce it on his radio show,” Ms. Almontaser recalled Mr. Walcott saying.”
So, on one occasion Mr. Bloomberg comes out swinging for the poli-sci departmemt of Brooklyn College, but “shivs” veteran public school teacher who wished to provide Arabic language education, also in Brooklyn, to the City’s school children. Bloomberg does this because a bunch of neo-con racist hysterics, led by Daniel Pipes and the New York Post, bully the Education Department into accepting a false characterization of Ms. Almontaser’s efforts. And the head of the teachers union piles on for good measure.
As I said, he was right on the BDS matter. But — he was wrong as all hell on the matter of Ms. Almontaser.
“johnnybutter”’s skepticism is well placed, I’d say. Bloomberg’s bravery is that of someone who checks the political winds first.
Better late than never, I guess?
Yes, better late than never. But never too soon to end the existence of the illegal, immoral, so-called “Jewish” State.
“We are the freest city in the world…” unless you want to drink more than 16oz of soda.
I am so sick and tired of US pols telling us “this” of “that” American institution, system or place is the most/best/finest blah-blah-blah. Has this mayor spent a year in Luxembourg (City), Barcelona, Bangkok, Reyjkavic or Buenos Aires? No.
In terms of cultural dynamism and general fun level, I personally would FAR rather live in NYC than Luxembourg (City), Barcelona, Bangkok, Reyjkavic (sic) and/or Buenos Aires.
(and…Bangkok? Seriously, Rick Geissal, BANGKOK?)
I’d gladly choose Bangkok over NYC, especially regarding “general fun level.” I’d miss out on a good philharmonic and certain foodstuffs, but in America’s hideous trash culture I don’t expect the NY Phil to last the next 30 years anyway and I just so happen to love Thai food, so no big.
Well, you must be very proud, of course. Congratulations on another sterling achievement.
We can all only look forward to the day when the Jews are finally pushed into the sea so that the academic freedom enjoyed at BC is at long last brought to Tel Aviv courtesy of Hamas. Good work, Corey!
And yes, yes, yes! “*Back the frick off* all you fricken *ignoramuses*!” Who could ever hope to say it better? Now we all know where we stand, on human rights, genuine academic freedom and responsibility, women’s rights, gay rights… End the Zionist Occupation Government and usher in UTOPIA NOW. Thanks, CR.COM!
The real left to the post-left, “R*cism is Unaccept*ble!”, http://www.fathomjournal.org/reviews-culture/parting-ways/