Editor's Correspondence: Countering Professor Joseph's Argument
On September 21st, a panel discussion titled "Religious Support for Abortion Rights: Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Perspectives" was held at Holy Cross. However, the event was overshadowed by a subsequent panel discussion on "Violence in Israel and Palestine," which took place on October 25.
This latter discussion, organized by Peace and Conflict Studies and Middle East Studies, aimed to provide diverse perspectives on the conflict. However, it sparked controversy when Professor Joseph, one of the panelists, was criticized for his perceived pro-Palestinian bias.
An unnamed professor voiced their concern over Professor Joseph's comparison of Israeli and Palestinian casualty figures, arguing that it was flawed and ignored the responsibility of Hamas for civilian casualties in Gaza. The unnamed professor did not conflate Palestinians with Hamas and condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel as barbaric.
The term "barbaros," used by ancient Greek writers to refer to non-Greeks, was brought into the discussion by the unnamed professor, who compared Professor Joseph's misunderstanding of Aristotle to his misunderstanding of the professor's own remarks.
Professor Joseph, in response, denied the one-sided nature of the panel and claimed that he shares the view that a liberal arts education should expose students to multiple perspectives. He chaired the discussion and represented a pro-Palestinian perspective, focusing on the historical conditions and conflict dynamics that explain ongoing escalations, highlighting Palestinian suffering and the impact of occupation, and advocating for a nuanced understanding of the conflict with attention to Palestinian narratives and grievances.
The panelists for the discussion included Reverend Elizabeth Kaeton, Professor Lisa Fishbayn Joffe, and Professor Zahra Ayubi. The first speaker from the audience was a student who read a manifesto condemning college administrators and faculty for not issuing harsh condemnations of Israel.
U.S. college campuses have become staging grounds for intense debates and mass demonstrations during the Israel-Hamas war. Dueling protests have erupted into violent clashes on several campuses. Students and professors have faced personal and professional retaliation for voicing their opinions during the conflict.
The unnamed professor claims that the panel was a form of ideological indoctrination rather than a contribution to a liberal arts education. They believe that humanity is not a birthright and that we are only worthy of shared humanity if we act consistent with fundamental moral norms. They criticize Professor Joseph for making no distinction between the deliberate targeting of civilians and the lamentable death of civilians by militaries that target enemy combatants.
Despite the controversy, the panel discussion served as a platform for open dialogue and diverse perspectives on a complex and contentious issue. The event, while divisive, underscored the importance of academic freedom and the need for open discourse on difficult topics.
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