At first I thought I would just a post a small comment but I felt compelled to speak in defense of a fellow human-being. Forgive me for haranguing.
Here is an ethical individual who realizes the importance of critical inquiry and the search for truth as essential aspects of Judaic faith in whose sacred texts knowledge and wisdom are emphasized in achieving cognition and the realization of a higher Self. Wisdom, as the ability to differentiate good from evil, allows for moral behavior. Wisdom, as knowledge that is true and right, allows for problems to be solved and avoided. Wisdom aids creative forces versus destructive ones; helps establish order and harmony over chaos. Such wisdom we need to heal the wounds of the past and to build a better future in peace.
“The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.” (Proverbs 3:19)
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” (Proverbs 24:3-4)
Can such a house be built for all people to peacefully live in? Compelled by a pure heart and intentions, many, such as this individual, seek wisdom that is not worldly or evil, a wisdom that can help built such a house. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3:17-17) Such individuals seek wisdom and understanding needed to build houses in peace, and yet they find themselves assailed by those of same creed in an attack that shows hypocrisy on moral grounds while harming and stifling the pursuit of peace.
“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)
This dire warning ought to be taken seriously. Not only the censure against this individual shows the powerful current drowning out voices of reconciliation in action, not only it endangers all people in the Middle-East and all over the world by inciting the unintelligently passionate ones on all sides, but more importantly, right here at home, it undermines that which is vital to the existence of democratic societies—freedom to enlighten. Such a rough-treatment being directed at this individual is a brazen attempt at suppressing that most dangerous of voices, the voice of reason; and that is alarming. This individual had eloquence and the support of influential individuals coming to his aid and so he was able to speak in his own defense. But what about all of those voices that are silenced and suppressed? If this individual can be bulldozed openly in a free country and within an academic environment, I wonder what treatment people are getting who are left with no homes, water, let alone a homeland.
Dialogue and critique are virtues that all lovers of liberty and reason support and find essential in measuring freedom here, in Israel, in Palestine, in Iran, or anywhere else. The right to question the wisdom of one’s own nation ought to be allowed if citizens are to remain free, yet this individual is being pu(ni)shed for questioning the policies of a foreign country?! At issue is liberty, the freedom to speak and criticize constructively. Aryeh Neier was castigated for defending the despicable Nazi’s right to march to Skokie, and perhaps his defense of enemies’ civil liberties went over-board for some. But does that imply that no one can speak without reprimand in defense of those that are deemed enemies but who are in reality equally entitled to escape oppression in their own neighborhood and in their own homeland?! It is hypocrisy for us as humans to “remember”, to “never forget” deliverance by Lord’s hand from Egypt, from the horrific experiences of Holocaust, from the bowels of darkness, ignorance, hatred and malice, while subjugating another nation to force. We are commanded to remember and such remembrance ought not to serve oppression but liberty for all. Liberty, knowledge, and wisdom are virtues that accommodate and should not threaten authentic peace(ful). And such virtues ought to compel us to speak in defense of the likes of Tony Kushner.
