The Wesleyan community must take charges of anti-Semitism very seriously. If the charges were true, that would be a grave violation of our community standards. In Elana Baurer’s Wespeak, she refers to Alison Weir as expressing “veiled anti-Semitism.” This is not an accusation to be made lightly. It ought to be backed up with substantial supporting arguments because it is a charge that is so important. Instead, she simply includes her accusation in a list of other traits of Alison Weir. As if it was simply one of the many disagreeable aspects of her nature.
This is completely unacceptable. This reduces anti-Semite to simply another label like “jerk” or “poopyface,” a bad word that you can thoughtlessly call anybody who disagrees with you. And furthermore, using the word lightly is disrespectful to the many Jews who truly have suffered over the course of our history. Additionally, invalidating someone’s opinion in this way unfairly exploits the Wesleyan community’s desire to create an open and inclusive place that is free from oppression. It is also intellectually dishonest in a university setting to stifle legitimate intellectual discourse before it begins by giving a negative label to the discussion in the first place. Elana Baurer, I demand that you either substantiate your claim to Alison Weir’s anti-Semitism, or formally retract your statement.
The other criticisms voiced by you and others who have written Wespeaks are legitimate issues that warrant our discussion, but that discussion cannot be invalidated before it begins by associating any criticism of the actions of the Israeli government with anti-Semitism.
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