tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post7729528498980461113..comments2024-01-07T06:59:04.212-05:00Comments on The Playgoer: Kushner Dissed by CUNYPlaygoerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-81041314729253332892011-05-05T12:14:33.535-04:002011-05-05T12:14:33.535-04:00Thanks for getting a discussion going, guys. To T...Thanks for getting a discussion going, guys. To Tom's point I'll just second CGS. Note I did not use the word "censorship" but did talk about the implications for "free speech." My concern is not the possible censorship of Kushner so much as the message sent to STUDENTS about which opinions are acceptable and which are out of bounds.<br /><br />Meanwhile, please note my update from today (4/5) and let's continue the discussion there.Playgoerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-40263850051802824792011-05-05T11:28:35.689-04:002011-05-05T11:28:35.689-04:00Weisenfeld seems like a bullying creep, desperate ...Weisenfeld seems like a bullying creep, desperate for attention and control. I'm sure he thinks he's striking a righteous blow against the Left by denying Kushner this honor. Never mind that Tony already has a ton of them, and will continue to acrue them throughout the rest of his life. Posterity will remember Kushner a lot more fondly, and for a lot longer, than Weisenfeld, that's for sure.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06062987385482820410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-10089306208609490262011-05-05T10:40:24.042-04:002011-05-05T10:40:24.042-04:00This did not happen in a bubble. If you look on t...This did not happen in a bubble. If you look on the front page of the Jewish Week, another big story rocking the American Jewish community right now is the right wing's attempt to demonize/marginalize Rabbi Rick Jacobs, who has been appointed to head the Reform movement because of his support for J Street and New Israel Fund. (Unlike Kushner, Jacobs is unabashedly pro-Israel but has criticized the settlement policy of the Netanyahu government.) Recently, another right wing ideologue attacked the JCC in NYC for the "Other Israel" film festival and a synagogue in Massachusetts rescinded an invitation to J Street head Jeremy Ben Ami to speak there after pressure from members. The theme is that only the most unquestioning loyalty to Israel and the policies of its governments will be allowed. I am ashamed that someone like Benno Schmidt allowed himself and other board members to be pressured by someone like Wiesenfeld who is obviously a wealthy political hack.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-21455636025115406292011-05-05T10:31:51.636-04:002011-05-05T10:31:51.636-04:00I don't think the issue is about censoring Kus...I don't think the issue is about censoring Kushner as much as it is about a disturbing trend of intellectual intimidation at CUNY. CUNY board members and trustees are bullying faculty and other members of the CUNY community, using their positions of power to silence dissenting opinions without permitting free and fair discussion of ideas. This is an abuse of power, and it goes against everything an academic institution like CUNY is supposed to represent.CGSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-11736561384638839952011-05-04T19:53:58.653-04:002011-05-04T19:53:58.653-04:00This guy Wiesenthal sounds like a clown/loudmouth/...This guy Wiesenthal sounds like a clown/loudmouth/attention whore, but I don't think that denying Tony Kushner an honorary degree equates to censorship. Kushner is a wildly successful playwright and screenwriter. His microphone is plenty big if he wants to scream about this, and more power to him if and when he does. I'd be more upset if CUNY's board had slapped down a playwriting student's first work or first reading for having questionable views. THAT'S censorship.Tom Sheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06452388964457205842noreply@blogger.com