Why Malik-Ali?
Posted on 29. Nov, 2009 by Abe in News
Last Tuesday, UCI students demonstrated that they will not sit complacently as decisions regarding the cost of higher education are made without public discussion. There are alternatives, and thus far students protests seems to have fallen on deaf ears. It is imperative that students, workers and faculty remain in solidarity.
On Dec. 1, protests will commence at noon at the flagpoles in front of Aldrich Hall (Admin Building). Guest speaker Amir Abdel Malik-Ali will speak in support of the movement. I understand that Malik-Ali is a polarizing figure, and I am familiar with his polemical stance against Israel. As far as the Israel-Palestine debate goes, this event, I hope, will be free of rhetoric regarding that issue.
Regardless of his views on Israel, I hope Malik-Ali will have some helpful comments regarding student protests. As student president of S.F. State University during the eighties, Malik-Ali worked to secure interest-free loans for students of need on campus. His expertise on that issue–rather than his stance on Israel, Islam or Judaism–should be the focus.
As the YouTube clip above shows, Malik-Ali has spoken on behalf of students of the CSU system. Still, I have my reservations about his reputation as an anti-Semitic, Holocaust-denying homophobe. Although he is indeed a powerful speaker and rhetorician, some of his views may do more damage than good for the student-worker movement.
Many of the key organizers of the UCI student protests belong to the Muslim Student Union, who have invited Malik-Ali several times in the past as a speaker on the issue of Israel-Palestine. As much as I support the MSU, I have to ask: why Malik-Ali? Do we really want to attract this kind of attention to UCI? Someone less controversial and alienating would have been a more tactful choice for a speaker. We’ll see how it goes this Tuesday.
What do you think? Do you believe that Mali-Ali is a liability rather than an asset? Feel free to comment and give your opinion.
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For more info on the event, visit http://bit.ly/6MepqY
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