Alums submit letter criticizing Yale Press
The Yale Committee for a Free Press, a group of alumni who are critical of Yale’s decision to remove caricatures of Muhammad from an upcoming book about the 2005 Danish cartoon controversy, has officially released its letter to the editor of the Yale Alumni Magazine. The letter, sent by e-mail on Friday, carries the signatures of 25 Elis, including John Bolton ’70 LAW ’74, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and David Frum ’82 GRD ’82, the former speechwriter for President George W. Bush '68.
It is clear the debate over the Press' decision will not end with the alums'...
This self-censorship episode was far too "Fahrenheit 481," and I was disheartened that such nonsense came from Yale. The beauty of free expression is that people can publish what they like and others can ignore it or respond that its disrespectful rubbish; this freedom means people can (and most likely will) offend each other, but that's how we come to understand each other and this mad world of ours better. With all due respect to the Muslim community (I do sympathize, as I know what it's like to hear my God and Messiah blasphemed and to see believers ridiculed), this book should have been published with the original images intact. To those who think otherwise, I would say this: I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Dear Kenneth Mayer,
Thank you for your support! If you can provide me with your E-mail address, either here or off-line, I'll add you to the mailing list, which is growing daily.
I endorse this letter; where do I sign?
Kenneth R. Mayer (Ph.D. 98)