Horowitz deserves response, not censorship
By Daily Bruin Staff
March 2, 2004 9:00 p.m.
Palestinians are driven by “Jew-hatred.” Their end
goal is not statehood, but genocide. The political left is guilty
of implicitly supporting terrorism. Such are the opinions of
columnist David Horowitz as expressed in an advertisement in
today’s Daily Bruin.
Raised by Marxist parents, Horowitz was a leftist activist in
Berkeley in the 1960s before making a total political conversion.
Now, he is a staunch conservative who strongly criticizes what he
sees as a left-wing bias at universities.
He was the subject of much controversy and protest in spring
2001 after submitting an ad titled “Ten Reasons Why
Reparations for Slavery is a Bad Idea ““ and Racist Too”
to numerous college newspapers.
In an appearance at UCLA in winter of 2002, Horowitz made a case
for profiling Arab men at airports and said the university was
spawning ground for socialism.
Even if he wanted to, Horowitz could not deny he has strong
opinions ““Â and he’s never afraid to share them.
Many people find Horowitz offensive and hurtful. Indeed, some would
rather not be bothered by his rabble-rousing and may wonder why The
Bruin would ever publish an ad from him.
But rather than ask that his voice be silenced, even those who
find Horowitz’s views repugnant should instead use their own
voice to express their differing opinions and analyses.
Some people find Horowitz to be an insightful commentator.
Others believe he disseminates inflammatory propaganda.
Those in the latter category should understand that while there
are few things more dangerous than propaganda, one of them is
censorship.
