I didn't know the protocols were a forgery?

so, this graduate instructor in Arabic 15 at UC Berkeley is talking (in class) about the protocols of the elders of Zion as a 'valid' historical document. how this would even come up in a lower division, spoken arabic course, I have no idea. but that's cal for you.

so he defends himself by saying, "this is what I was taught in Iraq...", and something about not having thought about it much or having done any research on the issue of it being a forgery.

ignorance is no excuse. you are a graduate student instructor. you are teaching Spoken Iraqi Arabic. this discussion has no place in this class and Klein is right to complain. this is a language class... stick to teaching the language ... that's what you are paid for and what the students have paid to learn.

Klein is brave for taking on the anti-semitism that is running rampant on the campus...I completely believe her because I have witnessed it (in the classroom and out) and suffered from it personally.

my advice to her is to watch out girl, 'cause your in the viper pit. There are some on that campus, and in that department, who will make her suffer for speaking out. suffer in very hard and painful ways.


UPDATE: read Ms. Klein's letter here.

note that he went off for over 1/2 an hour DURING CLASS SESSION on this subject. class started at 10am.

her detail as to the line of questioning offered in the discussion is noteworthy as well.

She should hire a lawyer now, as boyarin has already threatened to slam her with some kind of legal action for posting to dafka. she is going to need fresh depos from everyone in her class as to their recollection of the entire conversation.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

To Ms. Klein...you started the conversation knowing that this guy held particular views on the issue. you were challenging his views on the subject, and that I commend. However, do not do it in the classroom. This is an office hours discussion topic.

to mr. kadhim...ya messed up here. you should have begun class on time and stuck to the material. 'cultural' topics are certainly important in language classes, but I don't think that includes terrorist propaganda. keeping a low pro is usually advantageous when on a student visa.

and I thought I missed Berkeley....