Rebecca Davidson: Win Ben Stein's respect

Loyola University of Chicago's student newspaper, The Phoenix, recently quoted Nixon speechwriter-turned-game show host Ben Stein as saying that he was unconcerned about the plight of Arab Americans, who are suffering from discrimination in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Stein now claims he said no such thing. However, since his alleged inflammatory remarks hit the press, certain factions within the Penn community have labeled him a racist, drawing the conclusion that perhaps he should not have been chosen to appear as Connaissance's fall speaker this Tuesday as scheduled.

The Penn Arab Student Society even issued a statement to University President Judith Rodin which read, in part, "We strongly suggest that comments of this nature not be voiced by anyone given the privilege to speak at an institution of Penn's caliber, especially when there's a large representation of Arab, and Arab-American students on its campus."

All this backlash -- before Stein even had a chance to respond to the allegations.

There may be no concrete way to determine whether or not Stein uttered the now-infamous remark. The Phoenix claims that he did; he claims that he didn't. We may never know.

Regardless, the University and Connaissance ought to have him speak as scheduled. Stein claims the quote in question was a misrepresentation of what he actually said; he cites his past as a civil rights advocate, and even recalls being a target of anti-Semitism as a child.

There is a lesson to be learned here. We should be careful not to let one alleged remark color our opinions of a person, especially one with a background as impressive as Stein's.

If he is in fact lying -- and he did make the statement reported in The Phoenix -- it would behoove us to remember that academia is full of controversial, and often highly unpopular opinions. And Stein, regardless of whether or not he harbors any prejudices toward specific groups, should be heard.

Princeton University Professor Peter Singer has been repeatedly cited as an advocate of euthanasia for disabled infants.ÿWhile the opinion sickens many, clearly there are enough people at Old Nassau who value free speech more than they do conciliatory content.ÿThey haven't forgotten Voltaire's mantra, "I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it."

So we are presented with a choice. We can, in our panic, try to silence the voices we do not want to hear. We can, like certain students on campus, take steps to banish his words and opinions without ever confirming the facts for ourselves. All due to panic.

It is panic, though, that is causing the despicable rash of violence against those of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent in this country. Let's one up the ignoramuses, and, dare I say it? -- the terrorists -- by not panicking.ÿLet us persist in our support of free speech, whether or not we we agree with what is expressed. More important, let us remember that there are at least two sides to every story, and that we ought to listen to both before forming a judgment.

I wouldn't make such a powerful statement if I didn't feel the effects of quick judgments so personally.

Yesterday, Ariel Horn ("Just a columnist, but still beholden to facts," The Daily Pennsylvanian), contended that columnists who mislead their readers "think so much of [themselves], and so little of [their] readership, that [they] feel that [they] can get away with anything."

The remark was a generalization, but stemmed in part from a previous column I wrote -- specifically, a farcical reference regarding American food drops in Afghanistan.

Now more than ever, I am sensitive to quickly-formed judgments. It's possible that students who never even read my column now mistrust me completely, all due to one remark.

Oh, the power of words.

Horn pointed out that a paragraph in the column may have been misinterpreted by some readers. But she didn't explore the motives behind my farcical reference, one which was never cited as an absolute truth. I believe it illustrated a point: that American foreign aid does not always meet the needs of those it is meant to help.

However, the experience of seeing my words misinterpreted -- at least from my original intent -- was frightening. And it reinforced my own commitment to that single ideal that we should all pursue: the truth.

Such is the case with Stein, and all those who would silence his voice. Penn should encourage debate during his visit, as it has when other controversial individuals -- former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi among them -- have visited in the past.

Stein's presence on campus should serve as an opportunity to discuss the various issues -- and disagreements -- that now confront us as a nation.

And if nothing else, it should remind us that determining the truth is a responsibility which we all shoulder.

Rebecca Davidson is a senior English major from Glen Rock, NJ.

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