Alice Walker Unhappy She’s Been Silenced

The woman who encourages people to give up their right to collaborate with, perform for and buy from Israelis has a real problem with others silencing her.

Color me purple unsympathetic.

Alice-WalkerIn Case You’ve Ever Wondered How It Is Done: Censorship by Purse String An Invitation to speak at the 50th Anniversary for the Center for Education of Women at the University of Michigan has been withdrawn

I’m saddened to write this because I’m a proponent of free speech and have been brought up to allow everyone to have their say. But I also realize that there are other considerations that institutions are faced with. This afternoon I was contacted by the University of Michigan instructing me to withdraw their invitation due to the removal of funding from the donors, because of their interpretation of Ms. Walker’s comments regarding Israel. They are not willing to fund this program and the university/Women’s center do not have the resources to finance this on their own. They are deeply regretful but I wanted to let you know immediately either way. I hope you can appreciate the fact that I’m uncomfortable even having to send this email in the first place. Hopefully we can work together again down the road. Thanks for understanding. I wish things had turned out differently.

I so appreciate the tone of the agent’s letter, alerting my assistant and me to this situation. It isn’t hard to imagine how he feels, having been so enthusiastic about getting me to come to help the women celebrate a major milestone in their many struggles for education and equality. But there is a bright side: Such behavior, as evidenced by the donors, teaches us our weakness, which should eventually (and soon) show us our strength: women must be in control of our own finances. Not just in the family, but in the schools, work force, and everywhere else. Until we control this part of our lives, our very choices, in any and every area, can be denied us.

I am bone weary of travel, after over half a century of doing it, so I dont regret not getting on another plane and being x-rayed coming and going, and occasionally being patted down as if I’m hiding something under my blouse, but I am sorry to miss this joyful sounding gathering of women (and men) who are without doubt some of the best our country has to offer.

If you should read this, people of the invitation, know I send you my love, and my understanding, without reservation. I thought you were brave to invite me, and I cherish you for that. Whatever the truth is, that is what will always be. It cannot be hidden forever, nor can it be kept from even the smallest child, indefinitely.

Alice Walker

Perhaps the only thing sadder than the hypocrisy here is the agent’s description of the invitation’s removal because of “their interpretation of Ms. Walker’s comments regarding Israel.” As if Walker’s vile comments about Israel AND Jews are somehow in doubt.

Meanwhile, while Walker complains of airport x-rays, in an Israellycool exclusive, I have gotten hold of her last one.

reptile

About Aussie Dave

An Aussie immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave is founder and managing editor of Israellycool, one of the world's most popular pro-Israel blogs (and the one you are currently reading) He is a happy family man, and a lover of steak, Australian sports and girlie drinks

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University of Michigan Denies Alice Walker Dis-Invited Because Of Anti-Israel Views | Israellycool
17 August 2013 at 10:08pm
[…] I posted about Alice Walker’s hissy fit (you see what I did there?) over ...

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  • Scott Adler

    Looks more like an innocent lizard than a snake!

  • Jewess

    The U Michigan program donors have just given the 92nd Street Y and other “Jewish” institutions a valuable lesson on how you fund vicious and crazy anti-Semites. You don’t.

    Good for them!!!!

  • Aryeh

    [racist comment deleted. Please do not post such comments in future]

    • babawawa

      While I disagree with Alice Walker, I find your post is disgusting. Please find another forum to air your disturbing and ugly remarks.

    • Jim_from_Iowa

      I like free and open debate, but it has to be civil to be acceptable for me. People like you really louse things up for everyone, Aryeh.

    • Aryeh

      So if a white person says that judeophobes A, B, and C are Negroes, this is racism. And if a Negro says that Jews are Nazis, occupiers, apartheidists and many other really insulting things, this is not. Sweet.

      What else? Is it racist to bring up the fact that 60% of the crimes in the USA are perpetrated by blacks who make up only 12% of total population?

      • http://www.israellycool.com/ Aussie Dave

        Stick to the topic. We are talking about what is acceptable on this blog. If someone calls Jews “Nazis, occupiers, apartheidists and many other really insulting things” on here, they will be summarily banned.

        I won’t ask again to refrain from such comments as you made before.

  • Phil_SD

    As a graduate of Michigan State University, I’m not particularly fond of the University of Michigan. However, as a Jew and a son of a father who was a Holocaust survivor and a veteran of the 1948 War of Independence, I am DELIGHTED by their actions with regards to Alice Walker. Good for Them!!!!

    • Jill

      THey’re actually brave (in this kind of climate) and setting an example. Well done!

      Dave – stop maligning lizards! I’m fond of them!

  • Dafna Yee

    I simply love that picture! I hope someone shows it to her and she chokes on it!

  • amir

    “I’m saddened to write this because I’m a proponent of free speech”
    It sounds to me like she’s a proponent of paid speech. Nobody stopped her from speaking for free.

    • Dafna Yee

      Very true! I wish that I had thought of that! :-)

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