. . . . the clear and all-important difference between firing a professor, in this case Sami-Al-Arian of the University of South Florida, for his unpopular views--a clear violation of his right to free expression and the basic principles of academic freedom--and firing a professor for engaging in criminal activity. Most important in the distinction is the fact that the latter charge requires proof, and the burden of that proof rests where it should, on the accusers. It’s called due process. The former charge, meanwhile, is legally unsupportable, and has gained credence only by slanderous word of mouth and hysterical hyperbolization leveled against a man with unpopular views on fundamentalist Islam and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict among other things. . . . I suspect that Harvey Silverglate et al, like me, find this professor's views rather disgusting. But, of course, that is beside the point. If our sharp criticism of campus so-called "liberals" who seek to fire or otherwise intimidate and oust professors whose political viewpoints they dislike is to have any validity at all, we must remain neutral in our opinions and take action solely on principle.
What she said.
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