Yale University Press recently compiled a publication called "The Cartoons That Shook the World" but in doing so, decided to exclude caricatures that offended Muslim sensibilities. This omission was done under the threat of violence by Islamic extremists (is that a redundancy?) if the cartoons in question were published. By caving in to such extortion and then censoring its publications accordingly , Yale has jettisoned the concept of a university as a haven for inquiry and exploration of ideas.
But here is the bigger issue: What gives any individual or group, especially religious organizations, regardless of what they consider provocation, the right to dictate to others what they may say or write? However, it takes two to tango: It's a slap in the face of intellectual integrity for this institution to kowtow to these fanatics, who having now seen what they can get away with, most likely won't stop with an act of intimidation against just one American school.
Shame on Yale for setting such a disgraceful precedent against academic freedom in this country.
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