Heated words filled Memorial Union Tuesday after Middle East expert and media analyst Daniel Pipes spoke about Iraq, terrorism and Arab-Israeli conflict.
Controversy surrounds Pipes, the founder of Campus Watch (http://www.campus-watch.org), a Web site that lists academics who are critical of U.S. and Israeli policies in the Middle East. Pipes has been accused of making racist comments toward Muslim people.
\I fear the repercussions of his speech,"" UW-Madison special student Shahin Kalili said. ""I am personally offended [by him] because every day Muslims and other Middle Easterners in general are portrayed in the media very badly.""
Kalili, along with others, stood outside the union prior to the event holding signs expressing distaste for Pipes' statements.
""I think he has a right to speak, as anyone else does, but we know he's going to be against Islam,"" UW-Madison junior Jennifer Curti said. ""I'm here because Daniel Pipes purports himself to be an expert on the Middle East, but I think he's using his credibility to promote hate.""
Pipes spoke at length of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. He said he thinks the situation is a black and white issue in which peace talks cannot begin until Palestinians accept Israel's right to exist.
""It is my goal that U.S. policy concentrate and work with Arab leaders to gain acceptance,"" Pipes said.
Throughout Pipes' speech, people held up small signs reading things like ""false"" in silent protest. When the floor was open, many people ran to question Pipes' controversial views. More than four times, the session was interrupted because people began verbally attacking Pipes.
""I would be more impressed with the University of Wisconsin if it could ask me questions without insulting me,"" Pipes said.
As a follow-up to Pipes' presentation, UW-Madison Professor of anthropology and religious studies Charles Hirschkind presented the counterpart to Pipes' talk. The two were originally supposed to debate, but Pipes would not agree to that plan.
""I was under the assumption that my presence is to foster a dialogue on this topic,"" Hirschkind said. ""I found out yesterday, however, that it was preemptive because Daniel Pipes said he wanted to share a stage with no one.""
Hirschkind also touched on Pipes and his Campus Watch program. Pipes said the program looks to fix flaws in Middle Eastern studies. Hirschkind said Pipes' Web site blacklists teachers who express unpatriotic views.
""The demonizing of Muslims is prevalent here at home. These people are being held for no reason. This is McCarthyism,"" Hirschkind said. ""It is a statement like this that Pipes would say is un-American and my name will go on the Campus Watch Web site.\
