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OPINION FEBRUARY 7, 2014 Should Israel ban use of 'Nazi'? Does anybody have the right to restrict what we say? At first glance, many Americans would say no. As a coimtry foimded on the principles of freedom of speech, we naturally try to protect our rights as often as possible. But does that concept apply everywhere? That is the question many Israelis currently face as some Israeli politicians plan to pass a law that would make the use of the word "Nazi" a criminal offense. "This is something Israelis need to decide, placing the discussion and ultimately the decision within the context of Israeli society," said Executive Director of the Greensboro Jewish Federation Marilyn Chandler in an email interview. Part of that context includes looking back at Israel's history. The word "Nazi" carries a past filled BY REBECCA DOU Staff Writer with hate and violence. To many Holocaust survivors and their families, this word brings about personal memories of hardship and loss. As a result, it angers some people to see the word thrown around and used to describe anyone who shows aggressive behavior. "As a son of two Holocaust survivors, I find it particularly rankling," said Israeli author Etgar Keret in The New York Times. Israel also has a past filled with incidents where hate speech has led to violent crimes. The most famous incident is the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. "Given the track record in Israel, they are well-advised to monitor speech, threats, intimidation and harassment carefully," said Max Carter, interim chair and adjimct professor of religious studies. "I have personally seen the fear some in Israel have about demonstrating their political point of view and their concerns in public." On the other hand, some Israelis also find the idea of banning this word childish and imdemocratic. It would cause breaches in the right to freedom of speech that many people value. "It's not the best idea to ban it for everyone," said junior Julia Geaney-Moore. "People should have the choice to decide whether or not they want to use that word." Not only will the proposed law violate the right to freedom of speech, but it also lacks the elements to create an intended impact. Instead, what needs to happen is a shift in mindset. "Alternate solutions include education, education, education," said Chandler. Programs that bring students from various backgroimds and cultures together to discuss diversity and indusivity do more to inspire a fundamental change in views than a law banning the use of a*word. Educational programs and presentations aid students in better imderstanding their background while still preserving freedom of speech. "I am proud to be an American and proud to be a Jew," said Chandler. "Freedom of speech should always be protected wherever and whenever possible." The best solution is to find a way to bring about awareness without sacrificing anyone's rights. Reviews of artists’ work shouldn’t depend on their lives BY JAKE DELAHANTY Staff Writer Did Woody Allen molest his daughter 22 years ago? I don't know. However, I do know that regardless of what actually happened, I can still respect and enjoy Allen's films to this day. Now you might be thinking, "Whoa there, Jake! You're saying you condone child molestation?" Of course not. While any new revelations about Allen's alleged crime would certainly tarnish my view of Allen, they wouldn't diminish my respect for his movies. I'm not going to discuss or theorize whether Allen actually did commit any crimes. He might have, but most people seem to think he did not. Despite the allegations, "A-list actors never stopped clamoring to work with him," said Jessica Winters of Slate Magazine. Rather, I want to answer a simple question: should we separate the art from the artist? The short answer is, "Yes." But how do we do separate the art from the artist? This is trickier, but essentially, you need to immerse yourself in the art. Focus on the actors, the music, the attention to detail. Forget about the real world and who made it. Obviously, this is tougher with performers than it is with directors, but it is something to strive for. So why should we judge celebrities and their creations independently? Quite simply, we'd be missing out on a lot of incredible work if we didn't. "This wouldn't really make me dislike Allen's work, but I guess it does affect the way I view it because I imagine him drawing on his life experiences for his work," said Early College senior and Woody Allen fan Dylan Caskie. In some of Allen's films, there are significant age differences in romantic relationship between main characters, so it might be difficult to disregard a possible relation to Allen's own romantic history. Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies Chad Phillips felt similarly about allegations towards Allen. "It is sometimes easier to separate the art from the artist in regards to directing films, particularly when the director is not performing in the film," said Phillips. Phillips also noted an important difference between performers and directors. "There's a much bigger presence when you're in front of a camera that the audience can't ignore," said Phillips. Performers such as Chris Brown or Michael Jackson are usually front and center, so the public remains constantly aware of their Woody Allen is facing accusations of molesting a child 22 years ago. personal lives. However, Theatre Studies Chair David Hammond disagreed. He feels there is a deep connection between the art and the artist that is not easy to separate. "I might choose not to see the work of someone I knew in fact did something horrible," Hammond said. "They'd have to be extraordinarily good to make me forget." While it is oftentimes difficult to ignore the artist's personal life when viewing their work, I feel as though I would be missing out on multiple distinguished works if I held this viewpoint. So, celebrities do a lot of crazy, sometimes horrible things. Should this affect the way we view them personally? For sure. But should we let their actions sully our view of their work? The answer is, "No." Beauty and brilliance can still emerge from corrupt minds and immoral people. lliis M's Object or disagree? Write to us! You may completely disagree with us and our writers on certain subjects. That's totally fine. If you feel so strongly about it, we'd love to hear your own opinion. In the Opinion section, our aim is to help writers fully realize their own argument, no matter what our personal views are, in order to craft the best Opinion section we can. Saying that, we encourage you. Dear/Dissenting Reader, to draft a response to any article we run this semester. After all, we're living in an interesting time. American politics are becoming increasingly polarized. The generational gap between people who knew life without the Internet and those who didn't is growing smaller. These are the kinds of topics the Opinion section likes to explore, so if you have an original — or, for that matter, divergent — view, feel free to write in! Also, to bring our college into focus, we're going through the rigors of finding a new president, and the debate over what Wnd of philosophy the new president should bring to Guilford should inspire conversation not just among faculty members, the selection committee and the College board of trustees, but also the student body. If you have any strong views about current events — whether based around Guilford College, North Carolina, the United States, the world or even cultural issues — don't be afraid to lend your voice. Let's be frank: Guilford leans to the left. But don't let that fact discourage you — we're also open to any views which may come our way. Therefore, The Guilfordian encourages and will endorse any Letters to the Editor fit to print. All of us in the editorial board look forward to hearing from you! Refleqing Guilford College's core Quaker VALUES, THE TOPICS AND CONTENT OF STAFF Editorials are chosen through consensus of ALL 16 EDITORS AND ONE FACULTY ADVISER OF ThE Guilfordian's Editorial Board.
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Feb. 7, 2014, edition 1
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