November 2019 - Steve Salaita

The Unlocked Turnstile of Palestine Solidarity

At what point can Palestinians trust former Zionists?

Around a year-and-a-half ago, I received an email from Mira Sucharov, a professor at Carleton University, inviting me to join a conference roundtable, “Israel-Palestine Scholarship, Activism, and the Threat to Academic Freedom.” The request was polite and professional and the topic seemed fine (though the term “Israel-Palestine” always give me pause). A day later, I declined the invitation.

The Utility of Fear

Don’t buy the myth of fearless journalism. Real dissidents have good reason to be afraid.

Fearlessness. We often hear about the condition in relation to independent media: this journalist is fearless; that outlet produces fearless reporting. Fearlessness is our mandate; fearlessness depends upon your donation. It’s a strong claim, but not especially flattering as self-description, being the kind of adjective best left to disinterested parties. What does it really mean, though? Is it an empty branding device or does it signify indispensable contributions to public discourse?