Dissent: Keep Your Money, Marty

In an incendiary blog post earlier this month, Martin H. Peretz, editor-in-chief of The New Republic, wrote that “Frankly, Muslim life is cheap, most notably to Muslims.” He further questioned whether Muslim-Americans deserve the “privileges of the First Amendment.” Peretz has been criticized, most notably by Nicholas D. Kristof ’82, for his willingness to promote crude stereotypes and anti-Muslim sentiments.

This controversy has erupted at the same time that Harvard University is planning to create the “Martin Peretz Undergraduate Research Fund,” endowed by his friends and colleagues. On Sept. 25, the university will honor Peretz, a former Harvard lecturer. Some commentators have suggested that Harvard should not laud Peretz in light of his recent comments. They are correct; the university must lend a strong voice of opposition to Peretz’s remarks by requiring that the research fund be named after somebody else.

This situation calls to mind earlier controversies regarding public figures who have made bigoted comments. In 1987, Al Campanis, then general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, remarked on Nightline that African-Americans lack “the necessities to be…a field manager or a general manager.” At a 2005 academic conference, former Harvard president Lawrence H. Summers notoriously suggested that women might lack innate ability in science and mathematics.

In both cases, the national media roundly vilified the subject for his comments. Despite rapid apologies, both men were forced to resign from their positions. Peretz’s blog post is equally offensive; the fact that he has not faced a comparable media firestorm reflects the current anti-Muslim hysteria in America. But Harvard, as a global center of tolerance and knowledge, should look to the Campanis and Summers controversies as a guide to its response.

Peretz’s supporters claim that his blog post was misguided and does not reflect his true opinions. But those who wish to give Peretz a “mulligan” forget that this is far from the first time he has publicly expressed disdain for Muslims. He has called Arab society “hidebound and backward,” and described Arabs as “murderous and grotesque.” He has even suggested that American Muslims are supporters of Hezbollah. This established pattern of racist remarks makes his recent half-hearted “apology,” in which he actually affirms his prior statement about the low value of Muslim life, ring rather hollow. One could easily imagine Peretz making similar offensive public comments again in the future.

At a time when Muslims’ right to build a community center is questioned and a delusional “pastor” can become a national figure for threatening to torch Korans, Harvard has a responsibility to promote tolerance and dissociate itself from those who do not share its laudable values. The university should condemn Peretz’s remark and request that his friends name the fund in a different person’s honor. Should they refuse, as is likely, Harvard should turn down the donation. Harvard sets the highest standards for its students; it should do the same for its benefactors.

Anthony P. Dedousis ’11, a Crimson editorial writer, is an economics concentrator in Leverett House.