Independent student newspaper of Trinity College, University of Dublin

December 6, 2000

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Readers Letters

Jewish Chronicle journalist got Trinity College to Cancel Invitation

Sir,

I READ in the November 15th edition of TRINITY NEWS that the Trinity Politics Society has withdrawn its invitation to the World War II historian David Irving to participate in a debate on freedom of speech, after journalist Gaby Wine from the London Jewish Chronicle objected.

No doubt university leftists are rejoicing at the fact that once again the world has been made safe from Nazism, Holocaust Denial and associated evils. The rest of us, however, many of whom were looking foreward to seeing this world-famous figure in the flesh, will likely feel frustrated and let down. One must ask who a student society like the PolSoc is supposed to represent: the students, or journalists from a foreign newspaper?

I am not being bigoted; this has nothing to do with Ms. Wine's being Jewish or English. I am merely stating that she is simply a journalist -- a person with an opinion -- and has no jurisdiction over Trinity College. The Politics Society should have politely acknowledged her concern and then stuck to its guns, rather than caving in at the first sign of disapproval from a "grown-up".

The article also said that it was feared that "Irving's presence could attract substantial right-wing support." From where, exactly? The Dublin branch of the Nazi Party? This really is hysteria on a McCarthy-esque scale.

As far as I am concerned, the true fascists are those who, for their own idealogical interests, opposed a historian's right to come on campus, where many were hoping to hear him. That is intolerance on a scale worth worrying about.

Brian T. Hickey
(J.F. Arts),
Dublin, Ireland.

Sam Boland of University College, Cork, asks if Mr Irving speaks to extremist groups as foes allege

Under pressure, Bucknell (Pennsylvania) University students withdraw invitation

David Irving to Speak in Irish Republic | Traditional Enemy threatens Violence | Marxist Mobs Riot in Ireland, Police halt Irving Speech: [Irish Times Dublin] [Cork Examiner] | David Irving's Radical's Diary reports on the riot | Dublin Press backs David Irving: "Freedom of speech is no freedom at all if it is to be conferred solely on those you agree with" | David Irving's Radical's Diary

Trinity College, Dublin, student newspaper asks about the cancellation of the David Irving lecture at Cork

A Radical's Diary: bad dream; and another University cancels David Irving invitation

Evans' sneers about Mr Irving in Cambridge university magazine Varsity

Violence threat prevails at Oxford University: Second invite to David Irving cancelled