---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
David Barzelay <david.barzelay@gmail.com>
Date: 2007/5/22
Subject: your recent letter to a Professor of mine
To:
lattice.theory@gmail.comI apologize in advance if this was not the appropriate address to use
to send this email to you, Professor Farley, but I'd appreciate a
reply of some sort.
I received an email today from a former Professor that was
distressing. She said that you had sent her the following:
You might be interested to know that David Barzelay, in 2002 and 2003,
wrote or, as editor, supervised a number of articles in a student
publication that made light of slavery and mocked individuals who, at
the time, were opposed to the erection of a statue honoring the
founder of the Ku Klux Klan.
I was the Editor in Chief of The Slant, but I dispute that we ever
wrote anything condoning the erection of the statue. I personally was
100% opposed to the statue and could not believe the amazing audacity
of the racist Southerners who would even propose such a statue. Under
my tenure, I think we tried hard to mock and break down the arguments
of the kinds of people who would propose such a thing, as well as
fighting against tyranny of all types, including racial oppression.
Nevertheless, since that time, my own worldview has come a long
way--it was, after all, five or six years ago, and I was toward the
beginning of college. If what I wrote was a bit less sensitive,
racially and otherwise, than I would write now, I apologize. But I
assure you that my "From The Editor" column that is still available
(
http://www.theslant.net/index.php?page=story&story_id=727), over
which I presently have no control, was intended solely as a DEFENSE of
your right to say everything you said. I in no way addressed the
merits of your argument, other than to say that they it was rational,
and at least partially commendable. I recommend you go back and read
that column, and I ask that you let me know what part of that column
angered you so much that you would go emailing people who merely link
to me five years after I wrote it, and when I have no control over its
continued availability on the web.
Making light of situations is what satirists do, and I still believe
that satire is one of the most effective ways to address what remains
a national climate of hatred and discrimination. If our satire wasn't
particularly *good*, then I apologize, and can only say that I hope
I'm a better writer now. Looking back on that column in particular,
it was rambling, unfunny, and biting in the wrong places. But it
represented my effort to defend you. If I did a poor job of it, I'm
sorry. But I wonder why you would continue for five years in your
campaign to call me (one of the most liberal people that ever went to
Vanderbilt) a racist. What could you possibly want from me at this
point?
If you'd like, we could agree on a time we could discuss this matter
by phone, as we did when I thought we had settled things two years
ago. I am currently living in San Francisco, so I'm on West Coast
time. I noticed some things in a biography of yours that referenced
Stanford, so if you happen to be in Palo Alto, I could even come down
and meet with you if you'd like. I think you'd find that my views are
a lot more similar to yours than you apparently think they are.
David Barzelay