Boston, a city replete with college students, should, in response, be replete with political discourse. This discourse is healthy. At a time when students are not only discovering their independence but also figuring out their own political views, it is encouraged.
The Right of Return Conference, an event hosted in Boston University’s Law School, claimed to be, “inclusive of all voices implied in the context of a post-return Palestine.” Guest lecturers were invited to speak on the subject.
This conference, however, did not present all sides of an argument that the Boston community needed to form an educated opinion.
Not only did the speakers represent a one-sided narrative and ignore other commentaries, but the conference’s “call for papers” did not to encourage dialogue or productive discourse. Many students submitted abstracts that questioned the Palestinian Right of Return and Implementation, and there have been no answers to these submissions. Excluding arguments from a debate only blinds the public from the wider scope of arguments that they should be exposed to in order to be informed decision makers.
The Right of Return Conference presented one side of a very complicated situation that deserves more time. The Boston community should educate itself. Being well informed will encourage discourse and development of ideas, but only if all sides of the issue are presented.
This is why I encourage the students of the Boston area to become well informed on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through other outlets. Speak to someone in your campus Israel group, research the issue for yourself and come up with your own conclusions. You can also visit www.rightofreturnexposed.com, where we have provided some valuable resources for you to form your own opinion, because, after all, isn’t that what college is all about?