To the editor:
I would like to know how your readers view the following set of circumstances:
The permanent representative of Kuwait to the United Nations was scheduled to deliver the annual Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Address at the Westport Library on UN Day, Oct. 24.
The subject of his speech was to have been, “Identifying opportunities for creative diplomacy to solve global challenges. A view from the Arabian Gulf,” which sounds like just the kind of thing we ought to be talking about in these trouble times.
On Monday, Oct. 16, a week before the event, the library cancelled the ambassador’s appearance for reasons which it has yet to explain and characterized the cancellation as a “postponement,” stating on its website that, “The ambassador will not be joining us,” as though the cancellation (or postponement, if you like) was due to his inability or refusal to attend.
In fact, the ambassador, who was on embassy business in Costa Rica, had arranged to come to Westport just for his appearance at the library, only to return to Costa Rica the next day.
In conversation, in person and on the telephone, the library director justified his decision in several ways:
- Calls from “concerned” donors.
- The fact that these are “volatile times.”
- The fact that Kuwait does not recognize Israel.
- Recent demonstrations at various universities.
He also said that town officials and the Library Board of Directors had approved his decision to cancel.
To many of us this is a shocking and unacceptable act, poorly handled, by a library that prides and advertises itself as being a place for the free exchange of knowledge and ideas. Instead, it reveals a tolerance for censorship and/or prejudice which reflects poorly on it and on the Westport community.
I would like to know what your readers think about this.
Larry Weisman
Westport
I share Mr. Weisman’s reaction to this incident. I wonder exactly what the “concerned donors” were worried about. Kuwait did not recognize Israel when the invitation was extended to the Ambassador. Given “volatile times”. this is the type of event that Westport should be supporting. Residents have been deprived of an opportunity to hear what an important diplomat from an Arab country has to say and to ask penetrating questions in a respectful atmosphere. As a relatively new Westport resident, I have been impressed with seeing the display of UN member flags on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. Did the Library Board and the unnamed town officials recognize the irony of cancelling a talk named her memory?
Larry Weismann is correct. In addition it is a missed opportunity to hold Kuwait’s feet to the fire over recognition of Israel.l, especially in light of the horrific Hamas massacre of 1400 Jews and the online celebration of their deaths. If all of Israel’s Arab neighbors had recognized Israel in return for Netanyahu and his ultra-right-wing mob’s acceptance of a cessation of West Bank settlements a two-state solution, perhaps October 7 would not have happened.
None of the above reasons stated by the library should result in the cancellation of the speaking engagement of Ambassador Tareq M.A.M. Albanai of Kuwait. If the library is to be the very expensive forum that it is set up to be, then all who wish to attend such a presentation should be allowed to challenge the speakers. This is the purpose of an open forum. The idea that “concerned” donors should be a governing voice in deciding who speaks to the Westport community is offensive and does border on censorship. The fact the we live in volatile times is all the more reason to have this discussion with the ambassador in a civil manner. Does the fact that Kuwait does not recognize Israel suggest that no one should be able to hear and question him and put him on the spot? And … protests at universities? Certainly that is part of what universities and freedom of speech are for—not cancelling every speaker who “donors” don’t agree with or like.
I couldn’t agree more with Larry and the 3 commenters above. This latest action by the library is censorship. It is also short sighted and cowardly.
I appreciate the library’s facilities, programs, and dedicated staffers, but it has an undeniable problem with transparency. It takes taxpayer funds and scurries into a corner to spend them, oblivious to appearances. It cannot be questioned, and the RTM committee charged with its oversight has been weak and ineffective, despite attempts by some RTM members to question the annual rubber stamp. Like all controversies involving the library, this one, too, will fade away because there is no mechanism to hold it accountable. Like Town Hall, it does what it wants. We just pay for it.
The library’s website claims that donors cannot influence policies: “The acceptance by the Library of a donation from any donor does not signify Library support or acceptance of that donor’s personal views, nor does it grant the donor any rights or influence with respect to the Library’s collection, programming, or other operations.”
Something’s off, but I guess we’ll never know exactly what.
Today, October 24, is U.N. Day, a commemoration of the creation of an organization founded on the principle of global unity. As the U.N. enters its 75th year, it remains our best hope for world peace.
The irony of the Westport Library’s cancellation of the Kuwaiti Ambassador’s appearance, is that this action flies in the face of everything the United Nations stands for, particularly given the current challenges to the goal of world peace.
Equally consterning is that reportedly, both the Library Board and Town Officials endorsed the cancellation. While the Library Board may have the independent authority to take such actions, I don’t recall the people of the Town of Westport granting authority to our Town Officials to act as arbitrators of our constitutional right to free speech in all of its permutations.
Some of us would like to know who the Town Officials are who interceded on our behalf.
I was pleased to see Larry’s letter and the many comments that followed. We are a community that prides itself on our diversity in words and deeds. Our library under Bill Harmer’s leadership has distinguished itself by courageously presenting a broad range of challenging cultural and aesthetic programs and leaders. If we can’t open our minds and hearts to hear provocative ideas, even when they make us uncomfortable, we will have betrayed these core values. A civil society demands civil discourse. Let us hope the Library is true to its word and moves swiftly to bring this speaker back.