Alan Dershowitz and Jeffrey Toobin on Free Speech

Distinguished Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz discussed his passion for free speech and his hero, Thomas Jefferson, at the Y this past November. His recent book, Finding Jefferson: A Lost Letter, A Remarkable Discovery, and the First Amendment in an Age of Terrorism, considers the position Jefferson would take on free speech today. He was joined on stage by CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, a staff writer for The New Yorker and former student of Dershowitz's. In the video clip above, Dershowitz talks about free speech on campus, attacks tenured professors for being "cowards" when speaking about Israel and gives his opinion on the controversial dismissal of Harvard President Larry Summers.

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[drpiddleton]

Every president you vote continues their war mongering crusade against countries who oppose US interests. Now you are planning to attack Iran at some stage because of the possibility that they maybe creating nuclear weapons.

[drpiddleton]

You have committed far worst atrocities than Israel has. Why don't you get angry about that and leave Israel alone!! Israel had never invaded another country half way around the world under the pretence of WMD!!! Israel is not trying to impose their ideological views on others.

[drpiddleton]

For those Americans who are critical of Israel I hope you are able to turn your scrutiny on your own country. May I remind that America hasn't been involved in a just war since the forties when you and your British and Russian defeated Hitler. Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq is a joke. Your sanctions that you have placed on countries who disagree with you have resulted in many 1000s dead.

[seans10]

Dershowitz is such a fucking liar. Summers wasn't booted from Harvard because of statements he made in defense of israel.

[seans10]

LOL - jews are afraid to speak their minds. If only.

[DBSpy1]

I just saw this guy on AOL,he made it sound like only Jews don't talk nasty,what gives. And by the way,I'm blond,blue and have had nose busted more than once form coward sucker punches defending my Jewish friends growing up, but I bet I could never get a good part in a TV show or movie because I'm (was blond) blond, that really hurts my feelings a whole lot. S. Calif.,a little outside of the Valley.

[peretz48]

I thought Dershowitz's take on how Lee Bollinger should have handled Columbia's invitation to Ahmadinejad was right on the mark- once you invite someone you have to extend the same courtesy as you would any other invitee. Of course you can then ask very specific questions to help illuminate what that person is really all about.

[bfoaliali]

On his point about Norman Finkelstein: Read both books. Be honest fellow members of YouTube. Read Dershowitz's book The Case for Israel. And read Norman Finkelsteins Beyond Chutzpah, and compare the two. Compare who is right, compare who uses real sources. Do not take my words. Use your own thoughts, I promise you the results will be crystal clear.

[EdMahoney19]

@slickrickdarula Pardon the pun, but that's TRUE.

[slickrickdarula]

@EdMahoney19 watch out speaking ''truth'' as you did will get you called anti-semite lol