"I am grateful for the generous moments of Alan Wolfe’s review of “What’s Liberal About the Liberal Arts?” (Sept. 10). I was, however, struck by Wolfe’s claim that my book argues “ ‘there is more than a grain of truth’ in the charge that Middle Eastern studies departments are generally biased against Israel.” While I acknowledge that some critiques of Middle Eastern studies contain more than a grain of truth, most of my discussion takes issue with the most strident critics of Middle Eastern studies programs, and I object specifically to Martin Kramer’s argument that the United States should seek to produce Middle Eastern studies scholars “who are so persuaded of [America’s] mission in the world that they are prepared to undergo some hardship and risk to advance it.” Surely it is not the job of academic fields of study to advance narrow and partisan agendas, be they pro- or anti-American.
Michael Bérubé"