[AISWorld] Question: do we really want to risk turning AIS into a political lobbying organization?

Thu Feb 2 21:01:29 EST 2017

OK, I bite the bait…

Let’s first put down some ground rules (as any good academic would):
* we remain respectful regardless of how we feel about the point being discussed,
* we refrain from peppering some facts with our own personal believes,
* we argue one point at a time
* we provide constructive feedback how each of us may improve our understanding of the issue being discussed
* we do not (try to) change topic before finalising one and moving on to the next

(I am sure there are more ground rules we can add here. Your constructive feedback is welcome.)

In this email, you refer to the credibility of UN.  Considering Saudi Arabia was just re-elected to the human right council of the UN (see footnote 1), I do not have much respect for them either.  But then again, doesn’t US use UN resolutions to impose sanctions, or as justification to go to war?  The pragmatic in me believes despite UN's shortcomings, we’ll have to work with what we’ve got. Unless you have a better proposition?

Hossein

footnote 1: Saudi Arabia was recently condemned by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for “an appalling record of violations” in Yemen.  And the US puts “Iran on notice” because the group fighting the unpopular dictatorship is supposedly supported by Iran! Interesting times we live in, but I am digressing from one of the ground rules (staying on the point), so I better stop.

> On 1 Feb 2017, at 3:33 am, Kappelman, Leon <Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu <mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu>> wrote:
> 
> I have been on UN program committees, and participated in its general meetings with representatives of all countries as well as special UN regional technical conferences.  It has a terrible human rights record and is truly the most bigoted and hypocritical organizations I have ever witnessed. Although this does not appear to be a human rights matter anyway, the UN had no credibility in human rights or matters such as this. 
> 
> 
> - From iPhone - Please excuse typos -
> Leon A. Kappelman, Ph.D., Professor of Information Systems
>  Director Emeritus, Information Systems Research Center
>  College of Business, University of North Texas
>   Voice: 940-565-4698 <tel:940-565-4698>   kapp at unt.edu <mailto:kapp at unt.edu>
> 
> 
> On Jan 31, 2017, at 2:34 AM, Hossein Seif Zadeh <hossein.work at icloud.com <mailto:hossein.work at icloud.com>> wrote:
> 
>> Dear Leon,
>> You may not see this as an infringement of human rights and have even labeled it as a mere inconvenience.  I am not sure whether you are so inclined to accept a word, not from me, but from the UN? http://in.reuters.com/article/usa-trump-immigration-un-idINKBN15E1SV <http://in.reuters.com/article/usa-trump-immigration-un-idINKBN15E1SV> 
>> 
>> Regards,
>> Hossein
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On 31 Jan 2017, at 3:49 pm, Kappelman, Leon <Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu <mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> You said “We should all speak up when politics interferes with these basic human rights.”  Protesting a government policy is political by definition.
>>> 
>>> PS, legally speaking, I’m not too sure anyone’s “academic freedom and basic human rights” have been infringed upon anyway.  No doubt, some folks were inconvenienced over the weekend and the bureaucracy fumbled a bit as it often does, but all the problems appear to have been resolved.  Yes, some uncertainty remains, but exception processes are being worked on.  Sure, some reacted fearfully (and understandably so given the abundance of hyperbolic media, politicians, and special interest groups), but many felt safer by these actions too.  Should we be vigilant?  Of course, very much so.  We remain a nation of laws with, thanks to the wisdom of our founders, a relatively weak executive kept in check by the courts, legislature, free albeit biased press, and a vocal citizenry.  But I see only downside for AIS if we drag it into the political arena, risking its tax exemption and reputation.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> From: UNCG [mailto:pcpalvia at uncg.edu <mailto:pcpalvia at uncg.edu>]
>>> Sent: Monday, January 30, 2017 9:21 PM
>>> To: Kappelman, Leon <Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu <mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu>>
>>> Cc: AISWorld <aisworld at lists.aisnet.org <mailto:aisworld at lists.aisnet.org>>
>>> Subject: Re: [AISWorld] Question: do we really want to risk turning AIS into a political lobbying organization?
>>> 
>>> Leon keeps making it a political issue when it is not. I don't understand why. If there was curtailing of academic freedom during previous administrations, I am sure AIS members would have spoken up.
>>> 
>>> In any case, I am thankful to Leon as he raised the subject and started the conversation. It brought to light that, in general, AIS members value academic freedom and human rights. Perhaps, discreetly it was his intention.
>>> 
>>> Thank you, Leon.
>>> 
>>> Prashant Palvia
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>> 
>>> On Jan 30, 2017, at 9:01 PM, "Kappelman, Leon" <Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu <mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu><mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu <mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu>>> wrote:
>>> It is wonderful that we as individuals have the freedom to protest and speak freely.  I’m simply saying that it’s best that we all keep our political and religious beliefs out of AIS official policies and actions.  But if we think doing otherwise is a good idea, I strongly suggest we get a legal opinion or two before we do something that will jeopardize our tax exemption.
>>> 
>>> BTW, was it an AIS issue when President Obama banned Iraqi immigration to the US for six months?  Seems political preferences are somewhat at play with the current brouhaha.  And I’m all for every AIS member’s political preferences.  My point is simply that we should not use AIS to further them.
>>> 
>>> Watch out for that confounding, hyperbole-prone camel with the big nose too (-‘
>>> 
>>> "He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." – John Stuart Mill
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Leon A. Kappelman, Ph.D.
>>>  Professor of Information Systems<http://www.cob.unt.edu/profiles/112 <http://www.cob.unt.edu/profiles/112>>
>>>  Director Emeritus, Information Systems Research Center
>>>    College of Business, University of North Texas
>>>    Voice: 940-565-4698   Email: kapp at unt.edu <mailto:kapp at unt.edu><mailto:kapp at unt.edu <mailto:kapp at unt.edu>>
>>>  Primary Investigator, SIM’s Annual IT Trends Study<http://www.simnet.org/?ITTrendsStudy <http://www.simnet.org/?ITTrendsStudy>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
>>> 
>>> From: Prashant Palvia [mailto:pcpalvia at uncg.edu <mailto:pcpalvia at uncg.edu>]
>>> Sent: Monday, January 30, 2017 7:45 PM
>>> To: Kappelman, Leon <Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu <mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu><mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu <mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu>>>; AISWorld <aisworld at lists.aisnet.org <mailto:aisworld at lists.aisnet.org><mailto:aisworld at lists.aisnet.org <mailto:aisworld at lists.aisnet.org>>>
>>> Subject: Re: [AISWorld] Question: do we really want to risk turning AIS into a political lobbying organization?
>>> 
>>> I sent this message earlier. Somehow, it only went to Leon.
>>> 
>>> ------------
>>> Excuse me, Leon.  This is absolutely non-political. Please do not confuse the issue. The freedom to conduct research and teach are academic issues.  We should all speak up when politics interferes with these basic human rights.  So there should be no attempt to suppress our voices. And yes, AIS is absolutely the right forum to talk about it; AIS represents all of us academics.
>>> In fact, this is the time to speak up.  This is not the time to be shy or be intimidated.  I urge the entire AIS community to band together and peacefully oppose the breach of academic freedom and basic human rights.
>>> 
>>> Thank you all,
>>> 
>>> Prashant
>>> ----
>>> 
>>> Prashant Palvia, Ph.D., Joe Rosenthal Excellence Professor, https://baelearn.uncg.edu/people/palvia/ <https://baelearn.uncg.edu/people/palvia/>
>>> Bryan School of Business and Economics
>>> The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
>>> 426 Bryan Building, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA, Ph: 336.334.4818<tel:%28336%29%20334-4818 <tel:%28336%29%20334-4818>>
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>>> Associate Editor, Information & Management
>>> The World IT Project http://www.WorldITproject.com<http://WorldITproject.com> <http://www.worlditproject.com<http://WorldITproject.com>>
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Sun, Jan 29, 2017 at 1:29 PM, Kappelman, Leon <Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu <mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu><mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu <mailto:Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu>>> wrote:
>>> Question: do we really want to risk turning AIS into a political lobbying organization or are there already other venues for the political activities in which AIS members may wish to engage?
>>> 
>>> Seems to me we should keep AIS focused on the issues that concern us as academics - our research and teaching - and keep government policies on immigration, healthcare, gun rights, taxes, abortion, tariffs, and everything else in the venues where they belong.
>>> 
>>> "Let us be men, not monkeys minding machines, or sitting with our tails curled, while the machine amuses us." - D. H. Lawrence
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Leon A. Kappelman, Ph.D.
>>>  Professor of Information Systems<http://www.cob.unt.edu/profiles/112 <http://www.cob.unt.edu/profiles/112>>
>>>  Director Emeritus, Information Systems Research Center
>>>    College of Business, University of North Texas
>>>    Voice: 940-565-4698<tel:940-565-4698 <tel:940-565-4698>>   Email: kapp at unt.edu <mailto:kapp at unt.edu><mailto:kapp at unt.edu <mailto:kapp at unt.edu>><mailto:kapp at unt.edu <mailto:kapp at unt.edu><mailto:kapp at unt.edu <mailto:kapp at unt.edu>>>
>>>  Primary Investigator, SIM's Annual IT Trends Study<http://www.simnet.org/?ITTrendsStudy <http://www.simnet.org/?ITTrendsStudy>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
>>> 
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