ORC Serving Irving
The decision by the Oxford Reform Club to withdraw their invitation to David Irving for security reasons should be welcomed. The only question is why they bothered to invite him in the first place. The statement issued by the Society speaks of a right to 'debate with controversial figures'. However, there hangs a huge question mark over how fair this debate would be. Students at Oxford are certainly among the best in their field, and the debates held here among the most intellectual, no doubt. However, Mr. Irving, regardless of his political persuasions, is a leading expert in his field. And, moreover, he is a leading expert who has made his living by being on the back foot, on the defensive. If he could hold his own in court against talented lawyers, why do we assume that even our most talented undergraduate debaters and undergraduate historians would be able to 'out argue' him? He is a rascist, as was shown in court, but he is a rascist who is very certain of his own arguments and who is very skilled at defending them. Consequently, the decision by the Oxford Reform Club to invite Irving smacks not just or naivety, but of sensationalism and desperation. All this from a society that likes to style itself as the 'intellectual Union'. Well, they now have their publicity, albeit probably not as prominent as they must have wished. They may not have apologised, but the Oxford Student certainly hopes that the Chairmen of the Oxford Reform Club, nevertheless feel a sense of shame.
12th Oct 2000