Our Soldiers Speak Campus Tour - Phase 1

At Our Soldiers Speak we believe that there is no demographic more important to the continued safety and representation abroad of the soldiers of the IDF and Israel as a whole than the students of the United States. Such students represent future policy and decision makers.

OSS recognises how vital it is to engage in dialogue with such students, addressing ourselves to their questions and explaining the complexities of combat, warfare and soldiering that stand before members of the IDF.

We feel that it is our duty to reach the students of the US as the headlines break in the hope of providing them with an alternate view of what transpires on the battlefield and the need for Israel to defend her citizens.

Placing politics firmly to the side of the discussion, we are able to expound upon the ethical code to which the IDF adheres, the humanity of Israel’s troops and to acquaint the listener with the human side of warfare – a side that is rarely reported in the media.

Fall semester 2009 saw Our Soldiers Speak lecture on several campuses across the United States.

By moving quickly and with the support of communities and individuals in the US we reached the campuses at precisely the time that the negative publicity generated by the Goldstone Report was reaching its crescendo.

Our ethos dictates that the most challenging questions be addressed. For that reason, platforms were organized in accordance with the following stipulations as set down by OSS:

• All lectures were convened at a neutral venue on campus (such as the student union building). This ensured that all felt comfortable enough to attend

• All lectures were effectively publicised to pro-Israel and anti-Israel groups alike to generate a listenership of as diverse a set of opinions as possible

• Questions were taken for as long as they were forthcoming from all parties

• No questions were pre-screened or submitted by way of cue-cards. This ensured the highest level of probity and candour possible

Some of the universities where lectures took place are listed below:

Yale University
Columbia University
Tufts
Emory University
UCLA
USC
University Delaware
Ramapo University
Fairleigh Dickinson
Bergen County Community College
William Patterson University
Queens College
Monroe College
Brandeis
University of Maryland
George Mason University
UMASS Amherst
Northeastern University
Lynn Univeristy
University of Georgia
Santa Monica College
California State University Northridge (CSUN)
San Jose State University

Please do view our campus testimonials page to view how we were received.

We are currently planning the second phase of the Our Soldiers Speak Campus Tour. If you would like to organize a lecture at your university then please do email us at campustour@oursoldiersspeak.org

It is vital that our message be heard by all who are ready to listen.

We look forward to your contact and your assistance in making our case on campus.