Alan Dershowitz (pictured) [1, 2]. He’s number nine on a recent list of the ‘World’s 50 Most Influential Jews’ [3]. The list’s blurb says Dershowitz, 71 ‘is an internationally respected jurist who has served as an attorney in several high-profile cases, including that of O J Simpson. At 28, he became the youngest law professor in Harvard’s history…(and he’s)…become famous for his eloquent advocacy for Israel and commentary on the Middle East conflict’. By any yardstick he’s no fool. As a lawyer in high-profile cases he knows the importance of evidence. Also the stupidity of opinion unbacked by evidence, and the media and blogosphere’s ferocity if ever he resorted to such stupidity. So when Dershowitz goes public on a topic, that topic’s worthy of attention. And so it was two weeks ago when he berated Doctors Without Borders (i.e. Médecins Sans Frontières) for refusing to work with Israeli doctors treating burns victims in the Congo. He called MSF ‘bigoted’, and ‘doctors without scruples’ [4]. Nine days ago when I wrote about brands, I included a quote that ‘the best corporate brands…are those whose customers feel they can be a part of’ [5]. As a medico, I felt a part of MSF’s brand. Though I didn’t work for MSF, each year I donated money to it. Now I’m ashamed, and angry, I did so. They won’t see another cent from me. And I’m considering requesting a refund of my 2010 donation. Unscrupulous bigots.
