It seems to me that this is a protest against extremism, rather than simply a protest against anti-Semitism and for free speech. The latest manifestation of extremism is Islamist extremism which for reasons best known to them the far left has embraced (most likely due to a misplaced adherence to standpoint epistemology theory). Anti-Semitism is part and parcel of Islamist extremism. Islamist extremism also has harmed moderate Muslims. Islam like all Abrahamic religions is made up of many strands -- militant extremism is only one part and has for many years has sought to dominate and drown out more moderate strands.
In the UK, the government is today unveiling a new definition of non-violent extremism which is designed to ensure extremist groups no longer have access to government committees etc. The new definition: "the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to: 1. negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others;
2. or undermine, overturn or replace the UK's system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights;
3. or intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2)."
The true fight is against the totalitarians who seek to undermine democracy and the rule of law. This is why what the good professor is fighting against not just anti-Semitism but all extremism which seeks to undermine democracy and Western civilization. We should start calling it what it is and understanding the true nature of the fight.
This is a great article. I feel for those students - the adults have abandoned them except for this one professor. It’s an unusual protest and I’m sure it gives hope and strength to students. If only more faculty and administrators would stand against extremism! Well done!
Islamophobia and antisemitism in the same sentence, really?
My American Jewish brethren lost their common sense long time ago by fighting other peoples' causes and imagining themselves to be enlightened cosmopolitans. Now we all are paying the price.
I'm not Jewish and I support him and Jewish students on campus. I've never seen anything like the rhetoric being thrown at Jewish students and the violence and threats of violence. I'm concerned at where this will end? Will it take one of these mobs who support terrorists and barbarians to kill a Jewish student on an Ivy League campus to wake up the administration of these schools or will they secretly applaud the death?
If I were Jewish, I'd get a weapon and learn how to use it. 100%, whether I were on campus or not.
So, millions of people stream across the border in Texas but, because Texas is a red state... fuck em'. They get what they deserve... and precious little positive attention.
Some Jews get harassed at a left-wing institution and who is supposed to fucking care?
Where were these people when the right was being harassed for just trying to slow down the decay in American society?
I've read the story about Sodom and Gomorrah before... it doesn't end well...
“I don’t personally think there should be Zionists, period.”
So in other words, she is actually in favor of genocide. While claiming to be against it. Leftists are the plague.
And the university’s helplessness against the thugs and cretins who have illegally blocked the gate is pathetic. Send in a work crew with police protection and tear it all down. If anyone interferes, arrest them.
Why don't our elite universities sponsor formal debates between pro Palestinians and pro Israelies. Rather than just screaming slogans I would like to hear the factual side of the pro Palestinians protesters. A formal debate between people who disagree seems like an appropriate forum for the campus.
There's only one way to deal with bullies, and it's not harsh words or protests that get results. It's an epic, bloody beat down in front of the whole school yard, one that everyone witnesses, that will change this situation. It's worked on every school yard since the dawn of time and it will work at UC Berkely, too.
For anyone shocked at Trump's poll #'s, there's quite a simple explanation: We have a president & party (Dems) outraged by the use of the word 'illegal' & have been on an apology tour for days for calling an illegal migrant exactly what he is. Technically he's illegal. Yet- every antisemitic slur and act, every single thing that's been done and said against Jews; calling for their murder - calling for the destruction of Israel is apparently totally fine. NOT ONE WORD of condemnation from this administration!! Every pro hamas protest goes on without challenge. No arrests made when violence takes place. Every Jan 6th person (even peaceful goers) faced major repercussions but "pro-pal" (pro hamas) ppl trying to break the fence to the White House were free to do their thing and leave. Every act chalked up to "free speech" that has gone well beyond free speech is no big deal. A country that demanded justice for George Floyd seems to give 2 sh*ts about hostages who are hopefully still alive. We have a President far more concerned about Michigan and the Muslim vote than standing up for what's right. Far more focused on lecturing Israel than demanding the release of hostages and that a price be paid for the Americans killed by terrorists. We see a Pres who is fine with pro-Pal people taking over our cities & replacing our American flags. Radicals have said, they've PROMISED, their goal is to destroy the big satan (aka America) & our administration is giving them the keys to the country. They are not protecting our freedoms. These people have told us their plan and helllloooo---it's being executed. WAKE UP! This is NOT OKAY! If you believe in LGBTQ rights, you should be with Israel. If you believe in Women's rights, you should be with Israel. These radicals are here. Remember "see something, say something"??? We r seeing a lot and no one cares! We see a Pres who is allowing millions of military age single men cross our borders unchecked and wants them to become voters, giving them more rights than citizens. We see a Pres/admin far more concerned about electric vehicles than building up our own grids so we're not as at risk. We see a country where crime and criminals run freely. They can tell us crime #'s are down, they can tell us the economy is good---we are NOT stupid! So if you wonder why Trump could win, there are a ton of 'liberals' who realize the left has lost its way and something has to change. (Btw- we all know if Biden were a surgeon, he'd never be allowed to operate. He's not capable. He's too old. It's incredibly rude to try to shame those calling attention to this. If you think he's in great shape, give him the keys to your car and your kids/grandkids and let him drive them across the country. My guess is you'd say no to that plan. He's not fit to be the leader of the free world. Sucks to admit when someone's too old, but he is. Facts aren't always fun to recognize, but we must. It's called being an adult).
"My second request ...if a speaker has to leave campus without giving their talk...that they receive an apology from the university and that they be invited back."
Not enough.
Should be: "If a speaker has to leave campus without giving the talk, we consider that a Grave Injustice, and will respond as follows -
a. The talk is rescheduled next day;
b. The talk will now be attended by president of university, held in a larger venue, with the full force of university promoting the event in all their social media that day;
c. The undergraduate and graduate deans will be present, along with mega security, for clear and immediate accountability of Hecklers Veto protesters (while equally guaranteeing right to protest without blocking the event), including expedited proper hearing for violators to follow the next day;
d. The speaker is put up at a nice hotel at university expense, or invited to stay the night at the home of the university president or similar.
“ ‘Oh, that’s the girl who supports genocide,’ ” others would say of her, she told me. “All of my friends in sororities complain about the same thing.” She’s lost most of her friends who aren’t pro-Israel Jews. "
Diaspora Jews were cleansed from every country in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Yemen successfully eliminated every single Jew years ago. The one place they can live is now, Israel, is still too much for these people. Israel must not compromise. It must keep fighting until Hamas is dead or tried in international court. We cannot have any more Masada’s.
The real question will be if any punishment is brought to the students or pro Palestinian student groups (the latter should be banned from on campus activities). The answer will surely be no because of many reasons, each more infuriating and self-defeating than the last.
It seems to me that this is a protest against extremism, rather than simply a protest against anti-Semitism and for free speech. The latest manifestation of extremism is Islamist extremism which for reasons best known to them the far left has embraced (most likely due to a misplaced adherence to standpoint epistemology theory). Anti-Semitism is part and parcel of Islamist extremism. Islamist extremism also has harmed moderate Muslims. Islam like all Abrahamic religions is made up of many strands -- militant extremism is only one part and has for many years has sought to dominate and drown out more moderate strands.
In the UK, the government is today unveiling a new definition of non-violent extremism which is designed to ensure extremist groups no longer have access to government committees etc. The new definition: "the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to: 1. negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others;
2. or undermine, overturn or replace the UK's system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights;
3. or intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2)."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68556914
The true fight is against the totalitarians who seek to undermine democracy and the rule of law. This is why what the good professor is fighting against not just anti-Semitism but all extremism which seeks to undermine democracy and Western civilization. We should start calling it what it is and understanding the true nature of the fight.
This is a great article. I feel for those students - the adults have abandoned them except for this one professor. It’s an unusual protest and I’m sure it gives hope and strength to students. If only more faculty and administrators would stand against extremism! Well done!
Islamophobia and antisemitism in the same sentence, really?
My American Jewish brethren lost their common sense long time ago by fighting other peoples' causes and imagining themselves to be enlightened cosmopolitans. Now we all are paying the price.
I'm not Jewish and I support him and Jewish students on campus. I've never seen anything like the rhetoric being thrown at Jewish students and the violence and threats of violence. I'm concerned at where this will end? Will it take one of these mobs who support terrorists and barbarians to kill a Jewish student on an Ivy League campus to wake up the administration of these schools or will they secretly applaud the death?
If I were Jewish, I'd get a weapon and learn how to use it. 100%, whether I were on campus or not.
So, millions of people stream across the border in Texas but, because Texas is a red state... fuck em'. They get what they deserve... and precious little positive attention.
Some Jews get harassed at a left-wing institution and who is supposed to fucking care?
Where were these people when the right was being harassed for just trying to slow down the decay in American society?
I've read the story about Sodom and Gomorrah before... it doesn't end well...
“I don’t personally think there should be Zionists, period.”
So in other words, she is actually in favor of genocide. While claiming to be against it. Leftists are the plague.
And the university’s helplessness against the thugs and cretins who have illegally blocked the gate is pathetic. Send in a work crew with police protection and tear it all down. If anyone interferes, arrest them.
It's interesting that this article brings out such nastiness in people.
Why don't our elite universities sponsor formal debates between pro Palestinians and pro Israelies. Rather than just screaming slogans I would like to hear the factual side of the pro Palestinians protesters. A formal debate between people who disagree seems like an appropriate forum for the campus.
There's only one way to deal with bullies, and it's not harsh words or protests that get results. It's an epic, bloody beat down in front of the whole school yard, one that everyone witnesses, that will change this situation. It's worked on every school yard since the dawn of time and it will work at UC Berkely, too.
What explains the defense of Hamas by the LGBT+ community? Are they just that stupid? Or do they want to support a cause that hates them?
For anyone shocked at Trump's poll #'s, there's quite a simple explanation: We have a president & party (Dems) outraged by the use of the word 'illegal' & have been on an apology tour for days for calling an illegal migrant exactly what he is. Technically he's illegal. Yet- every antisemitic slur and act, every single thing that's been done and said against Jews; calling for their murder - calling for the destruction of Israel is apparently totally fine. NOT ONE WORD of condemnation from this administration!! Every pro hamas protest goes on without challenge. No arrests made when violence takes place. Every Jan 6th person (even peaceful goers) faced major repercussions but "pro-pal" (pro hamas) ppl trying to break the fence to the White House were free to do their thing and leave. Every act chalked up to "free speech" that has gone well beyond free speech is no big deal. A country that demanded justice for George Floyd seems to give 2 sh*ts about hostages who are hopefully still alive. We have a President far more concerned about Michigan and the Muslim vote than standing up for what's right. Far more focused on lecturing Israel than demanding the release of hostages and that a price be paid for the Americans killed by terrorists. We see a Pres who is fine with pro-Pal people taking over our cities & replacing our American flags. Radicals have said, they've PROMISED, their goal is to destroy the big satan (aka America) & our administration is giving them the keys to the country. They are not protecting our freedoms. These people have told us their plan and helllloooo---it's being executed. WAKE UP! This is NOT OKAY! If you believe in LGBTQ rights, you should be with Israel. If you believe in Women's rights, you should be with Israel. These radicals are here. Remember "see something, say something"??? We r seeing a lot and no one cares! We see a Pres who is allowing millions of military age single men cross our borders unchecked and wants them to become voters, giving them more rights than citizens. We see a Pres/admin far more concerned about electric vehicles than building up our own grids so we're not as at risk. We see a country where crime and criminals run freely. They can tell us crime #'s are down, they can tell us the economy is good---we are NOT stupid! So if you wonder why Trump could win, there are a ton of 'liberals' who realize the left has lost its way and something has to change. (Btw- we all know if Biden were a surgeon, he'd never be allowed to operate. He's not capable. He's too old. It's incredibly rude to try to shame those calling attention to this. If you think he's in great shape, give him the keys to your car and your kids/grandkids and let him drive them across the country. My guess is you'd say no to that plan. He's not fit to be the leader of the free world. Sucks to admit when someone's too old, but he is. Facts aren't always fun to recognize, but we must. It's called being an adult).
"My second request ...if a speaker has to leave campus without giving their talk...that they receive an apology from the university and that they be invited back."
Not enough.
Should be: "If a speaker has to leave campus without giving the talk, we consider that a Grave Injustice, and will respond as follows -
a. The talk is rescheduled next day;
b. The talk will now be attended by president of university, held in a larger venue, with the full force of university promoting the event in all their social media that day;
c. The undergraduate and graduate deans will be present, along with mega security, for clear and immediate accountability of Hecklers Veto protesters (while equally guaranteeing right to protest without blocking the event), including expedited proper hearing for violators to follow the next day;
d. The speaker is put up at a nice hotel at university expense, or invited to stay the night at the home of the university president or similar.
"I think it’s possible to advocate for the Palestinian cause without strangling people."
That is where you're wrong, sir.
Israel found that out the hard way last October.
“ ‘Oh, that’s the girl who supports genocide,’ ” others would say of her, she told me. “All of my friends in sororities complain about the same thing.” She’s lost most of her friends who aren’t pro-Israel Jews. "
Were they REALLY friends or merely acquaintances?
Diaspora Jews were cleansed from every country in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Yemen successfully eliminated every single Jew years ago. The one place they can live is now, Israel, is still too much for these people. Israel must not compromise. It must keep fighting until Hamas is dead or tried in international court. We cannot have any more Masada’s.
The real question will be if any punishment is brought to the students or pro Palestinian student groups (the latter should be banned from on campus activities). The answer will surely be no because of many reasons, each more infuriating and self-defeating than the last.