Wars are a test of many things: military prowess, political leadership, and national unity, to name just three. They’re also a moral test.
Behind the many debates, protests, and proclamations concerning the Israel-Hamas war loom a few big questions: Is this a just war? And given the fact that Hamas does not follow the rules of war—hiding its men and weapons inside mosques and schools and hospitals—how is Israel to strike back?
There’s no one better qualified to answer these questions than the political theorist Michael Walzer. Ever since he published Just and Unjust Wars in 1977, Walzer has been the authority on the morality of war. So The Free Press’s Peter Savodnik gave Walzer a call and asked him to guide us through the moral maze presented by this conflict. Scroll down to read their conversation.
Wars also test our commitment to the principles we claim to value. Principles like the right to free speech. There has been an explosion of hateful, antisemitic speech in America and Europe in the days since Hamas’s attack on Israel—including on college campuses. In response to these loathsome expressions, some have pushed for a crackdown.
In our second piece this morning, former ACLU president Nadine Strossen and social psychologist Pamela Paresky say this would be a mistake: “It is easy to appreciate the rage over today’s blatantly antisemitic rhetoric, particularly when our society wouldn’t tolerate, much less celebrate, similar expressions of delight after the brutal slaughter of other minorities. We feel that anger personally. But when it comes to calls to silence, fire, or even deport those who express such noxious views, we are also clear: we must resist it.”
Scroll down to read their full essay: Even Antisemites Deserve Free Speech.
Here’s Peter’s interview:
Here are Nadine and Pamela making their case:
And if you haven’t already heard it, please listen to the latest episode of Honestly, which is perhaps the most powerful we have ever published, thanks to the tireless efforts of Candace Mittel Kahn and Suzy Weiss.
The Free Press exists because of our subscribers. Become one today:
Free speech is something we must stand behind even when it sounds disgusting, vile and makes us angry. The only answer to speech we disagree with is more speech. The wide and loud protests supporting Palestine is not anything that is troubling IMO, but what is strange is the silence and lack of counter protests from the Jewish population and its allies. Perhaps I'm missing something but why aren't Jewish leaders leading protests and calling for supporters of the Jewish state to join them publicly?
As far as universities go......true liberalism was lost in the academies decades ago. They're simply overpriced indoctrination clinics which, if there's any justice in the world, will collapse in on themselves, hopefully sooner rather than later.
I'll also add that if the justice department is going to prosecute J6 supporters (not ones that actually vandalized the capital) for simply being inside the capital building or on capital grounds to protest, then they certainly must go after the pro Palestinian protesters that took over the capital building yesterday. Otherwise how can one not see a double standard of justice by the government?
Finally, Bidens middle east visit has been a complete embarrassment. My god, the man can't stay awake or cobble together a coherent sentence. All the while Anthony Blinken is peering around every corner ready to step in and pull Biden out of coming off like a complete fool to the entire world. At this point, I honestly don't see how anyone can stand behind re-electing this man. God help us all.
Rather than a discussion of Free speech, I think the discussion should focus on specific groups' power over others. We give people on the left way too much deference and power. Because you are a self-professed black leader, whatever stupidity comes from your mouth is treated as gospel. On the Stupidity scale, there is little difference between Margorie Taylor Greene and Cori Bush, Talib, Pressley, Omar, and AOC. But the mainstream media treat them in the same light as Civil rights icons, but where Greene is a great threat to Democracy.
The race hustlers like Kendi, Blm leaders ( Patrice Cullors), and 1619 project author Nicole Hannah-Jones are all given high perches to preach to us all. I hope this war will shine a light on these groups and those promoting them.
So, letting them speak and seeing who they are will help, but the destruction of their ability to shape society's values and morality must be won. We should let them speak but follow up with the question, why do we give them so much authority? No, I am not a racist or hate people of color because I think their ideas are an abomination. This war allows defeating them in the battle of ideas and gives those who love freedom, justice, and equality a chance to replace them on the high ground.