What has created the conditions that support the widespread praise of terrorism and anti-Semitism on campus? It’s deeply disturbing. And it’s anything but liberal.
I appreciate this Tom. There's so little nuance in the news these days. We can hate the terror and the terrorists and call for their end, while we deplore conditions the Palestinians live in (Hamas was too busy building tunnels to build infrastructure), and disagree with the Netanyahu government all at the same time. There's so much history here, and people arbitrarily decide how far they want to go back before they assign blame for whatever to whichever side. Thanks for being a shining light for conversation.
I would say nothing in defense of antisemitism or violence toward the innocent. You pose a question in your postt: Why are we seeing such expressions? Let's try to figure it out and put it in context. Let's start with some prelimary questions. Just how prevalent is support for racist terrorism among those who demonstrate against Israel/for Palestinians? Anecdotally, I know no one who wants to exterminate the Jews. I know dozens who would like the israelis to roll back their settlements. I know of only a tiny handful of public office holders across the nation who would defend Hamas ideology and tactics. In the Sixties there were many office holders who opposed institutional racism in the US and in the Eighties who opposed apartheid in South Africa. Since 1967 I am aware of about three public figures on the planet who publicly demonstrated on behalf of Palestinian self-determination. I recall few pro-Palestinian rallies in my lifetime. On the left in America, particular among those who hold no office, and because they hold no office, theire are violent, extremist factions. If the antiwar left were to be defined by these outlandish voices, it would have held little sway or legitimacy. I would join you in condemning violent, racist, extremist ideology, but let's put it in context, just as we put in context the Black Panthers and the ANC and the various and sundry radical revolutionaries of their day. I have seen Americam politicians and influencers conflate the antisemitism of this month with the entire Palestinian cause. That would be like conflating the Wearhermen with the DNC, which, as you know mamy a conservative politician and columnist did in the Nixon era. If the Palestinian cause were permitted to openly show itself in American society without being branded terrorists, you would see a lot less extremist attention-seeking and more effective lobbying of the US Government to help the Palestinians in their legitimate pursuits. For now, when Chuck Schumer wants to timprison college kids who publicly declare they won't buy a Sidastream, the entire pro-Palestinian movement in America must operate in the shadows, a dynamic that lends itself to noisy transgressors shouting hateful slogans to get attention. Let's not paint.the pro-Palestinian movement with too broad a brush.
I appreciate this Tom. There's so little nuance in the news these days. We can hate the terror and the terrorists and call for their end, while we deplore conditions the Palestinians live in (Hamas was too busy building tunnels to build infrastructure), and disagree with the Netanyahu government all at the same time. There's so much history here, and people arbitrarily decide how far they want to go back before they assign blame for whatever to whichever side. Thanks for being a shining light for conversation.
I would say nothing in defense of antisemitism or violence toward the innocent. You pose a question in your postt: Why are we seeing such expressions? Let's try to figure it out and put it in context. Let's start with some prelimary questions. Just how prevalent is support for racist terrorism among those who demonstrate against Israel/for Palestinians? Anecdotally, I know no one who wants to exterminate the Jews. I know dozens who would like the israelis to roll back their settlements. I know of only a tiny handful of public office holders across the nation who would defend Hamas ideology and tactics. In the Sixties there were many office holders who opposed institutional racism in the US and in the Eighties who opposed apartheid in South Africa. Since 1967 I am aware of about three public figures on the planet who publicly demonstrated on behalf of Palestinian self-determination. I recall few pro-Palestinian rallies in my lifetime. On the left in America, particular among those who hold no office, and because they hold no office, theire are violent, extremist factions. If the antiwar left were to be defined by these outlandish voices, it would have held little sway or legitimacy. I would join you in condemning violent, racist, extremist ideology, but let's put it in context, just as we put in context the Black Panthers and the ANC and the various and sundry radical revolutionaries of their day. I have seen Americam politicians and influencers conflate the antisemitism of this month with the entire Palestinian cause. That would be like conflating the Wearhermen with the DNC, which, as you know mamy a conservative politician and columnist did in the Nixon era. If the Palestinian cause were permitted to openly show itself in American society without being branded terrorists, you would see a lot less extremist attention-seeking and more effective lobbying of the US Government to help the Palestinians in their legitimate pursuits. For now, when Chuck Schumer wants to timprison college kids who publicly declare they won't buy a Sidastream, the entire pro-Palestinian movement in America must operate in the shadows, a dynamic that lends itself to noisy transgressors shouting hateful slogans to get attention. Let's not paint.the pro-Palestinian movement with too broad a brush.