Berl Falbaum
If the students across the nation protesting Israel’s war against Hamas were to take a course in selected outrage, they would probably pass with an A+.
If they took another one in sensitive and humane behavior in their protests, they would flunk.
Finally, they would probably receive extra credit for their application of a double standard.
Let’s examine each of these issues.
In their protests, students have ignored wars across the world, including several humanitarian disasters involving millions of people, such as in Sudan, Yemen, and Ukraine but, instead, set their sights on Israel.
Somehow, this war started with unprecedented butchery by the terrorist organization, Hamas, October 7, sparked outrage on campuses while other atrocities happening now and others in the past, did not seem to bother them.
There has been no shortage of inhumanity around the world to protest; yet all have been met by silence from students.
Then we have the offensive and ugly rhetoric used by protestors in making their voices heard. It is one thing to level thoughtful, respectful and incisive criticism at Israel — it should not be immune — it is quite another to glorify debauchery and barbarism.
Yes, hate speech is protected by the First Amendment; such rights are an invaluable part of a thriving democracy. Among the exceptions are inciting violence.
But consider some of the following protest slogans we saw on signs or heard on newscasts from various campuses:
“Hamas, we love you.”
“We are all Hamas.”
“Burn Tel-Aviv to the ground.”
“From the River to the Sea,” which translated means “Destroy Israel.”
“Palestine will be free.”
“Hamas make us proud; kill another [Israeli] soldier now.”
These were gleefully shouted by dancing protesters and accompanied by music.
Celebrating an organization that beheaded civilians, burned some alive, gang raped women, kidnapped hostages (many still held), and riddled babies with bullets, need we say, is more than repulsive, repugnant, revolting, and disgusting.
Then we have the double standard.
It is also important to reflect on where these demonstrations are occurring. As an astute, erudite neighbor/friend of mine pointed out: They are held on what are generally considered liberal campuses, i.e. Columbia, the University of Michigan, Harvard, New York University, Yale, Princeton University, the University of California, Berkeley, and others.
Let us not forget these liberal students and faculty members who now wrap themselves up in the First Amendment, through the years, long before Gaza, shouted down and hounded conservative speakers, forcing many of them to leave campuses to avoid violence. It’s quite evident, these protesters have a very “flexible” interpretation of the First Amendment.
Moreover, if issues they supported were attacked, they would most likely react with outrage. As John McWhorter, an associate professor of linguistics at Columbia University, wrote in a New York Times op-ed:
“…[W]hat would have happened if protesters were instead chanting anti-Black slogans or even something like ‘D.E.I. has got to die’…They would have lasted roughly five minutes before masses of students shouted them down and drove them from campus.”
He continued: “Why do so many people think that weekslong campus protests against, not just the war in Gaza, but Israel’s very existence is, nevertheless, permissible?”
Like McWhorter, I will go out on a limb and offer that if other minorities — Blacks, the LBGT community, etc. — instead of Jews, were involved, these protestors would be very reluctant to chant such verbal venom. In addition, countries around the world would be up in arms, and the administrations of the offending universities would have no reluctance to shut them down with strict enforcement of codes of conduct.
Among the most puzzling support for Hamas is that of women, who would face suffocating discrimination under Hamas’s rule. Then there are the Queers for Palestine. Last year, the beheading of a gay 25-year-old Palestinian was videotaped and then uploaded on social media, and in 2016, Hamas executed a commander for having sex with a man. In Palestine, homosexuality is punishable by 10 years in prison and in Gaza, under Hamas, by execution. Meanwhile, Israel is the only country in the Middle East which recognizes same-sex marriage. (Someone, please explain this dissonance to me.)
Which brings us to the faculty. Some college professors cannot control their anti-Israel animus and, under the rubric of academic freedom, bring their hatred for the Jewish state into the classroom. They have hailed Hamas’s butchery as “heroic, “awesome,” “astounding,” and “an achievement,” and saluted the attack.
Moreover, let’s forget about the foulness of their views, those who do so while teaching are violating their obligation to remain apolitical in class. It is abhorrent and condemnable, an exploitation of their authority. Academic freedom does not give them the right to advocate their politics in the classroom. It is not academic freedom; it is academic abuse.
When I taught journalism classes at Wayne State University for many years, I would not even comment in class on whether to install a “no left turn” sign at a major intersection on campus.
The parents of the students glorifying, embracing, celebrating and endorsing unimaginable inhumanity, carnage, and bloodletting, the worst to afflict Jews since the Holocaust, must be very proud of their children.
—————
Berl Falbaum is a veteran journalist and author of 12 books, including “Code Red! Code Red! How Destruction of the Environment Poses Lethal Threats to Life on Earth.”
If they took another one in sensitive and humane behavior in their protests, they would flunk.
Finally, they would probably receive extra credit for their application of a double standard.
Let’s examine each of these issues.
In their protests, students have ignored wars across the world, including several humanitarian disasters involving millions of people, such as in Sudan, Yemen, and Ukraine but, instead, set their sights on Israel.
Somehow, this war started with unprecedented butchery by the terrorist organization, Hamas, October 7, sparked outrage on campuses while other atrocities happening now and others in the past, did not seem to bother them.
There has been no shortage of inhumanity around the world to protest; yet all have been met by silence from students.
Then we have the offensive and ugly rhetoric used by protestors in making their voices heard. It is one thing to level thoughtful, respectful and incisive criticism at Israel — it should not be immune — it is quite another to glorify debauchery and barbarism.
Yes, hate speech is protected by the First Amendment; such rights are an invaluable part of a thriving democracy. Among the exceptions are inciting violence.
But consider some of the following protest slogans we saw on signs or heard on newscasts from various campuses:
“Hamas, we love you.”
“We are all Hamas.”
“Burn Tel-Aviv to the ground.”
“From the River to the Sea,” which translated means “Destroy Israel.”
“Palestine will be free.”
“Hamas make us proud; kill another [Israeli] soldier now.”
These were gleefully shouted by dancing protesters and accompanied by music.
Celebrating an organization that beheaded civilians, burned some alive, gang raped women, kidnapped hostages (many still held), and riddled babies with bullets, need we say, is more than repulsive, repugnant, revolting, and disgusting.
Then we have the double standard.
It is also important to reflect on where these demonstrations are occurring. As an astute, erudite neighbor/friend of mine pointed out: They are held on what are generally considered liberal campuses, i.e. Columbia, the University of Michigan, Harvard, New York University, Yale, Princeton University, the University of California, Berkeley, and others.
Let us not forget these liberal students and faculty members who now wrap themselves up in the First Amendment, through the years, long before Gaza, shouted down and hounded conservative speakers, forcing many of them to leave campuses to avoid violence. It’s quite evident, these protesters have a very “flexible” interpretation of the First Amendment.
Moreover, if issues they supported were attacked, they would most likely react with outrage. As John McWhorter, an associate professor of linguistics at Columbia University, wrote in a New York Times op-ed:
“…[W]hat would have happened if protesters were instead chanting anti-Black slogans or even something like ‘D.E.I. has got to die’…They would have lasted roughly five minutes before masses of students shouted them down and drove them from campus.”
He continued: “Why do so many people think that weekslong campus protests against, not just the war in Gaza, but Israel’s very existence is, nevertheless, permissible?”
Like McWhorter, I will go out on a limb and offer that if other minorities — Blacks, the LBGT community, etc. — instead of Jews, were involved, these protestors would be very reluctant to chant such verbal venom. In addition, countries around the world would be up in arms, and the administrations of the offending universities would have no reluctance to shut them down with strict enforcement of codes of conduct.
Among the most puzzling support for Hamas is that of women, who would face suffocating discrimination under Hamas’s rule. Then there are the Queers for Palestine. Last year, the beheading of a gay 25-year-old Palestinian was videotaped and then uploaded on social media, and in 2016, Hamas executed a commander for having sex with a man. In Palestine, homosexuality is punishable by 10 years in prison and in Gaza, under Hamas, by execution. Meanwhile, Israel is the only country in the Middle East which recognizes same-sex marriage. (Someone, please explain this dissonance to me.)
Which brings us to the faculty. Some college professors cannot control their anti-Israel animus and, under the rubric of academic freedom, bring their hatred for the Jewish state into the classroom. They have hailed Hamas’s butchery as “heroic, “awesome,” “astounding,” and “an achievement,” and saluted the attack.
Moreover, let’s forget about the foulness of their views, those who do so while teaching are violating their obligation to remain apolitical in class. It is abhorrent and condemnable, an exploitation of their authority. Academic freedom does not give them the right to advocate their politics in the classroom. It is not academic freedom; it is academic abuse.
When I taught journalism classes at Wayne State University for many years, I would not even comment in class on whether to install a “no left turn” sign at a major intersection on campus.
The parents of the students glorifying, embracing, celebrating and endorsing unimaginable inhumanity, carnage, and bloodletting, the worst to afflict Jews since the Holocaust, must be very proud of their children.
—————
Berl Falbaum is a veteran journalist and author of 12 books, including “Code Red! Code Red! How Destruction of the Environment Poses Lethal Threats to Life on Earth.”
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