DMS, why would students demonstrate in the case of Ukraine, when their country and for that matter their universities are soberly aligned with them and all humanitarians to act in support of the victims of violence? Most people, including students (and excluding MAGA Republicans), approve of US support of Ukraine, invaded by a hostile po…
DMS, why would students demonstrate in the case of Ukraine, when their country and for that matter their universities are soberly aligned with them and all humanitarians to act in support of the victims of violence? Most people, including students (and excluding MAGA Republicans), approve of US support of Ukraine, invaded by a hostile power careless of civilian harm—though Russia had not destroyed its cities or killed mostly civilians.
These students, a great many of them Jewish, are protesting the use of their tax dollars in a campaign the World Court has called plausibly genocidal, and their universities’ investments in the war machines that enable the forced displacement and slaughter of a people.
They didn’t destroy their cities? Ukraine wasn’t genocidal? Do you really believe that students who mostly have never paid taxes are only about tax dollar funding? Propaganda is so powerful it has even convinced you of the narrative they want you to believe. Yes… what is happening to the people in Gaza is a war crime. Yes… the adults in the room are holding the administration accountable… and… helping to push the power hungry middle eastern MAGA out of office. Just as not all Gazans are evil nor are all Israelis. Neither should be at the mercy of greedy, power-hungry leaders who use their people as shields.
Your concept of students seems based on the sensationalism of the press. I have taught in colleges and universities for 45 years and my thoughts about them are different. The situation in Gaza and in the West Bank (where 1000+ have been murdered since Oct 7) is complicated—as you say, and as the wide variety of perspectives among protesting students actually attests. But the people of the world agree, including all but one of my Israeli friends, that going on 35,000 mostly civilian deaths and 100s of 1000s of injuries —many necessitating amputations without anesthesia, anesthetics, or even clean water—not to mention famine, is disproportionate. Young people live close to their conscience and we weary, cynical adults are tempted to call their moral vision “oversimplified.” I know you and I don’t disagree on the basics of this ghastly situation, but I want to put in a word for the students. Those I have talked to are thoughtful, informed and serious. (And a great many of them are Jewish, pace Mss Stefanie and Foxx.)
DMS, why would students demonstrate in the case of Ukraine, when their country and for that matter their universities are soberly aligned with them and all humanitarians to act in support of the victims of violence? Most people, including students (and excluding MAGA Republicans), approve of US support of Ukraine, invaded by a hostile power careless of civilian harm—though Russia had not destroyed its cities or killed mostly civilians.
These students, a great many of them Jewish, are protesting the use of their tax dollars in a campaign the World Court has called plausibly genocidal, and their universities’ investments in the war machines that enable the forced displacement and slaughter of a people.
They didn’t destroy their cities? Ukraine wasn’t genocidal? Do you really believe that students who mostly have never paid taxes are only about tax dollar funding? Propaganda is so powerful it has even convinced you of the narrative they want you to believe. Yes… what is happening to the people in Gaza is a war crime. Yes… the adults in the room are holding the administration accountable… and… helping to push the power hungry middle eastern MAGA out of office. Just as not all Gazans are evil nor are all Israelis. Neither should be at the mercy of greedy, power-hungry leaders who use their people as shields.
Your concept of students seems based on the sensationalism of the press. I have taught in colleges and universities for 45 years and my thoughts about them are different. The situation in Gaza and in the West Bank (where 1000+ have been murdered since Oct 7) is complicated—as you say, and as the wide variety of perspectives among protesting students actually attests. But the people of the world agree, including all but one of my Israeli friends, that going on 35,000 mostly civilian deaths and 100s of 1000s of injuries —many necessitating amputations without anesthesia, anesthetics, or even clean water—not to mention famine, is disproportionate. Young people live close to their conscience and we weary, cynical adults are tempted to call their moral vision “oversimplified.” I know you and I don’t disagree on the basics of this ghastly situation, but I want to put in a word for the students. Those I have talked to are thoughtful, informed and serious. (And a great many of them are Jewish, pace Mss Stefanie and Foxx.)