Harvard has, in recent years, seemingly abandoned its foundational commitments to free expression and academic freedom, the conditions that make the pursuit of Veritas possible at all.
HAFFS is fighting not just passive inertia but active opposition from donors who are rabid supporters of Israel and who are working to restrict speech even further, at least when it comes to any criticism of Israel's genocidal and murderous ways.
A more nuanced understanding of Middle Eastern politics and some balance recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization with no concern for human life might result in more proactive engagement. Just saying.
Whatever its sins, Hamas does not target (i.e. gratuitously murder) infants and children. Hamas does not target (i.e. gratuitously murder) healthcare workers. Hamas does not target (i.e. gratuitously murder) journalists. Israel has been documented beyond any shadow of doubt to engage routinely in all these practices and more. Who is the terrorist organization?
And even if your assertions were true, would that justify suppressing speech on college campuses?
I made no allegation at all that could lead you to claim that I am in favor of suppressing speech on college campuses. I am in favor of civil debate and actually punishing those individuals who attempt to silence campus speakers as wasconsistently been done at Harvard under Claudine Gay. I have been a supporter of FIRE since its founding.
If you refuse to accept the well documented atrocities of Hamas then you either suffer from a severe case of cognitive dissonance and/or probably a Halocaust denier. You are clearly a supporter of a terrorist organization.
Rough job. I know there is a lot of sentiment saying let it all burn down and build something new, but I am glad someone is trying to make the change.
I don't give them high odds of success, but I do truly hope they succeed.
HAFFS's chance of success is about the same that pigs will start flying.
One small pearl from this essay: the phrase 'intellectual pluralism'. Reads better than 'viewpoint diversity', though much the same connotation.
HAFFS is fighting not just passive inertia but active opposition from donors who are rabid supporters of Israel and who are working to restrict speech even further, at least when it comes to any criticism of Israel's genocidal and murderous ways.
A more nuanced understanding of Middle Eastern politics and some balance recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization with no concern for human life might result in more proactive engagement. Just saying.
Whatever its sins, Hamas does not target (i.e. gratuitously murder) infants and children. Hamas does not target (i.e. gratuitously murder) healthcare workers. Hamas does not target (i.e. gratuitously murder) journalists. Israel has been documented beyond any shadow of doubt to engage routinely in all these practices and more. Who is the terrorist organization?
And even if your assertions were true, would that justify suppressing speech on college campuses?
I made no allegation at all that could lead you to claim that I am in favor of suppressing speech on college campuses. I am in favor of civil debate and actually punishing those individuals who attempt to silence campus speakers as wasconsistently been done at Harvard under Claudine Gay. I have been a supporter of FIRE since its founding.
If you refuse to accept the well documented atrocities of Hamas then you either suffer from a severe case of cognitive dissonance and/or probably a Halocaust denier. You are clearly a supporter of a terrorist organization.
If you are a product of Harvard or higher ed, we should burn it down.