In the USA we have this concept that there is ACADEMIC FREEDOM of expression I suppose, to learn your spin of how to interpret and live in society at school. Not locked into any ideas dictated by the STATE , like the old Church Of England perhaps. In the past you could also protest most anything, and having protests is a right under the constitution. But like any right, it has limits. [not violent protests, or destructive ones, that was never a right in the constitution]
So I do believe hateful comments or threats can and should be watched. Although it is really easy to rant a bit and say things that are overly harsh, Corporate bastard leans that way, but we try to be civil.
That being said Israel lately has responded to some pretty horrible attacks, a month ago. But some think they have over responded. They killed an aweful lot of civilians in Gaza. Civilian Muslims and Arabs it seems from the news.
They pretty much leveled Gaza with bombs, driving most everyone to homelessness. and not much food or basic services to be found there.
That is cause for concern, even the USA administration has pushed for Israel to work towards peace. But it seems they instead attack even more territory. Iran lately
On campuses, there were some pretty large demonstrations that were "pro Palestine" and against the war Israel seems to be carrying out. That seems like a decent thing to protest. Just because you don't approve of the actions of the Government of Israel, or it's military, Does not make you anti Semitic. It just means you protest those actions, which killed a lot of innocent people.
That seems a reasonable thing to do. But of course some of the protestors do put out very hateful speech. And that should be condemned.
the issue is how far do the authorities punish folks, and is it for generally protesting the Israel war effort, or is it for going off the deep end about Israel.
Some tough lines of distinction certainly
That being said, it seems the line has crossed into suppressing academic freedom a bit too much....To the point the teachers and professors are being punished for not condemning the protestors, or even supporting their messages.
That was considered "ACADEMIC FREEDOM" for most of my lifespan.
Is this another type of FREEDOM we believe in in America
That is turning out to be more BELIEF in FREEDOM than actual REAL FREEDOM??!!
Read about that in this article in the New York Times, (link below)
Or a news source you rely on
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/us/faculty-protests-academic-freedom-tenure-discipline.html
