Student/author bio says he is interested in civil discourse yet he can’t/doesn’t understand how/why an October 7 event titled “is it genocide” and devoted to Israeli “atrocities” in Gaza might be problematic.
In what way “problematic”? There are so many students and others within the Columbia community who mindlessly parrot the monstrous lie that Israel has committed genocide. I should have thought that a serious discussion of this issue would be educational.
Holding this on Oct. 7 was a really bad idea. It’s an awful day, particularly on campus. Open debate is good and necessary but with tensions running so high admin is right that thoughtful steps need to be taken to make sure people don’t get physically hurt. Both Oct 7ths I’ve been here I’ve felt horrible seeing people gleefully celebrate one of the worst days for Israel, and what became on of the worst days for Palestine too. Last Oct 7 I was harassed by students in masks yelling “flood Columbia”—a nod to Hamas’ code name for Oct 7 massacre, Al Aqsa Flood. I’ve had my nose made fun of and been shoved while walking past the protesters. This debate would have gotten stormed and become a brawl. I’m all for debate on any topic—and you deserve kudos for creating a forum for people to discuss tough topics—but let’s not throw gasoline on the fire.
As a 1976 and 1979 alumna I am perplexed by the OP cluelessness.
It seems to be accepted dogma that one can be EITHER pro-Palestinian or a Zionist: it is a binary issue. Tell that to 20% of Israeli citizens in Israel who are Arab and they will think you are clueless. And you are.
No atrocities in the Middle East except those perpetuated by Israel? Do you agree that it was fitting and proper for Hamas to spend over a decade building tunnels for their “freedom fighters” but no shelters for Gazans? Not an atrocity to attack a neighboring country with a powerful army because who cared if Gazans died in the inevitable payback?
And he wonders why the administration thinks couching an event in those terms may be
unwise for campus safety? After the explosions on campus from 2023-25?
Jeez Louise.
Ignorance? Hypocrisy? Certainly appears to be stunning disingenuousness. Hard to know. A 2L??
Or perhaps he’s smoking some righteous dope in which case I’d love to know who his dealer is.
This is appalling. I applaud BridgeUSA/Columbia for its attempts to hold what could have been a serious, meaningful, and enlightening discussion on a critically important topic. Such a discussion should have been welcomed by the Columbia administration. Instead, the administration, abetted by certain (unnamed) faculty members, very crudely and non-transparently made it impossible. Shameful!
Student/author bio says he is interested in civil discourse yet he can’t/doesn’t understand how/why an October 7 event titled “is it genocide” and devoted to Israeli “atrocities” in Gaza might be problematic.
In what way “problematic”? There are so many students and others within the Columbia community who mindlessly parrot the monstrous lie that Israel has committed genocide. I should have thought that a serious discussion of this issue would be educational.
Holding this on Oct. 7 was a really bad idea. It’s an awful day, particularly on campus. Open debate is good and necessary but with tensions running so high admin is right that thoughtful steps need to be taken to make sure people don’t get physically hurt. Both Oct 7ths I’ve been here I’ve felt horrible seeing people gleefully celebrate one of the worst days for Israel, and what became on of the worst days for Palestine too. Last Oct 7 I was harassed by students in masks yelling “flood Columbia”—a nod to Hamas’ code name for Oct 7 massacre, Al Aqsa Flood. I’ve had my nose made fun of and been shoved while walking past the protesters. This debate would have gotten stormed and become a brawl. I’m all for debate on any topic—and you deserve kudos for creating a forum for people to discuss tough topics—but let’s not throw gasoline on the fire.
As a 1976 and 1979 alumna I am perplexed by the OP cluelessness.
It seems to be accepted dogma that one can be EITHER pro-Palestinian or a Zionist: it is a binary issue. Tell that to 20% of Israeli citizens in Israel who are Arab and they will think you are clueless. And you are.
No atrocities in the Middle East except those perpetuated by Israel? Do you agree that it was fitting and proper for Hamas to spend over a decade building tunnels for their “freedom fighters” but no shelters for Gazans? Not an atrocity to attack a neighboring country with a powerful army because who cared if Gazans died in the inevitable payback?
And he wonders why the administration thinks couching an event in those terms may be
unwise for campus safety? After the explosions on campus from 2023-25?
Jeez Louise.
Ignorance? Hypocrisy? Certainly appears to be stunning disingenuousness. Hard to know. A 2L??
Or perhaps he’s smoking some righteous dope in which case I’d love to know who his dealer is.
TJ-you wrote: "...we are not phased...." How about *fazed*?
Hi Peter, this correction was issued yesterday. Thank you!
This is appalling. I applaud BridgeUSA/Columbia for its attempts to hold what could have been a serious, meaningful, and enlightening discussion on a critically important topic. Such a discussion should have been welcomed by the Columbia administration. Instead, the administration, abetted by certain (unnamed) faculty members, very crudely and non-transparently made it impossible. Shameful!