Many of us have tried somewhat in vain to alert parents about the fecklessness of supporting certain colleges and/or sending their children to them. Currently there are 3,982 colleges and universities in the United States. Some are not only dangerous for the mind of your child or grandchild, but their body as well.
The reaction on college campuses to the mass terrorist murders in Israel has ripped open for everyone to see the demonic aspect of how these colleges operate. Open protests in favor of and cheering on the mass murder of Jews by Hamas are widely accepted. We already know that these groups are allowed to flaunt their hatred of Jews – something not allowed for any other defined minority on the campus. As stated previously in this column, the Jews are not perceived as being part of the “cool kids”; thus, they are open to any kind of attack or protest that no others must endure.
It has been pointed out these institutions would never allow protests in support of Russia against Ukraine on their campuses. But it is “free speech” to allow people to cheer on these terrorists and their murderous actions.
This time it is different. There was a mass killing. The dead could have been your child or grandchild, and these demonstrators are celebrating the murderers’ actions. Hostages are estimated to be 200. They could be your friend’s sister, brother, or child. These demonstrators are cheering torture, rape, and the murder of Jews. But are they just Jews? Many Christians regularly travel to Israel. They could have been murdered simply for being there among Jews.
This is about Israel and Israel is always treated differently. College administrators rationalize the issue. Is it free speech when 32 Americans are killed? Do college administrators hate Jews so much they are willing to allow groups to celebrate the death of 32 Americans? Have they no limits as to how much they hate Jews and America?
Harvard has received most of the focus because of the statement made by 34 student groups and the feeble response by their administration. Russell Rickford, Associate Professor of History at Cornell University, has characterized the Hamas attack on Israel as “exhilarating” and “energizing.” Next is Zareena Grewal, Yale associate professor of American studies, ethnicity, race, migration, and religious studies. “My heart is in my throat,” Grewal wrote on X Saturday. “Prayers for Palestinians. Israel is a murderous, genocidal settler state and Palestinians have every right to resist through armed struggle, solidarity.” We could go on ad infinitum with other citations.
Why would you want to send your child or grandchild to a college like this? It is simply a fable that your child must go to Yale or Wharton or Wisconsin, etc., to get a fine education — where Jewish kids are threatened and the murder of Jews and Americans is celebrated – it is just that, a fable.
Presidents of over one hundred major universities received letters from Jewish organizations. Some of these organizations are Hillel, ADL, ZOA, Jewish Federations of North America, Brandeis Center. StandWithUs had already sent a letter. The letters addressed the universities’ responses regarding the safety of Jewish students considering the protests taking place against Israel. The responses ranged from meager to nonexistent from the institutions’ leaders. These “leaders” showed they are more beholden to the forces on campus who support the actions of Hamas than protections for Jewish students and support for the continuing existence of Israel.
Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager, initiated what has become a cascade of major donors pulling their contributions from these loathsome operations. When you look at the donor list, one must wonder why they were still giving to these odious entities. Regrettably, it took a heavy price to awaken them.
Do you really want decisions about the life of your loved one made by people like Grewal or Rickford? These schools are teeming with these malcontents. Stanford has as many administrators as students. At the University of Michigan, a school with more than three times the number of students as Stanford, there are 1.2 administrators for every three students. They spend a considerable amount of time poisoning the minds of young adults.
Where do you think the campus protestors got their hatred towards Jews? It was not from original thought. As Oscar Hammerstein II wrote in the song Carefully Taught, “You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear, You’ve got to be taught from year to year, It’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear, You’ve got to be carefully taught.”
Let me be clear, your child is going to get a fine education at almost any college. Whether they succeed in life will be based on decisions made after graduation. What is not guaranteed is that they emerge as a sane, righteous person of whom you can be a proud parent or grandparent.
Parents, particularly Jewish parents, are providing funds without asking any questions about their children being threatened and/or made to feel uncomfortable in a manner no other group would be asked to tolerate. And the parents and grandparents are writing annual checks for $30,000, $50,000 or more to support these depraved operations – not including various additional contributions.
Sending these universities students and donations will encourage their behavior. They are moneygrubbing Jew haters so why would you do either?
When the Jewish people went back to their homeland and formed the country of Israel they made a pledge – never again. We have lived that commitment for 75 years. We have created some mighty allies during that time. Yet some people are willing to bow their heads for the prize of a supposedly “superior education” that possibly leads to a better career. Is it worth the price of one’s soul and possibly their life?
We are the Jews. We are God’s chosen people. Don’t try to placate people who hate you. We can turn them, but from strength, not from weakness. Weakness never wins.